Paris fines e-scooter riders without helmets as deaths jump to 79
What's new: The rules took effect Aug. 7 across Paris and its inner suburbs, with €135 helmet fines and €35 reflective-gear penalties.
Paris has begun fining e-scooter riders who do not wear helmets and reflective gear, expanding safety rules after a sharp rise in deaths and serious injuries. The order took effect Aug. 7 in the capital and its inner suburbs and applies to motorized mobility devices including e-scooters, Segways, hoverboards and electric unicycles. Paris police cited road safety data showing 79 deaths among unprotected road users using such devices in 2025, up from 45 a year earlier. About 1,100 e-scooter users were seriously injured, a 33% increase. Riders face a €135 fine for not wearing a helmet and €35 for lacking a high-visibility vest or retro-reflective gear. Rental e-scooters were banned in Paris in 2023, but privately owned devices remain common.