RSA and Children’s Health Ireland Launch New Campaign
Warning of the Dangers of E-Scooters for Under-16s
Nov. 13, 2025
CHI at Temple Street
News
CHI staff with RSA at CHI at Temple Street
Thursday, 13th November 2025
- The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) have today launched a powerful new advertising campaign urging parents and guardians not to buy e-scooters for children under the age of 16 this Christmas.
The campaign highlights the very real and devastating consequences of underage e-scooter use, which is illegal on public roads and dangerous. E-scooters are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children admitted to CHI at Temple Street, Ireland’s national neurosurgical centre.
The new radio advertisement, voiced by Dr Irwin Gill, Consultant Paediatrician at Children’s Health Ireland, shares a stark message drawn directly from his experience treating young patients with severe head injuries caused by e-scooter accidents.
“I work with many teams across our hospitals to look after children who have suffered traumatic brain injuries,” said Dr Gill. “In the last year alone, we’ve seen more than 20 children who sustained serious brain injuries after falling from e-scooters. The average hospital stay for these children was 19 days, and some face lifelong consequences. Many parents don’t realise it’s illegal for anyone under 16 to ride an e-scooter.
“As someone who sees injured children far too often, I’m asking parents: please do not allow any child under sixteen to ride an e-scooter.”
Recent RSA research has revealed growing public concern around the safety of e-scooters in Ireland. One in three users admit to riding on footpaths - where use is prohibited - and more than one in ten report carrying passengers, including children. Nearly one in four regular e-scooter riders (24%) say they have been involved in a collision, while one in three (32%) have experienced a near miss.
Since the introduction of e-scooter legislation in May 2024, hospitals have seen a worrying rise in serious injuries among young riders. According to CHI, e-scooter incidents have now become the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries requiring admission to CHI at Temple Street, surpassing car crashes, bicycle accidents, falls, and sporting injuries.
E-scooter-related brain injuries now account for over 25% of paediatric neurosurgical admissions in CHI at Temple Street in the past year. Around half of these children required intensive care, and almost half underwent emergency neurosurgery, with some left with permanent disabilities.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, said:
“These findings are deeply concerning. E-scooters are not toys — they are powerful motorised vehicles, and the risks for children are severe. Our message is simple: if your child is under sixteen, an e-scooter is not a suitable or legal gift. This campaign is about protecting children from preventable harm and ensuring every parent understands the potential consequences.”
The RSA and CHI are calling on parents, guardians, and communities to share this message and to prioritise children’s safety this Christmas and beyond.
“Lived experience and research led by our teams in Children’s Health Ireland, is having a tangible impact on children’s health care today. Research and insights also help to shape the care of the future. Its important our teams are sharing these clear public health messages – clinical staff play a key role in supporting families across our communities."