What is the sign “Ш” for?
In fact, there is nothing mysterious about the “Ш” sign: it is stuck on the rear window in late autumn or early winter and notifies drivers driving behind that the owner of the car has installed winter studded tires on it. That is, the letter “Ш” is an abbreviation for the word “thorns”.
The fact is that tires equipped with studs have much better grip on the road, especially if the road surface is covered with a layer of rolled snow or ice. If a driver sees an obstacle on the road and brakes, his braking distance will be shorter than that of a car with conventional tires. Because of this, the driver driving behind must maintain a large distance between the cars, otherwise he will not have time to brake in the event of an emergency braking of the car on spikes.
In addition, the studs do not stick to the tires very firmly. While driving, they can break off and fly out from under the wheels. If the car behind is kept at a short distance, fragments of the spikes can damage the glass or scratch the hood.
“It makes more sense to put a sign on cars without spikes”
It must be said that “Spikes” and other stickers had to be glued to cars before, it was just a recommendation. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs believes that the presence of such stickers on cars will reduce the level of accidents on the roads, as well as the severity of the consequences of possible accidents. Experts interviewed by Realnoe Vremya categorically disagree.
“This will in no way help reduce road accidents.” This sign is outdated and should be completely eliminated. We got it from the times of the USSR, when studs were in great short supply and the road user needed to indicate that he was one of a thousand and his braking distance in icy conditions could be shorter. Nowadays everyone rides on spikes, so there is no practical point in labeling it. The sign is useless, and I hope the traffic police will not organize raids on this matter,” says Ramil Khairullin, regional representative of the Russian Federation of Car Owners.
The head of the Kazan School of Higher Driving Skills, Oleg Shatov, agrees with the social activist: “99 percent of drivers now drive on studs, and if we hang a sign, then on those cars that do not have studs, it would be more logical. If now everything is on spikes, there is no point in stickers, or rather, there is a point, but only for those who came up with the idea of fining for this. Rather, we need to put up a sign for those who drive summer wheels in winter, or for those who have two winter wheels and two summer wheels - we need to develop some kind of special sign for them - a dangerous driver and a dangerous car.”
Oleg Shatov: “Rather, we should put up a sign for those who drive summer wheels in winter, or for those who have two winter wheels and two summer wheels - we need to develop some kind of special sign for them - a dangerous driver and a dangerous car.” Photo glikon.ru
What should the "Ш" sign look like?
According to the standard, the “Ш” sign is made in the form of a triangle with identical sides, the length of which must be at least 20 cm. The standard also establishes the width of the bordering red line, which must be exactly 0.1 of the length of the side of the triangle.
However, very few drivers think of drawing the “Ш” sign with their own hands, since with the onset of autumn it can be bought at any auto store for no more than 100 rubles.
Sticker "Ш" on the rear window
The new version of the traffic rules came into force on April 4, 2021. Then a whole list of signs was mandatory, including “Spikes”. It is an equilateral white triangle with a red border, in which a black letter “Ш” is inscribed. The absence of this sign on a car with studded tires was included in the list of faults for which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited.
Traffic inspectors received the right for such a violation not only to issue a fine of 500 rubles, but even to prohibit further driving of the car until the fault is corrected, that is, until the driver places the missing sign on the rear window.
Not all motorists liked this innovation. Moreover, the Ministry of Internal Affairs began to understand that installing the “Spikes” sign is not always advisable. As a result, on May 15, 2021, draft amendments to the traffic rules appeared, which provide for the complete abandonment of the “Spikes” sign.
The authors of the bill noted that due to the dynamic characteristics, the movement of the car now depends on other reasons, and the requirement for the “Ш” sticker has lost its relevance. The explanatory note states that the movement of a vehicle is now influenced by factors such as the degree of vehicle load, the presence of modern electronic systems that promote braking or stabilization, and others.
Motorists discussed this news for a long time, and by the fall they became confident that they no longer needed to worry about the sign. But, as it turns out, it’s premature to throw this sticker into the trash bin. On the eve of the winter season, regional traffic inspectorates began to clarify that the “Spikes” sign had not been canceled. Such messages, in particular, were made by the traffic police in Syktyvkar and Petrozavodsk.
