UK Study: Risk of Brain Injury from E-scooters 3 Times Higher Than from Motorcycles

A study has found that the probability of sustaining serious injuries, such as to the brain or internal organs, is three times higher for accidents involving shared electric kickboards than for motorcycles. A research team led by David Bodanski of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in the UK confirmed these findings by analyzing severe trauma patient data in England and Wales (2020–2022) and shared kickboard accident records (2020–2024).

The analysis revealed that adult electric kickboard users faced a risk of traumatic brain injury 3.45 times higher, vascular injury risk 3.24 times higher, and internal organ injury risk 1.46 times higher than motorcycle users. The risk of traumatic brain injury was also 1.74 times higher compared to bicycle users. However, adult electric kickboard users had a 20% lower risk of fractures than motorcycle users and a 10% lower risk than bicycle users.

The helmet usage rate among electric kickboard users was 5.9%, significantly lower than that of motorcyclists (75.7%) and cyclists (45.0%). The research team attributed the higher risk of brain injury to the low helmet usage rate, as well as the risk of overturning due to small wheels and a lack of shock absorption systems, and the instability of the center of gravity caused by the standing riding posture.