Portuguese parliament approves mandatory helmets and reflective gear for e-scooters and e-bikes

Parliamentary approval and voting breakdown

The Portuguese parliament approved a bill on 30 September 2026 that makes the use of protective helmets and reflective gear mandatory for users of electric scooters and electric bicycles. The legislative initiative, originally presented by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in May, passed with broad cross-party support in its initial plenary vote. Lawmakers from the PSD, Chega, the Socialist Party (PS), the Liberal Initiative (IL), CDS-PP, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), the Left Bloc (BE), and JPP all cast votes in favour of the text.

The animal-rights party PAN abstained during the vote, while the green party Livre registered the sole opposing vote. Livre co-spokesperson Isabel Mendes Lopes submitted a formal explanation of vote, as did PAN sole member of parliament Inês de Sousa Real. The bill now heads to the Commission on Infrastructure, Mobility, and Housing for detailed discussion and amendments before a final vote. A competing bill from the Socialist Party, which sought to limit the helmet mandate strictly to rented electric scooters and bicycles, was also put forward during parliamentary deliberations.

Scope of the mandate and gear requirements

The approved text applies helmet requirements across a wide variety of motorized micro-mobility vehicles operating on public roads. The mandate covers riders and passengers of motor-assisted bicycles, as well as riders of electric scooters, self-balancing motorized devices, electric unicycles, and motorized platforms when classified alongside bicycles. In addition to protective headgear, the legislation introduces mandatory reflective gear during low-visibility situations, specifically from dusk to dawn and whenever meteorological or environmental conditions impair sight.

The legislation specifies how technical standards for reflective gear will be established by executive authorities following technical review:

The minimum characteristics of the reflective clothing or retroreflective equipment referred to in the previous paragraph are defined by an ordinance of the member of the Government responsible for mobility, upon proposal by the Institute for Mobility and Transport.

In the explanatory memorandum accompanying the draft law, the PSD clarified that the requirement does not mandate a high-visibility vest. Instead, riders may fulfill the rule through reflective elements integrated into apparel, specialized technical clothing, or reflective bands and accessories attached to helmets, garments, or other personal gear.

Financial penalties for non-compliance

The legislation establishes a tiered structure of fines for individuals who fail to follow the new safety rules. Riding an electric scooter or equivalent motorized device without a helmet carries a fine ranging from 60 to 300 euros. For riders of electric bicycles, the fine for failing to wear a helmet is set between 30 and 150 euros.

The bill applies identical penalties for neglecting visibility equipment across all covered vehicle categories. Riders who circulate between dusk and dawn or in poor weather without the required reflective clothing or retroreflective accessories will face fines from 30 to 150 euros.

Rising collision figures and safety statistics

The parliamentary debate occurred against a backdrop of increasing road accidents involving two-wheeled transport across Portugal. Statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) indicate that the volume of accidents involving bicycles and scooters rose from around 2,400 in 2019 to around 4,300 in 2025.

Safety advocates and international bodies have pointed to head trauma as a leading hazard for riders. Data from the European Transport Safety Council indicates that wearing a helmet decreases fatal head injuries by more than 70%. The council reported in 2025 that collisions with motor vehicles represented the primary cause of death for 70% of bicycle and scooter fatalities, whereas European Commission statistics place that figure at 65%.

The debate also touched on international comparisons, such as the Netherlands, where cycling serves as the primary mode of urban transit and helmet use is not mandatory, yet overall road safety metrics remain among the strongest in Europe.