Key facts
- Paris has introduced new safety rules for privately owned electric scooter riders.
- Riders must now wear helmets and high-visibility vests on public roads.
- Fines will be issued for non-compliance: €135 for no helmet, €35 for no vest.
- The regulations extend to electric unicycles and hoverboards.
- The measures aim to curb a rise in serious and fatal e-scooter accidents.
Paris is mandating safety gear for privately owned electric scooter riders, including helmets and high-visibility vests, with fines for non-compliance. This measure comes in response to a significant increase in accidents, fatalities, and injuries involving these vehicles in the French capital.
Last year, 79 people died in e-scooter accidents in Paris, a sharp rise from 45 the previous year. Additionally, approximately 1,100 individuals were injured, marking a 33% increase. These figures prompted the new regulations aimed at addressing the concerning trend.
The new rules apply to privately owned e-scooters, electric unicycles, and hoverboards. Riders caught without an approved helmet will face a €135 fine, while those without a high-vis vest or retro-reflectors will be fined €35. Existing regulations in Paris already prohibit riders under 14, carrying passengers, and exceeding a 25 km/h speed limit.
Paris banned rental e-scooters in 2023 due to safety concerns, a decision supported by a city-wide referendum. Despite this, private e-scooter ownership remains high in France, which has the highest rate in Europe with 2.5 million owners as of 2023. Several other French regions already enforce mandatory helmet and vest rules. Other European cities, such as Madrid and Brussels, have also moved to ban rental e-scooters.