Overcoming Challenges to Enforcement of Micromobility Traffic Laws and Reporting of Micromobility Crashes

The rise of micromobility devices, including e-scooters, e-bikes, and other personal transportation technologies, has transformed urban transportation systems. However, this shift has introduced new challenges for law enforcement agencies. The unique characteristics of these devices—such as their small size, high maneuverability, lack of registration, and shared usage models—create enforcement and investigative complexities. Additionally, traffic safety laws in many states are often unclear with regard to micromobility, providing limited guidance to law enforcement officers in regulating these devices. Incidents involving micromobility devices, ranging from traffic infractions to crashes, are often underreported or inconsistently investigated. Furthermore, legal ambiguity, limited training, and inadequate data-sharing mechanisms exacerbate the difficulty for police officers to enforce traffic laws and conduct effective investigations. These gaps hinder efforts to ensure the safety of all road users and reduce conflicts between micromobility users, pedestrians, and motorized vehicles.  This research will explore the barriers faced by law enforcement in managing micromobility-related incidents and develop actionable recommendations to improve enforcement practices, investigation protocols, and interagency collaboration. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research are to:  Synthesize current micromobility laws across the United States; Identify gaps in current micromobility laws; Identify and address challenges law enforcement agencies encounter in enforcing traffic safety laws and investigating incidents involving micromobility devices; Explore opportunities to improve reporting for micromobility crashes; Develop a toolkit of best practices, training resources, and tools to enhance the capacity of law enforcement and promote interagency coordination.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5926

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $350,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  BTS-46

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Governors Highway Safety Association

  444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 722
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, D.C.  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Retting, Richard

• Start Date: 20250701
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycles; Electric vehicles; Micromobility; Scooters; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01959891
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: BTS-46
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 1 2025 2:24PM