The rules of the road are quite complex, because when you study them, you need to remember a large number of different aspects, pay attention to a wide variety of signs, understand various potential situations that may happen on the road. However, many novice drivers usually concentrate on two-way travel, forgetting that there is also one-way traffic. This article will describe in detail as much as possible what it represents, what are its differences from the standard two-sided, when and under what conditions it appeared, for what purposes it is used, and most importantly - what signs it is indicated. At the same time, you should remember that violation of traffic rules can lead, at best, to a fine and deprivation of a driver’s license, and at worst to a traffic accident in which people can suffer. That is why you need to thoroughly study absolutely all the rules, including those whose object is one-way traffic. This article will help you with this.
What it is?
First of all, of course, you need to deal with the fact that such a movement is one-way. Usually it is two-way, which means that on one side of the road cars move in one direction, while on the other side - in the opposite. This provides the ability to move in different directions, which provides greater mobility. However, the situation is far from always the case - now you will learn about what constitutes one-way traffic. It is carried out along a road that has only one direction. Thus, cars go along it exclusively in one direction, there is no oncoming traffic of vehicles on such a highway. It would seem, why should this be done if standard two-way roads do their job perfectly? In fact, everything is not so simple.
One-Way Goal
The direction of movement on the road can play a very important role, in particular, close to important objects, close to which there is always a dense traffic flow. Because of this, traffic jams are created, the likelihood of traffic accidents increases, and so on. These circumstances lead to the need to introduce roads with one direction, as this can significantly reduce the load on the main road. They most often appear near attractions, universities, shopping centers and other objects, to which a large number of people constantly arrive by their own or public transport. Also, very often, one-way roads are found on narrow streets in old cities, the construction of which did not imply multi-lane routes, which are not uncommon now. So the only direction of movement is a fairly common phenomenon, which is almost always caused either by objects located in close proximity to the road, or by the width of the streets, which do not allow to lay a wider road surface.
How is it organized?
However, many people ask themselves: how is a one-way road organized? After all, cars in any case need to move in both directions, and not just in one. In most cases, when it comes to streets that are too narrow, there are two roads with one-way directions, only they have different roads. They are located on neighboring streets, which ensures free movement in both directions without increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents. There are also other options. For example, the main road leads in one direction, and the secondary - in the other. In general, real professionals are planning, so you have nothing to worry about. They always come up with the most reasonable and effective way to pave the track with one-way traffic so that it is convenient for everyone.
One-way road
We should also talk about road signs and their signs. For one-way traffic, there are signs that you need to know in any case if you plan to drive a car. It is possible that you do not have to travel often on routes with a one-way flow of vehicles, but at the same time you need to study the rules of the road completely. So, the first and main sign that you need to know is the One-Way Road. It looks like a blue square with a white arrow pointing in one direction. This sign is installed at the entrance to the route with a one-way flow of vehicles in order to indicate that it can only be moved in one direction. It can also be found at intersections where a one-way road intersects a two-way road - to indicate that one of them has only one direction. Naturally, this is not the only designation you need to know about this case. Road signs and their signs regarding one-way traffic are quite diverse, and now each of the existing ones will be considered.
One-way road end
So, in the previous paragraph, we considered the beginning of one-way traffic, but it also has an end. Why is such a sign set? It is designed so that drivers have time to change lanes from the left to the right, since a one-way road can turn into a road that has two directions at once. And if the driver continues to move on the left side, he will be after the passage of this sign in the oncoming lane, and this can lead to a traffic accident, and also constitutes a violation of traffic rules. Therefore, the sign marking the end of one-way traffic is no less important than the sign that marks its beginning.
Two-way traffic
In addition to the previous sign, another one can be installed nearby to attract more attention of drivers passing through. One-way traffic ends, and this is indicated by the sign described above, which is similar in appearance to the sign indicating the start of one-way travel, but is only crossed out by a red stripe. And next to it, a triangular sign with a red border is set, in the center of which there are two arrows pointing in different directions. This signals that two-way traffic is starting. Accordingly, moving on the left side of the road is already prohibited. As you can see, it is not so easy to deal with all the signs that characterize one-way traffic. Traffic rules must be taught very carefully so that then you do not have any problems on the road.
