What laws prohibit a novice driver
Tow any vehicle. If a citizen has recently received the right to drive a car, he is unlikely to have towing skills. He is not yet ready to bear responsibility for the vehicle he is towing and the other drivers on the highway. To reduce mistakes due to inexperience, a penalty for towing was introduced for “newbies” - a verbal warning or a fine of 500 rubles.
Transport someone on a motor vehicle. Riding a motorcycle even alone is a difficult skill, and with a passenger it is even more difficult. The motorcycle brakes, accelerates and turns differently. Therefore, inexperienced motorcyclists are prohibited from carrying passengers. Condition - the driver has opened category A or A1 for less than 2 years. If this rule is violated, the motorcyclist will receive a fine of 500 rubles.
Is the “Beginner Driver” sign required?
To find out whether the “Beginner Driver” designation is mandatory, we turn to Government Decree No. 1090 dated October 23, 1993, which approved the Traffic Rules and the Basic Regulations for the admission of vehicles to operation. It is the second document that contains paragraph 8, which indicates what signs the vehicle should be equipped with and in what situations.
In particular, about the sign that indicates a car driven by a citizen with less than 2 years of driving experience, it is said that it must be installed without fail. And paragraph 7.15(1) of the List of faults and conditions prohibiting the operation of a vehicle indicates the inadmissibility of using a vehicle that does not have the necessary signs installed.
The signal is attached to any vehicle driven by an inexperienced driver (with no more than two years of driving experience), except for motorcycles, scooters, self-propelled and agricultural machinery.
What if the car is not yours, but the owner is an experienced driver?
Only the date on the license matters. The traffic police inspector checks this period and the yellow sticker on the vehicle; the length of service of the real owner of the car does not affect anything.
For example, my husband passed the traffic police exams and purchased a car from the dealership in 2016. In 2021, my wife passed her license and wanted to drive the same car - her husband included it in the MTPL policy. She forgot to put up the sign and started driving this car for work. An inspector will stop her and issue a decree for driving without a special yellow “Beginner Driver” sticker. The date of manufacture of the car and the driving experience of the husband do not matter.
Towing rules for a novice driver
Clause 20.1 of the Russian Traffic Regulations states that a novice motorist cannot drive a towing vehicle, that is, a tractor driving in front. But this rule applies exclusively to towing mechanical vehicles (it has nothing to do with trailers). Thus, a beginner can drive a vehicle with a trailer if he has received a license for the appropriate category.
At the same time, a beginner is not prohibited from driving a towed vehicle (vehicle located behind).
This limitation applies to towing:
- By partial loading method (the front of the car on a tow truck).
- On a rigid coupling (metal elements in the form of a triangle).
- On a flexible coupling (cable, rope, rope).
Cost of MTPL for novice drivers
The driver is required to obtain a compulsory motor liability insurance policy, regardless of driving experience; there are no concessions for beginners in this regard. It is difficult to name the cost of the policy for them: it consists of various indicators and their coefficients, taking into account the driver’s age, region of residence, vehicle characteristics and other factors. It is safe to say that there will be no discount for accident-free driving.
In 2021, you can add a novice driver to your MTPL policy, but the cost of insurance will increase. How much depends on the tariffs of the insurance company and the terms of insurance. Please contact your insurer for more details.
Fine for not having an exclamation mark on a car
How long do you need to drive with a novice driver sign? So, beginners often want to get rid of the sticker earlier than the traffic rules dictate. The only thing stopping drivers is the fear of getting a fine if stopped by a traffic police inspector.
However, there is no penalty for not having an exclamation mark on the rear window of a car. Although there are traffic police officers who are trying to make a mistake based on the driver’s violation of Article 12.5.1, this is unlawful.
This article provides for a fine of 500 rubles or a warning for operating a car in the presence of malfunctions in which driving the car is prohibited. The list of such defects is indicated in the appendices to the road rules.
For the absence of a “novice driver” sign, a fine of 500 rubles is provided . According to the rules, an exclamation mark on a car is required for all persons who received a license less than 2 years ago.
Where to put identification marks according to the law?
Now let's talk about where to put the novice driver sign and where to put the spikes sticker. So, almost any of them is glued to the body or glass so that cars passing behind can take into account certain characteristics of the car owner and the vehicle. There are no clear requirements on which part of the rear window the sticker should be located in.
The exceptions among the identification plates considered are the designations “road train” and “disabled person”. In the first case, the driver is required to install the designation on the roof of the vehicle, and in the second - on the windshield both in front and behind the car. It is important that vehicles transporting adults and children with disabilities must have a removable “disabled person” sign.
Responsibility for driving without a license plate
Actually, until 2021, the sticker of a sign with an exclamation point symbol was of a recommendatory nature. Unfortunately, for this reason and due to the mentality of most novice drivers (at least men), it was very rare to meet him on the roads. So legislators, having made appropriate amendments, decided to make the use of the sign mandatory. Currently, if you have a driving experience not exceeding two years, the absence of a sign on a car is considered a violation, the punishment for which is provided in accordance with Article 15.5 (Part I) of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which states the following:
Driving a vehicle is prohibited if the conditions set out in the “Basic provisions governing the admission of a vehicle to operation” are met, as well as in the instructions of officials responsible for ensuring the safety of road traffic in relation to all parts of this article, with the exception of Art. 2-7. Failure to comply with these conditions will result in punishment in the form of a warning or a fine in the amount of 500 rubles. In these provisions, the requirement to have a sign is mandatory, otherwise it should not be operated.
