Belgium makes helmets compulsory on faster e-scooters
The mandate targets models capable of going between 20 and 25 km/h, citing head-injury risks.
Belgium will make helmets mandatory for riders of faster e-scooters starting September 1, according to the federal mobility ministry. The new regulation applies to motorized personal transport devices with a maximum design speed exceeding 20 kilometres per hour, regardless of the actual speed at which they are being ridden. Riders can wear either a moped helmet or a bicycle helmet, as long as it covers the temples and the back of the head.
The ministry cited growing evidence of serious injuries from e-scooter accidents, noting that head and brain injuries are particularly common in severe and fatal crashes involving electric scooters. Currently, Belgium allows e-scooters with a maximum speed of 25 km/h on public roads, and the new mandate targets models capable of reaching speeds between 20 and 25 km/h.
The Brussels government recently lifted its ban on shared e-scooters from city streets as of September 2026, allowing them to operate until the end of the year. Belgium previously implemented stricter e-scooter rules in 2022, prohibiting riders under 16, passengers, and those who ride on the pavement, and introducing new parking restrictions.
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