In Belgium, scooter riders will be required to wear helmets
In Belgium, starting September 1, riders of high-speed electric scooters will be required to wear helmets. The new rule will apply to vehicles capable of reaching speeds of more than 20 km/h, even if the rider is actually traveling slower.
Belgium is tightening safety rules for electric scooter users. Starting September 1, helmets will be mandatory for riders of motorized personal vehicles with a maximum speed exceeding 20 km/h.Important note: The rule will depend not on how fast a person is traveling at any given moment, but on the maximum speed of the vehicle itself. In other words, if an electric scooter is technically capable of traveling faster than 20 km/h, its rider will be required to wear a helmet.
However, Belgian authorities do not require the use of any one specific type of helmet. Both moped helmets and bicycle helmets are acceptable, provided they protect the temples and the back of the head. The ministry explained that the decision is linked to the rising number of serious injuries following traffic accidents involving electric scooters. “International studies, medical statistics, and traffic accident statistics all point to the same thing,” the ministry noted.
In fact, the Belgian authorities want to reduce the risk of severe head injuries in the event of a fall or collision. Electric scooters can reach fairly high speeds, and their riders are often left with virtually no protection. The new rule will apply specifically to high-speed models capable of exceeding 20 km/h. For such riders, a helmet will become mandatory equipment starting in early fall. This was announced by the Belgian ministry, according to Politico.
