Mandatory equipment for electric wheelchairs, three-wheel mobility scooters and four-wheel mobility scooters

For your own safety and that of other road users, you must make sure that the equipment on your electric wheelchair, three-wheel mobility scooter or four-wheel mobility scooter is compliant and functional. You may not use a wheelchair or vehicle with modified or broken equipment.

To use public roads, private roads open to public traffic, or public land, the following equipment is mandatory.

The MMA must be equipped with a braking system powerful enough to stop it quickly in the event of rapid braking and to hold it when it comes to a standstill.

It is forbidden to drive an MMA whose braking system has been modified or altered in such a way as to reduce its effectiveness.

An MMA must be equipped with:

• a white or yellow reflector on the front;
• a red reflector at the rear;
• a reflective strip or a white, yellow or red reflector placed as high as possible on each side of the vehicle.

In the case of an electric wheelchair, you can replace each reflector with a reflective strip of the same colour.

At night, or when weather conditions make it necessary, the MMA must have headlights and lights on. The same applies when the MMA is travelling on a roadway with a speed limit of over 50 km/h. Electric wheelchairs are exempt from this requirement.

More specifically, MMAs must be equipped with:

• one or two white headlights at the front;
• one or two red lights at the rear, flashing or not.

When any equipment or object installed on your MMA obscures the headlights, lights or reflectors, equivalent devices must be placed in visible locations. Objects carried on your MMA must be securely fastened so as not to interfere with driving or visibility.

When you’re riding on a roadway where the speed limit is over 50 km/h, your MMA must be equipped with a flag. This flag must be orange and triangular, measuring at least 300 cm². Its highest extremity, in a vertical position, must be at least 150 cm from the ground.

Although it’s not compulsory, it’s recommended that your MMA be fitted with a flag at all times when riding on public roads, for safety and visibility.

Roofs and windshields are authorized on an MMA if they:

• are designed specifically for the unit and are not homemade;
• are firmly attached to the vehicle;
• do not hinder or impair visibility from inside or outside the MMA.

For example, the windshield must be transparent and manufactured or treated in such a way as to considerably reduce its brittleness or the danger of shattering. In addition, it must be free from any material with reflective properties (mirror effect) or which could impair the driver’s visibility.

Similarly, the windshield must not have any sharp edges or be poorly fixed, nor should it be tarnished, blurred or broken in such a way as to impair visibility of the road or road signs.

To make sure that other road users notice you, especially at night or in foggy weather, we recommend that you:

• wear light-coloured or highly visible clothing (e.g., fluorescent vest);
• fit the MMA with two white reflectors at the front and two red reflectors at the rear, installed as far apart as possible;
• fit the electric wheelchair with a white headlight at the front and a red one at the rear;
• turn on lights and headlights during the day.