The Portugal Social Democratic Party (PSD), which currently forms part of the country's governing coalition, submitted legislation to the Assembly of the Republic in May 2026 that would mandate helmets and reflective gear for all riders of electric scooters, e-bikes, and similar micro-mobility devices. The bill introduces fines ranging from €30 to €150 for violators and marks the first major overhaul of safety rules for these increasingly common urban transport modes.
Why This Matters:
• Immediate cost: If passed, scooter and e-bike riders across Portugal will need to purchase helmets or face fines starting at €30.
• Safety rationale: Between 2019 and May 2026, authorities recorded significant accident increases involving e-scooters and e-bikes, resulting in multiple fatalities, serious injuries, and minor incidents across the country.
• Legal shift: The proposal amends the Portuguese Highway Code to treat e-scooters and e-bikes as higher-risk vehicles than traditional bicycles.
• Night riding: Reflective materials will become mandatory during nighttime or low-visibility conditions.
The Numbers Behind the Push
Data from both the Portugal National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Portugal Public Security Police (PSP) reveals the scope of the safety concern, though the agencies use different counting methodologies and jurisdictional coverage, making direct comparison complex.
GNR Data (National Road Network Focus): Between 2019 and early 2026, the GNR logged more than 1,900 public road accidents involving electric scooters and e-bikes on national roads. Across this seven-year period, these accidents resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, with 2024 emerging as a particularly problematic year, recording 706 incidents.
PSP Data (Urban and Municipal Focus): The PSP, which covers urban areas and municipalities more comprehensively, registered 663 accidents involving e-scooters and pedal-assist bikes in 2024 alone—a significant increase from previous years. During the first four months of 2025, the PSP recorded 623 accidents with pedal vehicles and scooters. These two data sources reflect different geographic coverage and counting systems rather than simple duplication, which explains the apparent numerical overlap.
Fatality and Injury Patterns: Across all available data sources, the deadliest recorded year was 2021, with 10 fatalities attributed to e-scooter and e-bike accidents. More recent years have shown lower fatality counts, though serious injuries continue to accumulate. In 2024, PSP data documented 72 serious injuries and 1,677 light injuries across their jurisdiction.
Urban zones bear the brunt of the surge. Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Setúbal, and Aveiro consistently rank as the districts with the highest incident rates. Setúbal recorded three deaths over the seven-year period, while Santarém logged 14 serious injuries. The GNR specifically flagged Aveiro and Faro as the most problematic districts in 2024.
What the Law Would Change
Currently, Portuguese traffic regulations do not impose a blanket helmet requirement for riders of micro-mobility vehicles classified as velocipedes—except for higher-powered or faster models. The PSD argues this creates legal uncertainty and leaves riders exposed to preventable harm.
The proposed amendment to the Highway Code would:
• Require helmets for all users of electric scooters, e-bikes, electric unicycles, and self-balancing platforms.
• Mandate reflective materials during nighttime or poor visibility.
• Establish fines of €30 to €150 for non-compliance.
The party justifies the measure by pointing to the distinct risk profile of electric micro-mobility: higher average speeds, elevated riding positions, and direct user exposure in crashes. Research associating helmet use with reduced cranial trauma underpins the proposal, which the PSD describes as a "first step" toward tightening safety rules in this fast-evolving sector.
Pushback from Mobility Advocates
Not everyone welcomes the initiative. The Portuguese Association for Urban Mobility by Bicycle (MUBi) has voiced strong opposition, warning that mandatory helmet laws could discourage cycling, increase car dependency, and reverse gains in environmental and public health policy. MUBi's stance reflects a broader debate in Europe, where helmet mandates are often criticized for reducing ridership rather than injuries.
Public opinion, however, appears divided. A recent survey by the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP) Observatory found that a majority of young Portuguese adults support mandatory helmets and insurance for bikes and scooters. Parliamentary discussions in 2023 also suggested broad cross-party consensus on tighter regulations, though the MUBi objection signals that civil society remains unconvinced.
Impact on Residents and Daily Riders
For the estimated thousands of Portuguese who rely on e-scooters and e-bikes for daily commutes—particularly in Lisbon and Porto—the law would impose new costs and compliance burdens. A basic helmet retails for around €20 to €50, though higher-end models can exceed €100. Reflective vests or bands add another €5 to €15. Tourists renting scooters for short-term use could face confusion or unexpected fines if the law takes effect.
Enforcement will likely fall to municipal police and traffic patrols, raising questions about how rigorously the rule will be applied in practice. Ride-sharing operators—already subject to local licensing and vehicle caps—may need to distribute helmets with each rental or post clear warnings at pickup points.
How Portugal Compares to European Neighbors
The helmet debate is playing out across the continent. Austria introduced mandatory helmets on May 1, 2026, for e-scooter riders under 16 and e-bike riders under 14, though the rule met with user resistance and criticism from safety groups who argued it should cover all ages. France requires helmets for e-scooter riders outside urban areas and may extend the rule to cities in 2026. Belgium mandates helmets only for high-speed "Speed Pedelecs" capable of exceeding 25 km/h, while Germany applies the same threshold. Italy is weighing a Senate bill to mandate helmets and insurance for scooter users.
Portugal's proposal is more sweeping than most, covering all electric micro-mobility users regardless of age or vehicle speed. If enacted, it would place the country among the stricter regulatory regimes in Europe.
Medical and Infrastructure Concerns
Emergency departments in Lisbon and Porto have flagged a sharp uptick in scooter-related trauma cases, many involving skull fractures, broken limbs, and wrist injuries. Some patients arrive in critical condition requiring intensive care. Authorities attribute most accidents to riding on sidewalks, ignoring traffic signals, and failure to use safety equipment.
Critics argue that helmet mandates treat the symptom, not the disease. Urban cycling advocates point to inadequate bike lanes, poorly maintained surfaces, and aggressive car traffic as root causes. They contend that investment in separated cycling infrastructure and public education would yield greater safety gains without discouraging ridership.
What Happens Next
The PSD bill now enters the legislative queue at the Assembly of the Republic, where it will undergo committee review and floor debate. Timing for a final vote remains uncertain, though the party's position within the governing coalition suggests the measure has a realistic path to passage. Opposition parties have yet to formally declare their stances, though historical parliamentary discussions hint at broad support.
If approved, the law would take effect after a grace period—likely several months—to allow riders and rental operators time to comply. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing would oversee rule-making for enforcement details, including how fines are assessed and whether warnings precede penalties.
For now, helmet use remains voluntary for most riders in Portugal. Whether this regulatory shift ultimately reduces the toll of accidents or simply drives users back to cars will depend on how the law is implemented—and whether it is accompanied by the infrastructure improvements advocates say are long overdue.
