Administrative enforcement in the field of road traffic: problems and prospects

Subject. The article examines administrative coercion in the field of road traffic in the Russian Federation, focusing on legal mechanisms of administrative liability and sanctions applied to drivers. It particularly addresses traffic safety policy within the framework of the national Strategy for improving road safety up to 2030 and towards 2036.

The purpose of the study is to identify key problems and gaps in the legal regulation and law-enforcement practice of applying administrative sanctions in road traffic, including multiple and repeated offences and medically based termination of the right to drive. The authors aim to substantiate proposals for improving legislation and enforcement tools to enhance the preventive function of administrative coercion.

Methodology. The research is based on analysis of Russian administrative and traffic safety legislation, including the Federal Law dated February 7, 2011, No. 3-FZ “On Police”, the Federal Law dated December 10, 1995, No. 196-FZ “On Road Traffic Safety”, and the new federal act on information exchange through medical conclusions. The authors use doctrinal interpretation, comparative legal analysis of regulation in road traffic and in the sphere of arms circulation, and examination of statistical data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Rosstat on administrative offences and traffic accidents.

Main results. The article describes the current dynamics of administrative offences and road traffic mortality, highlighting the persistence of high accident rates despite a long-term decrease in fatalities. It reveals deficiencies in the regulation of multiple and recurrent offences, the lack of unified mechanisms for accounting and monitoring high-risk drivers (including those with alcohol and drug addiction), and the absence of a clear procedure for terminating the right to drive on medical grounds. The authors show that, unlike the more advanced mechanism in the Federal Law dated December 13, 1996, No. 150-FZ “On Arms”, the road traffic safety regime still lacks effective legal instruments for systematic information exchange between medical organizations and traffic safety authorities.

Conclusions. Qualified detection of diseases and conditions constituting medical contraindications or limitations to driving should be recognized as a sufficient legal basis for terminating the right to operate vehicles. It is proposed to introduce a unified electronic register of medical conclusions, strengthen diagnostic requirements for drivers, and legally oblige competent authorities to consider medical information for prompt termination of driving rights. According to the authors, these measures will significantly contribute to the implementation of the national Strategy for improving road safety, reduce traffic accident rates and mortality, and enhance the preventive effectiveness of administrative coercion in road traffic.

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