E-Scooter Riders Must Wear Helmets and High-Visibility Clothing from 4 September Under New Regulations

New regulations signed by Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety Seán Canney will make helmets and high-visibility clothing mandatory for e-scooter users, part of a wider package of road safety measures.

Minister O'Brien and Minister Canney signed the regulations on 2 September 2026. This is a key road safety measure in light of the increasing number of serious injuries and fatalities associated with e-scooter use. The change takes effect from Friday 4 September 2026.

It is the first in a series of road safety measures for e-scooters approved by Government in July 2026. Further measures will follow in the coming weeks as the necessary legislative, administrative and technical changes are confirmed.

Fees for the detention and storage of seized e-scooters will be doubled, rising to €80 for detention and the first day of storage, and €30 for each additional day of storage. This will take effect from 2 October.

The minimum age for e-scooter users will be increased from 16 to 18 years. Following legal advice from the Attorney General's office, this measure has been submitted to the EU Commission as part of the EU TRIS (Technical Regulation Information System) process. This process takes up to 12 weeks, and it is intended that these regulations will be introduced before the end of the year.

Charges for Fixed Charge Notices will be increased to €100 for e-scooter offences, with regulations for this change to be brought forward in the coming weeks. A Fixed Charge Notice offence for not wearing a helmet or high-visibility clothing while using an e-scooter will be introduced at the same time, at the new rate of €100.

Minister O'Brien said:

"Road safety is a priority for me, my Department and for this Government. We are committed to taking decisive action to make roads safer for all who use them. The growing use of e-scooters has brought new transport opportunities, but it has also been accompanied by a concerning rise in collisions, serious injuries and tragic fatalities involving riders, pedestrians and other road users.

The regulations signed today, along with others that will take effect in the coming weeks, will help create a safer environment for all road users."

Minister Canney said:

"I am pleased to have signed these regulations today. Like many of us, I am very concerned about the potential for tragedy when e-scooters are not used safely. I am pleased that we have moved quickly and effectively to introduce these regulations, which provide a proportionate regulatory framework for use of e-scooters.

They will strengthen safety standards and support effective enforcement, while ensuring that the benefits of e-scooters can be realised without compromising public safety."

Proposals regarding registration, insurance and driving licence requirements for e-scooters remain under consideration. The Department of Health will shortly bring forward its report on the public health implications of e-scooters, which will be an important factor in Government decisions on next steps. Proposals will be brought before Cabinet in due course.