Helsinki: AI Predicts E-Scooter Accidents
- Helsinki is taking a proactive approach to e-scooter safety.
- The trial, supported by the European Union, involves 40 shared e-scooters from Tier-Dott, a major European operator.
- Forum Virium Helsinki, the city's innovation agency, coordinates the pilot as part of the EU-funded ELABORATOR project.
Helsinki is pioneering the future of e-scooter safety with an innovative pilot program leveraging AI to predict and prevent accidents. This forward-thinking initiative uses AI-powered sensors to monitor rider behavior in real-time, identifying potential hazards and risks before they escalate. The EU-backed project, involving 40 shared e-scooters, aims to proactively enhance e-scooter safety, a growing concern across Europe. This advanced technology could provide valuable data about high-risk areas and accidents. News Directory 3 reports on the key findings. The results of this project will help shape future micromobility regulations. Discover what’s next in smarter, safer urban mobility.
Helsinki tests AI E-Scooters for enhanced Safety
Updated June 29, 2025
Helsinki is taking a proactive approach to e-scooter safety. The city launched a pilot project using AI-powered sensors to monitor rider behavior in real time and flag potential hazards. This initiative aims to improve e-scooter safety, a growing concern across Europe.
The trial, supported by the European Union, involves 40 shared e-scooters from Tier-Dott, a major European operator. These scooters are equipped with sensors developed by See.Sense, a UK-based company. The sensors detect sudden braking, swerving, and vibrations, which may indicate road hazards. Vianova, a French startup, analyzes and visualizes the collected data through a mobility data platform.
Forum Virium Helsinki, the city’s innovation agency, coordinates the pilot as part of the EU-funded ELABORATOR project. The project seeks to enable cities to proactively address e-scooter safety concerns. Noora Reittu, senior project manager of ELABORATOR, said the technology could provide the city with valuable facts about accidents, near misses, and high-risk areas.
Across Europe,micromobility faces increasing scrutiny due to a rise in injuries and fatalities. In Germany, police reported 9,425 e-scooter accidents in 2023, with 22 resulting in fatalities, doubling the previous year’s figures. In response, some cities have implemented stricter regulations. Paris, for example, voted to ban rental e-scooters in 2023. Other cities, including Oslo and Madrid, have capped fleet sizes, introduced no-parking zones, or tightened speed limits.
Operators face pressure to demonstrate their ability to safely integrate into urban mobility systems. Profitability remains a challenge due to rising hardware costs, competition, and regulatory hurdles. Tier-Dott,formed by the merger of tier and Dott in 2024,aims to achieve more enduring growth through data-driven collaboration with cities.
Elina Bürkland, Dott’s head of public policy for the Nordics, said partnering with Helsinki allows them to move beyond reactive measures and proactively identify risks using real-time data.
What’s next
the pilot project’s results will contribute to broader EU research on safe and inclusive transport and may influence future regulations. Helsinki is now a key testbed in Europe’s evolving micromobility landscape.