The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation intends to broaden the ERA-GLONASS emergency response network by extending its reach to unmanned aerial vehicles, personal mobility devices, and small watercraft. This plan is outlined in a draft law cited by RBC and signals a shift toward a more integrated public safety framework that leverages existing satellite-based tracking for new mobility technologies. The central idea is to use ERA-GLONASS not only for ground transportation monitoring but also to supervise drones, scooters, and compact maritime crafts, ensuring real-time awareness of their status and location in urban and rural settings alike. The proposal envisions ERA-GLONASS receiving data from drones to rapidly detect emergencies, disseminate alerts, and coordinate timely responses. It also contemplates setting appropriate speed limits for personal mobility devices in pedestrian zones, aiming to reduce friction between fast-moving devices and pedestrians while preserving mobility options for residents and workers. In addition, the system would play a role in aggregating telemetric data generated by driver condition monitoring systems, contributing to a broader picture of vehicle and operator safety across various modes of transport. This expansion would thus position ERA-GLONASS as a central hub for safety intelligence, linking disparate devices and fleets into a cohesive warning and response network. The drafting of the bill underscores a policy aim to harmonize emerging mobility technologies with public safety infrastructure, potentially paving the way for standardized data sharing, incident reporting, and coordinated emergency management across multiple transport domains. [RBC]
Observers note that the proposed measure would significantly broaden the operational envelope of ERA-GLONASS, extending its oversight beyond traditional road vehicles to include aerial, floating, and personal mobility equipment. If enacted, it could enable authorities to monitor the movement of drones during delivery or inspection missions, track scooters and micro-vehicles in busy city centers, and monitor the movement patterns of small ships on waterways. The framework would also support rapid broadcast of alerts to operators and first responders in the event of a crash, loss of control, or other emergencies, while simultaneously collecting data to inform post-incident analyses and preventative planning. Furthermore, the bill hints at mechanisms to regulate speeds of personal mobility devices in pedestrian zones, balancing the demand for rapid urban movement with safety imperatives for pedestrians and street-level infrastructure. By embedding telemetric insights from driver condition monitoring within ERA-GLONASS, authorities would gain visibility into operational risk factors, enabling more proactive safety interventions and better resource allocation during incidents. The broader aim appears to be creating a unified, technology-enabled safety platform that can adapt to evolving urban mobility trends while upholding regulatory safety standards and public accountability. [RBC]
Earlier reporting indicated that Russia was developing a broader policy framework to govern the operation of personal mobility devices used by delivery couriers and other workers. The draft legislation would set rules for how these devices move through public spaces, how they are tracked, and how safety information is shared with the public sector. This approach reflects a growing interest in integrating advanced logistics and transport technologies into national safety systems, and it echoes international conversations about responsible deployment, rider and pedestrian safety, and the practical steps needed to ensure reliable data governance. The discussions around PIMs and electric assist bicycles point to a larger trend of regulatory modernization, one that seeks to harmonize new mobility forms with existing traffic laws, public safety mandates, and urban planning priorities. As the draft law moves through the legislative process, stakeholders from transportation, technology, and consumer protection sectors will likely weigh in on how ERA-GLONASS could support safer urban mobility while preserving privacy, transparency, and user trust. [RBC]