Paris makes helmets mandatory for e-scooter riders

Paris authorities have introduced new rules for owners of private e-scooters: from now on, riding without a helmet will result in a €135 fine (roughly 3,300 CZK), the French capital's police announced. The measure comes amid a sharp rise in the number of severe and fatal accidents involving these vehicles.

A rising death toll on the roads

Although rental e-scooters vanished from the streets of Paris back in 2023 — after residents voted to ban them on safety grounds — privately owned scooters remain widely used. According to police, a significant share of accidents involving them result in serious or fatal injuries.

The number of deaths among so-called "vulnerable road users" has surged over the past year: 79 people died, compared with 45 the year before. The number of serious injuries from e-scooter accidents in Paris reached 1,100 cases — a 33% increase compared with 2024.

Fines and rules

Besides penalising riders without helmets, police will also fine those who ride without a reflective vest or other visibility gear — such offenders face a €35 fine (about 850 CZK). The new requirements apply around the clock on all public roads in the city.

Paris is not the only major European city tightening controls on e-scooters. Madrid banned rental scooters back in 2024, while Brussels plans to introduce a similar ban starting next year. In Prague, a ban on e-scooter rental services has been in effect since January of this year.

Source: novinky.cz