Paris has introduced new safety rules requiring users of e-scooters and other motorised personal mobility devices to wear helmets and reflective gear on public roads.

The regulations took effect on August 7 in Paris and its inner suburbs. They apply to privately owned e-scooters as well as other motorised mobility devices, including Segways, electric unicycles and hoverboards.

According to Paris police, the new measures follow a significant increase in accidents involving these devices, with a substantial proportion resulting in serious or fatal head injuries.

Police cited figures from France’s road safety watchdog showing that deaths among so-called unprotected road users, particularly users of motorised mobility devices, rose to 79 in 2025, compared with 45 the previous year.

Around 1,100 e-scooter users were also seriously injured in Paris in 2025, representing a 33% increase from the previous year.

Fines for Non-Compliance

Under the new rules, e-scooter users must wear an approved helmet as well as a high-visibility vest or other reflective equipment when riding on public roads.

Failure to wear a helmet carries a €135 fine, while riders without a high-visibility vest or reflective equipment face a €35 fine.

The requirements apply at all times when the devices are used on public roads.

Paris banned rental e-scooters in 2023 following a city-wide vote over safety concerns. Privately owned e-scooters, however, remain permitted.

The city’s existing rules prohibit e-scooter use by children under 14, carrying passengers and riding at speeds above 25 km/h.

Other European Cities Tighten E-Scooter Rules

Paris is among several European cities that have introduced tighter measures for e-scooters.

Madrid banned rental e-scooters in 2024, while Brussels announced in June that it would also move to prohibit rental e-scooters.

The new Paris rules add mandatory protective equipment to the restrictions already governing privately owned motorised mobility devices in the French capital. 

Photo: Lime