Estonia's First Remote-Controlled Taxi Accident Raises Liability Questions

Estonia experienced its first traffic accident involving a remote-controlled taxi at an intersection near the Kristiine shopping center in Tallinn. The remotely operated vehicle crossed the stop line at a red traffic light and stopped on a pedestrian crossing. The operator then decided to continue driving. A driver in the public transport lane failed to notice the vehicle due to obstruction by other cars, and a collision was unavoidable.

Janno Tobi, head of the police operational group, explained that a person inside the vehicle can press the brake and stop it in dangerous situations, but should not decide to proceed—that responsibility lies solely with the remote operator. The accident materials were handed over to the insurance company, which treats it as a standard insurance case.

Claude Kaasik, head of motor insurance at PZU, stated that the operator controlling a remote-controlled car is responsible for it. Even if the operator is in a different building and uses a remote control or joystick, they are considered the driver and bear liability for any accident.

It is important to distinguish between types of vehicles. A remote-controlled car is operated by a person who may be dozens of kilometers away. Estonian law already permits such vehicles, for example, as taxis. In contrast, fully autonomous cars that independently analyze road conditions and make driving decisions are not allowed on public roads in Estonia. Attorney Albert Linntamm noted that legal issues can be resolved, but society is not yet ready to trust machines with driving decisions.

Remote-controlled taxis appeared on Tallinn streets in July 2026, offered by Estonian company Elmo in partnership with German taxi platform Bliq. Initially, only two such taxis were available.