Statement by the Ombudsman on the Necessity of Strengthening Regulations Governing the Use of Small Electric Vehicles

The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, from the perspective of ensuring the right to equality, shared her views regarding the current situation related to the use of e-scooters and other small electric vehicles (EVs), highlighting their risks to the life and health of individuals as well as the need for proper regulation of the relevant legal relations, and submitted an appeal to the competent state authority.

The Ombudsman noted that although e-scooters have boomed in recent years as an alternative for urban mobility, this development has also led to the emergence of new and serious risks for road traffic safety. The rise in traffic accidents involving minors, in particular, is concerning and shows how inadequate the current regulatory framework is.

Although the law stipulates a minimum age limit for using e-scooters, Sabina Aliyeva emphasized that this restriction is not often effectively enforced. Subsequently, children under the age of 14 are thereby directly endangering not only their lives but also the lives of other road users when they are left unattended on public highways.

It was specifically noted in the Ombudsman's statement that wearing protective helmets is not yet a mandatory requirement. Due to the high speeds that e-scooters can reach, the risk of life-threatening brain injuries and fatalities in accidents involving these vehicles is significantly increased. From a safety standpoint, equating e-scooters with bicycles cannot be considered justified.

The statement further notes how the lack of state registration and identification systems for small EVs makes administrative liability far more difficult to enforce. It was underlined that the current exemptions weaken the principle of equal responsibility among road users and create an environment of impunity.

Referring to international practice, Sabina Aliyeva said that in many countries, the main goal of regulating e-scooters is to ensure their safe usage rather than to outright forbid them. Important concerns in this area include age restrictions, the requirement that protective helmets be worn, the strengthening of parental responsibility, and the creation of efficient oversight mechanisms as key priorities in this field.

Recalling that 2026 was declared the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” and that Baku will host the World Urban Forum, the Ombudsman stated that the regulation of the above-mentioned relations is of particular importance. In this context, it was emphasized that the uncontrolled use of e-scooters poses a direct threat to individuals’ right to health.

In conclusion, the Ombudsman underscored the importance of bringing the legal regulation of e-scooters and other small EVs into conformity with international practice. She emphasized the necessity of establishing the mandatory use of protective helmets, strengthening parental responsibility aimed at safeguarding minors, introducing state registration and identification mechanisms, and ensuring the application of administrative liability on the basis of the principle of equality.

It was noted that these measures will contribute to the safe and sustainable development of micromobility, the protection of the rights and safety of road users, and the minimization of risks within the modern urban environment.