The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has called on parents to avoid purchasing e-scooters, scramblers, or quad bikes as Christmas gifts for children due to significant safety risks.
New laws introduced in May stipulate that e-scooter users must be at least 16 years old, and these vehicles are prohibited on footpaths and from carrying passengers.
Between January 2020 and December 2023, four e-scooter riders were killed, and 117 people were seriously injured on Irish roads.
Additionally, one other road user was killed, and 20 more were seriously injured in collisions involving e-scooters during the same period.
These figures underscore the dangers of gifting such vehicles to children who may not have the maturity or skills to use them safely.
The safety risks are equally concerning for quad bikes and scramblers. Between 2020 and 2023, there were 49 serious injuries and three fatalities in collisions involving quad bikes or scramblers on public roads.
RSA Chief Executive Sam Waide emphasised the importance of prioritising children’s safety over gifting potentially hazardous vehicles.
“The greatest gift parents can give this year is ensuring their children’s safety,” Waide added.