“In the spring of this year, the press actively wrote that the “Spikes” sign in Russia would be abolished in 2021. However, motorists should keep in mind that the amendments were never adopted; the “Spikes” sign is still mandatory!” note traffic inspectors.
Is it necessary to stick the “Ш” sign?
The rules state that a driver who has installed tires with studs on his car must notify other drivers about this by placing a sticker on the rear window or hood of the corresponding sign. Typically, the letters “Ш” appear on cars in late autumn or early winter, when drivers “change” their cars to winter tires. In the spring, the sticker is removed, since in the summer there is no need for spikes. On the contrary, driving on studded tires in summer is not recommended, as they have a destructive effect on the asphalt road surface.
For the absence of the “Ш” sign on the window of a car equipped with studded tires, the driver may pay a fine. Although its amount is not particularly large and is only 500 rubles. But the traffic police inspector may limit himself to a verbal warning about the absence of the coveted triangle on the back of your car.
It should also be noted that at the moment there are many court decisions that find a driver in a car with studded tires guilty of a collision, precisely because he does not have the ill-fated “Ш” sign on his glass.
Non-standard size "Spikes" sign
On December 1, 2021, the government adopted a law abolishing the Spikes sign. The law came into force on December 8, 2021. Today there is no obligation to install the “Ш” sign on the car!!! There is also no penalty for a missing Spikes sign!!!
Since April 4, owners of studded wheels have been faced with the fact that car inspectors literally raided them to check for the presence of the “Spikes” sign on the rear window. Why did this happen, and what to do if there is a sticker, but the dimensions do not correspond to the “GOST” standards? Read about it in today's article.
Responsibility for stickers
According to clause 8 of the regulations on the approval of vehicles for operation, the need to have a corresponding sign on the rear of the car existed before. But there was no provision for liability for absence. Therefore, only the most conscious motorists identified themselves. Since the entry into force of Government Resolution No. 333, changes have affected the list of faults and conditions under which the use of a vehicle is prohibited. Within the framework of the article, we are interested in the paragraph that appears in section 7 (other design elements).
Based on clause 7.15(1), it is prohibited to use a vehicle that does not have identification marks (including “Ш”) listed in clause 8 of the Regulations discussed above.
And from April 4, responsibility comes in accordance with Art. 12.5 part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. This can be either a warning or a fine of 500 rubles.
Did you know that according to Art. 28.6.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for minor violations can the inspector not only warn orally (if the driver agrees with the violation), but also in writing? For this purpose, a protocol and a resolution are drawn up, which indicates that a warning has been issued. In this case, execution is considered from the moment the judge delivers the order to the offender.
What to do if the “spikes” sign is smaller in size?
In the original version, the size of the “spikes” sign is slightly smaller than an A4 sheet (a triangle with a width of at least 20 centimeters and a border thickness of 10% of the side). This format will look especially beautiful on Matiz or Oka, where it will cover a significant part of the view.
But according to the law, an identification mark, if its dimensions do not correspond to the established ones, is considered invalid. And the responsibility is the same as for the absence of it.
Try driving onto a road with state registration plates (“numbers”) that are “slightly smaller than the real ones.” Absurd? But the situation is similar.
Note that in addition to the “spikes” sign, the innovation also applies to 12 more pictograms, including:
• deaf driver; • Speed Limit; • large cargo; • novice driver; • doctor, and others (see traffic rules).
However, given the number of cars using studded tires without any markings at all, it can be assumed with a high degree of probability that even if you have a non-standard badge, traffic police inspectors are unlikely to show increased attention to you.
But if a conflict situation arises, the government representative will have a real reason to impose a lawful penalty on you.
If you decide to install a non-standard sticker from the inside, think about how to remove it in the summer. In order not to damage the glass heating filaments, they came up with a sign on a suction cup.
Follow traffic rules - save time, nerves and money. And stay up to date with the news.
Ilya Ilmarin.
Some nuances of using the sign “Ш”
- When buying a sticker with the image of the “Ш” sign in a store or at a car market, you need to pay attention to the size of the triangle. Its sides should not be shorter than 20 cm. A sticker that does not meet the requirements of the standard is, from a formal point of view, equivalent to the complete absence of a sign. If your car has a small sign, this may also be a reason for a fine.
- It is not necessary to glue the sign on the glass, because the rules do not indicate a specific location for its placement. It is quite enough to find a noticeable place for the triangle on the trunk lid or even on the bumper. The main requirement is visibility for drivers driving behind.
