Belgium to Mandate E-Scooter Helmets Above 20 km/h
The Belgian federal government is preparing a royal decree that would make helmets mandatory for riders of electric scooters and other motorized personal mobility devices capable of exceeding 20 km/h. The measure, expected to enter into force on September 1, 2026, is currently under review by the Council of State, according to RTBF.
A Response to Rising Accident Rates
The proposed regulation comes as Belgium grapples with a sharp increase in e-scooter accidents. More than 2,700 accidents involving e-scooters were recorded in 2025, an increase of 20 to 30 percent, with 13 fatalities — up from just 4 in 2024, according to the Vias road safety barometer.
Head injuries are a particular concern. Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has cited figures showing that 60 percent of bodily accidents involving e-scooters result in head trauma, yet only 4 percent of those affected were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
“The current situation is too dangerous, both for riders and for other road users,” Crucke said in March when the measure was first announced. “These are also often serious accidents, sometimes even fatal. We must therefore react,” as reported by VRT NWS.
Scope and Enforcement
The obligation applies to the maximum speed a device can technically reach, not the speed at which the user is currently riding. E-bikes limited to 25 km/h are excluded — only purely motorized vehicles without required muscular effort are targeted.
Enforcement would rely on manufacturer specifications. “We should rely on manufacturer standards,” Crucke’s cabinet explained. “If the brand, in the device’s manual, indicates that the scooter is limited to 20 km/h, the driver will not be required to wear a helmet. Beyond this limit, wearing a helmet will be mandatory,” as reported by Paris Match Belgique.
Private scooters are mainly affected. Shared and free-floating models in Brussels are already limited to 20 km/h and would be exempt. However, in several Walloon cities, shared e-scooters are currently limited to 25 km/h, meaning operators may need to reduce maximum speeds to avoid the helmet obligation for their users.
Operator Concerns and Agreements
The mandatory helmet requirement has raised concerns among shared mobility operators. Bolt spokesperson Guillaume Burland noted that internal surveys showed “the vast majority of users — about 75-80 percent — said that if there was a mandatory helmet requirement, they would stop using shared mobility services,” according to RTBF.
An agreement has been reached with operators through the network organization Way To Go, committing companies to respect a set of rules, including speed limits that would exempt shared scooters from the helmet requirement.
Broader Regulatory Context
The measure is part of a wider push to improve e-scooter safety in Belgium. Other initiatives under consideration include mandatory registration of e-scooters — which faces technical challenges due to the lack of a standardized certification system — and speed limiters near sensitive zones such as schools and pedestrian areas.
Crucke is also advocating for European harmonization on e-scooter regulation. Italy already requires helmets for young e-scooter riders, while Spain and Germany have adopted similar measures for higher speeds. Paris made helmets and reflective gear mandatory for e-scooters as of August 7, 2026.
What’s Next
The royal decree is currently undergoing its regulatory review at the Council of State, with an opinion expected in the coming days. “Subject to the completion of this procedure, the objective remains entry into force on September 1, 2026,” Crucke’s cabinet stated, as reported by BruxellesToday.
As Belgium awaits the Council of State’s ruling, the debate over how best to balance safety with the growing popularity of micromobility continues. The measure’s effectiveness will ultimately depend on enforcement and public acceptance — questions that will only be answered once the regulation takes effect.