In Moscow, a neural network is being tested to identify offenders using electric scooters and other forms of individual mobility. The project is unfolding under the oversight of the Center for Traffic Organization, the TsODD, with leadership statements guiding the initiative. The early trials are planned on the city’s main arteries, where higher speeds are permitted. In other words, these streets allow speeds above 60 km/h, but they are not friendly to micro-mobility devices that ride on a SIM network.
Smart cameras are capable of tracking many details, raising the question of how violations will be identified and penalties issued when scooters are involved. The system’s potential is clear, but practical enforcement remains a challenge to be solved in real-world traffic scenes.
Expert viewpoint
Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of the automotive publication Behind the Wheel, weighs in on the situation. He notes that his observations of the scooter’s onboard electronics on a busy avenue raised questions about enforcement. The device lacks license plates and certain identification markers, which complicates immediate tracking from a police vehicle. Kadakov suggests that a scooter rider might simply cut into a nearby alley or courtyard before authorities can respond, making rapid apprehension difficult in practice.
Since March 1, traffic-rule updates have aligned electric scooters, electric skateboards, gyroscooters, Segways, unicycles, and similar devices with other vehicles in the traffic system. This change grants them SIM status, with movement limited to speeds up to 25 km/h. The update aims to standardize how these devices are treated on public roads, though it also raises questions about enforcement in busy urban cores.
For those curious about current visibility of such mobility in media, Drive coverage has shifted focus to how the technology is presented to the public and how lawmakers harmonize rules with evolving urban transport options. In Russia, the ongoing coverage reflects broader themes around safety, accountability, and the balance between innovation and road discipline.
Concerns about surveillance and the ability of automated systems to distinguish between compliant and noncompliant riders remain central to the conversation. Stakeholders keep revisiting what constitutes proper conduct on city streets and how penalties should be applied when a rider exceeds the speed limit or acts in a risky manner. The dialogue continues as cities explore smarter policing methods that can support both mobility and safety without creating an atmosphere of overreach.
As the discussion moves forward, observers emphasize the need for clear licensing, vehicle identification, and reliable methods for enforcement. Practical gaps in the current framework highlight areas where policy, technology, and public communication must align to ensure that safety measures are effective, fair, and transparent for all road users.
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Note: Ongoing developments in Moscow illustrate a broader trend where cities experiment with advanced traffic management and automated imaging systems to address new mobility forms while refining enforcement mechanisms for safer urban travel.