- A sticker with the “Ш” sign must be present on the rear of the car when undergoing technical inspection. Of course, it is only needed by those who have studded tires. If this sign is missing and there are studs on the tires, the inspection will most likely not be registered, even if everything else is fine with the car.
What does the sign Ш on a car mean? Just about simple things
It’s not difficult to guess what the sign Ш on a car means. In a nutshell, this is a sign about equipping wheels with studs. In addition to the traffic rules on the roads, there is a clause that states that the sign in question is intended to be installed on a vehicle equipped with studded tires. It alerts drivers behind that they need to maintain a minimum distance due to the shortened braking distance. The sign is made in the form of a triangle with a red border, the center of which is made with the letter Ш in black. Each side is made at least 20 cm long, and the outline of the border is taken in proportion to 1/10 of this size. When and how is it used? What does the sign Ш on a car mean and its purpose will be discussed below. It is glued to the rear window using a product that has spikes on the tires. Point number 8 of the main nominations on the admission of vehicles to travel and the duties of officials to maintain traffic safety states that vehicles with wheels equipped with spikes must be equipped with a similar sign. As a penalty, an administrative penalty in the amount of five hundred rubles is provided. However, the main set of traffic rules does not include a provision on the absence of “Ш”, as a technical or other violation that affects safety. The cost of this sign is about 100 rubles. It is usually glued on in the fall, and removed when changing tires to the summer version. The attribute allows you to notify drivers about a shortened braking distance, and can also be useful in some cases during an accident, as evidence of innocence. In fact, this trifle, which seems at first glance, allows you to somehow discipline drivers and be more attentive. Article on the topic: “How to stick a sticker on a car, on glass, and also how to remove them.” Is use required? The absence of the sign in question does not result in any penalties under the law. The maximum that a traffic police officer can do is make a verbal recommendation. But, in some court cases, the absence of the “Ш” sign led to the driver of the car driving in front being found guilty of colliding with the vehicle behind. The traffic rules specifically state that the driver of a car is required to check and ensure that the vehicle is in good technical condition before driving. Movement is prohibited if the following defects are present:
- Problems with the steering and braking system;
- Inoperative headlights and side lights;
- Driver's side window cleaner not working.
If these problems occur during transportation, the driver is obliged to eliminate them or proceed to the destination in compliance with all safety precautions. Consequently, penalties applied for the absence of the sign in question are illegal. Examples To clearly find out how the installation of the “Ш” sign can influence the court’s decision in the event of an accident, see the following examples. A driver in Izhevsk inadvertently hit the car in front, which was equipped with a studded tire. rubber. There was no “Sh” attribute on it. As a result, the obvious violator focused attention on the absence of a warning sign about a shortened braking distance. The court found the owner of the first car guilty. A similar situation occurred in the capital during frosts. The Lada driver suddenly braked in front of a cat running across the road. The Volga driving behind crashed into the rear of the VAZ. Well versed in knowledge of traffic rules, the GAZ driver was able to prove that the accident was caused by the driver of the Zhiguli, since the braking distance was calculated, implying the presence of non-studded tires, due to the absence of the “Ш” sign. The court agreed with his opinion and found the driver of the car in front to be at fault for the accident. Features: If a vehicle equipped with studded tires undergoes a technical inspection in the winter, a ticket may not be issued if the sign in question is missing. Drivers of vehicles with less than 2 years of driving experience may additionally be advised to wear a “!” sign sticker in winter. If the traffic police inspector nevertheless issues a fine specifically for the absence of the “Sh” attribute, the driver has the right to appeal his decision in court. However, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort going to various authorities. Experienced drivers advise not to be lazy and purchase this information sticker. Judging by the reviews of drivers, studs on the wheels do not always contribute to a quick stop. The weight of the car and the condition of the road play a decisive role in the braking distance. However, on obvious ice, studded tires stop much faster. Article on the topic: “Which is better, studded or non-studded winter tires.” Motorists, knowing what the sign Ш on the car means, should think about maintaining the proper distance. At the same time, the driver of a car shod with spikes should also not lose vigilance. It must be remembered that following traffic rules at any time of the year allows you to protect yourself and others. AutoFlit.ru
