E-scooter safety risks have drawn renewed scrutiny following coronial findings and engineering studies highlighting unstable design flaws, high center-of-gravity hazards, and rising injury claims across urban transport networks. According to AUT mechanical engineering lecturer Dr Milan Paudel, e-scooter designs feature a dangerous combination of small wheels, a short wheelbase, and a high center of rider gravity that makes them significantly harder to control than bicycles.
## Design Flaws and Mechanical Instability
The mechanical layout of standard e-scooters introduces severe balance challenges for riders navigating everyday urban terrain. Unlike bicycles, which offer three points of contact and a seated posture that dampens forward motion, e-scooters rely on two points of contact via a standing deck and low handlebars.
“Riders constantly have to provide some kind of control, either by moving their body left and right, or continuously adjusting the steering to maintain the balance,” Dr Paudel stated.
When riders encounter small obstacles like potholes or loose pebbles on footpaths or roads, the device’s small wheels cause the steering to become chaotic. This frequently results in riders being thrown off.
Pro Tip: Always inspect your e-scooter’s air brakes and tyre wear regularly. Routine maintenance significantly reduces the risk of mechanical failure while riding.
## Rising Injury Claims and Severe Head Trauma Risks
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) data shows a sharp upward trend in e-scooter-related injury claims and associated financial costs. A total of 3,992 new claims were filed in 2025, resulting in nearly $16 million in active costs. During the first six months of 2026, from January 1 to June 30, riders lodged 2,761 new claims with 3,295 active claims totaling over $9.2 million.
Research conducted by Dr Paudel indicates that e-scooter riders face a 30% to 50% probability of severe head injury when traveling between 10 km/h and 15 km/h. That risk increases sharply to 91% past 15 km/h.
Corronial findings released this week examined the September 2019 death of 23-year-old waiter Toben Hunt. The inquiry found that Hunt was traveling at 25 km/h without a helmet and was four times over the legal driving limit for alcohol when he was thrown over the handlebars, fracturing his skull and bruising his brain upon hitting the road. In June, another fatal e-scooter crash occurred in Christchurch without the involvement of any other vehicle.
Did You Know? Pedestrians account for only about 10% of e-scooter-related injuries. Roughly 60% of all crashes are isolated accidents caused by riders hitting surface obstacles and losing control.
## Speed, Alcohol Impairment, and Regulatory Grey Areas
Legal speed limits and power outputs create enforcement challenges that exacerbate urban safety risks. New Zealand regulations mandate a maximum combined power output of 300W for standard scooters, while rental companies often cap operating speeds. However, Dr Paudel identified a regulatory “grey area” allowing users to easily modify motors or purchase high-powered models online that reach 40 km/h to 45 km/h.
Alcohol consumption significantly compounds these dangers. According to Dr Paudel, impairment slows reaction times, destroys postural stability, and encourages risky behaviors like speeding, abrupt steering, and weaving through crowds. Furthermore, carrying two people on a single scooter shifts the impact force during a crash, increasing injury severity for both the front and rear riders.
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## Frequently Asked Questions
### Why are e-scooters more unstable than bicycles?
According to Dr Milan Paudel, e-scooters feature smaller wheels, a shorter wheelbase, a high center of gravity for standing riders, and only two points of contact. These factors make them much harder to balance and prone to external disturbances than seated bicycles.
### What is the risk of head injury from an e-scooter crash?
Research shows that traveling at speeds between 10 km/h and 15 km/h carries a 30% to 50% chance of a severe head injury. At speeds exceeding 15 km/h, that risk escalates to 91%.
### How many e-scooter injury claims has ACC processed recently?
ACC recorded 3,992 new claims in 2025, costing nearly $16 million. In the first half of 2026, riders lodged 2,761 new claims totaling over $9.2 million in active costs.
### What are the main recommendations to improve e-scooter safety?
Experts and coronial reports recommend making helmet use mandatory rather than recommended, increasing the availability of seated scooters, enforcing strict motor power limits, implementing routine mechanical maintenance, and educating young people on safety behaviors.
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