France electric scooter safety regulations

In July 2026 French authorities began tightening electric‑scooter rules after a series of serious accidents. The town of Péronne issued an order on 3 July requiring riders aged 14 and older to wear an approved helmet and a reflective item, with fines for non‑compliance. A department‑wide decree from the Somme prefecture followed on 23 July, making helmets mandatory throughout the department.

Two days later, the city of Dax adopted a municipal order (effective 4 June) that added time‑of‑day bans in pedestrian zones, a 25 km/h speed limit, a minimum rider age of 14, a single‑rider rule, and a prohibition on sidewalk riding, backed by fines up to €135. The Manche prefecture announced it would introduce a similar compulsory‑helmet rule at the start of the school year, joining earlier mandates in Alpes‑Maritimes, Nord and Pas‑de‑Calais. These measures illustrate a growing nationwide push in France to improve rider safety and protect pedestrians.