In the first half of the year, the Scientific Center for Road Safety (NTs BDD) under Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a total of about 79.6 thousand administrative actions, marking a 24.4 percent rise from the same period in 2021. This uptick highlights a growing enforcement footprint on Russian roads and reflects intensified data collection and case processing. Yet, fines issued by road stewards showed a contrasting trend, dipping by 7.1 percent to roughly 10.6 thousand. Overall, the year-to-date activity reached 90.2 thousand fines with a cumulative monetary value approaching 62 billion rubles. Simultaneously, 167,000 administrative proceedings were concluded for varied reasons, underscoring how authorities resolve cases at different stages of the enforcement cycle and how this can affect public perception of road safety efforts.
There was also a notable shift in the composition of cases: reports involving drivers under the influence of drugs rose by 3.7 percent, totaling about 10.3 thousand. Passengers encountered fines in 127.7 thousand instances, up 4.1 percent, signaling broader scrutiny of all road users in enforcement actions. The most striking growth occurred among cyclists and other participants in road traffic, with the number of filed cases increasing to 33.7 thousand—an increase of about one third. This pattern points to a widening enforcement net that captures a broader spectrum of behavior and vulnerabilities on the road.
Earlier in 2021, a large fleet of hardware and systems were deployed to address traffic violations on Russian highways. At that time, 27,710 enforcement complexes were reported as operational. The latest figures from the State Traffic Inspectorate show 23,4 thousand units in use, including both mobile and stationary devices. The shift indicates fewer cameras overall but a higher rate of fines issued. The aim behind this transition is not simply to expand coverage but to refresh and enhance the capability of the cameras. As the technology advances, these devices increasingly recognize a wider range of violations. The spectrum now extends beyond speeding to issues like failing to follow road markings, not wearing seat belts, using a phone while driving, and even situations involving animals in the front seats. This evolution mirrors a global trend where traffic cameras evolve into more comprehensive monitoring tools and deterrents, influencing behavior across drivers and other road users. [attribution: NTs BDD data and State Traffic Inspectorate reports]