Photo by Gotrax on Unsplash

Over the past decade, e-scooters have become a fixture of city streets, popular for short commutes, quick errands, and the last stretch of a transit trip. Rental programs have put them on nearly every downtown corner, and affordable private models have brought them into residential neighborhoods. Today, they're a regular presence in busy commuting areas, weaving alongside cyclists, pedestrians, and cars. 

In 2025, people took 58 million trips on shared e-scooters in North American cities.  

A Patchwork of Rules 

Despite their rapidly growing popularity, e-scooters are governed by a confusing mix of regulations. There's no standard definition or set of laws across countries, or even between neighboring states. Where riders can go, how old they must be, and whether a helmet is required can all change at a border.

Only 28 states and Washington, D.C. have passed laws specifically addressing e-scooters, with those laws varying widely, and only 15 states have set a minimum operator age, ranging from as young as 8 in Utah to 18 in Arizona and Illinois, with 16 the most common. And while most states don't require any kind of testing or permission to ride, six state that riders must carry a valid driver's license or learner's permit.  

At the other extreme, a few states have effectively banned riding e-scooters on public roads and sidewalks altogether. Pennsylvania, for example, classifies them as motor vehicles, meaning they need to be registered, insured, and have equipment like lights and indicators, which often leaves riders with no legal way to use them in public. 

A Growing Safety Problem  

When rules are inconsistent, unclear, or ignored, important safety decisions about speed, age, and protective gear are left to the rider, and the consequences of wrong decisions are increasingly showing up in emergency rooms. According to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: 

"The total number of e-scooter injuries in the U.S. rose 5.65 times over between 2020 and 2025..." 

Experts and emergency physicians warn that these aren't just scrapes and sprains. Severe fractures and serious head injuries are increasingly common, and in most reported incidents, riders weren't wearing helmets. Small wheels make scooters especially unforgiving, since a pothole, curb, or patch of debris can throw a rider with little warning. 

"e-scooter riders were twice as likely to experience skull fractures and brain injuries as traditional cyclists..."  

Where laws don't specify where scooters belong, riders often move between sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads, sometimes several times in a single trip. That unpredictability makes collisions with pedestrians and vehicles more likely and leaves those ahead with little time to react. 

Sharing the Road with E-scooters  

Many riders, particularly younger or first-time users, simply don't know the rules of the road, and with nothing between them and the impact, even a low-speed collision can cause serious injury. That puts a greater share of responsibility on drivers, who have the training, the licensing, and the protection of a vehicle on their side.

A few defensive driving habits go a long way: 

• Stay alert in busy areas, especially pedestrian-heavy streets, school zones, and near rental scooter hubs. 

  
  

• Check blind spots twice before turning or changing lanes, since scooters can slip into them quickly. 

  
  

• Give riders generous space when passing, as potholes or debris can cause sudden swerves. 

  
  

• Look back before opening a car door to avoid hitting a passing rider. 

The Road Ahead 

E-scooters are here to stay, and until regulations catch up, safety depends on everyone sharing the road. Helmets and a clear understanding of local laws protect riders, but drivers are often best placed to prevent a collision. Awareness and caution behind the wheel can make all the difference to someone riding by. 

Sources:  

https://micromobility.io/news/micromobility-in-the-us-how-states-are-regulating-the-boom  

https://eridehero.com/electric-scooter-accident-report/  

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/e-scooters-pediatrician-survey-9.7305210  

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2026/are-e-bikes-and-e-scooters-safe  

https://nacto.org/publication/shared-micromobility-in-nacto-member-agencies-2025-trends/