Pediatricians in Canada are reporting a sharp increase in severe injuries and deaths among children using electric scooters, with hospitals seeing a nearly fourfold rise in cases over the last two years. The dangerous trend has prompted new warnings from medical professionals, who note that the devices are increasingly causing catastrophic harm despite being marketed as toys.
Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids, told CBC News he has witnessed an “exponential rise” in the number of children brought into the hospital with scooter-related injuries. The numbers at SickKids have climbed steadily, moving from 26 cases in 2023 to 46 in 2024, and jumping to 107 cases in 2025. Rosenfield suggests the hospital is likely to surpass that number by the end of the current year.
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While the hospital data highlights a local crisis, a broader survey conducted by the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) from late 2025 to early 2026 reveals the scope of the problem is national. The survey details 26 hospitalizations lasting more than two days, 12 admissions to the intensive care unit, and 10 deaths related to e-scooter crashes. Head injuries accounted for about half of these severe cases.
The data shows a clear pattern regarding who is getting hurt and how. Most of the severe injuries involved riders who were not wearing helmets. Furthermore, the victims were predominantly boys aged between 10 and 15 years old. This demographic is often less risk-averse, which combined with the high speeds these vehicles can achieve, creates a dangerous situation for young riders.
Regulatory gaps and speed concerns
Part of the danger stems from the fact that e-scooters are frequently marketed as toys, yet they can accelerate rapidly from zero to 40km/h in just a few seconds. In some configurations, top speeds can reach as high as 70km/h. When these high-speed devices are handled by young children who may not be familiar with the rules of the road, the risk of catastrophic injury increases significantly.
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Canada has attempted to regulate the devices, but the rules vary widely by province and municipality. Some areas, including Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, have set speed caps around 25km/h. Other provinces and some cities have implemented total bans on the devices. The inconsistency in laws makes it difficult for families to understand the safety standards they should be following.
There is also the persistent issue of battery safety. The devices rely on lithium-ion batteries, which have been known to cause fires, especially when damaged or improperly charged. This adds a second layer of risk beyond the mechanical operation of the scooter itself. Authorities are currently debating how to address these safety concerns, though finding a balance between innovation and public safety remains difficult.
