France considers mandatory helmet rules for scooters and cyclists

Authorities in France are considering or implementing new safety mandates regarding helmets for micro-mobility users. In the Nord department, Prefect Bertrand Gaume has decreed that wearing a helmet will become mandatory for users of personal motorized transport devices (EDPM), including electric scooters, starting September 1, 2026. This measure aims to reduce the severity of injuries following an increase in accidents. Violators will face a 35 euro fine.

In Brittany, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, the Breton minister delegated to citizenship, has proposed generalizing mandatory helmet use for all cyclists, a rule that currently only applies to those under twelve years old. While some residents support the move to prevent serious head injuries and reduce healthcare costs, others argue that helmets should remain a matter of personal responsibility, particularly for short trips within urban areas.