Across several regions, traffic authorities announced a series of broad daytime and nighttime campaigns aimed at identifying and deterring drunk driving. On September 16 and 17, mass roadside checks are planned, with law enforcement agencies from various regional departments of the State Traffic Inspectorate outlining a heightened level of road control during these days. The intention behind these checks is to detect intoxicated drivers as early as possible, reduce the risk of accidents, and reinforce the message that driving under the influence will be met with strict scrutiny and enforcement actions.
In practice, this initiative will see traffic inspectors tightening their oversight on routes across multiple regions, including Murmansk, Smolensk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, Samara, Kirov, Bryansk, Lipetsk, Penza, and additional areas. The goal is to ensure a broader, more consistent application of road safety standards, with officers reserving the right to stop vehicles on certain stretches of highway and assess drivers for signs of impairment as part of routine sobriety checks. This approach underscores a commitment to curbing alcohol-related incidents and safeguarding motorists, pedestrians, and communities along busy corridors.
Meanwhile, in Krasnoyarsk, authorities cited a rising number of accidents involving drunk drivers and announced a shift to more frequent enforcement. Rather than limiting full checks to weekends, traffic police indicated that intensified scrutiny would occur on nights as well, extending the period during which vehicles may be stopped and drivers evaluated for intoxication. In Dagestan, the preventive measure known as the Oncoming Lane has been kept in place through September 23, reflecting regional efforts to deter risky driving behaviors and to coordinate traffic safety campaigns during this period.
Under the full checks protocol, the typical process involves stopping all vehicles on a designated road segment and conducting an assessment of each operator. Officers look for indicators of intoxication and assess overall driving condition, with procedures designed to quickly identify and remove impaired drivers from the road. The emphasis is on rapid, systematic screening that can cover a broad swath of motorists, with particular attention paid to signs that may signal impairment or increased risk on the roadway.
There is also a somber note in the record of traffic policing: a former officer in Nizhny Novgorod was shot by a youth, a reminder of the real risks that personnel face while enforcing road safety rules. This incident is mentioned to illustrate the challenging context in which traffic police operate, as they carry out demanding duties aimed at protecting the public. The overall thrust of these updates remains the same: a commitment to proactive enforcement, public awareness, and safer driving practices as part of a broader strategy to reduce drunk driving and its potentially tragic consequences.