RSA Warns Against Buying E-Scooters, Quads and Scramblers for Children This Christmas
RSA urges families not to buy e-scooters, quads or scramblers for children this Christmas as they become leading cause of child brain injuries.
The Road Safety Authority has launched a stark safety campaign today, urging families not to purchase e-scooters, quad bikes or scrambler bikes for children under 16 this Christmas.
With the Late Late Toy Show airing tomorrow evening, the RSA is emphasising that powered vehicles are not toys and pose serious dangers to young people who lack the skills needed to operate them safely.
The campaign, developed in collaboration with Dr Irwin Gill, Consultant in Neurodisability at CHI at Temple Street Hospital, uses the voices of imaginary children who have suffered injuries from these vehicles. The messages appear across outdoor, digital and social media platforms alongside simple imagery of e-scooters, quads and scramblers.
The initiative draws on real clinical experiences from Temple Street, where e-scooters have become the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among children admitted to Ireland's national neurosurgical centre.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA, said:
"The greatest gift parents can give this year is ensuring the safety of their children. Parents should not consider purchasing a quad, scrambler or an e-scooter for any child this Christmas."
The campaign's central message asks families to pause before buying powered vehicles for children and consider whether they are legal, safe and appropriate. The RSA stresses that a Christmas gift should bring joy, not endanger a child's future.
This latest initiative follows a separate RSA and CHI advertising campaign launched in November specifically warning against buying e-scooters for children under 16.
