Hospitalisations associated with electric scooter accidents have increased dramatically across Australia, according to a new national report released on Thursday, 22 October 2026. The findings highlight growing safety concerns as electric scooters and electric bikes become more common for everyday travel.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that hospitalisations following falls involving e-scooters rose from 1,291 in 2019–20 to 4,089 in 2024–25. The increase comes amid rapid growth in the use of personal electric transport devices across Australian cities and regional communities.

Teenage boys among the most affected The report identified boys aged between 12 and 15 as a group experiencing a particularly significant increase in injuries. Hospitalisations following e-scooter falls among boys in this age group increased approximately 15-fold over the five-year period examined.

In 2024–25, boys aged 12 to 15 were more than four times as likely as girls of the same age to be hospitalised following an e-scooter fall.

Males accounted for approximately two-thirds of hospitalisations involving e-scooter falls during that year. The figures highlight concerns about young riders' experience, protective equipment and the circumstances in which powered devices are being used. Fractures and serious injuries Fractures were among the most common injuries recorded in the report. Almost three in five hospitalisations involved fractures, with their share increasing from 46 per cent in 2015–16 to 58 per cent in 2024–25.

Other injuries included dislocations and internal injuries. The report also recorded an increase in deaths associated with powered scooter incidents over the longer term, from seven in 2014–15 to 20 in 2024–25.

The findings underline the potential consequences of falls and collisions involving powered devices, particularly when riders travel at speed or lose control. Pedestrians also affected The safety concerns extend beyond riders. The report recorded 164 pedestrian hospitalisations following collisions involving e-scooters in 2024–25. A further 147 pedestrian hospitalisations were associated with collisions involving other two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles in the relevant transport categories.

These figures demonstrate that powered mobility devices can create risks for people using footpaths and other shared spaces, not only for those riding them. Differences between states and territories Queensland recorded the highest hospitalisation rate among jurisdictions examined in 2024–25, at 27 admissions per 100,000 people. New South Wales recorded the lowest rate, at 7.8 per 100,000.

The report cautioned that these comparisons need to be interpreted carefully because current hospital data cannot always distinguish e-scooters and e-bikes from other transport devices. Differences in regulations, access to public areas and reporting practices may also affect the figures. Safety measures and improved reporting Researchers have highlighted the importance of helmets, responsible riding, compliant devices and appropriate speed limits. Illegal modifications that increase a device's power or speed can create additional risks for riders and other road users.

New classification codes introduced in July 2026 are expected to improve the collection of national injury data, allowing future reports to distinguish between e-scooters, e-bikes and other transport devices more accurately.

The AIHW report provides an important national overview of the growing injury burden associated with electric mobility. Its findings emphasise the need for better data, effective safety measures and greater awareness as powered devices become an increasingly familiar part of Australian transport.