People riding electric scooters on the streets of Paris must now wear safety gear or pay costly fines, as local authorities work to stop a dangerous spike in road accidents.
Under the new regulations, all e-scooter riders on public roads must wear an approved helmet and a high-visibility vest. Riders who fail to wear a helmet face a fine of €135, while those caught without a high-visibility vest or reflective gear face a €35 fine. The new safety rules also apply to other personal electric transport, such as electric unicycles and hoverboards.
French authorities introduced the strict measures following a troubling rise in serious crashes. Figures from France's road safety watchdog show that 79 people were killed in e-scooter accidents last year, up sharply from 45 deaths the year before. In Paris, around 1,100 people were injured in e-scooter accidents last year, representing a 33% increase from the previous year.
Electric scooters remain very popular among Paris commuters navigating the city's narrow, busy streets. Although Paris banned rental e-scooters in 2023 after a public vote, privately owned scooters are still allowed. France has the highest private e-scooter ownership in Europe, with an estimated 2.5 million owners across the country.
The new gear mandates add to existing safety laws in Paris, which already ban riders under the age of 14, prohibit carrying passengers, and limit top speeds to 25 kilometers per hour (16 mph).