The principality tightens the safety rules around the circulation of these motorized engines more and more numerous. Their circulation has been authorized and supervised there for two years.

It was a way of promoting soft mobility. In February 2020, the Highway Code was amended in principle in Monaco to allow electric scooters to circulate on the roadway, bus lanes, lanes and cycle paths.

All users were required to be equipped with retro-reflective clothing or equipment, sound alarms, lights and reflective devices. Helmets were then compulsory only for users under the age of 18.

Today despite these mandatory equipment, according to the princely government, “Feedback shows that these engines are not very visible in urban areas”.

This is the reason why wearing a helmet will be compulsory for all users, whatever their age, in principle from January 24th.

Authorized from 12 years old, the circulation of electric scooters remains prohibited on the sidewalks, where they must be pushed by hand.

The principality has also enacted regulations concerning the circulation of hoverboards and gyropods, authorized only on lanes and cycle paths, prohibited on the roadway and sidewalks.

On the French side, users of electric scooters are not subject to the obligation to wear a helmet when they circulate outside the city. They are not subject to it in town.

The main rules in force in France are the following :

• The user must use the cycle paths. If there is none, it can travel on roads with a maximum authorized speed of 50 km / h in built-up areas (80 km / h outside), on roads pedestrian areas on condition of driving at a moderate pace (6 km / h) and not to generalize pedestrians. Driving on sidewalks is prohibited, unless the mayor authorizes it.
• Retro-reflective clothing or equipment is only compulsory in the event of traffic at night or little diffusion during the day. Electric scooters, on the other hand, must always be equipped with a braking system, a horn, lights (front and rear) and rear and rear reflective devices.
• The user must be at least 12 years old and drive at a maximum speed of 25 km / h.

Before these rules enacted in France in July 2020, electric scooters did not belong to any category of vehicle in the Highway Code and were therefore not subject to any legal framework. Their growing number continues to pose security concerns.

On December 17, a 27-year-old woman died in Villeneuve-Loubet. Her electric scooter was struck by a heavy truck while she was riding a bike path. This is the first fatal accident recorded in the Alpes-Maritimes.

In 2020 in this department, 7 accidents involving electric scooters left 8 injured, including 5 graves. They all took place in built-up areas.