Authorities are planning to use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to automatically record traffic violations. According to the Traffic Police, in 2022–2023, drones recorded about 35,000 violations, including driving on the wrong side of the road and driving on the shoulder. However, fines were not sent automatically, as is done with stationary cameras.
Senator Igor Treskov noted that it is necessary to develop a legal framework for the new type of automatic recording. The Traffic Police proposes installing special stations on the roofs of buildings, from where drones can fly out to process minor accidents without the participation of inspectors.
The shortage of personnel in the Traffic Police will only grow. We need to find new forms of control without human intervention.
In some regions, units have already been created to use drones to monitor traffic. For example, in the Kurgan region, cases of running a red light were recorded. Fines were issued manually: inspectors showed a video of the violation and drew up a protocol.
However, in order to use drones for automatic recording of traffic violations, it is necessary to close the existing legal gaps. For example, it is necessary to prescribe the possibility of purchasing drones for the Traffic Police and create regulations for data transfer from UAS to the database. This is important for cases when drivers want to challenge fines.
If the entire chain is not spelled out, then this becomes the basis for challenging and canceling the decision to bring to justice
The possibility of using drones to search for stolen cars and monitor road conditions is also being discussed. The Traffic Police is considering creating autonomous stations that will control drones and increase the speed of response to accidents.
We believe that the use of such stations — so-called drone boxes — will increase the speed of response to accidents.
Following the discussion, a protocol will be drawn up with proposals that will be sent to the relevant departments.