Greece Plans Tougher Rules for Electric Scooters Following Deadly Accidents

There is growing concern in Greece over accidents involving electric scooters, following two recent incidents: the death of a 13-year-old boy in Ilia and the severe injury of a 40-year-old man in Heraklion.

The Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, stated that electric scooters are “very dangerous” and announced upcoming legislative action.

The Minister has voiced strong reservations regarding their safety, particularly when operated by minors. “My personal view is that these should not be in circulation,” the Minister stated, highlighting the severe risks they pose on major thoroughfares.

Figures on accidents involving electric scooters in Greece

Athens traffic police, which recently carried out hundreds of inspections, found 127 violations for not wearing helmets, and 8 violations for riding under the influence of alcohol.

The Panhellenic Federation of Self-Employed Pediatricians sent a letter to the Ministry of Transport expressing serious concern about the rising number of injuries and deaths involving minors and electric scooters.

According to the figures cited:

• 109 electric scooter accidents were recorded in Greece in 2025,
• 2 of them were fatal,
• 17 accidents were recorded in just the first two months of 2026,
• more than 400 minors required hospitalization within one year because of such accidents.

The pediatricians also argue that the real scale of the problem is likely even greater, since many accidents are believed to go unreported.

New legislation on electric scooters

According to Chrysochoidis, new legislation is being drafted to ban minors from using e-scooters on public roads. Under the proposed regulations, their use will be restricted to pedestrian zones and public squares.

“Minors cannot and should not be using scooters on the road—it is simply too risky,” Chrysochoidis emphasized. He also noted that the danger extends beyond children, observing adults traveling at high speeds on major boulevards, often without helmets. “It is a tragedy to lose children on our streets because of these scooters,” he added, leaving the door open for even stricter regulations or a total ban on their use in traffic.

Rules and regulations in the EU

Greece has been slow in imposing rules compared to other EU countries. Across the majority of EU member states, you will find these standard restrictions:

• Speed Limits: Most countries cap speed at 25 km/h (15.5 mph). However, some countries like Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have stricter limits of 20 km/h.
• Pavement Ban: Riding on sidewalks is strictly prohibited in almost every major European city (France, Germany, Italy, etc.). You are generally required to use bike lanes or the road.
• Technical Requirements: Scooters must almost always have front and rear lights, reflectors, a bell/horn, and two independent braking systems.

Some nations have implemented much tougher requirements than others.