E-Scooters are considered manoeuvrable, environmentally friendly and compact. This makes them ideal for city traffic. In this article, you will find out whether it is compulsory to wear a helmet when riding an e-scooter and what else you need to know.
There is no helmet obligation for e-scooters
There is no compulsory helmet for e-scooters. According to the Road Traffic Act, helmets are only compulsory for drivers of motorbikes with a maximum speed of over 20 km/h. Since e-scooters are permitted to travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/h, helmets are not compulsory. Riding with a helmet is of course safer and therefore highly recommended.
What else you need to be aware of when driving an e-scooter
The e-scooter may only be ridden on cycle paths and cycle lanes. If there are no corresponding cycle paths, you must use the road. Riding on pavements is prohibited. Further regulations for riding e-scooters:
- Driving licence: No driving licence is required to drive an e-scooter on public roads. Riders must be at least 14 years old and are allowed to travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/h.
- Insurance: A self-adhesive third-party insurance sticker is compulsory for e-scooters. The cost is about 30€ per year.
- Promille limit: In contrast to bicycles or e-bikes, the same promille limit applies to e-scooters as to motor vehicles. For novice drivers the blood alcohol limit is 0.0 and for all other drivers the blood alcohol limit is 0.5.
- Transportation and parking: E-scooters may be parked at the roadside, on the pavement as well as in pedestrian zones if these are cleared for e-scooters. Care must be taken to ensure that pedestrians and wheelchair users are not obstructed or endangered. E-scooters can be taken on buses and trains free of charge if they can be folded to save space.
