On April 1, Russia enacted the GOST standard governing automobile alcohol locks, a development reported by DEA News. The regulation is set to apply to a wide range of vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, and commercial fleets that transport hazardous, heavy, bulky goods, as well as household waste and garbage.
The standard outlines the fundamental requirements for the devices themselves, covering their construction, functionality, and safety features. Alcohol locks function by capturing ethanol vapors in the driver’s exhaled breath and preventing engine start if alcohol is detected. In addition, they are designed to send a notification to the ERA-GLONASS system when a driver under the influence attempts to start the vehicle.
Senior police official Dmitry Mitroshin, who previously led the road safety research center at the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, has proposed equipping vehicles with anti alcohol locks. While the concept is widely seen as beneficial, Mitroshin notes that the cost of widespread implementation could be a major consideration for authorities and fleets.
Experts emphasize that the new GOST aims to reduce drunk driving incidents, improve road safety, and ensure compliance across varied vehicle categories. Observers also point to the need for robust maintenance protocols and user education to maximize effectiveness and minimize false positives or misuse. Authorities are expected to monitor deployment progress and gather performance data to assess long term impact.
Industry stakeholders are watching closely how the technology integrates with existing vehicle safety systems and traffic management networks. The regulation aligns with international trends toward automated enforcement and real time reporting, while raising questions about privacy, data handling, and the costs associated with retrofitting older fleets. (Source attribution: Rosstandart and official Russian transport agencies)