- Electric scooter riders in Paris must now wear helmets and reflective gear under new rules introduced after a significant rise in injuries involving the vehicles, police said.
- In 2025, deaths among unprotected road users rose to 79 from 45 the previous year, according to Paris police.
- Approximately 1,100 e-scooter users were seriously injured in 2025, marking a 33% increase from the previous year.
- The new rules, which took effect in Paris and its inner suburbs, require riders to wear helmets and high-visibility vests at all times on public roads.
- Police announced fines of €135 for failing to wear a helmet and €35 for not wearing reflective gear.
- Paris banned rental e-scooters in 2023 after a referendum where 90% of voters supported the ban due to safety concerns.
- Despite the ban on rental e-scooters, privately owned devices remain widely used in the city.
Paris has introduced new regulations mandating helmets and reflective gear for e-scooter riders as part of efforts to combat a troubling rise in accidents. In 2025, 79 fatalities were reported among users of motorised mobility devices, a significant increase from 45 deaths in 2024, according to Paris police.14
The new rules, effective immediately, apply to all riders of motorised mobility devices, including e-scooters, Segways, and hoverboards. Police noted a 33% increase in serious injuries, with approximately 1,100 e-scooter users injured last year alone. The regulations come after the city banned rental e-scooters in 2023 due to safety concerns, leaving privately owned devices still in use.367
Under the new law, riders face a €135 fine for not wearing an approved helmet and a €35 fine for failing to wear a high-visibility vest or reflective gear. Police emphasized that these measures are crucial for enhancing safety on public roads, especially given the alarming rise in serious and fatal accidents involving these vehicles.5
The regulations also extend to other electric transportation devices, such as electric unicycles and hoverboards. Despite the ban on rental e-scooters, private ownership remains high, with 2.5 million e-scooters owned in France as of 2023, according to EU data.
“The mandate follows a 33% jump in serious injuries to about 1,100 last year, with police citing a significant proportion of fatal head injuries. Rental e-scooters have been banned since 2023, but private ownership in France is Europe's highest at 2.5 million as of 2023.”
