Following news that 10 children died last year in Canada from e-scooter and e-bike injuries, Mississauga is reminding parents to keep kids off the micro-mobility devices.
If used properly and in the right places, e-scooters can be a convenient way for residents and visitors aged 16 or older to move around the city, the City of Mississauga said in a press release today.
“These devices can make it easier to connect to transit, travel to school or work, or complete everyday errands without a car,” the city said. “However, these motorized devices can be dangerous for kids under the age of 16 and can result in serious and life-altering injuries.”
The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program said 10 kids died from e-bike or e-scooter injuries in 2025, six of them in Ontario.
Twelve more patients were admitted to intensive care units and 26 were treated in the hospital for more than two days.
The total number of severe e-scooter and e-bike injuries last year involving prolonged hospital stays, ICU admissions or death for paediatric patients was 57.
E-scooter injuries among Mississauga residents are increasing, the city said.
Emergency department visits involving children aged 15 and under on e-scooters more than doubled, from 34 visits in 2023 to 72 visits in 2024, the city said.
In 2024, underage riders accounted for approximately three out of every 10 emergency department visits involving an e-scooter.
“As an emergency physician, I see how quickly a ride on an e-scooter can become a trip to the Emergency Department,” Dr. Sarah McClennan, chief and medical director, Emergency and Urgent Care, Trillium Health Partners.
Children are suffering serious injuries, including fractures and concussions, that may affect a child long after the crash. Many of these injuries are preventable, and parents and caregivers need to know the risks and the rules to help keep kids safe.”
People under 16 years old are not permitted to ride an e-scooter anywhere in the city.
“Underage e-scooter riding is dangerous and illegal,” said Sam Rogers, commissioner, Transportation and Works, City of Mississauga. “We urge all parents and guardians not to allow kids under the age of 16 to ride these motorized devices for their own safety, as they require quick decision-making, balance and awareness of surrounding traffic. Together, we can reduce preventable injuries and create safer streets and pathways for everyone.”
If you’re riding an e-scooter, you must:
Be 16 years or older.
Wear a helmet (mandatory for riders aged 16 to 18).
Obey traffic signs and signals.
Share the road, bike lanes and trails with others.
Check for traffic before entering intersections.
Use a horn or bell before passing others.
Park responsibly to keep pathways clear for others.
Turn on your lights from sunset to sunrise and use reflectors.
With files from The Canadian Press
Lead photo: Mack Ramirez
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