In 2011, amendments to the Rules were already made twice — in April and June. In spring, a restriction appeared prohibiting parking closer than five meters from container sites and garbage bins. In summer, all references to the coupon attached to the driver's license disappeared from the document. Now it's time for the next round of amendments, which affect not only the cancellation of technical inspection but also a number of other provisions.
Terms and definitions (clause 1.10)
The updated version introduces the definition of "
cyclist" — now this is what a person who rides a bicycle is called.
The meaning of the concept "
driver" has also undergone changes. Now it is "a person driving a vehicle and holding a driver's license to drive a vehicle of the corresponding category." At the same time, an instructor teaching driving and being in the car is also considered a driver. But riders, cabmen, and animal drivers are no longer equated with drivers.
The category of mechanical vehicles now includes
all vehicles with an engine (previously there were exceptions for cars with engine displacement up to 50 cc), as well as vehicles with an electric motor with power exceeding 3 kW. Two-wheeled devices with an electric motor up to 4 kW were classified as "mopeds."
Rights and obligations of drivers
Drivers are no longer required to carry with them the coupon to the license (which was already canceled long ago), a power of attorney, and a waybill — this is enshrined in
clause 2.1. Interestingly, the corresponding laws were adopted back in summer, but amendments to the traffic rules are being made only now. That is, for several months, norms that contradicted each other were in effect.
The changes also legally secured the possibility of transferring a car without a power of attorney (
clause 2.2): the owner can give their car to another person with the appropriate license simply by handing over the registration document.
Now a motorcycle helmet with a fastened strap must be worn not only by the driver and passenger of a motorcycle but also by those riding a moped (
clauses 2.3 and 5.2 b).
There is no need to hand over the license to the inspector — it is enough to simply show it (
clause 2.4 a). However, a vehicle subject to mandatory technical control must now be provided for inspection, including technical condition (
clause 2.4 c).
Marks in the waybill no longer need to be made, since the waybill itself has been canceled.
Requirements for license plates have become stricter (
clause 2.9). Now the plate must comply with standards, be attached in a specially designated place, be clean and illuminated — previously this was not mentioned.
In
clause 2.11, the procedure for registering an accident without calling the traffic police is described in detail:
"In the event of a traffic accident involving vehicles specified in the current compulsory civil liability insurance contract, provided that such vehicles are operated by persons whose liability is insured, there are no injured (dead) people, and if the drivers of such vehicles reach an agreement regarding the circumstances of the accident, and if they show no signs of alcohol, drug, or other intoxication or being under the influence of medications that reduce attention and reaction speed, and if such drivers draw up a joint report on the traffic accident in accordance with the form established by the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau, then in such a case, the drivers of the mentioned vehicles, after drawing up the report specified in this clause, are released from the obligations provided for in subclauses "d" - "e" of clause 2.10 of these Rules." Subclauses "d"-"e" of clause 2.10 precisely concern the obligation to report an accident to the traffic police.
In subclause
"a" of clause 2.12, the word "use" of the vehicle was removed, which practically did not change the meaning.
New vehicle categories
The updated traffic rules officially introduce vehicle categories (
clause 2.13):
- A1 — mopeds, scooters, and other two-wheeled vehicles with an engine displacement up to 50 cc or an electric motor up to 4 kW;
- A — motorcycles and other two-wheeled vehicles with an engine from 50 cc or an electric motor from 4 kW;
- B1 — quadricycles and tricycles, motorcycles with sidecars, motorized tricycles, and other three- or four-wheeled motorcycle vehicles with a maximum mass of up to 400 kilograms;
- B — cars with a mass of up to 3500 kilograms (7700 pounds) with the number of seating places, excluding the driver's, up to eight, as well as combinations of a category B tractor and a trailer with a total mass of up to 750 kilograms;
- C1 — trucks with a mass from 3500 to 7500 kilograms (from 7700 to 16500 pounds), as well as combinations of a category C1 tractor and a trailer with a mass of up to 750 kilograms;
- C — trucks with a mass over 7500 kilograms (16500 pounds), as well as combinations of a category C tractor and a trailer with a mass of up to 750 kilograms;
- D1 — buses for passenger transportation with the number of seating places, excluding the driver's, no more than 16, as well as combinations of a category D1 tractor and a trailer with a mass of up to 750 kilograms;
- D — buses with the number of seating places, excluding the driver's, more than 16, as well as combinations of a category D tractor and a trailer with a mass of up to 750 kilograms;
- BE, C1E, CE, D1E, DE — combinations of a category B, C1, C, D1, or D tractor and a trailer with a mass over 750 kilograms;
- T — trams and trolleybuses.
Driving vehicles of categories A1 and A is allowed from the age of 16, categories B1, B, C1, C — from 18, categories BE, C1E, CE — from 19, and categories D1, D, D1E, DE, T — only from 21.
Braking "by beacons"
The meaning of flashing beacons has changed (
clause 3.5). Previously, seeing a stationary vehicle with a blue or blue-red beacon on, the driver had to stop and wait for permission to pass. Now it is enough to reduce speed to 40 km/h (the red beacon is no longer mentioned in this clause).
Cyclists (clause 6, 30.2)
Local authorities can no longer introduce bicycle registration cards (such attempts, recall, were made in several regions). Otherwise, mentions of mopeds were simply removed from the clause.
And other changes to the traffic rules
- Hazard warning lights must now be turned on also when stopping at the request of a police officer (clause 9.9 b).
- Outside populated areas, mopeds are prohibited from accelerating faster than 60 km/h (clause 12.6 c).
- Overtaking at an intersection is prohibited for all vehicles (clause 14.6 a). Previously, it was allowed to overtake two-wheeled vehicles without trailers.
- In the previous version, when blinded by the light of oncoming headlights, it was proposed to turn on the "hazard lights" and stop. Now the order is reversed: first stop, then signal (clause 19.3).
- Previously, buses were prohibited from towing only trailers; now they are prohibited from towing anything at all (clauses 23.10 d, 23.12). However, if the towing device is installed by the manufacturer, such operation is allowed (clause 23.11).
- A medical certificate for driving training is no longer needed (clause 24.1), and you can learn to drive a moped from the age of 14 (clause 24.2). "Master of industrial driving training" is now called "specialist in driver training" (clause 24.5). This specialist is not required to have a document for the right to teach driving (clauses 24.6 and 24.7 are excluded).
- The features of training cars with automatic transmission are taken into account (clause 24.8): "Vehicles on which training is conducted must have identification marks "Training vehicle" in accordance with the requirements of subclause "k" of clause 30.3 of these Rules. Cars that are systematically used for training must also be equipped with additional clutch pedals (if the vehicle design provides for a clutch pedal), accelerator pedals (if the vehicle design allows for the possibility of equipping such a pedal), and brake pedals, a mirror or mirrors for the driver training specialist."
- Attaching the technical inspection coupon to the lower right corner of the windshield is now officially not required (clause 30.2). And the ban on operating a vehicle without technical inspection applies only to cars subject to technical control (clause 31.3). Recall: passenger cars not used for commercial purposes are not required to undergo technical inspection.
