Paris mandates helmets and reflective gear for e-scooter riders

Authorities in Paris and its surrounding suburbs have introduced strict new safety mandates for users of personal motorized mobility devices, including electric scooters, hoverboards, and Segways. Effective immediately, riders are required to wear a helmet and high-visibility or reflective gear at all times on public roads.

Failure to comply with these regulations will result in significant fines: €135 for not wearing a helmet and €35 for failing to use reflective equipment. This crackdown follows a sharp increase in accidents and fatalities. Data indicates that approximately 1,100 e-scooter users were seriously injured in 2025, representing a 33% increase from the previous year, while 79 vulnerable road users were killed in France during the same period.

While Paris banned shared rental e-scooters in 2023 following a municipal referendum, privately owned devices remain widely used. Similar safety trends and legislative tightening are being observed in other European cities, such as Madrid and Brussels.