Electric Scooters: Two Deputies Seek to Toughen Regulations

Helmet, legal age, speed, two deputies want to change the current conditions for electric scooters and other PMDs.

Danielle Brulebois and Thomas Rudigoz, deputies from Jura and Rhône respectively, discussed on Tuesday in the media a bill proposing to modify the access conditions for electric scooters on the road.

These electric scooters, whether dockless or personal devices, are becoming increasingly common in major cities. Since 2019, these devices have been classified as Motorized Personal Transport Devices (MPTD) under the legal framework. They must adhere to specific rules to prevent accidents with other road users.

Last year, following an accident resulting in the death of two young teenagers, the Jura deputy suggested that the government make helmet wearing mandatory. This proposal was rejected. A report from the Ministry of the Interior published in June 2022 noted an increase in fatalities involving MPTDs, from 10 people in 2020 to 24 in 2021.

What modifications are being proposed?

The Jura deputy shared details of her proposal with several media outlets.

The proposal includes four elements: 

• mandatory helmet use;
• speed limit reduced to 20 km/h from 25 km/h;
• banning under 14 years old instead of 12;
• a specific training module for electric scooters in the second-level road safety certificate (ASSR2).

The deputy considers that the scooter is a “gentle means of transportation that can quickly become brutal and violent.” Nevertheless, MPTD users are not the main responsible for road accidents, even though they are increasingly becoming the instigators. Reckless or dangerous drivers cause far more human and material damage than MPTD users.

Moreover, to date, no proposed bill concerning electric scooters is available on the National Assembly website.

Also read: Electric bikes and scooters, do they require registration?