Control over the application of road markings can be carried out by local self-government bodies and specialized organizations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not need to monitor this process, Oleg Ivannikov, director of the charitable institution Law and Order, told Izvestia on April 19, commenting on the initiative, according to which control over road signs is returned to Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The specialist emphasized that he was skeptical about this initiative. In his opinion, the police and the traffic police should “get rid of unusual functions.”
“Control over the application of road markings and signs <...> may well be carried out by local self-government bodies and specialized civil organizations, which are fully aware of the degree of responsibility for the work done and are subject to criminal and administrative legislation, implying prosecution for providing poor quality services and mistakes in the design and installation of road signs, “Ivannikov noted.
The traffic police, in turn, has the right to issue recommendations and instructions, he added. The expert stressed that this will contribute to combating corruption in this area.
Earlier on Monday, the Kommersant newspaper reported that a government commission had approved amendments to the Law on Traffic Management, which would return control over road signs to the Interior Ministry.
According to the initiative, the authorities at all levels will be required to coordinate with the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – the traffic police on the arrangement of signs, traffic lights, markings and cameras on the roads. This procedure was removed from the powers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2013 and transferred to local authorities.
The amendments also provide for the simplification of notifying citizens about new paid parking lots.
In Russia, on March 1, amendments to the Road Traffic Rules came into force, according to them a new sign will be installed on the country’s roads, which warns of the presence of an automatic photo-video camera. Prior to that, the drivers were only informed about this by signs with a picture of a camera.