Over the past week, at least two children riding electric scooters were hit by cars in Harris County.
On Tuesday, deputies with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office responded to a crash in Spring in which 10-year-old girl rode her electric scooter into an intersection, failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by a car. Authorities responded to another crash Friday in which a 14-year-old riding a scooter was hit by a car in The Woodlands.
Both were taken to nearby hospitals.
The crashes come as Houston-area cities and schools tighten rules on e-scooters amid complaints and safety concerns involving young riders. The regulations vary widely, from Houston’s nighttime curfew to restrictions in Pearland and Conroe ISD.
In Houston, City Council approved a citywide nighttime curfew on e-scooters and certain other vehicles from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. In Pearland, parents can be cited if their child violates city rules for riding an e-scooter or similar device. In Conroe ISD, students are banned from riding e-bikes and e-scooters on district campuses.