Thus, in 2021, a fine for not having a “Beginner Driver” sign is an almost inevitable punishment, and this punishment is already being actively applied to those new drivers. Who considers it shameful to drive with an exclamation mark? However, inspectors have the right to use the same article to punish drivers who abuse the sign (failure to remove the sticker after two years of driving), but in practice this happens extremely rarely.
What does an exclamation mark on a car window mean?
Cars with a sticker are increasingly visible on the streets and parking lots: a black exclamation mark in a yellow square. This designates a car driven by a person with little driving experience - within 24 months from the date of issue of the license.
The “inexperienced driver” sign calls for extreme caution. Beginners often make rash actions (unexpectedly change the trajectory of movement, brake sharply, start backing up without looking in the mirrors), often do not control the situation around the car, and are indecisive in dense city traffic. This is indicated by an exclamation mark on a yellow background.
Speed limit for beginners - is it true?
No. Despite the fact that the authorities have repeatedly tried to introduce a draft new law on speed limits for novice drivers, as of July 13, 2021, no official innovations have come into force, and regardless of experience, the permissible speed is the same for all drivers.
Previously, the Duma wanted to introduce restrictions for novice car enthusiasts. What would their top speed be if this came into effect?
- On highways (outside populated areas) it would be possible to drive at speeds of up to 70 km/h,
- in the city - no more than 50 km/h.
Restrictions for a driver with little experience
In April 2021, by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 333 dated March 24, 2017, taboos were approved for motorists whose driving experience does not exceed two years:
- Prohibition on towing. An inexperienced driver does not have the right to drive a towing vehicle, namely a tractor located in front of the towed vehicle. The ban applies to all types of towing: rigid, flexible, or partial loading. Violation of the requirement threatens the motorist with a warning or a fine of 500 rubles under Part 1 of Art. 12.21 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The restriction does not apply to towing trailers. The newcomer has the right to drive a vehicle with a trailer, the weight of which corresponds to the open category of the valid license. In addition, the beginner has permission to control the towed vehicle located behind the tractor.
- Prohibition on transporting passengers on motorcycles and mopeds. Violation of the restriction is prescribed by part 1 of Art. 12.23 and imposes a warning on the offending motorist or a fine of 500 rubles. Moreover, the ban applies to the transport of persons on motorcycles with sidecars and three-wheeled mopeds. The restriction on passenger transportation is lifted if the motorcyclist has open categories - A, A1, 2 years after receiving the license.
The website of the Government of the Russian Federation informs that the main goal of the adopted innovations is to reduce the level of accidents and deaths on roads involving novice drivers.
It is known that the USSR was the only country that, until 1991, successfully used temporary certificates for newcomers. Similar and other strict prohibitions exist in foreign practice. Today in Russia there is an active reform of automobile law, bringing its norms and rules, as well as driving culture, closer to the European level. Thus, a number of documents regarding new bans for newcomers have already been sent to government agencies. In addition to the introduction of temporary rights, among the restrictions being considered are the following:
- increased tariffs for traffic violations;
- prohibition of driving on highways and at night;
- serious restrictions on maximum speed on city roads.
Additionally, the Union of Driving Schools has taken the initiative to reform the training program for future motorists by dividing it into courses for amateurs and professionals.
Requirements for the appearance of the “novice driver” sign
As we wrote above, the “novice driver” sign is a yellow square with a black exclamation mark.
The dimensions and colors of all elements are clearly stated in paragraph 8 of the “Basic provisions for the approval of a vehicle for operation...” - the square must be yellow - the dimensions of the square are 150x150 mm - the exclamation mark must be black - the height of the exclamation mark is 110 mm.
The use of a mark that does not correspond in size and color to this description will be a violation
How long do you need to drive with the “Beginner Driver” sign installed?
According to the requirements of the law, the period of validity of the sign is regulated - after receiving the license, it must be on the vehicle for two years. According to global practice, this time is usually enough to gain the necessary skills and driving experience, after which there is no need to talk about the “beginner” status.
As practice shows, some newcomers have a very positive attitude towards installing the sign. Moreover, given the preferences that experienced drivers give to beginners, some abuse this by not removing the symbol even after the expiration of the two-year period. However, such an act is not a violation of the law; in any case, there is no punishment for it. But there is another category of novice motorists for whom the presence of a corresponding symbol on the glass is considered humiliating, and they prefer to drive without a sign. But this violation can already have serious consequences - the “Beginner Driver” sign must hang, regardless of the desire of the beginner.
Is it possible to replace the "!" sign "U"
People often confuse the meaning of the "novice driver" and "trainer vehicle" signs. The first is applied to the car if it is driven by a driver with less than 24 months of driving experience. He goes on the roads legally and has a minimum of restrictions.
The “training vehicle” sign is installed on cars intended to teach driving school students how to practice driving. Therefore, replacing the sign of these signs with each other is illogical and not legal. An inexperienced motorist, even if he has mediocre driving skills, is a full-fledged driver, and not a student, this must be remembered.
As for non-standard signs - a teapot, a shoe and the like, they are not prohibited by law, but they do not mean anything to other road users. The only thing that would be reasonable is to stay as far away from such a vehicle as possible. Most likely, the driver who sticks such signs on his car does not know the basic rules of the road, and is therefore unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
