Russians could face fines once more for driving above the average speed on stretches monitored by traffic cameras. Kommersant reports that the draft amendments to the traffic rules, prepared by the Ministry of Transport, are under consideration. The push reflects a broader effort to modernize how speed violations are measured on long, monitored road sections rather than at isolated points along the route.
According to the Recognition and Photo-Video Recording Systems Manufacturers Association OKO, the kangaroo effect is a common phenomenon on major highways. Drivers often slow down when approaching a camera and resume the previous pace shortly afterward. In this context the ministry proposes introducing the concept of average speed into the existing legal framework to counteract that pattern and ensure a more stable compliance level over the entire monitored segment.
The ministry defines average speed as the ratio of the length of a road section with a fixed speed limit to the time a vehicle travels that section. This approach shifts the focus from a single moment of violation to performance over the full distance, aiming to reduce abrupt braking and acceleration that can create traffic disruptions. The document outlines how this metric would be calculated and reported for enforcement purposes, signaling a move toward a more continuous assessment of driver behavior on monitored corridors.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport indicated the changes could take effect on September 1, 2024. Initial plans had aimed for a March 1 start next year, but a later timeline was proposed as the draft moves through review and discussion with various agencies and stakeholders. The publication notes that the proposal has already received approval from the Ministry of Economic Development and from regional authorities, suggesting broad administrative support for the shift. The stance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs toward the innovations remains uncertain, with some officials previously describing the changes as premature and not yet ready for implementation.
Historically, there is contrasting precedent on penalties for violations tied to average speed. In 2021 the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation reversed earlier practice by ruling that penalties tied to the average speed on an entire road could be unlawful if the violation could not be pinpointed to a specific location. The ruling underscored a preference for targeting violations at a precise point where a speed limit was exceeded, rather than enforcing a blanket assessment over an entire segment.
In a related development, Russia has recently moved to cancel penalties tied to nonpayment of travel fees on toll roads, aligning toll policy with a broader trend toward simplifying road use administration. The decision reflects ongoing efforts to balance enforcement clarity with user convenience while preserving roadway funding and safety incentives. Expert commentary highlights that any shift to average-speed enforcement would require robust data collection, clear calculation protocols, and transparent adjudication to ensure fairness for drivers and consistency across regions. Citations accompany the analysis to provide a record of the sources informing these considerations.