France: Helmet mandates for electric scooters in Côte-d’Or and Moselle

Authorities in the French departments of Côte-d’Or and Moselle have implemented mandatory helmet laws for operators of Personal Motorized Displacement Devices (EDPM), including electric scooters, hoverboards, and monorails.

In Côte-d’Or, the requirement took effect on October 16, 2026, following a rise in accidents. Between January and September 2026, the department recorded 44 accidents involving EDPMs, resulting in 47 injuries and four hospitalizations. Violators face a 35 euro fine, though officials noted that initial enforcement will focus on educational warnings.

In Moselle, the mandate applies to the entire department starting November 1, 2026. This follows 19 recorded accidents in 2026 that left 20 people injured, 12 of whom were seriously hurt. Non-compliance in urban areas carries a 35 euro fine. Other existing regulations include a minimum age of 14, a 25 km/h speed limit, and prohibitions against carrying passengers or using sidewalks and headphones.