Changes to traffic rules are made by legislative authorities with such regularity and intensity that now many motorists simply do not have time to track and take them into account.
Meanwhile, ignorance of the laws does not exempt a person from responsibility, and the driver may find himself in an unpleasant situation. To prevent this from happening, let’s consider what changes have occurred in the traffic rules as of July 1 of this year, 2017.
Project to change traffic rules in 2021
New traffic rules began to be developed quite a long time ago - the first amendments were made back in 2021. It was at that time that they first started talking about a project whose goal was to make changes to the original traffic rules, since they practically did not regulate such vehicles as scooters, unicycles and electric scooters, which were becoming increasingly popular participants in the movement, and posed a real threat to attempts to regulate it .
At the end of 2021 (October), the Ministry of Transport worked out a system of adjustments for traffic rules, and also made many small but quite important amendments. When discussing innovations, such important authorities as the traffic police began to make their amendments. The Moscow government and other departments that were interested in obtaining a high-quality result of their work also took part in the discussion. It is not yet known exactly when the amendments under consideration will be implemented, but it is known that it will be 2021, presumably January.
We need to wait until all government agencies accept the finished project . So far, the amendments have already been adopted by the Ministry of Transport, where the documents are now undergoing regulatory procedures. Although there is every reason to believe that the traffic rules will be changed in the future, since the traffic police will still make amendments. The thing is that the department in question is not happy with the fact that scooters, skateboards and other similar vehicles for individual mobility were equated with classic cars and motorcycle transport. That is, they want their owners to remain ordinary pedestrians and not change their status. In contrast to the traffic police, the Ministry of Transport insists that even on a scooter you can accelerate quite quickly, and as a result, hit someone.
Why is a child car seat needed?
In accordance with the changes introduced in the transportation of children in cars, each driver must install a child seat. This need arises from some design features of vehicles. The safety system provided by standard seat belts in any car is effective only for passengers with a height of more than 150 centimeters. When using these types of fasteners on shorter people, the straps will put pressure on their necks.
It is strictly prohibited to carry small children in your arms. A collision, even at low speed, can increase the weight of a child tens of times, and it will be very problematic to restrain him. This means that the little passenger is in extreme danger. The twelve-year age specified in all requirements for the transportation of children was chosen for the reason that it is by this age that children grow to 150 centimeters. If you are taller, you are allowed to use standard car seat belts.
New rules for riding personal mobility devices
Changes in the 2021 traffic rules concern personal mobility devices, which will have to be introduced into road traffic on a full basis. The new road user receives the name SIM. This is the name given to a device that has one or more wheels, and its movement is provided by a simple engine or muscle power. SIM can be electric scooters, hoverboards, unicycles, and Segways. And if we talk about devices that move by muscular force, these include skateboards, rollers, etc. The scope of SIM regulation does not extend to wheelchairs and bicycles, which are controlled by other measures.
In other words, if a child has an electric scooter, he becomes a full-fledged participant in traffic and must comply with the new traffic rules that will be introduced in 2021. Although previously SIM owners were considered ordinary pedestrians, and until January next year this will remain the case. But after that, if a child under 7 years old receives a SIM card, he will be able to move around on it only if he is accompanied by his parents. Moreover, areas where movement can only be carried out in pedestrian areas, paths, and sidewalks are limited.
Teenagers over 14 years old will be able to ride in lanes designated for bicycles as soon as January arrives. If there are no lanes for bicycles, you can move along the highway on the right. But only if there are brakes, a flashlight, sound signals, a light reflector and other important devices. That is, you cannot be on the road on a standard scooter, roller skates, etc., but traveling on an electric scooter is completely acceptable, provided that all safety standards are met. The maximum speed that can be reached on the road is 60 km/h, and at pedestrian crossings the SIM driver must stop at the appropriate traffic light.
When using a pedestrian zone to move around, the SIM cannot accelerate more than 20 km/h. In addition, pedestrians have higher authority within the movement. But members of the public chamber criticized the clause on speed in the pedestrian zone. Still, 20 km/h is quite a lot and poses a significant risk for pedestrians and SIM owners themselves.
According to the updated rules, which will come into force in 2021, SIM owners are prohibited from:
- before operating a personal mobility device, drink alcohol, medications that can slow down the reaction, etc.;
- ignore the sign prohibiting the movement of bicycles, since this prohibition also applies to them;
- control the SIM while holding the steering wheel with only one hand;
- transport passengers;
- ride the SIM in the dark without using headlights or a special flashlight.
