As New Year festivities approach, regional traffic police issued a clear warning to drivers about planned checks slated for Friday, December 24, and continuing into the following weekend. They stressed that law enforcement units will be out in force, focusing on high-traffic corridors and areas prone to incidents during holiday travel.
Across multiple regions, patrols reported conducting coordinated checks targeting drivers on major routes. Inspections were carried out in the Ryazan, Tambov, Samara, Vologda, and Lipetsk regions, as well as in the Republic of Buryatia, the Altai Republic, the Tver region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, and the Kurgan region, among others. The systematic approach involved additional patrols, spot checks, and the use of mobile teams to ensure adherence to traffic safety rules during the peak travel period.
Authorities explained that controls would be intensified on key roads in Tyumen and the Tyumen region, as well as in Ufa, Petrozavodsk, Saratov, Krasnodar, and Yelabuga. In Kirov, the traffic police signaled that they would implement strict checks, including planned mass stops on carefully chosen stretches where violations are most common and where there is a higher risk of accidents during the holiday rush.
In a statement from the Ryazan regional police, officials noted that during these operations, law enforcement teams will systematically stop vehicles to verify compliance with safety requirements. The overall objective is to deter dangerous behavior and to identify violations before they lead to harmful outcomes on the roads during the holiday travel window.
Alongside these daytime efforts, traffic authorities in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region announced nightly operations from December 23 through December 26. These raids will test drivers for signs of impairment to ensure that drunk driving is identified and prosecuted promptly. The extended curfew of checks underscores the seriousness with which authorities treat road safety during the holiday period.
Penalties for driving under the influence or transferring control to an intoxicated person are stringent. An administrative fine of 30,000 rubles is typical, and violators face a ban on driving for one and a half to two years. The State Traffic Inspectorate reminded motorists that repeat offenses can lead to more serious consequences, including criminal liability in accordance with the applicable laws for repeat offenders.
Officials recalled past incidents and ongoing efforts to deter unsafe behavior on the road. For example, in Krasnoyarsk, there was a recent report of an inspector accompanying a camera-equipped vehicle placed in an ambulance during a previous operation. This example illustrates how authorities use a combination of enforcement tools and situational tactics to improve road safety during peak travel periods.
Experts emphasize that the holiday period demands heightened vigilance from all road users. Drivers are urged to plan trips carefully, observe speed limits, avoid distractions, and designate a sober driver if alcohol is involved. Law enforcement officials reiterate that visible patrols and random stops will continue across many regions, with the goal of reducing accidents and ensuring safer journeys for residents and visitors alike during the New Year season.