Employees of the Scientific Center for Road Safety (NTS BDD) and the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center for Narcology have developed a manual for traffic police officers on identifying drunk drivers, Kommersant reported with reference to the document. The manual was reviewed by the chief freelance narcologist of the Ministry of Health Evgeny Bryun. The document states that it is intended for use as part of the training of traffic police officers.
The authors of the manual advised the traffic police to strengthen the outfits on the days when there are most accidents with drunk drivers, for example, on January 1, May 2 and 9, February 23 and March 8, as well as on professional and local holidays. The experts also urged to monitor the unemployment rate in certain regions, because its growth leads to an increase in the number of drunk drivers. The manual states that 47% of drunk drivers were unemployed.
The document proposes to identify drunk drivers in a stream by “wagging” within the lane, driving without dipped beam, at a very low speed, as well as by a slow reaction to traffic lights and a sharp change in driving style at the sight of traffic police officers. Experts noted that drunk drivers become “overly careful and cautious”, they often stop abruptly and do it too close or too far from the stop line due to poor perception of the situation.
The manual says that 28% of accidents with drunk drivers were committed by VAZ cars, 11% by Toyota, and 6% by Hyundai. The authors of the manual suggested that this allows drivers to be assigned to certain social groups. Drunk bikers most often get into accidents while driving IZH – 43.1% of accidents, Uralov – 30%, and also Yamaha – 14.1%.
According to experts, 25% of all traffic accidents involving drivers under the influence of drugs are committed in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol. The use of heroin, morphine and other opioids is indicated by constriction of the pupils with a sluggish reaction to light, severe drowsiness, as well as marks on the veins that are trying to be masked by burns. The use of marijuana, hashish and other cannabinoids can be indicated by groundless gaiety, laughter, increased sensitivity to light and excessive sociability. When using cocaine, a person has a pronounced mood lift, increased talkativeness and a desire to argue, as well as skin scratching due to the feeling that insects are crawling over the body.
According to a former traffic police officer, founder of the public project “Overheard at the traffic police” Valentin Ilyinov, 90% of inspectors will not read a 100-page manual, a shorter memo for personnel or video instructions is needed. Narcologist Alexander Kovtun added that the memo was well-written, but without practical exercises it makes no sense.