If the SIM owner violates the new traffic rules in 2021, he will face punishment .
This is expected to be a fine. But its size and design features are still unknown. It is only known that the measure under consideration will be supplemented by the Code of Administrative Offences. The police will monitor violators of the new traffic rules, although there is reason to believe that some powers will be transferred to other authorities. For example, Moscow violators will be monitored by the Moscow Administration of the Road Inspectorate, and protocols will be drawn up against them there.
New requirements for transporting children in 2021
Since 2021, the rules for organizing the transportation of children's groups have changed significantly; now it is allowed to use a passenger vehicle no older than 10 years of age that meets all the technical requirements established for this type of transport. In addition to the basic ones, there are other requirements - bus owners who transport groups of children are required to equip the vehicle with a tachograph and Russian-developed GLONASS/GPS satellite equipment.
Now the traffic inspector has the right to impose fines if the car owner uses the wrong type of child seat, or has positioned it incorrectly in the passenger compartment. Children under seven years of age can only travel in seats specially equipped for their age group, and it can only be installed in the back seat. The use of any child restraint devices is prohibited because they are the reason why children suffer too many injuries during accidents.
For non-compliance with the new provisions on the transportation of minors in 2020, administrative punishment is provided in the form of a fine of up to 3,000 rubles. If parents leave their child alone in a closed car, they will be fined 500 rubles.
What will change for motorists
Changes in traffic rules from January 1, 2021 will affect not only owners of electric scooters, roller skates, etc., but also motorists who own vehicles, therefore, while moving on the road, they must constantly adhere to the rules. The first change that will directly affect motorists is that it is forbidden to stop at traffic islands, where previously it was possible to safely park a car.
The next change that next year will bring us is the end of the “No Stopping” sign as soon as the “Parking” sign comes into view. The specifics of the operation of the “No Parking” sign are also changing. According to the new rules, its validity will end from the final point of the village or to the intersection.
All this leads to the fact that from January it will become more difficult for motorists to navigate, and they will have to learn several more new rules. In addition, the new rules will not be learned immediately, so there is a risk that due to violations regarding innovations, the number of fines will increase.
New requirements for first aid kits for next year
According to the new rules, in 2021, drivers will be able to use a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher of any type. Previously, drivers had the opportunity to use only approved means, the list of which was approved in 1996.
New tinting rules
According to the new traffic rules that will be implemented in 2021, starting in January, all windows in a car can be tinted, but it is important that the front and side windows are tinted to allow at least 70% of light to pass through. The remaining windows can be tinted with any light transmittance factor.
Previously, this parameter was controlled more strictly. For example, the rear windows had to transmit at least 70% of the light, and the front 75%. These standards were introduced back in 1988.
Other changes
When leaving the surrounding areas, from January 1, the driver of the car will have to let not only pedestrians pass, but also people riding electric scooters. The exact same circuit will be used when the car leaves the road. If this rule is not followed, you will pay a fine.
What awaits drivers with tinted windows in 2020?
Why are inspectors so unhappy with fully tinted windows? Yes, everything is very simple - you can’t see passengers, cargo that can be transported on the roads, and this could be exceeding the established permissible number of all people in the car, or transporting frankly dangerous goods.
The previous penalty of 500 rubles and removal of the film on the spot seemed to legislators to be a very small punishment, so they decided to tighten the requirements for permissible tinting of both the windshield and rear windows. For tinting in 2021, there is a fine of 5,000 rubles, or deprivation of the right to drive a car for up to six months. Detailed free legal advice from a lawyer can be obtained by phone or online by filling out the form below:
What will change for bus drivers?
Buses are the same members of the road traffic, but they have a higher responsibility, since this transport carries many people. According to the new rules, the bus can be accelerated to 90 km/h, as before. But there is a nuance - such acceleration is possible only if the vehicle is equipped with seat belts on all seats, and there should be no standing places. If this is not the case, the maximum speed in 2021 will be no more than 70 km/h.
There will also be restrictions on parking in residential areas, but only if there is no special parking there. Previously, the new rule under consideration applied only to freight transport, and passenger buses were not included in this list. Vehicles used to transport children must be equipped with special icons - orange beacons.
The next change in traffic regulations in 2021 will concern the introduction of another sign indicating a ban on bus traffic, for ignoring which a fine will be given. The “Attention Passenger” icon will also light up on the bus. But drivers of passenger cars should pay attention to this sign. They must stop and wait while passengers get off the bus. But you can drive only after the driver turns off the sign.
