E-scooters out of control: number of accidents doubles in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – The number of accidents involving electric scooter riders in Kazakhstan has surged over the past year, citing Ranking.kz.

From January to August 2025, 153 accidents were recorded in which cars collided with electric scooter riders, compared to just 64 during the same period in 2024. Separately, incidents where the scooter riders themselves were at fault are also counted – 93 such cases occurred in the first eight months of 2025, double the number from 2024.

Cities with the most accidents

• Almaty: 79 cases
• Astana: 38 cases
• Shymkent: 11 cases

Accidents are rarer in other regions. The high numbers are attributed to the booming scooter-sharing market and growing popularity of scooter rentals among youth. In Almaty alone, approximately 100,000 scooter trips are made daily.

The increase in accidents has led to more injuries. Between January and August 2025, 173 people were injured – 2.5 times more than the previous year, with about half being minors. Fatalities have also occurred: four in 2024 and one in the first eight months of 2025.

Main causes of accidents

Most accidents are due to unsafe maneuvering by scooter riders. In 2025, 26 such cases were reported – five times more than in 2024. Other common causes include failing to yield (14 cases) and speeding (10 cases). The leading type of scooter accident is collisions with pedestrians (29 cases, 2.2 times higher than 2024), followed by head-on collisions (23 cases, almost four times more).

Statistics only cover accidents with injuries or property damage. In reality, traffic violations by e-scooter riders are far higher. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of September 12, 2025, about 17,400 e-scooter users in Almaty alone have been fined for administrative violations.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the issue in his national address, instructing lawmakers to urgently introduce amendments regulating the use of low-mobility transport like electric scooters.

Current legislation prohibits riding on sidewalks at speeds over 6 km/h, riding without helmets, and carrying passengers. Despite the rules, enforcement challenges persist, particularly in Almaty, where favorable weather allows scooter use from March to November.