Recent data shows a strong link between scooter use and car collisions, with scooters implicated in the vast majority of cases. Analysis of 2023 statistics from the Soglasie insurance company, as reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, attributes 88% of traffic crashes involving cars to scooter activity. The primary factors behind these incidents include scooters moving through red lights, high speeds, and a high degree of interaction between different streams of traffic. The report highlights how often fast-moving two-wheeled traffic intersects with motor vehicles, creating dangerous situations that lead to collisions and injuries on busy urban roadways.
Another alarming finding is that in 35% of collisions involving two-wheeler users, the rider did not remain at the scene. This tendency to flee after an accident complicates investigations, delays medical aid, and increases the risk of unresolved damage. In terms of geographic distribution, Moscow emerges as the city with the highest share of scooter-related crashes, accounting for 54% of all such incidents. The Moscow region follows with around 12% of accidents, while the remaining incidents are spread across major cities including St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Barnaul, Izhevsk, Kazan, Kemerovo, Perm, Yaroslavl, and others. These patterns reflect a concentration of scooter activity and traffic density in large urban centers.
Seasonal trends show a clear peak in the warmer months. July and August together accounted for 32% of scooter-related traffic incidents, with July representing 15% and August 17% of the annual total for these events. This pattern aligns with higher use of personal mobility devices during summer and early autumn, when people are more frequently commuting, running errands, or enjoying leisure activities that involve urban travel.
Policy responses from city authorities have mirrored concerns about safety. Moscow’s traffic authorities have proposed a speed cap for electric scooters at 20 km/h to reduce the severity of crashes and give riders more time to react to hazards. In addition, officials have recommended restricting use by minors under 18, citing safety concerns for younger riders who may lack experience or judgment in traffic. Currently, the capital enforces a 25 km/h speed limit and includes zones where speeds are reduced to 5–15 km/h, creating safe corridors for pedestrians and slower traffic areas.
For the period January through September 2023, Russia recorded approximately 2.6 thousand road incidents involving users of personal mobility devices, a figure that triples the number from the same interval in the previous year. This surge underscores a shift in urban transport behavior and the growing role of non-traditional mobility in city transportation ecosystems. The data emphasize that while scooters offer convenience and efficiency, they also introduce new risks that require comprehensive safety measures, effective enforcement, and public education to minimize harm on crowded roads.