Belgium Considers Stricter Rules on E-Scooters Amid Rising Fatalities and Safety Concerns
November 27, 2025
There have already been at least eleven fatalities this year from electric scooter accidents, a sharp rise from around one death per year in previous years, according to Institute Vias.
Authorities are weighing restrictions or a possible ban on shared scooters in Brussels to curb crime linked to drug trafficking, while private scooters could face registration rules; a final decision is due by year-end.
Injuries from electric scooter use are up 55% since last year, with concerns that many imported scooters from China are poorly made and often undebrided, elevating safety risks.
To reduce fatalities, authorities urge helmet use and high-visibility clothing, noting emergency rooms report that about 60% of scooter-related head injuries occur among accident victims.
Beyond safety, there is a broader shift in urban mobility, with families increasingly using cargo bikes, indicating evolving transportation trends in Belgium.
Public road use of high-speed scooters is illegal in Belgium, and recent Brussels inspections found no compliant scooters.
Imported electric scooters can have defective batteries and reach very high speeds, with some units observed to go as fast as 106 km/h, while Belgian law caps legal speeds at 25 km/h on public roads.
Police propose adopting curvometers to verify scooters have not been debrided, with many zones requesting more of these devices to enforce regulations.
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