Paris tells e-scooter riders to wear safety gear or face fines

What the report says

Paris police have introduced tighter safety rules for people riding electric scooters and other personal electric devices on public roads, according to BBC World News. The new measures are aimed at cutting serious and fatal accidents after officials reported a sharp rise in deaths and injuries linked to e-scooters in the French capital.

Under the rules, riders must wear an approved helmet and a high-visibility vest, or use retro-reflective gear, or face fines. BBC reported that the penalty is €135 for not wearing a helmet and €35 for not wearing the required vest or reflective equipment. The rules also extend to devices such as electric unicycles and hoverboards.

The report said police cited road safety watchdog figures showing 79 e-scooter deaths in Paris last year, up from 45 the year before, while around 1,100 people were injured, a 33% increase. The city had already banned rental e-scooters in 2023, but privately owned scooters remain allowed. Existing Paris rules also bar riders under 14, ban passengers and set a top speed of 25km/h.

The move reflects wider concern in Paris and other European cities about scooter safety and pavement obstruction. As background, several French regions already require helmets and high-visibility gear, while other cities have also moved to restrict or ban rental scooters.