E-Scooter: How Safe Are They?

E-Scooters: a convenient and cheap way to move around the city, preferred by many over buses and trains. Many say that e-scooters offer a freer way to travel short distances without being confined to bus stops and unnecessary delays.

‘The problem’, says a victim involved in an e-scooter accidents, ‘is that many don’t actually know how to use these scooters, causing danger to not only them, but pedestrians as well.’ Anybody with a valid UK driving licence can rent one out, without much of a hassle. 

In Great Britain in 2024, there were 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters, resulting in roughly 1390 casualties including 444 serious injuries.

1096 of those were e-scooter users, while pedestrians accounted for more than 200 other casualties. 

One of those victims, Megan, a Southampton resident, says she was hit by an e-scooter while crossing the street last year.  

‘It happened quickly and I didn’t have time to react,’ she recalls.

She was left with minor injuries; however, she said, ‘the shock was worse than the injury itself’. She claims she was ‘lucky’ to not suffer any more serious injuries as one pedestrian passed away due to the collision. 

‘I just think people who get on them should be more careful’.

For Megan, that’s the message she wants people to take away.

While e-scooters continue to offer a quick and affordable way to travel, she believes greater care and awareness could prevent similar incidents from happening to others.

Road safety campaigners echo that view, saying clearer guidance and better understanding of how to use e-scooters safely could reduce risks for everyone sharing public spaces.

As e-scooters become an increasingly visible part of city life, questions remain about how to balance convenience with safety, and whether enough is being done to protect pedestrians as their use continues to grow.