St. George’s sunny weather, neighborhood streets, bike paths, and places like Washington Wheels Park make it easy for children to ride year-round. E-bikes and e-scooters can be part of that fun, but they also move faster than many children, teens, and parents realize.
That’s why Utah’s updated electric mobility law, House Bill 381 (HB 381), is important for families. Effective May 6, 2026, the law added clearer rules for e-bikes, e-scooters, and other electric mobility devices, including helmet requirements, age restrictions, and regulations for higher-powered vehicles.
For families in Southern Utah, now is a good time to review the rules before the next ride.
“E-bike- and e-scooter-related injuries are skyrocketing nationwide, as these modes of transportation are becoming more accessible and popular among kids and teenagers,” says Devan Stucki, MD, a pediatrician at Intermountain Health and St. George Regional Hospital. “Those trends are even more prevalent here in St. George given our year-round sunny weather and how easy it is to be outside all the time.”
What Utah’s New Law Means for Kids
Utah’s updated law provides clearer guidance for families using e-bikes and e-scooters.
One of the most significant changes is helmet use. Riders under age 21 must wear a helmet when operating an e-bike or e-scooter on public roads. The law also maintains several age restrictions:
• Children under age 8 may not ride.
• Riders under age 14 must be supervised.
• Riders under age 16 may not operate a Class 3 e-bike.
• Impairment laws apply as well. Operating an electric mobility device while impaired can result in DUI charges.
The takeaway is simple: before your child rides, know what type of device they are using, where they are allowed to ride, and what safety rules apply.
Why Speed Matters
“Speed is far and away the biggest difference maker in e-bike and e-scooter injuries compared to regular bikes and scooters,” Dr. Stucki says. “The faster a kid is traveling when they crash and get injured directly increases their chance of a serious injury, especially head trauma.”
The biggest difference between traditional bicycles and electric devices is speed. Higher speeds mean less reaction time, more severe crashes, and a greater risk of serious injury. While a regular bicycle or scooter can certainly cause injuries, e-bikes and e-scooters often travel much faster than many children are accustomed to handling.
Why E-Device Injuries Can Be More Serious
While cuts, scrapes, sprains, and broken bones are common, head injuries remain the greatest concern. “Often, head injuries or traumatic brain injuries occur, which are the most serious and can drastically change a child’s life,” Dr. Stucki says.
Dr. Stucki notes that e-devices are associated with higher rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and traumatic brain injury than traditional bicycles and scooters. They may also increase the risk of internal injuries.
Make Helmets Rule Number One
If your family changes only one thing, start with helmets. “Helmet use is alarmingly low among all wheeled sport riders, and this includes e-devices,” Dr. Stucki says.
That’s especially concerning because helmets work. “Helmets reduce the risk of head and brain injuries by up to 90 percent, and this is even more important on e-devices where the kids are crashing at higher speeds and are at higher risk of serious injury,” Dr. Stucki says.
Choose a helmet designed for e-bike or e-scooter use, make sure it fits properly, and replace it after any significant crash.
Help Kids Build Skills Before Riding
Riding safely requires maturity, judgment, and practice. Dr. Stucki encourages parents to consider whether their child can follow traffic rules, make safe decisions, and understand the risks associated with higher speeds. Before riding in traffic or crowded areas, children should demonstrate that they can start, stop, turn, brake, and safely navigate their surroundings.
Parents should establish clear expectations for riding in neighborhoods, parks, bike lanes, and multiuse paths. Children Walk-ins welcome should ride with traffic, watch for pedestrians, and slow down around others.
Watch for Risky Habits
Common risky behaviors include:
• Riding without a helmet
• Wearing improper footwear
• Riding double
• Riding too fast
• Riding at night without proper lighting
• Riding into traffic • Riding while distracted by a phone
• Riding without adequate experience
Setting clear expectations before a ride begins can help reduce unnecessary risks.
Let’s Keep Kids Active and Safer
E-bikes and e-scooters can be a great way for kids to stay active, spend time outdoors, and enjoy everything St. George has to offer. The goal is not to take that away. It is to help families build safer habits around it.
With Utah’s new law now in effect, this is a good time to review the rules, check helmet fit, and help young riders develop safe habits before they hit the road.