Driving on a one-way road
The next sign, which is a blue rectangle with a white horizontal arrow depicted on it, directed either to the right or left, indicates a one-way exit, you can see it at the intersection if the intersecting road is one-way. As you already understood, the direction of the arrow may be different. And it indicates the direction on the track, which is one-way. Accordingly, if you are standing at a crossroads and see this sign in front of you, the arrow of which points to the left, this means that the road you are traveling is crossed by another, one-way. And the direction of her movement in relation to your location is to the left. This means that you can turn left from your position, thereby finding yourself on a highway with one direction of movement of vehicles. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to turn right - because you will make a one-way exit. In this case, the fine will be provided to you, and at the same time you will create a very unsafe situation on the road, since you will actually be moving along the oncoming lane.
No entry
Now you know what signs show that you are facing a one-way road. However, one moment was left without due attention - this is the end of such a route. How is the place where one-way traffic ends? The rules say that from the side of the car traveling under such conditions the sign “End of the road with one-way traffic”, which has already been discussed above, will be visible. But what does the entry look like on the back? How does the driver understand that this is a route with one direction of movement of vehicles, therefore, therefore, he should not call in there? There is no special sign for this. To indicate such a road, the sign “Entry is forbidden” is placed on the reverse side, which is a red circle with a white horizontal stripe. If you see this sign next to a highway that seems quite suitable for you to drive, you should not be able to turn there, as this is most likely a one-way road, and you will essentially go into the oncoming lane. Actually, these are all the signs that relate to this issue. They are used to indicate from all possible sides that a particular road has not two, but only one direction.
Reversing
Reversing one-way traffic is a matter that needs to be considered separately. As you can imagine, situations of this kind have remained controversial for a long time. Only a few years ago were clearly limited cases in which reversing on one-way roads is permitted, but only on condition that this maneuver is necessary and does not constitute a threat to other vehicles. It can be a parking of your car or an obstacle detour. Of your own free will, it is forbidden to reverse there without an urgent need - for this you will be fined and you will also be deprived of a driver’s license. Since we are talking about punishments, it is worth considering in more detail those cases that are violations of the rules of the road on one-way roads, and the consequences to which this can lead.
One-way fines
The most basic fine in the amount of five hundred Russian rubles is imposed on a driver who leaves a one-way road without observing the rule of turning left. To leave it, you need to occupy the leftmost lane, from which to carry out a maneuver on departure. If you try to do this from any other lane (if there are more than two), as well as when you try to turn in the other direction, you will be liable to the above penalty.
Much more serious is the case when you are traveling on a one-way road and moving against the direction in which other vehicles are following. For this, a fine of five thousand Russian rubles will be imposed on you, and you will also be deprived of a driver's license for a period of four to six months. If you commit a second violation of this type, then you will be deprived of their rights for a year, and, depending on the circumstances, they may be fined again for five thousand Russian rubles.
As for moving in reverse on a one-way road, as discussed above, here you are also threatened with deprivation of rights for up to six months. As already noted, in this case, all situations that do not fall under the restrictions established several years ago, such as parking or avoiding obstacles, are considered as a violation. But the most interesting and important case is one in which the road has a lane for buses and other fixed-route vehicles. If you are traveling to this lane, then the road transport service may apply the rule of exit to the oncoming lane for you, although it is actually a passing one. Therefore, they may try to deprive you of rights for a period of four to six months. Many drivers are afraid of this and try to pay off large amounts of deprivation of rights, which is what employees expect, acting contrary to the charter and exceeding their authority, as well as misinterpreting the rules of the road.
If you do not want to lose your rights or pay a couple of tens of thousands so that you do not have them taken away, then you should know that leaving the lane for route vehicles is punishable by a fine of only one and a half thousand rubles (it is three thousand rubles only in the largest cities countries, Moscow and St. Petersburg). Therefore, if a similar situation happens to you, know your rights and do not pay ten to twenty times more than you should. But even better - know the rules of the road and do not violate them, then you will not have to pay fines at all, and you will not create dangerous situations on the road.
findings
Now you have a full understanding of what a one-way road is , what signs are used on it to indicate its beginning, entry onto it and its end. You understand why such directions are created, as well as how this happens. And most importantly, you can understand that a violation of the rules of the road in such conditions can lead to an impressive fine, and you can even lose your driver’s license for up to one year. Moreover, the road that was discussed in this article is a zone of increased danger, since there is a high probability of traffic accidents.
If you behave more consciously on such a route, and all drivers will do the same, then you will be much more pleasant and safe to move. Follow the rules of the road and be careful on the road with both one-way and two-way directions.