Civil assistance
Along with the State Traffic Inspectorate, various ministries and departments, public organizations and simply caring citizens contribute to the prevention and suppression of traffic violations. Izvestia found out how they help reduce accidents on Russian roads.
Embrace the immensity
The active introduction of photo and video recording systems for traffic violations on Russian roads has certainly made a significant contribution to reducing the accident rate in our country. However, it is obvious that they are simply unable to record absolutely all traffic violations — it is impossible to cover several million kilometers of Russian highways with cameras. Just as it is impossible to identify a number of serious violations without the direct participation of traffic police officers, for example, drunk driving. And then representatives of public organizations who, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, are on duty on the streets, and just concerned citizens who witnessed a traffic violation and reported it to the police, come to the aid of the police.
According to official data, there are about 800 public organizations in our country that actively interact with the police, including the prevention and suppression of traffic violations. Also involved in this work are almost 1,9 thousand Cossack societies and more than 10 thousand national squads, several hundred freelance staff. Cooperation with them has been established in all regions of Russia, according to the State Traffic Inspectorate. This work is most actively carried out in the republics of Adygea, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Mari El, Mordovia, North Ossetia—Alania, Tatarstan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Altai, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorsky, Perm and Stavropol Territories, Vladimir, Volgograd, Kirov, Kostroma, Kemerovo, Lipetsk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Penza, Samara, Sverdlovsk and Ulyanovsk regions, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug.
For example, in the Kirov region, members of the Night Patrol association have been regularly monitoring recreation areas and entertainment venues since 2012 and reporting to the police about drivers who got behind the wheel after drinking alcoholic beverages. A public organization with the same name has been operating in the Samara Region since 2015. Its members are also on duty in the evenings on weekends and holidays and transmit information about "suspicious" motorists to the State Traffic Inspectorate. Similar public control measures are being carried out in other regions of the country.
Chatbots on guard
Along with public organizations, information about drunk drivers, as well as other traffic violations, is transmitted to traffic police officers by concerned citizens who witnessed inappropriate behavior on the road. To do this, in many regions, and often in individual settlements, with the support of the State Traffic Inspectorate, special chatbots have been created in messengers, with which you can inform the police about reckless drivers.
Only one of the special chats consists of almost 6 thousand motorists of Naberezhnye Chelny, who daily share information about drunk drivers, children and teenagers driving vehicles and pit bikes. They also report other serious traffic violations such as running a red light, driving in the wrong lane, and so on. Police officers always respond to such reports and make sure to check them.
So, in July, thanks to an eyewitness's message in a chat, Ulan-Ude traffic police detained a motorist driving a car under the influence of alcohol. A similar message sent to the police by a Ufa resident in early November also allowed traffic police inspectors to bring another drunk driver to justice. In the city of Tuimazy, thanks to information in the chat, traffic police officers stopped teenagers from riding pit bikes. You can report these or other traffic violations not only in chat rooms, but also by simply calling 112, the traffic police emphasize.
Since the beginning of the year, law enforcement agencies have received several tens of thousands of such reports, and in some cases, during the verification of the information received, the suspicions of citizens were confirmed. As a result, several thousand traffic violators were brought to justice, including those who got behind the wheel drunk. People with active citizenship are not ignored: for their help, they receive diplomas, commendations, certificates of honor, and valuable gifts such as tickets to sports events, movies, theaters, or concerts from regional authorities and the police.
Public organizations and concerned citizens provide significant assistance to traffic police officers in the prevention and suppression of traffic violations, said Police Major General Alexei Kuznetsov, Deputy head of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
— Reports from citizens about drivers who got behind the wheel drunk, motorists who behave inappropriately and violate traffic regulations, have prevented more than one potential tragedy on the road. The State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia supports people with an active civic position and calls on all eyewitnesses of a traffic violation or simply inappropriate behavior of the driver to report it to the police. Indifference and indifference to the daredevilism of individual road users can eventually cost someone their lives," emphasized Alexey Kuznetsov.
He said that the police respond to all such messages coming from citizens. Traffic police will definitely take all necessary measures to search for drivers who arouse suspicion from eyewitnesses, said the deputy head of the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate.
Prevention and prevention
The interaction of the State Traffic Inspectorate with public organizations and citizens is not limited to assistance in identifying reckless drivers and preventing traffic violations. An important aspect of working together is the promotion of law-abiding and safe behavior among road users.
In various regions, volunteers and members of public organizations, together with departments of the State Traffic Inspectorate, constantly hold various contests, flash mobs, social campaigns and actions aimed at improving road safety. For example, during the all-Russian "Light Up" campaign, representatives of the All-Russian Society of Motorists, DOSAAF, ONF and other organizations, along with traffic police officers, clearly show how reflective elements on clothing make pedestrians more visible on the road, and give them bright key rings, bracelets, and patches. With the support of public organizations in a number of regions of the Russian Federation, contests and quizzes on knowledge of traffic regulations and various competitions are regularly held among various groups of the population.
A special place in the prevention of safe behavior on the road is played by the all-Russian public children's and youth organization for the promotion of road safety "Young Traffic Inspectors" (YID). More than 521,000 children and teenagers, who are members of 36,500 youth police units, provide invaluable assistance to the State Traffic Inspectorate in improving road safety. Along with various contests, promotions, and preventive measures in which UID teams actively participate, they use their example, including through mentoring, to demonstrate and pass on the skills of proper and safe behavior on the road not only to their peers, but also to adults. And often such an example, shown by a child or teenager, has a much greater impact on drivers and pedestrians than a conversation with a traffic inspector or a fine for traffic violations.
Religious organizations also play an important role in preventing traffic violations and reducing accidents. Taking into account the specifics of the regions related to national traditions and customs, public condemnation of irresponsible behavior on the road and reckless behavior on the part of elders and representatives of the clergy is of great importance. In some cases, comments from the clergy have a much greater impact on the violator than the highest fine or other sanction.
Interaction with public organizations and people with an active civic position to ensure road safety and reduce accidents is one of the key areas of activity of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and is under constant control of its leadership. This work will continue and develop, the ministry emphasizes.
The material was created as part of the implementation of the federal project "Road Safety" of the national project "Infrastructure for Life"
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