Inhuman dreams

The head of the traffic police wants to replace inspectors with automation

Anniversary celebrations on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate led its current head, Viktor Kiryanov (pictured) , to the idea that in order to ensure discipline and safety on the road, it would be good to “minimize the human factor.” Yesterday at a festive press conference, he admitted that the most impartial guard, as well as an examiner for new drivers, could only be automatic. This, in his opinion, can significantly reduce the scope for corruption on the roads, and also improve the image of the inspection itself, which many consider not only one of the most bribe-intensive structures, but also the main initiator of the continuous tightening of penalties for drivers.

“With the help of video cameras, you can clearly record a violation, and then send the driver a fine receipt by mail with a photograph of the violation attached,” Mr. Kiryanov explained with one example how automation can replace the inspector. Moreover, in his opinion, data on the offense should be sent to a special information database, access to which must be provided to insurers. “Insurance companies will immediately see which driver they are dealing with and will adequately influence the law-abiding road user using economic methods,” said the head of the traffic police.

According to Viktor Kiryanov, the system for training motorists and passing driver's license exams should also become equally automated. “When taking an exam on the site, the inspector observes, gives points, and many pay him money for this,” he admitted. - Therefore, we want to change this form and this approach to taking exams. We have studied the experience of many states, and based on the data obtained, we are developing a new system. The main thing is not the exam, the main thing is preparation.”

In parallel with the displacement of the notorious corruption factor from the relationship between the traffic police and drivers, the heads of the traffic police still intend to raise the issue of increasing fines for violators of traffic rules and reviving old forms of punishment for irresponsible drivers. “Today our penalties are the smallest. My opinion: they need to continue to be tightened so that breaking the rules is discouraged,” Mr. Kiryanov told Vremya Novostey, noting that ideally such initiatives should not come from the traffic police. “As a rule, everyone interprets this incorrectly, saying that here again the traffic cops are pursuing their own goals to work for their own pockets,” he complained. Traditionally, the country's chief traffic inspector also supported the revival of the previously existing “point system,” which implied the deprivation of the right to drive after the driver had accumulated a critical mass of rule violations. “The printouts for some drivers on the existing database sometimes contain 80-90 violations! - General Kiryanov was indignant. “Such a driver already poses a danger to society, and he should only ride on the roads as a passenger.”

Since some State Duma deputies have already managed to formalize the proposals of the traffic police in the form of a bill, Viktor Kiryanov said that such a document “needs to be promoted.” However, he did not specify by what date Russian drivers should expect the Code of Administrative Offenses to be updated. The head of the traffic police could not explain when the new driver examination system would be launched, at least in pilot mode. Mr. Kiryanov only expressed the hope that funds for its development will be received during the implementation of the Federal Target Program “Improving Road Safety in 2006-2012.” The program, the main goal of which is to reduce the number of deaths in road accidents by one and a half times by 2012, according to him, “is going difficult, we are now taking the first steps, and it is clear that the results will not come today.” However, in eight constituent entities of the Russian Federation, money has already been allocated to implement the provisions of the program, and next year more than half of the Russian regions will join it, which the traffic police considers a great achievement. In total, a total of 52.7 billion rubles have already been allocated for the implementation of the program, including 21.6 billion rubles from the federal budget, and 30.6 billion rubles from regional budgets.

Irina BELASHEVA