Electric scooters, also known as e-scooters, can be a convenient way for teens to visit friends or get around the neighborhood. But falls and crashes can cause broken bones, cuts, and serious head injuries.1 In 2024, approximately 79,300 e-scooter injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments, almost twice the 2021 total.1
Before your family buys or borrows one, here’s what parents should know.
Is my child old enough to ride?
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children under 16 should not operate or ride on an electric scooter.1 Wearing a helmet or having an adult nearby does not change this recommendation.
Some cities have specific rules for e-scooters, including age restrictions, sidewalk restrictions and speed limits. Check your city’s requirements before your teen rides.2 In Florida, a child under the age of 16 is required to wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter.2 Review the scooter manufacturer’s age and weight restrictions. Your teenager should know how to operate the scooter’s controls and follow all safety rules.1,3,4
What should you check before riding?
Age alone does not determine readiness. For older teens ages 16 and up, make safety checks part of the routine:
- Helmet first. Always wear a properly fitting helmet with the chin strap securely fastened, no matter how short the ride.
- Dress for safety. Wear closed-toe shoes. Knee and elbow pads can help reduce the risk of injury. For nighttime riding, wear reflective gear and make sure the scooter has working lights.1,5
- Check the scooter. Check for loose handlebars, damaged tires, or broken lights. Test the brakes before every ride. Check for recalls, too. You can check whether your scooter has been recalled on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website
- Start slowly. Practice using the controls in an area with little or no motor-vehicle traffic and learn how much distance the scooter needs to come to a complete stop.1,3
- Keep speeds low, below 20 miles per hour, and follow posted and local speed limits. Slow down further near pedestrians, intersections, and uneven surfaces.
Do not ride a scooter that has been damaged or is not working properly.
What rules should older teens follow?
Agree on riding rules before your teenager leaves home:
- A single scooter, a single rider. Never carry a friend or younger sibling on the back of the electric scooter.
- Put distractions away. No texting, phone calls, headphones, or earbuds while riding.
- Both hands on the handlebars. Do not hang bags from the handlebars.
- Skip the tricks and jumps. They can lead to falls and damage the scooter.
Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or after taking prescription medications that cause drowsiness or impair alertness or coordination.1,3
- Plan the route together with your teen before the ride. Although adult supervision is always recommended, if your teen rides alone, have them stop in a safe place and call or text you when they arrive.
- Follow local traffic rules, use bike lanes where permitted, and avoid busy or unfamiliar streets.
- Watch for potholes, cracks, and debris that can catch a scooter’s small wheels and cause a fall.
- Teach your teen to:
- Slow down where drivers enter or exit parking lots and driveways and never assume a driver has seen the rider.4
- Use crosswalks to cross streets. Get off and walk the scooter across, checking for traffic before entering the roadway.
Can charging an e-scooter be unsafe?
Yes. E-scooter batteries can catch fire if they are damaged or charged improperly. An adult should oversee charging and follow these steps:4
- Use only the charger provided by the scooter manufacturer.
- Stay present while the scooter is charging. Never charge it while asleep or away from home.
- Follow the manufacturer’s charging instructions and disconnect the scooter once it is fully charged.
- Do not use modified battery packs or replacement batteries that are not approved by the manufacturer.
My child fell. When should I get help?
After a fall or crash, have your child stop riding. Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or difficulty thinking clearly may be signs of a concussion. If you suspect a concussion, have your child evaluated by a health care provider. Some signs and symptoms may not appear or be noticed until hours or days after the injury.6
- Repeated nausea or vomiting.
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
- Convulsions or seizures.
- Increasing confusion, restlessness, agitation, or unusual behavior.
- Passed out, increasing drowsiness, or difficulty waking up or staying awake after the accident. Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination.
- One pupil larger than the other or double vision.
Some concussion signs and symptoms may not appear right away, so continue to monitor your child closely after a crash. Visit UHealth’s UConcussion FAQ page for more information about concussion management. When in doubt, call your pediatrician or go to the local emergency department.
Talk about scooter safety before your child asks to ride one. Explain your family’s rules, share them with other caregivers, and model safe riding habits yourself.
For more information about scooter safety, call the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, a program of Jackson Hospital and University of Miami Funded by the Children’s Trust at 305-243-9080 or visit www.injuryfree.org or visit the UHealth KiDZ Neuroscience Center’s e-scooter and e-bicycle page
- Citations
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Morgan, A. (2026, September 9). Why children should not ride e-scooters. HealthyChildren.org
- Florida Legislature. (2026). Florida Statutes § 316.2128: Micromobility devices, motorized scooters, and miniature motorcycles; requirements. flsenate.gov
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2021, August). Electric-powered scooters (Publication No. 5224) [Safety alert]. cpsc.gov
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (n.d.). Micromobility: E-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards. Retrieved (2026, September 22) from cpsc.gov
- Nemours KidsHealth. (2025, July). Are electric scooters (e-scooters) safe? kidshealth.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 15). Signs and symptoms of concussion. HEADS UP. cdc.gov
