Unlike motorcycles ridden by licensed drivers, many recreational e-scooters used by teenagers are smaller and often lack visibility features.
Children riding e-scooters and recreational motorbikes on residential streets face higher accident risks, road safety experts warn. They explain that drivers may look directly at young riders but still fail to notice them in time to prevent a collision.
The alert follows a warning from Dubai Police advising teenagers against using motorbikes and electric mobility devices in residential areas, especially during Ramadan evenings when outdoor activity increases.
According to road safety expert Dr Mustafa Aldah, the risk stems not only from children’s limited road awareness but also from how the human brain interprets what drivers see on the road.
“Looking but not seeing”: The hidden risk of children on e-scooters
“It’s not actually the eyes that do the seeing, it’s the brain,” said Dr Mustafa Aldah, a road safety expert. “Drivers are trained over many years to recognise cars, trucks, and full-sized motorcycles. Smaller mobility devices like e-scooters or mini bikes are not always registered immediately by the brain.”
He explained that this creates a well-known crash phenomenon called ‘looking but not seeing,’ where a driver may visually scan the road but fail to recognise a smaller or unexpected road user.
“As a result, a driver can look directly at a child on an e-bike but not consciously register the danger because they weren’t expecting to see that type of vehicle,” he added.
Smaller size, bigger risk
Unlike motorcycles operated by licensed riders, many recreational bikes used by teenagers are smaller and often lack visibility features such as lights or reflective gear. Young riders rarely wear high-visibility clothing, making it even harder for motorists to spot them.
Dr Aldah noted that even professionally trained delivery riders who undergo licensing and wear protective equipment continue to be involved in serious accidents.
“When trained riders with full safety gear are still getting injured, you can understand how the risk increases many times when an untrained teenager rides without knowing road rules or wearing protection,” he said.
Children unable to judge danger
Experts warn that children and teenagers often lack the cognitive ability and reaction time needed to navigate shared roads safely, especially where vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists mix.
Residential streets may feel safer due to lower speeds, but unpredictable traffic, parked cars, and limited visibility can quickly make them high-risk areas.
“The human body is not as robust as people think,” Dr Aldah said. “A simple fall from standing height onto pavement can cause serious head injury or even be fatal.”
Calls for greater awareness
Authorities like Dubai Police and safety experts urge parents to closely supervise how and where children use electric mobility devices, and to ensure proper safety gear is always worn.
Dr Aldah emphasised the need for awareness before stricter regulations are imposed:
“All it takes is one incident in a community for people to realise the danger. Let’s wake people up before that tragedy happens.”
