After adopting street rules to improve coexistence between pedestrians and cyclists, the city of Toulouse wants to make electric scooter users responsible. And the registration file for these vehicles returned to the table, as he recalls The Dispatch. ” During the discussions on the street regulations, the observance of the rules for scooters was regularly mentioned », explains Maxime Boyer, deputy mayor in charge of mobility.
Mandatory license plates in Italy
For this reason, at the last convocation of the municipal council, a proposal was voted to request the Government to introduce license plates for electric scooters. “This will allow the municipal police and video surveillance officers to know who the owner is” adds Maxime Boyer.
It is a wish and a proposal to make scooter insurance mandatory and to strengthen motorization control.
With the current parliamentary elections and the upcoming change of government, the city’s request risks falling into the water, but the idea is gaining momentum in any case. And the Italian example could inspire more than one.
Italy introduced stricter measures for electric scooters with its 2023 Traffic Law, including the obligation to wear a helmet and equip scooters with turn signals.
These measures, optional in France, could soon be adopted, taking into account local initiatives such as those in Toulouse.
In Italy, license plates have become mandatory for all electric scooters, making it easier to identify the vehicle in the event of a violation.
The country also imposes strict rules on liability insurance, no driving on pavements and speed limits similar to those in France. Flashers, siren, two-wheel braking system and lighting are also mandatory.
Wearing a helmet, which is already mandatory for minors in France, has become a requirement for everyone in Italy.
In France, although legislative proposals to this effect have been rejected, the safety of electric scooter users remains a major concern.
According to some studies, the accident rate on scooters is comparable to that of motorcycles, with frequent serious injuries.
In France, the current law prescribes that electric scooters must move on cycle paths or, failing that, on roads with a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h.
Traffic on the sidewalks is prohibited, except with the special approval of the mayor, in which case the speed is limited to 6 km/h so as not to disturb pedestrians.
Parking of scooters on pavements is allowed provided they do not obstruct the passage of pedestrians, although some cities such as Paris have banned this practice for self-service scooters.
Failure to comply with permitted traffic zones can result in a fine of €135.