Riders of privately owned electric scooters in Paris now face mandatory safety requirements as authorities move to address a significant increase in traffic accidents. Under the new regulations, it is compulsory for individuals operating e-scooters on public roads to wear an approved helmet and a high-visibility vest. Failure to comply with these rules will result in fines of €135 (£129) for not wearing a helmet, while riders failing to wear a vest or use required retro-reflectors will face a €35 (£30) penalty.
These measures come as police respond to what they describe as a concerning rise in serious and fatal incidents involving motorized transport devices, which also include electric unicycles and hoverboards. According to figures from France's road safety watchdog, 79 people were killed in e-scooter accidents last year, marking a sharp increase from the 45 fatalities recorded the previous year. Furthermore, official data indicates that approximately 1,100 people were injured in e-scooter-related accidents in Paris during the same period, representing a 33% rise compared to the year before.
While Paris famously banned for-hire rental e-scooters in 2023 following a city-wide referendum—which saw 90% of voters back the ban despite an 8% turnout—privately owned models remain legal and are widely used. France holds the highest rate of private e-scooter ownership in Europe, with an estimated 2.5 million owners as of 2023 and hundreds of thousands more units purchased since. Although exact figures for the capital are not kept, the density of these devices remains high.
Existing traffic laws in Paris continue to prohibit e-scooter use for children under 14, forbid the carrying of passengers, and enforce a maximum speed limit of 25km/h (16mph). The requirement for helmets and high-visibility gear is already in place across several other French regions, including Vaucluse, Alpes-Maritimes, and Seine-et-Marne. Other European cities have also moved to restrict rental e-scooters, with Madrid outlawing them in 2024 and Brussels announcing a similar ban to take effect in June.
Related Articles
Mr. Udoy is a professional Web Developer and Blogger with 7+ years of experience in the tech world. He specializes in web architecture and digital storytelling. As the driving force behind worldincidents.com, he focuses on delivering high-quality, well-researched content to a global audience.