The number of traffic accidents with drunk drivers in Russia decreased by 23.4% – Kommersant

For the five months of 2023, 2,887 thousand road accidents were registered involving drunk drivers. This is 23.4% less than a year earlier, TASS was told in the Main Directorate for Road Safety (GUOBDD) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

From January to May, there were 3,690 accidents involving drivers with signs of intoxication. Compared to the same period last year, the figure fell by 21.2%. “Indicators for those killed and injured in these incidents decreased by 40% and 18.8%, respectively, and in numerical terms amounted to 685 and 5091 people,” the department added.

As specified in the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, “drivers with signs of intoxication” mean those who have passed a medical examination and those who have refused it. “In 809 incidents, drivers refused medical examinations. In these accidents, 30 people died and another 1,186 were injured. Compared to the same period in 2022, the figures decreased by 11.9%, 37.5% and 5.9%, respectively,” the ministry said.

The government is preparing to submit amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses to the State Duma, allowing judges to punish drivers for traces of drugs found in the body. We are not talking about psychotropic or narcotic drugs, but, for example, anesthetics, antiepileptics, hypnotics and sedatives. The list of prohibited items will be set by the government, but experts suggest that it may also include antipyretic, antiviral drugs and antidepressants.

Details – in the material “Kommersant” “Sanctions of the Code of Administrative Offenses will be prescribed as a prescription”.

Laura Keffer