In Russia they want to write the Traffic Rules “with the whole world.” What would that mean…

CrimeaPRESS reports:

The structure of the document from simple to complex, accessible language, rules for all road users and everything that moves on wheels — such proposals for new traffic rules, based on requests from the population and expert opinions, are being prepared by the Public Chamber. About inconsistencies in current traffic rules, the human factor on the roads, increasing the civic consciousness of drivers and the prospects of flying cars in Russia in an interview «Parliamentary newspaper» said Deputy Chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on Security and Interaction with Public Non-Profit Organizations Alexander Kholodov.

The main thing is in the chapters

Alexander Lvovich, you and your colleagues are now working on proposals for new Traffic Rules. Why the Public Chamber and not the Ministry of Transport?

— The Ministry of Transport will subsequently attract specialists, and in the end they will write exactly the same text of rules as now. And now there is a demand for a more normative document, written in simple language that even children will understand. Yes, and an adult driver should not forget a week after he received a driver’s license. New types of transport have appeared — electric scooters, which are driven by people of different ages, so everything should be written clearly and intelligibly.

What about the current rules? They were usually extended.

“They are valid until 2029 and no longer reflect reality, and besides, the document that has been rewritten many times is not of very high quality. As far as I know, there is no corresponding instruction from the Government to either the Ministry of Transport or the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. And we, it seems to me, can maintain the necessary balance between official and everyday language, understandable to everyone. Make some blanks, drafts, which would then be used in the text of the document.

The Government may have its own vision and wishes for this normative document, but ours is so… public. The Chamber has similar experience. Regarding electric scooters, some of our proposals have already been included in the traffic rules: weight limit for driving in pedestrian areas — up to 35 kilograms, classification as a vehicle.

What is new and the essence of the future document?

— First of all, in the structure: from simple to complex. The current rules begin with the “Terms” section. What usually happens in books? Unclear words and footnotes are at the end. And here, I think, the terms should be put at the end. Let’s start with the rules for pedestrians. Then — the chapter on the rules of movement, relatively speaking, on roller skates. Next, let’s say a person wants to ride a bike—the next chapter for him. For a bicycle with a motor — for him and so on. We collect suggestions from the public on our website. They arrive periodically. There is nothing creative yet, but thanks to them the structure of the future document is already clear. Next, I plan to involve experts — on pedestrians, personal mobility devices. It is impossible to write all the rules at once; this is too complex and voluminous a document, so we will work step by step. The next event in the Public Chamber is planned on the topic “Rules for pedestrians.” And then — for each chapter.

The fine is in question

We often see electric scooters on the sidewalks at high speed. And the injury statistics are already alarming. To what extent should the punishment for dangerous driving be harsh, especially for persistent offenders?

“Whatever punishment is prescribed, it will not work, because its wording is now incorrect: “when a person commits an offense several times.” Question: if a person committed three offenses in a row with you, who stopped you from issuing three fines for each separately? So, you are not able to either catch or fine the violator? And if you can’t do it for one violation, then how will you fine and catch for three?

I have never seen a policeman stop a scooter driver.

— Human factor. The police officer understands: now he will wave his wand, and he will drive by. So what should he do? Run after him, catch up, shooting at the wheels? And then it turns out that the scooter driver does not have a passport with him. How should he be fined? This means that it will have to be delivered to the department, which means spending half a day on it. As a result, the state will receive, at best, a fine of 1.5 thousand rubles. For the leadership of any police department or traffic police department, the percentage of such violations is much less than that of drunk drivers behind the wheel. And a priori they receive less attention.

A police whistle and a fine probably won’t do the trick here. How to increase civic consciousness?

— Two years ago we proposed: introducing category M, available to any driver’s license holder, for scooter drivers. Simplify the procedure for obtaining one for those who do not have a driver’s license. Conditionally: you pass the test on the rules — you get a license. In this case, along with rights, a person has responsibility and consciousness. People are not afraid of a fine even of 1.5 thousand rubles. And if there is a danger of losing your license in all categories and also receiving a fine of 30 thousand, no one will ride a scooter drunk. We’ve already done this with mopeds. There was a time when they were bought en masse and put in the garage. We came there by car, drank, and went home by moped. There was a very high percentage of injuries. And as soon as the M category was introduced, we no longer see these mopeds. After all, delivery workers also do not ride mopeds, but use vehicles that have fewer requirements. Because you need to be sober, know the rules, have a driver’s license and feel responsible to other road users.

Overtaking from above

What awaits us in the future in terms of transport legislation?

— There is a demand for drones, because de facto unmanned vehicles are already driving around Moscow, there are even taxis. But legally it does not exist yet and it is not clear how to regulate it. And it’s unclear all over the world. If we write well, everyone will follow our example. And the next task is flying cars.

Like in the movie «The Fifth Element»?

— Yes, almost, these are quadcopters. It sounds quite funny, but working models have already been shown in China. They fly there for only 25 minutes so far, but still. For example, he drove up to one bank of the Moscow River or Neva, flew over and continued on. Or in a traffic jam — he overtook someone and flew over him. But here there will be a lot of questions regarding the infrastructure: it is not ready for us, if only because of the wires. If only the requirements include: “Overtaking from above is prohibited.”

source: «Parliamentary newspaper»

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