E-scooter accidents involving children: Lower Saxony on alert!

E-scooter accidents involving children: Lower Saxony on alert!

The use of e-scooters has increased significantly in recent years, but this development also has its downsides. The increase in accidents involving children is particularly noticeable. In Lower Saxony, the police recorded a total of 265 accidents involving children up to 14 years of age in 2023 - that means an increase of 151 accidents compared to the previous year. This worrying statistic has seen a further increase in e-scooter collisions in 2024, particularly in urban regions such as Hanover, where the number was almost three times higher.

Although legally children under 14 are not allowed to ride e-scooters, many families ignore these requirements. Andreas Knie, traffic sociologist, explains: “Children often lack a cautious perspective and sense of danger.” The technical handling of e-scooters is also more demanding than that of bicycles, which increases the risks. In Göttingen, on the other hand, the supposedly worrying development remained manageable compared to other regions - only three accidents involving children with e-scooters were registered here in 2024.

The dangers of using e-scooters

The general accident statistics for e-scooters show that the number of people injured and killed has increased in recent years. There were more than 12,000 registered accidents in 2024, an increase of 27 percent compared to the previous year. Tragically, 27 people died in these accidents, all of whom were on a scooter. Around 1,500 people suffered serious injuries and as many as 11,400 sustained minor injuries. More than half of these accidents occurred because drivers violated traffic laws or used roads improperly, often in conjunction with alcohol consumption.

The high accident rate among young drivers is particularly worrying. Almost 50 percent of the e-scooter drivers involved in accidents were under 25 years old. In addition, the uncertainty when using rented scooters contributes to the problem. These users are often younger, often ride without helmets and are more likely to use the sidewalk as a transport behavior.

Legal framework and responsibility

Another concern is insurance coverage for e-scooters. Young people under the age of 14 have no insurance cover in the event of damage, which means that their parents are liable. For insurance reasons, providers such as Bolt and Lime only allow people aged 18 and over to use their e-scooters. It is strongly recommended that drivers follow proper traffic rules and be aware of the dangers.

The police have begun to specifically monitor the use of e-scooters during school journeys. This involves responding to suggestions from teachers and parents. Hopefully, awareness of road safety will increase and more effective accident prevention measures will be taken before the statistics continue to trend in the wrong direction.

Current developments show that it is high time to increase the safety of children and young people in road traffic and to improve user behavior overall. This is the only way to use the pleasant mobility that e-scooters offer us without serious consequences.

For more information on e-scooter accidents and the impact on road safety, see the Göttingen Tageblatt extensively researched. Those too daily news as well as the Mirror provide interesting insights into the problem.