E-Bike Safety
E-Bikes Are Vehicles, Not Toys: What Parents Need to Know
E-bikes and e-scooters are more common than ever, especially for kids and teens. They can be fun and convenient, but they are not toys. The new Utah law, HB 381, effective May 6, 2026, modifies and clarifies the legal framework for the use of electric-assisted mobility devices. This law aims to educate parents, standardize safety, and prevent unsafe modifications and resulting injuries.
Required NOW
- Helmets: Mandatory for ANY rider under 21 operating an e-device on public roads.
- Age & Supervision: Children ages 8 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult when riding an electric bicycle (e-bike). Ensure you ride with your kids if they are on an e-bike.
- Class 3 Restrictions: It is illegal for any Utah child under the age of 16 to ride a Class 3 e-bike, which can travel at speeds exceeding 20 mph.
- Police Impound Authority: Officers now have the authority to impound and temporarily hold devices if a minor is violating safety laws. The device will only be released to a parent or guardian.
- DUI/Open Container Laws: Riders are strictly subject to DUI and open container laws when riding electric-powered devices.
- E-Motorcycles: E-motorcycles driven on public roadways require a driver license, and motorcycle endorsement. Learn about endorsements and motorcycle safety courses at ridetolive.utah.gov.
Required in May 2027
- Safety Certificates: E-course safety certificates will be required for riders ages 8-15 to ride without direct adult supervision. The e-course will be available online, and upon completion, it will grant a "personal electric vehicle safety certificate" allowing children ages 8-15 to ride any class of electric bicycle or scooter without supervision.
- Course Availability: The official state course will be ready in Spring 2027. While outside training or practice is helpful right now to build safe habits, the required "personal electric vehicle safety certificate" is only granted through the official Utah Department of Public Safety course. Third-party classes will not count toward this legal requirement.
- Ages 16+: Riders age 16+ may ride any class of e-bike without a certificate or supervision.
Know the Device Classifications Before You Buy
Not all electric devices are considered e-bikes. If it goes over 20 mph without pedaling or has a throttle, it is not meant for kids.
- Class 1: The motor helps up to 20 mph with pedaling.
- Class 2: The throttle helps up to 20 mph with NO pedaling.
- Class 3: The motor helps up to 28 mph with pedaling.
- E-Motorcycles & High-Powered Devices: Devices that travel over 20mph without pedaling or exceed 750 watts are considered E-Motorcycles. These are legally not e-bikes or e-scooters, even if they are marketed that way. They require a Driver License and Motorcycle Endorsement.
Age Requirements and Supervision Rules
HB 381 establishes safety rules based on age and device type to protect youth.
- Under Age 8: Prohibited from operating ANY motorized e-mobility device on a public road.
- Ages 8-15: Starting on May 5th, 2027, the rider must have direct supervision of a parent or responsible adult OR a DPS Personal Electric Vehicle Safety Certificate to ride on public roads.
- Under 16: A person under 16 may not operate e-motorcycles or high-powered electric devices on a public roadway.
New Mandatory Helmet Laws (Effective May 6, 2026)
Helmets are the most important protection we have.
- Starting on May 6th, 2026, all E-Bike and E-Scooter riders under 21 must wear CPSC-standard helmets on roads.
- Riders on High-Powered electric devices and E-motorcycles under 21 must use DOT-approved (FMVSS 218) helmets.
- Helmet choice should match device speed and power.
Illegal Modifications and Police Impoundment
Police departments are prioritizing education over citations to ensure families understand the "why" behind the law. However, there are strict rules to prevent high-speed tragedies:
- Illegal Modifications: Modifying an e-bike aftermarket to bypass speed governors is illegal and dangerous. It is illegal to operate any device that has been structurally or mechanically altered from the original manufacturer's design to increase speed or power.
- Aftermarket alterations increase the risk of battery fires, higher crash risks from unsafe speeds, structural failures, and brake system failures.
- Device Impoundment: Starting on May 6th, 2026, Police may impound and temporarily hold a personal electric vehicle if a minor rider is violating laws or safety standards. Devices are held until a parent or guardian can safely pick them up.
- Impairment: Operating any motor-assisted device while drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Parent Action Plan: How to Keep Your Kids Safe
Parents play a major role in preventing life-changing injuries. The Department of Public Safety asks every parent to do three things before their child rides again: check the class of the device, buy the right helmet, and do not make aftermarket modifications to the device.
- Establish a strict "helmet on every ride, every time" rule at home for all motorized devices.
- Teach your child traffic laws, signs, and predictable riding behavior.
- Ensure riders use visible clothing, lights, and bells.
- Enforce a rule of no earbuds or headphones while riding, as riders need to be aware of their surroundings.
- Teach your child to stop and listen if approached by law enforcement; riding away is dangerous and illegal.
Why This Matters: The Clinical Reality
In trauma care, professionals are seeing injuries that look much more like motorcycle crashes than bicycle falls. In 2025, Intermountain Health emergency rooms treated 536 e-bike and e-scooter injuries statewide. Furthermore, only 38% of e-bike trauma patients were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Bicycle-Related Crash Data
2,988
Bicycle-related crashes in Utah from 2020-2024
2,358
Injury bicycle-related crashes
Driver Common Factors
36% Failure To Yield Right-Of-Way (followed by disregarding traffic signs/signals, and improper turns)
3 pm - 5 pm
Bicycle crashes spike between 3 pm and 5 pm
45 Fatalities
Bike-Related from 2020 through 2024
Under 24 years old
23% of bicycle-related crashes in 2024 involved young riders under age 24
Vehicle Definitions
There is currently no distinction between bicycles and e-bikes on Utah’s crash report form. Thus, as of 2025, no e-bike-specific crash data is available. Data includes bicycles of all types. An update to the form is expected in 2026. Reference Utah Code 41-6a-101.
Be Courteous & Cautious!
When riding on sidewalks, e-bikes should roll slowly and courteously to avoid injuring pedestrians. If the sidewalk is busy, riders should walk their bike. Many e-bikes feature a walk mode, making it easier to push them along.
E-Bikes Must Follow The Same Laws As Bicycles
- E-bike on Trails
- E-bikes are allowed on non-motorized state and local trails, unless prohibited by the city codes.
- E-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized federal trails (US Forest Service).
- Alcohol: You may not drink any alcoholic beverage or have an open alcoholic beverage with you while operating a class 2 e-bike (41-6a-526).
- Age Requirements
- Under 8 years old - cannot operate any class e-bike
- 8-14 years old - must have adult supervision
- Under 16 years old - cannot operate a class 3 e-bike
