In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, during a large-scale police operation, officials from the State Traffic Inspectorate applied shock content on a tablet showing real accidents to individuals caught during the raid. The regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported the incident as an unusual educational measure.
“The inspectors aimed to place participants in a stressful frame and give them a chance to grasp that a tragedy could befall them if road safety rules are ignored”, stated the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
It was noted that the inspectors’ attempt to stage a dramatic demonstration was supported by road operators.
Stories of accident victims circulating on social media frequently escape official channels and guidelines. For example, in Nizhny Novgorod this summer a traffic officer allegedly asked a driver to exhale into a device to check for alcohol, and the readings appeared on an improvised device labeled as an “alcotest.”
“At first I did not understand what was happening; I thought it was some new gadget everyone uses. Then I checked the recorder and realized the truth. Today they subjected me to a full check, even urging me to undergo further examination”, the driver remarked.
Another incident occurred in the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow, where a motorcyclist was stopped and asked to present documents for a two-wheeled vehicle with insufficient power registration, which raised questions about the necessity of a formal inspection. The officers suggested processing the case and sending it for review, with the driver recording the encounter and posting it on a video platform.
“Let’s handle it this way—we’ll draft a report and send it for review. Do you want these extra issues to be addressed?” the officers asked the rider, who documented the exchange and published it online.
Beyond the Law
Serhiy Radko, advocate for the Freedom of Choice automobile movement, notes that in such episodes traffic officers can disregard the law, display disrespect for road users, and reveal gaps in their knowledge.
“These actions cross a line. The legal framework does not sanction forcing viewers to watch shocking content or examining personal devices”, Radko commented to socialbites.ca.
With regard to the scooter case, Radko argued that authorities do not have the authority to demand documents for a two-wheeled vehicle with a small engine capacity. The rider usually only needs a driver’s license and a helmet, he said.
“Even a broad, fragmented approach can affect anyone’s mental state”, psychologist Vladislav Podolyako told socialbites.ca.
Viktor Travin, chairman of the Legal Protection of Vehicle Owners, suggested that such conduct by some cops might reflect attempts at extortion, displays of force, or simply insufficient legal knowledge.
“If the claim is that they are trying to induce stress, then a person in charge should not be in law enforcement. An officer who forces a driver into a stressful stance should be removed”, Travin stated to socialbites.ca.
When preparing to interact with a traffic police officer, road users are advised to view the officer as a function of maintaining order rather than an adversary, according to conflict specialist Lyubov Tsoi, a sociology candidate, in an interview with socialbites.ca.
Podolyako added that confident, calm communication by the inspector might deter escalation and reduce the likelihood that the driver will engage in unnecessary conflict.
He noted that the presence of authority is real, but that a driver who remains composed and does not react defensively is less likely to trigger a confrontation.