Russian lawmakers recently made international news when it was announced that people suffering from various psychological illnesses would be banned from driving. The government aims to make roads safer by prohibiting certain people from getting behind the wheel of a car – including problem gamblers.

Compulsive gamblers and patient with various psychological conditions were shocked by the news, but the biggest response game from the LGBT community. It was originally thought that transgender and transsexual individuals would be banned from driving, as the law stated that individuals that obtain driver’s licenses must not have ‘sexual disorders’.

With the Russian government’s harsh perspective on this community, members of the trans community were lumped into this category. After plenty of protests, there seems to be a resolution. Officials have stated that transgendered and transsexual individuals will not be banned from driving in Russia, as psychiatrists will be weighing in on each case of mental illness.

"Decisions on driving bans are made by a psychiatric commission," said Kseniya Kirichenko, a Russian LGBT Network lawyer in a report by Reuters. "I find it hard to believe that, even in Russia, any psychiatrist could come to the conclusion that transgender people are not fit to drive. Of course it won't happen."

While the issue of banning transsexual and transgender drivers is being resolved, problem gamblers will still be prohibited from driving in Russia. Compulsive gamblers who have a chronic and prolonged addiction will not be able to obtain driver’s licenses in the country.

The potentially dangerous behaviour of a person suffering from an addiction can be a driving hazard and the government feels that banning problem gamblers could make roads safer across the country.

"The varying severity of mental disorders among patients — as well as their need for psychotropic drugs that significantly alter their reactions — make it impossible for [certain people] to drive," Health Ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai was quoted as saying in the Moscow Times.

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