The Supreme Court of Russia has recognized as legal the restriction prohibiting driving a car with a manual transmission to drivers who have lost their thumb. The court's decision put an end to the case of Muscovite Alexey Kolesov, who tried to challenge the new rule approved by the government decree of April 12, 2025.
Kolesov lost the thumb on his right hand, but continued to drive a car with "mechanics". In court, he argued that the injury does not affect his ability to safely drive the car, and the introduced ban violates his rights. The plaintiff referred to the previous traffic rules, and to the fact that the driver's license previously issued to him did not contain such restrictions.
Nevertheless, the judges supported the position of the Ministry of Health. The representative of the department, Alexander Shustov, explained that prolonged driving without the participation of the thumb can lead to fatigue of the compensating muscles and a decrease in the reliability of the grip. According to him, this creates a risk of losing control over the vehicle when shifting gears and during maneuvers, for example, when braking with the engine.
The Ministry of Health emphasized that the restriction is aimed not at depriving mobility, but at ensuring the safety of all road users. The department believes that cars with automatic transmission are a safe alternative, since they require minimal hand involvement when driving. In addition, individual driving experience and experience, according to the ministry, cannot serve as a guarantee against possible risks associated with physiological characteristics.
The court agreed with the arguments of the department, indicating that the norm is based on the principles of prevention and universality. It is aimed at preventing potential threats, and not at assessing specific driving experience.