Drivers Vehemently Demand Implementation of New Law Starting June 1st: Abolition of Right to Common Medication Under DAI
Russian Bill Introduces Fines for "Medication Intoxication" While Driving
On May 27, the first reading of a bill was approved by Russian State Duma deputies, introducing penalties for driving under the influence of certain medications. The legislation, if enacted, would expand fines beyond alcohol or drugs, targeting medications that may impair a driver's reaction and coordination.
The bill seeks to amend Articles 12.8 and 12.27 of the CoA, with proposed restrictions on medications affecting driver capabilities. Key innovations include:
- The term "intoxication" will now encompass the effects of some medications.
- Medical examinations to identify signs of "medication" impairment will be mandatory.
- The government will develop a list of medications banned for use while driving.
- Clinical criteria will be established to gauge a medication's impact on drivers.
The preliminary list includes anesthetics, antiepileptics, sedatives, antihistamines, and painkillers containing codeine. To identify violators, both the presence of these substances in the blood and clinical signs - pupil state, coordination, reaction, behavior, and attention concentration - will be considered.
The bill's implementation raises concerns for individuals taking medications as prescribed by their doctors, including hypertensives, diabetics, allergics, and patients with chronic illnesses. Many over-the-counter medications can potentially affect driving.
The document has only passed the first reading, with further refinement and discussion anticipated. It is expected to come into force no earlier than 2026.
Key components of the bill include:
- The focus on clinical signs to determine intoxication, rather than relying solely on toxicological tests.
- The establishment of administrative liability for driving under the influence of medications, confirmed by clinical evidence of intoxication affecting driving abilities.
- Excluding ethyl alcohol, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their analogues, as well as new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances from the legislation.
- The recognition that small quantities of substances in some medications, if taken according to prescribed dosages, do not impact a person's attention or reaction, making them exempt from penalties under the new amendments.
The new Russian bill aims to balance road safety with fairness, minimizing penalties for responsible medication users while maintaining public safety against demonstrable intoxication risks on the road.
- In light of the new Russian bill, science and healthcare professionals may need to consult the government's list of medications banned while driving to ensure that their patients, who take anesthetics, antiepileptics, sedatives, antihistamines, or painkillers containing codeine, do not face fines for "medication intoxication" while driving.
- The healthcare and wellness sector is encouraged to carefully monitor and adapt to the development of the new Russian legislation, which emphasizes clinical signs of "medication" impairment to establish administrative liability for driving under the influence, while exempting from penalties those who take prescribed medications appropriately and in proper dosages.
