State policy in the field of ensuring road safety in Ukraine through the prism of regulatory initiatives: analysis and prospects for implementation

Abstract

A comparative legal analysis of draft legal acts aimed at improving road safety (draft laws No. 8369 of 19.01.2023, No. 8353 of 12.01.2023, No. 8356 of 12.01.2023) has been carried out. It has been noted that today the legislator has carried out meaningful work aimed at improving the current legislation in terms of road safety. It has been proved that the adoption of a certain act should not have adverse consequences in the lawmaking process and create a situation where there is competition of legal norms, as well as contradictions between other legal acts in force in the area under study. In addition, it has been stated that the draft laws under consideration are to some extent controversial and debatable, they contain terminological uncertainty, and may cause the unplanned (additional) burden on the budget of Ukraine and local budgets. It has been offered proposals and comments on how to solve these problems and improve the law-making process. It has been emphasised that there is a need to implement the strategic directions of the State to ensure the education of conscious road users, strengthening road safety, infrastructure, constructive vehicle safety, as well as planning of public authorities to ensure road safety at various levels of government, which in turn should contribute to the implementation of the national policy in the field under study. The position that road users, including children, should be trained in three stages has been supported: 1) elementary level is for preschool children; 2) safety basics is for primary school (teaching safe driving for themselves and others on electric scooters, monowheels, segways and similar vehicles); 3) full-fledged study, in particular, according to the programme for training drivers of scooters, motorcycles and cars, with mandatory testing of knowledge by means of an exam, is for secondary school.