How to replenish the budget and improve road safety: Dmitry Davydov’s ideas

The authorities are looking for ways to save money without harming the quality of life of citizens. Given the government’s budget projections, the issue of saving funds is acute. Project author “20 ideas for the development of Russia” Dmitry Davydov proposed measures that would save money from the state budget and improve the standard of living of Russians. In the material, we will analyze a number of initiatives related to road safety, which will bring 407 billion rubles a year to the budget. The final estimate of income from the set of proposals of the author is 2.019 trillion rubles.

Increased driving responsibility

To reduce accidents on the roads, Dmitry Davydov suggested several directions. The first concerns the Rules of the Road, one of the proposals within which was the fight against drunk drivers.

Every seventh accident in 2020 involved a drunk driver. The problem of drunk driving can be solved by toughening the punishment. In Japan, the proportion of deaths from drunk drivers is 4.9% of all accidents, 5-6 times less than the Russian figure. Depending on the level of intoxication, the driver can receive a fine of up to 1,000,000 yen (414,000 rubles) and a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years with a lifetime withdrawal of rights. And in Japan, it is punishable to allow a drunk person to drive.

Dmitry Davydov proposed to increase the fine and term of deprivation of rights for driving under the influence of alcohol in Russia. It is proposed to increase the punishment to 100,000 rubles, and the term of deprivation of rights to three years. The same punishment is offered for handing over the steering wheel to a drunk driver. If the driver was without a license, the arrest should be up to 30 days. It is proposed to hold accountable passengers who are in a car with a drunk driver.

Lawyer Olga Vlasova noted: “In world practice, driving while intoxicated is a serious crime that entails a corresponding serious punishment. This idea does not just make sense, but should resonate and serve as a starting point for increasing the punishment for drunk driving. People should understand their responsibility and, if not the drunk driver himself, then at least the passengers of his car, fearing the consequences, should dissuade him from driving or continuing to drive. I support the initiative!

With regard to traffic rules, it is proposed to prosecute pedestrians who violate the Rules, introduce restrictions for novice drivers, punish dangerous driving, systematic traffic violations, driving without OSAGO insurance, and limit the use of gadgets for road users.

Intelligence for security

Another block of measures for road safety is the introduction of digital technologies. One of the proposals is the use of artificial intelligence to identify drunk drivers. An anonymous survey of Russians in November 2021 showed that 39% of respondents got behind the wheel while intoxicated, 6% do it systematically.

In the United States, passive alcohol detection technology in a car, DADSS, is being actively developed. The method instantly detects intoxication using a skin test or a scan of the air exhaled by the driver. Sensors are installed in the steering wheel, in the driver’s door or in the dashboard. The authorities adopted a resolution on the mandatory installation of the scheme on new cars.

Dmitry Davydov proposed to develop in the Russian Federation an alcohol detection technology built into a car without any effort on the part of the driver. 6 years after the adoption of the system at the legislative level, it is proposed to introduce a ban on registering cars without a new generation alcohol detector.

“Alcolocks are a technology that is designed to reduce the number of drunk driving cases and, consequently, the number of deaths and injuries. In developed countries, this tool is one of the most important for those who use a personal mode of transport. The importance of following traffic safety rules should be a priority for everyone who uses transport! I support the idea of ​​introducing alcohol interlocks on cars, because they will save many lives,” added Olga Vlasova.

AI controlled speed

High technology will help in speed control. The European Commission, for example, decided to equip EU vehicles with an intelligent speed control system – ISA.

The meaning is simple: the video camera reads road signs and speed limits. ISA plays a preventive role, but can forcibly reduce the power of the car. According to the regulations, one of four warning methods must be installed in the car. These are cascade sound warning, cascade vibration warning, slight reverse acceleration pedal push, automatic smooth deceleration.

Following the example of Europe, Dmitry Davydov proposes to introduce the system into cars in the territory of the Russian Federation. For the absence or its malfunction, a fine is offered. Three to four years from the date of the law’s release, the project is given a run-in period. After that, the prohibition of registering a car without an intelligent speed assistant should take effect.

The author of the project is convinced that the measure will increase road safety indicators. “But the most important effect of the proposed measures is that the number of deaths and injuries on the roads of Russia will be significantly reduced,” Davydov said.

Also in the block there are proposals of the author of the project on working with fatigue at the wheel, on improving the safety of trucks and controlling the movement of cars in reverse.

407 billion rubles to the budget

These ideas will reduce road deaths to the level of Sweden. There, in 2021, 192 people died with a population of 10.4 million. So far, in Russia, the figure is 5.5 times higher. Budget revenues from mortality reduction are proposed to be calculated at the ratio of the budget to the country’s GDP. In 2021, the figure was 19%. State budget expenditures: 24.8 trillion rubles, GDP: 130.8 trillion rubles.

If we take WHO data, according to which the damage from road accidents to the economy reaches up to 3% of GDP, and for Russia we take a conditional indicator of 2%, we can assume that in 2021 road accidents caused damage to the economy of 2.616 trillion rubles (19% or 497 billion of which to the state). If state budget expenditures were 19% of GDP, then it is likely that the economic losses from road accidents can be calculated in the same proportion. According to the estimates of the author of the project, the cumulative implementation of road safety ideas with a 5.5-fold reduction in accidents will bring the treasury at least 407 billion rubles. Formula: 497 – 497 / 5.5 per year due to cost reduction. For practical implementation Dmitry Davydov’s proposals require extensive support and attention from the authorities.