The upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, will discuss on Wednesday amendments to impose a total drunk driving ban.

Current legislation allows drivers to get behind the wheel with a small content of alcohol in their blood.

Legislators want to enforce a blanket ban on drunk driving to eliminate drink driving accidents, which are all too common in Russia.

The bill was approved by the lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, earlier in July.

State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov earlier said tougher punishments for drunk driving, used in the past few years, including the suspension of drivers' licenses and penalties of up to 15 days in jail, had been effective. He said the number of car accidents caused by drunk drivers decreased by 11% and the number of those killed in such accidents dropped 35% in the first five months of 2010.

MOSCOW, July 14 (RIA Novosti)