People who ride e-scooters face a significantly higher risk of injuries to the brain and internal organs than cyclists or motorcyclists, according to a new study.Electric scooters have exploded in popularity in recent years, offering a quick and cheap way to travel around towns and cities.But experts are now warning they carry an increased risk of serious trauma – especially because helmet use is ‘rare’.Analysis has revealed that compared with motorcyclists, those who use e-scooters face a 3.5 times higher risk of a traumatic brain injury.They also have a 1.5 times higher risk of injuring their internal organs and a 3.2 times higher risk of injuries to the arteries or veins.The team said their findings highlight the importance of tougher safety rules, including mandatory helmets and lower speed limits for e-scooters.‘The high burden of head trauma alongside low helmet use reiterates the need for mandatory helmet legislation, supported by integrated or rental helmet systems and targeted enforcement for younger riders,’ the team wrote in the journal Scientific Reports.‘The prevalence of internal organ and vascular injuries highlights high-energy collisions, supporting measures such as stricter speed limits, geofencing and temporal restrictions.’ Analysis has revealed that compared with motorcyclists (MC), those who use e-scooters (ES) face a 3.5 times higher risk of a traumatic brain injuryIt is currently illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters in public. However, they are available to rent as part of Government trial schemes in cities such as Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham and a number of London boroughs.Figures suggest the number of people hiring them has risen by 55 per cent in the last year, with 1.5 million users making 16.7 million trips.Despite this, researchers said there is limited evidence about injury patterns and their severity.A team of experts led by surgeon David Bodansky, from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, analysed data for 15,247 patients on the National Major Trauma Registry.This included 580 e-scooter riders, more than 7,000 motorcyclists and 7,740 cyclists.The team specifically analysed moderate-to-severe injuries that occurred across England and Wales from 2020 to 2022.Analysis revealed that compared with motorcyclists, those who used e-scooters faced a 3.5 times higher risk of a traumatic brain injury, a 1.5 times higher risk of injuring their internal organs and a 3.2 times higher risk of injuries to the arteries or veins.The risk was 1.7, 1.4 and 1.7 times higher respectively when compared with cyclists. As this graph shows, adults riding e-scooters were more likely to suffer critical injuries compared to those on motorbikes or pedal bikes Electric scooters are available to rent as part of Government trial schemes in cities such as Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham and a number of London boroughs (stock image) Can you legally use an e-scooter on the road or pavement? It is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes anywhere in the UK.Rental e-scooters can be ridden legally only in areas taking part in Government-approved trial schemes and only within the rules of those schemes. It is illegal to ride any e-scooter – whether privately owned or rented – on the pavement. Only rental e-scooters can be used in cycle lanes where permitted under their trial scheme. Privately owned e-scooters cannot be used on cycle lanes because they are illegal to ride on public land. Helmets are not required by law, but the Government strongly recommends wearing one. Helmet use was documented in 5.9 per cent of e-scooter riders compared with around three-quarters of motorcyclists and 45 per cent of cyclists.However, fracture risk for e-scooter riders was lower than the other two forms of transport.The team also analysed more than 23,000 self-reported e-scooter collisions and near misses.This showed that men had a 36 per cent lower risk of crashing than women. Women were also 2.1 times more likely to be severely injured.Looking at both sets of data ‘revealed previously under-explored trends’, the researchers said, such as incidents being more common in deprived regions.The study concluded that better helmet use, improved rider education and policies targeting high-risk groups could help reduce the growing toll of serious e-scooter injuries.The latest Department for Transport figures show there were 1,312 collisions involving e-scooters in 2024, up from 1,292 in 2023.There were 1,390 casualties and six people killed.A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘These are concerning findings, and our thoughts are with anyone who has been injured on our roads.‘Road safety is our top priority, which is why our e-scooter trials are testing their use in a controlled environment now, before updating the law to ensure they can be used safely more widely.’Last year a crackdown on e-scooters was launched after a spate of incidents left members of the public ‘scared’ and ‘threatened’.A campaign launched by Crimestoppers urged the public to report instances of dangerous and illegal use of off-road motorbikes, mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters.It comes amid growing concerns that the vehicles are becoming a threat to the public, with the bikes being ridden in residential areas, on town centre pavements and parks.