Helmets for electric scooter users should be mandated by law ("Should e-scooter users wear helmets?"; March 23).

The use of helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 per cent. We should think of helmets as seat belts in cars - they may be a hassle to put on, but this extra effort is worth it, to minimise injuries.

E-scooters have small wheels, which cause the braking system to not always be reliable, because the brake cannot grip enough surface area on a small wheel.

This, coupled with the low clearance of scooters, means that losing control is quite likely, particularly when riding over rough surfaces such as cobblestones or large cracks in the pavement.

Just going over a stick can cause the wheel to get stuck and the user to fall.

Cheaper scooters may have dangerous design flaws, such as flimsy folding mechanisms that may give way under pressure, or sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.

Falls are the most common cause of injury for people using e-scooters. Helmets provide a layer of protection. They should not be viewed as an inconvenience, but as a safety tool.

It is a matter of life and death. It is not worth risking a serious or permanent injury just because we do not want to look awkward riding our e-scooter while wearing a helmet.

Francis Cheng