Transporting the youngest passengers by car
Transporting infants in a car has some special features. A special infant carrier is provided for them, installed on the rear row seats. It is secured using standard car seat belts perpendicular to the movement of the vehicle. Inside the cradle, the small passenger is secured using belts that hold the child.
Due to the design features of the restraint device, the child’s position in it is horizontal, which normalizes the baby’s breathing and protects his fragile bones from excessive stress. The car cradle is designed for transporting children up to six months of age. Such a device requires a lot of space, so a car seat can serve as an alternative.
Inside such a chair, the child is additionally held in place by special belts. The seat itself is secured using the included brackets or car seat belts. The level of backrest tilt can be adjusted; it should be within 30-45 degrees. In the event of a frontal collision, the child's protection will be maximum. In this position, the chair perfectly holds the baby's head and minimizes the load on the neck.
Related links: Fines for ticketless travel on public transport in 2021
Changes in traffic rules for pedestrians
Traffic fines for 2021 will need to be paid by pedestrians who have received a new status and must learn more than one new rule. You will have to learn new rules, and pay a fine for failure to comply. What’s new is that pedestrians will have to give way to new road users, but only if they are moving along a bike path or when crossing it. You can cross the road only if there are signs for above-ground and underground pedestrian crossings. If there are no signs, the classic traffic rules apply, and not those introduced in 2021.
Where should a child car seat be installed?
The child's car seat can be installed either in the back or in the front seat. The adopted changes in the transportation of children in a car do not prohibit this. However, a prerequisite is to turn off the airbag, since if activated, it can cause irreparable harm to the child. If a passenger who has reached the age of twelve is carried in the front seat, then the airbag must be active. The main element of protection here is seat belts. The best place for a child car seat is in the center rear seat. Statistics show that it is the safest, so it is perfect for transporting children.
Do you support increased control over the transportation of children in cars?
Related links: Fasteners: features and selection rules
New traffic signs
After the advent of SIM, the traffic rules for 2021 have changed, and new signs are used to indicate each change. Each one introduces a new ban or restriction, but allows traffic participants to figure out how to behave correctly on the road and not get a fine for breaking the rule. The signs for electric scooters and other vehicles included in the SIM category look like this. You need to remember them to avoid fines.
Mandatory equipment of all cars with the GLONASS system from January 2021
All cars leaving the assembly line in 2021 must have satellite equipment of the ERA-GLONASS system, aimed at automatically notifying all services about the occurrence of an accident. Moreover, for private individuals it should do this automatically, while on commercial vehicles manual notification is allowed.
In reality, it will look like this: the import of cars without GLONASS into Russian territory will be prohibited, and many market participants are already thinking about stopping the import of cars into our country.
That is, customs clearance will not allow vehicles that do not have the ERA-GLONASS satellite system to receive a title, which will undoubtedly lead to a stop in the export of old and used cars from Western manufacturers.
Other changes in 2021
January next year marks major changes in traffic rules. One of the most noticeable was the use of the sign “Zone with limited environmental class of vehicles,” which was introduced earlier (since 2021), but now its area of influence has been expanded. Its coverage area may include gas-powered vehicles, as well as people who live in the area in question.
There is also a new sign that shows where you can charge an electric car. And one more innovation is a new color scheme for road markings, which has been adopted by road services as a rule. Now green, blue and red are used. Each color means something different. Thus, blue is used to mark intersections. Other colors can duplicate other signs.
When the road repairs are completed, the additional signs will be removed and the temporary markings will be washed away. If this is done late or not done at all, you can complain to the traffic police, after which the road service will not only be fined, but may also use other sanctions.
A foreign driver's license has become irrelevant for work
According to estimates from a number of analytical agencies, more than 70 thousand drivers with licenses issued by foreign countries carry out their work on Russian roads. Surely you have repeatedly come across information about major road accidents, often with casualties, that occurred due to the fault of foreign drivers working in passenger transport. It was this information that prompted legislators to pass a bill that prohibits a person with a foreign driver's license from carrying out such activities.
Now, if a foreigner wants to work in Russia in the field of commercial transportation, he will have to pass exams on a general basis - one theoretical and two practical (autodrome, city). You can prepare for the theoretical exam in the traffic police using the traffic rules exam simulator. Only after this will he be able to obtain a license and, as a result, find employment in a motor transport company. Moreover, the legislator obliged the employer to monitor compliance with the new rules. If a motor transport enterprise allows a foreigner to travel with an improperly issued driver’s license, an administrative fine in the amount of 50 thousand rubles will be imposed on the enterprise.
