Belgium will require helmets for riders of e-scooters capable of exceeding 20 km/h starting September 1. The measure aims to reduce head injuries, citing international studies and accident statistics.
The new regulation aims to enhance rider safety and reduce the severity of injuries sustained in e-scooter accidents, reflecting a growing concern over the proliferation of these devices and their associated risks.
Belgium is implementing a new regulation making helmets compulsory for riders of faster e-scooters starting September 1. The mandate specifically targets motorized personal transport devices with a maximum design speed exceeding 20 kilometers per hour, irrespective of their current travel speed. Riders will have the option to wear either a moped helmet or a bicycle helmet, as long as it provides protection to the temples and the back of the head.
The federal mobility ministry cited mounting evidence from international studies and accident statistics indicating a high incidence of severe head and brain injuries in electric scooter crashes. Belgium currently permits e-scooters with a maximum speed of 25 km/h on public roads, and the new rule focuses on models within the 20 to 25 km/h range.
This development follows previous efforts to regulate e-scooter use in Belgium, including tightened rules in 2022 that prohibited most individuals under 16 from riding, banned passengers and pavement riding, and introduced new parking restrictions. In a related move, the Brussels government recently decided against banning shared e-scooters from its streets starting September 2026, allowing them to continue operating until the end of that year.