NRMA CEO Rob Carter said whilst scooters can be a lot of fun, they can cause serious injury to the riders and others if they are not ridden in a safe manner.

“It is recommended that parents encourage children under the age of eight to exercise great care when riding scooters and supervise them carefully as they are yet to fully develop their peripheral vision and skills in judging speed, distance and the direction of sound,” Mr Carter said.

Mr Carter stressed the importance of protective gear to help avoid serious injury.

“Parents should also encourage their children to wear protective clothing such as a helmet, elbow and knee pads to help reduce the impact of any accidents,” he said.

Practising away from footpaths and roadways is also recommended.

“Ideally children should get practise riding in parks and playgrounds before they ride on public pathways. They should also be encouraged to build up their speed slowly and to practise turning corners and using their brake,” Mr Carter said.

“Children can reach quite high speeds on these scooters and if they do collide with a pedestrian or vehicle the potential for serious injury is quite high.

“Children should not ride on roads so as to avoid hazards like traffic which can lead to serious or fatal collisions. If riding on the footpath, children need to be very careful of pedestrians.

“Other safety guidelines are to advise children to watch the terrain and avoid riding through water, sand and gravel as they can cause the front wheel to stop which can result in a fall.

“While scooters are a lot of fun with some potential dangers, by taking a few simple precautions children can enjoy their scooters without serious injury,” Mr Carter said.