Russia Plans AI-Driven Safety Features for Shared Scooters

Police are pushing for tech upgrades to prevent risky behavior like multiple riders on a single vehicle.

Russian authorities are proposing new safety technologies for electric scooters and other personal mobility devices. The first to raise the issue was the police, who suggested developing a system to prevent children from riding shared scooters in pairs or groups, according to TASS.

Riding with two or more people on a single scooter poses serious risks. Overloading and uneven weight distribution make it harder to steer, especially during turns or over bumps. Falls involving multiple riders tend to result in more severe injuries. Even the threat of fines—up to 800 rubles—hasn’t stopped many from trying.

Officials envision a tech-based solution that uses sensor data to detect how many people are riding. If the number exceeds safety thresholds, the scooter’s speed will be automatically reduced or the ride halted.

Meanwhile, scooter rental companies are already working on user ID verification to keep minors off the vehicles. Some now redirect renters to government service portals to confirm eligibility.