Paris orders e-scooter users to wear helmets, reflective gear

Electric scooter riders in Paris are now required to wear helmets and reflective gear under new regulations implemented on Friday. These rules follow a significant increase in injuries associated with the popular two-wheeled devices.

The measures apply to anyone operating motorized mobility devices, including e-scooters, Segways, and hoverboards, in Paris and its inner suburbs. While rental e-scooters were banned in 2023 due to safety concerns, privately owned scooters remain widely used. Police stated that the new mandate was prompted by a rise in accidents, a "significant proportion" of which resulted in serious or fatal head injuries.

Data from France's road safety watchdog indicates a sharp rise in fatalities among users of motorized mobility devices. In 2025, 79 individuals died, an increase from 45 the previous year. Additionally, approximately 1,100 e-scooter users sustained serious injuries in 2025, marking a 33% increase from 2024. Failure to wear a helmet incurs a fine of 135 euros ($156), while riding without high-visibility vest or reflective gear results in a 35-euro fine.

Paris is not alone in its efforts to regulate e-scooters. Other European cities have also tightened restrictions. Madrid banned rental e-scooters in 2024, and Brussels announced similar measures in June. These regulations aim to enhance safety for riders, often categorized as "unprotected road users," amidst growing concerns over their vulnerability.

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a significant proportion