Greek traffic police in Attica have intensified checks on electric scooters following two serious accidents in Tinos and Glyka Nera that left a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy badly injured.
The campaign targets underage riders and wider compliance with the Highway Code. Businesses that sell, supply or rent scooters are also being checked.
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Thousands Of Scooter Violations Recorded
Athens city center is a particular focus as scooter use has grown and police receive complaints about vehicles obstructing pavements and pedestrian access.
During the first eight months of 2026, the Attica Traffic Directorate carried out 6,127 checks and recorded 3,700 offences. Rental scooters accounted for 1,844 violations, while about 1,800 involved privately owned vehicles.
Adults accounted for 3,544 offences and minors for 156. The most common violations were riding without a helmet and excessive speed, while police also found scooters on high-speed roads and riders ignoring red lights.
Accidents Add Pressure On Enforcement
Attica recorded 56 road accidents involving electric scooters during the first eight months of 2026, leaving three people seriously injured and 53 with minor injuries.
Greek law now prohibits scooter use by anyone under 17, requires third-party insurance and imposes tougher penalties for riding on roads where speed limits exceed 50 kilometers per hour. Businesses can also be fined for supplying scooters to under-17s.
Europe Tightens Scooter Rules
Other European governments and cities are also tightening micromobility rules. Paris banned dockless rental scooters in 2023 after 89% of voters backed the measure, while new rules introduced in August 2026 require helmets and reflective gear on public roads.
Madrid revoked licenses for its three rental operators in 2024, citing insurance and enforcement problems. Brussels plans to ban shared electric scooters from Jan. 1, 2027, after recording 666 scooter-related injuries in 2025, up 26% year on year.
National rules are also becoming stricter. Italy requires helmets, identification marks and third-party insurance, while Finland has a minimum age of 15 and a 0.5% alcohol limit for riders. Hungary requires insurance for certain scooter categories, and Germany has increased rental companies’ liability for accidents involving their vehicles.
Cyprus has raised the minimum age from 14 to 17. A draft decree would also allow scooters to be impounded for 30 to 90 days for serious offences, including underage use and exceeding the 25-kilometer-per-hour limit.
Athens Faces A Wider Micromobility Challenge
Growing scooter use has brought recurring concerns over accidents, underage riding, unsafe road use and pavement obstruction. For Athens, the latest enforcement campaign reflects a wider European effort to balance micromobility with road safety and pedestrian access.
