Ensure proper adherence to "Migal": Ministry of Transport unveils updated traffic regulations
Mandatory Yield for Emergency Vehicles: A Clarification in Road Rules
Amid growing concern over motorists' reluctance to yield to emergency vehicles, the Russian Ministry of Transport is proposing amendments to current legislation. The proposed changes aim to make it clear that drivers must not only yield the right-of-way but also make way for these critical vehicles.
Currently, the law mandates that drivers give precedence to vehicles sporting activated special light and sound signals. This typically encompasses ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles, often distinguished by their unique color schemes. However, this rule also extends to vehicles without conspicuous paint jobs, but equipped with a flashing blue light – commonly utilized by high-ranking officials and the federal security service.
A essential nuance to note is that the term "yield" does not necessitate "moving over." Instead, it dictates that a road user must abstain from proceeding, resuming, or continuing their movement, or executing any maneuver if doing so may compel other users, who hold priority, to alter their direction or speed. In essence, yielding to an ambulance corresponds to yielding to a vehicle on a primary road when emerging from a secondary road. Essentially, you just need to stop and wait for it to pass.
Thus, when encountering a news story about a negligent driver obstructing an ambulance in a courtyard and declining to reverse, thereby hindering medical workers' progress, keep in mind the ironic fact: technically, they haven't breached any rules! Though, of course, they warrant criticism on a human level.
Lev Voropaev, auto lawyer and human rights advocate, acknowledges the legislative loophole. "In practice, traffic police officers and judges have applied a broad interpretation – suggesting that to allow emergency vehicles to pass, one must vacate the area for them," Voropaev admits. "While this seems logical, it's not actually specified in the law. Consequently, penalties imposed based on such interpretations are, in essence, unlawful."
In light of this identified shortcoming, the Ministry of Transport is devising a project to revise the relevant article of the CoA. As a result, drivers will be required to clear the lane by merging into an adjacent one or "take all necessary measures to allow traffic to pass." Undeniably, physical removal or sinking into the asphalt is not an option, but backing up (if necessary) or pulling over to the side will now be compulsory.
It is somewhat perplexing that this issue went unnoticed for 32 years, but Voropaev finds a silver lining: "Drivers will find it easier to refute fines imposed for traffic violations if they engage in such maneuvers."
For example, suppose you're stopped at an intersection on the stop line, the light is red, and an ambulance is wailing its siren behind you. If you inch forward a bit to let it pass and receive a "cease-and-desist" letter for running a red light, there are many such cases, and not everyone can successfully contest this type of fine. The new regulations from the Ministry of Transport should provide drivers with additional grounds when disputing such penalties.
The proposals further include a few clarifications. At present, a driver is expected to allow an organized column to pass only if it's led by a vehicle with special markings. However, many officials travel with non-emblazoned vehicles armed with sirens. In theory, you're only required to yield the road to the vehicle carrying the siren, not the official (who may not possess a siren). legally, this isn't a violation yet. With the amendments, you'll be obliged to let any column pass if it's following a vehicle with a "flashing light."
A parallel development involves a bill before the State Duma that aims to increase penalties for failing to yield to emergency vehicles. Currently, the penalty is a fine of 4,500-7,000 rubles or license suspension for 3 to 12 months. The proposed changes would boost the fine to 20,000-30,000 rubles, and the maximum suspension period would reach two years.
However, Voropaev raises concerns about this escalation. "Even a year without a license should be sufficient for a reasonable person to recognize their error and avoid repeating it," Voropaev notes. "I believe that increasing fines and extending the upper limit of license suspension is excessive."
- In the proposed amendments to Russian road rules, the Ministry of Transportation suggests that drivers should not only vacate the right-of-way but also take all necessary measures to allow emergency vehicles to pass, such as merging into an adjacent lane or pulling over to the side.
- The proposed amendments to the CoA by the Ministry of Transportation in Russia also include a clarification that a driver should yield the road to any column following a vehicle with a flashing light, not just vehicles with special markings, in an effort to increase accountability in the transportation industry, including for financial and government personnel using emergency vehicles.
