The tragic reason why my kids won't ever get e-scooters

"I hope we never have to witness the horror of a scene like that again."

Last week on the drive to school, we passed the aftermath of an e-scooter accident. Horrific doesn’t even cover it.

A smashed scooter lay in pieces on the grass near the school gates, beside an abandoned bag and work boots (not a kid this time - an adult on their way to work) while two police officers managed the scene. 

The rider had already been taken away in an ambulance, but the sight was confronting.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

Sadly, it’s not the first scooter accident I’ve seen - and it probably won’t be the last.

E-scooters have become the latest must-have for kids, teens and even adults. I get the appeal: they’re fast, fun and convenient - especially for parents juggling work and general life chaos. But despite the convenience, I’ve told my kids they aren’t getting one. Not now, and probably not ever.

Every time I see one zip past, I have a mini panic attack. These aren’t toys. They’re powerful machines capable of serious speed - and serious harm. There’s no enforced formal training, no road awareness education and often no protective gear.

"I saw the damage first hand"

My older brother got his first motorbike at 17 – he did a test before he got on it, but he still had a few accidents over the years that followed. So I saw the damage that falling off can cause firsthand (thankfully nothing too serious, but enough to make me wince when I see kids on e-scooters flying up the road with bare feet and no helmets). 

When I was growing up in the UK, we had optional cycling proficiency lessons after school. We learned road rules, practised hand signals and proved we could ride safely in traffic -  and it gave our parents peace of mind.

With e-scooters reaching high speeds, it makes sense that similar training should be required (or at least offered) before riding. Some places do offer e-scooter education, but it’s not widespread. I’m sure if it was more widely available (or mandatory) it would cut down on accidents and deaths.

Karen has seen too much to let her kids' wheels be electronic. Image: Supplied

"Kids barely glance for traffic"

In Queensland where we are, e-scooters (or ‘personal mobility devices’) have rules around speed limits in different settings and helmets are a requirement. But in reality, enforcing these rules is difficult. I see kids as young as 12 racing across intersections, barely glancing for traffic.

Our kids’ brains are still developing - especially the areas responsible for risk assessment and impulse control. It feels like a lot to expect them to make smart, split-second decisions in busy traffic (let’s be honest - even as adults, navigating certain roads and roundabouts at peak school pick-up time can be stressful).

They’re not drivers yet, so they don’t always realise that a motorist might not see them. Drivers can have blind spots caused by windscreen frames - and when a scooter is travelling at a similar speed to a car slowing for a zebra crossing or intersection, it can stay hidden until it’s too late.

That’s happened to me twice now.

We have two zebra crossings nearby with poor visibility from the entry point, and both times, e-scooters shot out from behind bushes right in front of my car without pausing to look. Terrifying!

Karen and her family. Source: supplied

"I'm partially deaf - so that's another issue with e-scooters"

As someone who is deaf in one ear, I experience the risk from another angle. E-scooters are so quiet they often appear without warning. My dog has nearly been hit multiple times on walks because I don’t hear them coming until they’re right on top of us, tearing around a corner at 20km/h.

I’m not judging all kids and teens - many are incredibly responsible. I regularly see kids slowing down, ringing their bell to warn others and stopping at crossings to wait for a safe moment. For me, though, I don’t want to take the risk, even if I trust my kids to try their best.

It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill and start feeling invincible at speed, especially when wearing headphones. It only takes a split second to make a wrong decision.

I wouldn’t let my kids drive a car without proper training, so I’m not about to let them zip around on something they haven’t been taught to use safely. It would be great to see some kind of licensing or standard education introduced for e-scooters - for all ages, as I think even adult riders could benefit.

My kids see the near-misses at school pick-up every day and they’ve almost been taken out a few times when an e-scooter shot past without any warning, so they get where I’m coming from.

Not getting an e-scooter was a family decision. I’d rather they stay safe - and I hope we never have to drive past a scene like that again.

Originally published as The tragic reason why my kids won't ever get e-scooters