In Russia, the procedure for monitoring the health of drivers will change. Starting March 1, 2027, medical organizations will automatically report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs about the detection of diseases that prevent driving. After that, the driver will be sent for an unscheduled medical examination, and if contraindications are confirmed, the license may be annulled.
Data on contraindications will be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs
According to Sergey Leonov, head of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection, a law will come into force on March 1, 2027, which will make the procedure automatic.
Medical organizations will transmit information about identified contraindications to driving to the traffic police databases. Data exchange between departments is currently being set up.
This refers to diseases that may pose a danger while driving. These include, for example, epilepsy, schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorders, and blindness.
After receiving such information, the driver will be offered to undergo an unscheduled medical examination. Three months will be allotted for this.
Currently, the situation is different. Even if a person develops a disease dangerous for driving, they can continue to drive until the next mandatory medical examination when renewing their driver's license — that is, up to 10 years.
The diagnosis will not be indicated in the Ministry of Internal Affairs database
If a repeat check confirms the presence of the disease, the driver's license will be annulled. If the disease is not confirmed, the license will be retained, and there will be no restrictions for the driver.
However, the specific diagnosis will not be indicated in the Ministry of Internal Affairs database. It will only contain information about the presence of medical indications for revoking the driver's license.
According to Sergey Leonov, the new system should improve road safety and reduce the number of dangerous situations related to drivers' health.
Changes are related to updated data exchange rules
Amendments to the laws "On Road Safety" and "On Personal Data" were adopted in 2025.
Russia previously approved a law that allows doctors and police to exchange information about people with mental disorders who are prone to committing socially dangerous acts.
The list of medical contraindications and restrictions for driving vehicles is established by the Government of Russia.
In August 2026, the government also changed the list of restrictions for drivers of trucks, buses, trolleybuses, and trams. It excluded the absence of an upper or lower limb, fingers, as well as hand or foot deformities.
The Ministry of Health explained that thanks to technological advancements, people with health limitations can now safely drive vehicles.