Source: Zag Daily

The Irish government is considering introducing compulsory helmet use for e-scooter riders as part of a wider review of road safety regulations. The discussions come amid growing e-scooter adoption, with around 4% of adults in Ireland now regular users, and follow the deaths of three riders in e-scooter-related incidents last year.

The Irish media has reported that Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney and Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien are expected to meet early this year to discuss strengthening existing rules and improving enforcement. Measures under consideration are expected to include mandatory helmet use and the wearing of high-visibility clothing.

E-scooter safety concerns

Road safety advocates have emphasised the importance of addressing the most serious risks associated with e-scooter use. Margaret Winchcomb, Deputy Executive Director at the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: “Basic risk mitigation starts with tackling the worst things which are most likely to happen.”

She added: “Head injuries are common in e-scooter riders and the impact of traumatic brain injury can be devastating. The obvious move for Ireland, which many countries in Europe have already taken, is to mandate the wearing of helmets for everyone riding an e-scooter.”

Operator response to proposed measures

Micromobility operators have responded cautiously to the proposals. Georgia Heathman, Policy Lead for Ireland at Bolt, which launched Ireland’s first shared e-scooter scheme in 2024, said the operator “welcomes” discussions on measures aimed at improving e-scooter safety.

“Safety is a top priority for us and we strongly urge all scooter riders to wear a helmet whenever they ride,” Heathman told Zag Daily. “If helmet use were to become mandatory, we would work closely with local authorities to understand the practical implications and ensure any changes support safe, responsible and accessible micromobility across Ireland.”

Private vs shared e-scooter safety

Heathman noted that the majority of safety incidents involve privately owned e-scooters. While private e-scooters are legal in Ireland and subject to a speed limit of 20 km/h, they can be tampered with to exceed that limit.

On Bolt’s shared e-scooter service, riders are capped at 20 km/h, must be at least 18 years old (compared with a minimum age of 16 for private e-scooters), and all trips are tracked via GPS. The operator also uses in-app reaction tests to address riding under the influence and deploys technology designed to prevent more than one person riding a scooter at a time.

Current legal framework and industry debate

E-scooters have been legal in Ireland since May 2024. Under the current framework, riders are not required to wear helmets or high-visibility clothing, nor are they required to hold a licence, register their vehicle, or pay tax or insurance.

Mandatory helmet use remains a subject of debate within the global shared micromobility industry, balancing safety considerations against concerns about potential impacts on ridership. In the UK, helmet use is not legally required but is strongly recommended, with local authorities participating in e-scooter trials (extended until May 2028), provided that they contribute to policymaking, such as being able to test approaches to helmet policies.

From an industry standpoint, operators often promote helmet use through voluntary measures, including providing free helmets when launching services or offering incentives to riders who choose to wear them.