Electric scooters are here to stay and can be rented in many cities across the globe. There are also a lot more powerful and faster models to buy as a consumer. The need for a helmet comes, but each country and state has its own rules and regulations.
Is it necessary to wear a helmet when scootering?
The need for a helmet when you ride an electric scooter comes both from local regulations and laws and the need to protect the head from injuries. Studies show that a big portion, nearly one-third, of the patient with injuries related to electric scooters were having a head injury.
You should always double-check the local laws and regulations at your place on electric scooters and find out whether helmets are compulsory. The recommendation is to always wear one, even if it’s not mandatory.
A helmet will protect your skull and therefore brain which is one of the most important parts of your body. The new scooters can hit more than 25mph and a crash at these speeds will not be pretty. Even a fall at low speed can give you some serious injuries.
Disclaimer: Don’t take any information down below as legal advice, it’s up to everyone to ensure that laws are followed.
Do I need to wear a helmet on an Electric Scooter?
There is no global standard and all countries around the world have their own regulations. Looking into both the United States and Europe.
United States
There are only four states in the United States that either rule Electric Scooters illegal or they are not having any law governing them at all. There is no state that requires adult riders by law to wear a helmet in order to operate the device.
On the other hand, there are laws governing the use of helmets for riders under the age of 18. In 10 states helmets are legally required according to the list below. In the rest, there is no law forcing you to wear one even if it’s recommended for all ages, but it’s not a legal requirement. If you are riding a more powerful scooter then look into a full-face helmet.
| State | Age requirement |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | <16 |
| California | <18 |
| Delaware | <16 |
| Louisiana | <17 |
| Massachusetts | <18 |
| Michigan | <19 |
| Minnesota | <18 |
| North Dakota | <18 |
| Oklahoma | <18 |
| South Dakota | <18 |
New York did ad the helmet requirement for riders under 18 when they legalized the electric scooter. California Vehicle Code (CVC) §21235 was specifically written for electric scooters and also governs the use of a helmet for young riders.
Operate a motorized scooter without wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards described in Section 21212, if the operator is under 18 years of age.
California Vehicle Code (CVC) §21235
Europe
Europe is really good for electric scooter riding as many of the big cities have really good infrastructure for bicycling with individual lanes and red lights. Electric scooters can be rented in most big cities. Looking at the laws there is no unified position among European countries in regard to electric scooters and requirements for helmets.
Some countries like Sweden and France have helmet requirements for young people below 18. Many others have not yet made helmets a legal requirement for their citizens. Denmark did take a large leap forward by passing a law in January 2022 governing the need to use helmets for all citizens operating an electric scooter.
Injuries related to having no helmet and riding an Electric scooter
The big reason why helmet laws are coming and the legalization is starting to catch up on the personal electric vehicle movement and electric scooters partially is the relation between crashes and head injuries. Some electric scooters can reach speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h), making them as fast as a small motorcycle. Small motorcycles have been required to use the helmet for a long time as riding at these speeds and falling off or crashing without a helmet could result in serious injury.
JAMA published a study built upon data from The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) provides national estimates of injuries that present to emergency departments across the United States. [source]
According to the data, electric scooters are leading to more than 40,000 broken bones, head wounds, and other injuries in the United States from 2017 to 2018. Only 5% of riders in the study were found to be wearing their helmet and 32% of the patient were having a head injuries.
Not many studies have been performed on electric scooters and helmets, looking into bikes instead there is a good correlation between the use of a helmet and lowering the risk of brain injury. In a published study of 6,000 bike-related injuries, riders had a 52% lower risk of brain injury and 44% lower risk of death when wearing a helmet. It’s therefore recommended to wear a helmet and depending on the speed maybe even a more protective one like a full-face helmet to protect your face from form injuries during a crash.
Helmet for electric scooter
We will look at the best choice in each category of helmets. Are you looking for a helmet for a more powerful e-scooter that will run those speeds look into the full-face helmet. These types of helmets will cover your face and chin in case of an impact.
Falling on an electric scooter at high speed will most likely be facing forward launching over the steering column, the impact will be your headfirst into the concrete.
- Full-face bike helmet
- Bike
