After the first fatal accident involving an e-scooter in Belgium in April, the Brussels State Secretary for Road Safety opened an investigation on whether the compulsory use of helmets could be introduced. It is not compulsory to wear a helmet on a bicycle or e-scooter in Brussels, but after the accident, in which a 41-year-old man died after he crashed his e-scooter, State Secretary Bianca Debaets (CD&V) wants to change that.

“These types of accidents have less serious consequences if users were to wear a helmet. I have an investigation carried out into whether the compulsory helmet wear for e-scooters can be introduced. I’m pro,” she wrote on Twitter.

Dit soort ongevallen hebben minder ernstige gevolgen als steppers een helm zouden dragen. Ik laat onderzoeken of de verplichte helmdracht voor steps ingevoerd kan worden. Ik ben pro https://t.co/85m7RwK9Pg — Bianca Debaets (@BiancaDebaets) May 13, 2019

Additionally, a government decree will soon come into force in the Brussels Region to specify the rules related to the use of e-scooters. It will regulate the number of e-scooters in the street, the installation of drop-off points, the possible issuing of fines for abuse, and even areas prohibited for parking.

“The Brussels Region was the first European city to regulate the use of e-scooters,” spokesperson for Pascal Smet (sp.a), Marc Debont, explained to NewMobility. “The City of Paris, for example, has taken inspiration from the Brussels example to set up its own law,” he added.

The city still wishes to ad more regulations to the use of e-scooters by prohibiting, for example, their passage on major commercial and tourist routes. The municipality of Saint-Gilles has already announced 18 places that will not allow e-scooters, such as the Parvis de Saint-Gilles, Place Louise and the entire Barrière de Saint-Gilles.

The Brussels Ministry for Mobility and Public Works believes that the new regulation will be effective by the end of the year. They want to see how the ‘reality on the ground‘ will evolve in the coming months, before making big decisions, the spokes-person added.

Maïthé Chini

The Brussels Times