‘Jailbreaking’ adds dangerous element to speed of e-scooters

Some people are using software or hardware to remove or alter factory settings

Published Aug 04, 2026  •  Last updated 3 hours ago  •  2 minute read

Bird e-scooters are shown near downtown Windsor on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Photo by (Dan Janisse/The Windsor Star)

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When it comes to the dangers of e-scooters, social media is where certain actors have potentially added headaches to a medical system obligated to repair the damage excessive speed causes.  

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SickKids says it has seen an increase in e-scooter injuries in recent years — and those who make these devices faster than is legal have not helped matters. 

“(E-scooters) are often marketed as toys, and they are kind of perceived as toys, but we really need to reframe our thinking that these are kind of high-speed motor vehicles,” Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, pediatric emergency physician at the Hospital for Sick Children, told the Toronto Sun. 

E-scooters come with built-in limiters, but ‘jailbreaking’ them — using software or hardware to remove factory-set speed-limiters — is a common practice. Websites such as YouTube and Facebook host how-to videos on jailbreaking e-scooters. There are also videos available discussing the easiest scooters to jailbreak.

One European website described what an e-scooter can do when speed-limiters are hijacked.  

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“That’s right, with a 500W 36V electric motor, the Jailbreak can glide over the asphalt with great comfort, saving unevenness and slopes of all kinds,” the website wrote. “It also has a 36V 12Ah lithium battery, which allows it to reach a range of up to 40 kms, ideal for everyday use.” 

The rules in Ontario

In Ontario, the rules state that electric motors can be a maximum of 500 watts, with a maximum operating speed of 24 km/h on a level surface. Operators must be a minimum of 16 years old. Helmets are mandatory for those under 18.  

“If people are using them, the best thing they can do to minimize injuries is wear a helmet, follow the rules of the road, don’t use them while on any substances,” Rosenfield said. “Use them as designed and don’t jailbreak them.” 

For municipalities that opted into the province’s e-scooter pilot program back in 2020, these easy-to-use machines are ubiquitous. Toronto chose not to participate in the pilot program in 2021 and again in 2024, but they are numerous here too, even though they are illegal to operate in the city.  

“It is the combination of speed plus power that is resulting in what we are seeing in the emergency department, which are major injuries,” Rosenfield said. “We want parents to understand that these are not toys and they should not be buying them for their children.” 

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