Paris Mandates Helmets, High-Vis Vests for E-Scooter Riders

Paris has implemented new safety regulations requiring riders of privately owned electric scooters and other motorized personal mobility devices to wear helmets and high-visibility vests on public roads. The rules, which took effect on Friday, August 7, 2026, in Paris and its inner suburbs, are a direct response to a sharp increase in serious and fatal accidents involving these vehicles.

According to data from France's road safety watchdog cited by Paris police, 79 people were killed in electric scooter accidents in 2025, up from 45 fatalities the previous year. In Paris alone, approximately 1,100 people were injured in such crashes last year, representing a 33% increase year-over-year. Police stated that a "significant proportion" of these accidents involved serious or fatal head injuries.

Under the new order, riders caught without an approved helmet face a fine of 135 euros (approximately $156). Those without a high-visibility vest or other required retroreflective gear can be fined 35 euros. The regulations apply at all times on public roads and cover a range of devices, including electric scooters, Segways, hoverboards, and electric unicycles. Notably, the requirements do...