---
title: "Robots on sidewalks: Russia adopts first traffic rules for delivery rovers"
description: "Russia has adopted the first \"traffic rules for robots\": delivery rovers will receive strict regulations for movement on sidewalks and in elevators. Speed is limited to 10 km/h, and by 2027, 12,000 such machines are expected on the streets. 🤖🚚"
date: 2026-07-31T20:34:44.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-adopts-traffic-rules-for-robots
tags: [russia, delivery-robots, traffic-rules, ministry-of-economy]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Robots on sidewalks: Russia adopts first traffic rules for delivery rovers

![Delivery rover on a city sidewalk with pedestrians in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/31/v-rossii-utverdivili-pdd-dlya-robotov-kurеров/v-rossii-utverdivili-pdd-dlya-robotov-kurеров-1.webp)

New rules for autonomous vehicles are coming into force in Russia. The Ministry of Economic Development has developed and submitted to the government a draft of an experimental legal regime (ELR), which effectively establishes "traffic rules for robots." The document has been coordinated with key agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport, and the Federal Protective Service, and is ready for implementation.

### Speed limits and movement zones

The new regulation, designed for a three-year period, will be in effect in 35 regions of the country. It details how delivery robots should behave in an urban environment. The main requirements concern speed limits and right of way:

- Movement on bike lanes is permitted at speeds up to 25 km/h.

- On sidewalks and pedestrian paths, the limit is reduced to 10 km/h.

- Before pedestrian crossings, the robot must slow down to 6 km/h and yield to pedestrians.

- Through movement on narrow sidewalks (less than one meter wide) is completely prohibited.

An important innovation is the permission to operate equipment inside buildings. Delivery robots will be allowed to move through premises and use elevators to deliver cargo to different floors.

### Technical requirements for rovers

The document sets strict parameters for the devices themselves. To be granted access to work on the streets, a robot must meet the following specifications:

- Body length no more than 110 cm.

- Width no more than 80 cm.

- Weight limited to 120 kg.

- Electric motor power cannot exceed 4 kW.

- Maximum design speed — 25 km/h.

Furthermore, the rules introduce a new equipment requirement: every rover must be equipped with an audible signal to warn other road users.

### Accident investigation and liability

The experimental regime also regulates actions in the event of accidents. If an incident occurs without injuries or damage, the parties may leave without police involvement. However, in the presence of damage or injuries, a representative of the operator company and a traffic police officer must arrive at the scene. Providing footage from the robot's onboard camera will be mandatory for investigating the circumstances of the accident.

### Industry development prospects

Authorities expect that by 2027, the fleet of delivery robots in Russian cities will reach 12,000 units. Following the three-year experiment, amendments are planned to be made to the federal traffic rules, which will allow robotic delivery to operate across the country on a permanent basis.