Helmets and High-Visibility Vests Now Mandatory for E-Scooters in Greater Paris

Paris – 08/08/2026: Anyone travelling in Greater Paris on an e-scooter, Segway or hoverboard has been required to wear a protective helmet and reflective clothing or equipment since Friday, August 7. The order issued by the police prefecture applies in the capital and the three departments of the Petite Couronne: Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne. The requirement applies at all times of day, regardless of visibility conditions.

The regional rules therefore go beyond France’s general traffic regulations. Nationwide, adult users of motorized personal mobility devices are strongly advised to wear a helmet, but are generally not required to do so. They are normally required to wear reflective clothing or equipment at night or during the day when visibility is poor outside built-up areas. In Paris and the neighbouring departments, both are now mandatory equipment for every journey.

The measure affects privately used e-scooters as well as Segways and hoverboards, provided they are classified as motorized personal mobility devices. Ordinary non-motorized scooters do not fall within this vehicle category. The rule has little practical relevance for rental e-scooters in Paris itself: the capital ended their rental in 2023 following a public consultation. Private devices were unaffected and remain present on the roads.

The new safety requirement supplements existing regulations. Users must be at least 14 years old, and the vehicles’ design speed is limited to 25 kilometres per hour. Third-party liability insurance is mandatory. Carrying a second person is prohibited because the devices are approved for only one rider. Headphones and mobile phones may not be used in the hand while riding.

The choice of route is also regulated. Within built-up areas, existing cycle paths and cycle lanes must be used. If these are unavailable, the vehicles may generally travel on roads with a speed limit of no more than 50 kilometres per hour. Pavements remain off-limits unless the relevant municipality has authorised an exception. Where such permission exists, riders must travel at walking pace and must neither endanger nor obstruct pedestrians.

The police prefecture justified the tighter rules by citing the protection of riders and their improved visibility. In the dense traffic of the metropolitan region, e-scooter users often share limited space with bicycles, buses, delivery vans and pedestrians. Anyone now travelling between Paris and the Petite Couronne must wear a helmet and reflective equipment throughout the entire journey. The decisive measure is the prefectural order published on August 7.