When is it allowed and when is it prohibited to reverse?

Are you allowed to make a U-turn on a narrow roadway and enter a yard?

Reversing is prohibited at an intersection. However, the entrances to courtyards are not intersections. This means that using the entrance to the yard and driving into it in reverse for a U-turn is permitted if no interference is created for other traffic participants.

Penalty for violation

Motorists need to be prepared for fines if:

• if the driver leaves the yard in reverse onto a one-way road, or moves from a two-way road to a one-way road in reverse. Violation results in a fine of 5,000 rubles. Possible punishment in the form of deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle;
• when a motorist drives in reverse from an intersection onto a one-way road, the owner of the car will receive a fine of 500 rubles;
• if in places where reversing is prohibited the driver makes a U-turn, then he will have to pay a fine of 500 rubles;
• if the motorist violated the clause on reversing in prohibited places (bridges, intersections (including roundabouts), railway crossings, tunnels). The fine is 500 rubles;
• reversing on the highway. The fine for maneuvering and driving backwards on the highway will be 2,500 rubles.

Is the driver allowed to reverse in the absence of other road users?

Reversing on roads marked with a one-way road sign is not prohibited. But since there is a pedestrian crossing on the path of travel, where reversing is prohibited, the driver can reverse on this section of the road only up to the pedestrian crossing.

Where is it prohibited to drive in reverse?

The driver needs to remember that subclause 8.11 of the traffic rules states that you cannot drive in reverse in the following places:

• At controlled and unregulated intersections
• In areas with o
• In the tunnels
• On bridges and overpasses, overpasses and directly under them
• in places where railway crossings are located;
• In places with poor visibility, for example, when the visibility of a section of road in one direction is less than 100 meters;
• At the locations of route vehicle stops.

It is worth paying attention to subclause 16.1 of the traffic rules, which talks about the rules for driving in reverse on the highway. Drivers are prohibited from driving backwards on motorways.

Reverse. Precautionary measures

Do not forget that even in places where reversing a car is not prohibited by traffic regulations, you must drive very carefully - the likelihood that in an accident the driver who was driving in reverse gear will be fined is maximum. Therefore, in order to avoid an emergency situation and considerable penalties, when driving in reverse:

• clearly see the road and the absence of obstacles behind the car (at least 100 meters);
• eliminate any danger to other road users (be sure to warn them with light, sound and emergency vehicle signals);
• move backwards only at minimum speed, constantly using the rear-view mirrors;
• let other cars and pedestrians pass ahead in advance;
• if a minimal threat arises, use emergency braking;
• If the road visibility is poor, use the help of passengers to adjust the vehicle’s trajectory.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that reversing a car is a difficult maneuver even for experienced drivers, which requires maximum attention, accuracy and strict adherence to traffic rules. In sections of the road prohibited by the rules, you should never switch to reverse gear - this is fraught with serious accidents, a threat to people’s lives and serious fines from the traffic police.

The maneuver can only be performed where it is permitted by traffic regulations, where the road is clearly visible at a great distance and there are no obstacles. Reversing on the road or maneuvering in a parking lot should only be done at minimum speed!

What is the punishment for?

For a long time, careless drivers avoided fines for driving against traffic, citing the need to perform a maneuver or park. If there was no evidence of a gross violation of traffic rules, for example, driving under a brick, the inspectors had no grounds for imposing a fine. However, after the clarification given in paragraph 14 of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 2 0 of June 25, 2021, the disagreements were eliminated.

Thus, the RF Armed Forces indicated that according to clause 8.12 of the traffic rules, reversing is not prohibited. Administrative offense under Part 3 of Art. 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation arises if, while driving in the opposite direction on a one-way road, a motorist violated the requirement of some sign.

It is not considered a violation if the driver, who was previously driving on a one-way street, first stopped and then backed up a few meters. But the situation when he reverses out of the yard onto a one-way road qualifies as a serious violation under Part 3 of Art. 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and will entail a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of a driver’s license for up to six months. If the offense was committed at an intersection, then it is qualified under Part 2 of Art. 12.14 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and is punishable by an additional fine of 500 rubles. Repeated offenses result in one-year imprisonment.

How are documents prepared in case of an accident?

Violation of traffic rules when reversing can be determined by recording cameras, by stopping the car by a traffic police officer. Since sanctions for violations do not entail deprivation of rights (if the driver has not committed more serious offenses), a fine can be collected by order of the traffic police. Naturally, if when reversing the driver was drunk or committed other traffic violations, he will be held accountable under several articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

How is fault determined in an accident when driving in reverse?

