Following an order of the prefect of Oise, the police carried out a large-scale operation to verify compliance with the new rules regarding the use of electric scooters. The results are alarming: only two of the 24 controlled users were wearing a helmet. The rest received fines, some of up to 600 euros, and five vehicles were picked up.

(Staff: France / Mobility & Road Safety)

In the context in which the number of serious accidents involving electric scooters is growing rapidly, the French authorities have taken firm actions. At Beauvais, a routine police check has turned into a harsh finding: the vast majority of electric scooter users are ignoring the law, putting their lives at risk.

a control operation with worrying results

in just Two hours and 15 minutes, the police controlled 24 Motorized Personal Travel Vehicles (EDPM) and the results are eloquent:

• 22 users were caught without a helmet
• 15 vehicles were driving without compulsory insurance
• 7 vehicles They did not have reflective devices (catadiopters)
• 7 vehicles were not equipped with a sound warning
• 5 users They were driving on the sidewalk
• 5 users were using audio headphones while driving
• 5 vehicles They had a modified maximum speed, exceeding 25 km/h
• 5 vehicles were immobilized and lifted

Why is the helmet mandatory?

In the Oise Department, the obligation to wear the helmet was introduced by an order of the prefect Jean-Marie Caillaud starting with June 17, 2026. The decision came in response to the alarming increase in accidents. In just a few months, the police found a doubling of the number of injured: from 14 to 28 between 2022 and 2025, and in 2026 there were already 15 injured by the end of June. Two people lost their lives in 2025 and two others in 2026. The common point of all victims? none were wearing a helmet. .

A tragic case took place in Beauvais on the night of June 24 to 25, 2026, when a 34-year-old man entered critical condition after falling from an electric scooter. He was not wearing a helmet and was driving on a modified vehicle that could reach 70 km/h. .

What do users who do not comply with the law risk?

The fines are stinging:

• 35 euros For lack of headset in the village
• 135 euros For pavement traffic or using audio headphones
• until 1,500 euros for a modified vehicle (“debrided”)
• 600 euros for the lack of mandatory insurance, plus the lifting of the vehicle

What obligations do electric scooter users have in France?

According to the current legislation, any EDPM user must comply with the following rules:

1. The helmet is mandatory In many departments, including Oise, and the trend is nationally generalization
2. Liability insurance It is mandatory for all motor vehicles
3. The vehicle must be equipped with Functional braking system, buzzer, front and rear lights and retro
4. The maximum speed in the construction must not exceed 25 km/h
5. Traffic on sidewalks is prohibited
6. The use of audio headphones while driving is prohibited

Conclusion

The Beauvais operation proves that although the laws have been strengthened, many electric scooter users still ignore the basic rules. “An electric scooter is not a toy, but a vehicle subject to rules,” warns the Prefecture. In the context where the number of serious accidents is increasing, the authorities announce that they will intensify the controls and apply fines firmly.