Tactical features of conducting an interrogation preceding the verification of statements at the scene in the investigation of traffic accidents

The article is dedicated to the improvement of interrogation tactics preceding the verification of testimony at the scene in the investigation of traffic crimes. The subject of this research is the patterns of obtaining criminalistically significant information by the law enforcer during this type of interrogation. The main focus is on analyzing legal and criminological aspects, including identified gaps in the regulation of the interrogation procedure under Article 194 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. The author proposes changes to the legislation that would establish the mandatory nature of preliminary interrogation, which would optimize preparations for the verification of testimony at the scene and reduce the risks of judicial errors. The work includes a comparative analysis of the criminal procedure legislation of the CIS countries. Based on the research, tactical techniques have been developed: gradual detailing of testimony; demonstrating to the interrogated person various images of the road section where the incident occurred; actively discussing details; obtaining consent to participate in the verification of testimony at the scene. The methodological foundation of the research consists of the method of critical analysis, the method of legal modeling, the comparative legal method, and the observation method. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the author's examination of the tactics of conducting interrogations preceding the verification of testimony at the scene in the investigation of traffic crimes, a topic not previously addressed in specialized literature. The author has summarized new material on the researched topic: data from official statistics on traffic accident rates for the first five months of 2025 and data on crime statistics for 2023, 2024, and the first five months of 2025, examples from court practice from December 2024 and January 2025, as well as the author's experience in investigating traffic crimes. The main conclusions of the scientific research are: firstly, an analysis of the regulatory framework for the interrogation preceding the verification of testimony at the scene in Russian and foreign criminal procedural legislation; secondly, the development of tactical techniques, including a procedural algorithm for law enforcers aimed at improving the accuracy of event reconstruction through structured detailing and subsequent verification of testimony.