In 99% of cases, the driver who started reversing will be found guilty of an accident. But in the practice of our lawyers there were situations when it was possible to prove the absence of guilt even under the above conditions:

• if at the time the movement began there were no obstacles, and the second participant in the accident “jumped out” from under a prohibitory sign or a red traffic light;
• if the driver began to maneuver in reverse, and another car owner crashed into him, who began the maneuver in reverse later and without checking the obstacles;
• if the accident occurred due to force majeure circumstances (for example, when there was no obstacle, but the second participant in the accident appeared in the path of traffic in reverse when going around a fallen tree).

Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict all the circumstances of the movement in advance. Therefore, the defense in cases of guilt in an accident for the driver of a car driving in reverse is noticeably more difficult than under ordinary circumstances. I recommend contacting lawyers immediately after drawing up the report in order to have time to collect evidence at the scene of the accident and prepare for defense and appeal.

Why should you follow traffic rules?

On the road, motorists make many maneuvers: overtaking, turning around, turning, and others. One such maneuver is reversing. This kind of action is rare on the road. Every car owner knows how to perform this maneuver, but not everyone remembers when not to do this, because such an action is often simply not safe. Because of this, restrictions on reversing were introduced at the legislative level.

A driver who makes such a maneuver on the road must let absolutely everyone through : cars passing by, vehicles turning around, or cars performing any other maneuver. Reversing is only permitted if this maneuver cannot interfere with other vehicles. This is also stated in section 8, clause 8.12 of the rules.

In addition, if the driver has a rather dangerous situation of entering the roadway by reversing (for example, leaving the yard), then, in order to avoid an emergency, he must use the help of an outsider. This could be a passenger or a passerby. Otherwise, the driver again violates the rule of paragraph 8.12.

This rule can also be used on the road, but only if there is no threat to the life of the assistant. If this maneuver is difficult to perform, then it is better to abandon it.

Reverse driving technique

In order to reverse a truck into a parking space or carefully bring it to a loading ramp, not only a certain dexterity is required, which comes with long practice. factors need to be taken into account :

• correct location of the tractor and truck relative to each other and surrounding objects;
• the angle and direction of rotation of the steering wheel at each moment of the maneuver;
• determination of the truck's turning axis;
• timely leveling of the cab and alignment of the tractor and trailer in one line.

It is more convenient to place the trailer at a slight angle to the cabin, turning it slightly to the left. With this arrangement, the car will make a left turn. This helps to improve control over the behavior of the semi-trailer or van.

Before starting to move back, the vehicle must be positioned so that the cab door faces a conditional obstacle, which, after completing the maneuver, will be located parallel to the right side of the van.

This “obstacle” could be a nearby car, the wall of a building, or even a marking line in a parking lot. Having started moving with the truck in this position, the driver will be able to immediately adjust the angle at which the trailer enters the turn.

Truck driver backs up

Correcting course does not require constant rotation of the steering wheel from side to side. It is necessary to turn the steering wheel slightly and give the truck the correct angle of movement, and immediately begin the reverse rotation to align the tractor with the trailer. Due to the high inertia of a heavy van, the steering wheel will return to its original position at the same time as the trailer is leveled.

When driving a truck, it should be noted that the conventional axis of rotation of a trailer or semi-trailer is usually not in its geometric center and not at the very end.

To control the correct turn, the driver must monitor the point in the area of ​​the central axis and the location of the rear corner of the truck relative to this point.

We invite you to watch the truck driver’s detailed explanations about the technique of driving a truck in reverse:

Driver location

The location of the driver in the tractor cab when reversing the truck must provide the solution to two main problems:

• the ability to control the environment and direction of movement of the van;
• the ability to respond in a timely manner to changes in traffic patterns and the occurrence of unexpected circumstances.

To perform these tasks, you must not only see everything through the mirrors, but also look out the window. At the same time, it is necessary to have access to all vehicle control systems at any time.

Monitoring the situation from the window

Adjusting the mirrors

All modern trucks and tractor-trailers are equipped with large rear-view mirrors. They are located on both sides of the cabin.

It is not necessary to know how much a truck wheel weighs in order to drive a vehicle correctly.

To avoid blind spots, they must be adjusted so that the driver can see the last third of the side of the trailer . Sometimes it won't hurt to install additional mirrors.

Rear view mirrors

Aligning the tractor and trailer and turning the steering wheel

If you need to change the angle of rotation of the trailer in one direction or another, you need to start smoothly turning the steering wheel in the required direction, while simultaneously monitoring the change in the position of the trailer by shifting the “turning point”. Almost immediately after giving the truck the desired angle, you need to start smoothly turning the steering wheel back.

The rotation speed must be such as to prevent the rear of the trailer from moving in the opposite direction.

The return of the steering wheel to its original position must coincide with the moment the van is set on the correct course and the simultaneous arrival of the cab in line with the trailer.

You can see how to turn the steering wheel correctly here: