Authorities are reminding the public that electric kick scooters require riders to be at least 16 years old, and parents are prohibited from allowing younger children to operate them. This warning comes after a 12-year-old child was injured in a collision with a vehicle in North Vancouver on Wednesday.
Incident Details
At approximately 5 p.m., North Vancouver RCMP responded to a report of a crash involving an e-scooter and a vehicle in the 3100-block of Colwood Drive. Police allege the 12-year-old was riding an e-scooter on Colwood Drive and struck a black VW Jetta. The child was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Legal Consequences
RCMP say the child's guardian was issued several violation tickets for allowing someone under 16 to ride an e-scooter. Authorities emphasize that e-scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, and parents cannot let younger children ride them.
Safety Regulations
E-scooter riders are also prohibited from using sidewalks or crosswalks unless a sign or traffic control device permits it. Riders must wear helmets, not exceed 25 km/h, and use a horn when passing pedestrians.
Rising Injuries Among Youth
It is not uncommon to see youths riding e-scooters on streets and sidewalks across Metro Vancouver, and authorities report that injuries among youth are increasing. According to Trauma Services B.C., there has been a clear upward trend in e-scooter-related injuries among children and youth, with severe injuries rising from fewer than five cases in 2021 to 10 cases in 2024.
