This question causes a lot of controversy, even among experienced motorists. Many of them are sure that this is absolutely prohibited. And there are no extenuating circumstances. In fact, there are circumstances permitted by the SDA that allow unimpeded movement along the tram tracks of a passing direction.
Allowed Cases
The current traffic regulations of the Russian Federation indicate the following situations in which movement on tram rails is not punished:
- the paths are on the left,
- the rails are at the level of the roadway,
- all lanes of passing traffic are occupied,
- tram rails and the road go in the same direction.
All other cases, in accordance with the SDA of the Russian Federation, traffic along tram tracks of a passing direction is prohibited.
Existing Bans
The Rules make clear that the location of the tram tracks is of great importance. On rails located below the roadway or higher, the car has no right to call. If there is a track, then it should be perceived by the driver as a dividing strip, which, as you know, is forbidden to cross.
Also, the taboo is imposed on the movement along tram tracks of a passing direction, if they pass to the right of a moving vehicle.
It is forbidden to cross the intersection if in front of it is a sign 5.15.1 or another sign - 5.15.2.
Some concessions
In the rules of the road they really are. And they relate to maneuvers. So, for example, traffic on tram tracks of a passing direction is allowed (2016-2017, traffic rules) with:
- making a left turn,
- crossing the street at the intersection,
- detour
- U-turn.
The last maneuver is permitted in the absence of a double continuous between the tram tracks and the sign 4.1.1, which prescribes movement only directly. And also an obstacle should not be created to promote the tram car and exit onto the oncoming rails.
Avoidance is permitted only with a high flow density. Most often, if the distance between the vehicles is minimal to ensure safety on the road, making the car move along tram tracks in a passing direction for possible overtaking, it is hardly possible to return to your lane (as indicated in the SDA, clause 11.4). Therefore, paragraph 9.6 of the current Rules slightly expands the relief of paragraph 11.4, the part that relates to the inability to return to the lane occupied earlier. It consists in permitting the use of tram tracks running along the roadbed in the same direction. Nevertheless, the rule that rail transport has an advantage over the car does not cancel. Therefore, it is possible to apply these exemptions only without interfering with the movement of the tram car.
Note to the driver
Maneuvering on tram rails located on the right hand of a motorist is strictly prohibited. Non-compliance is fraught with grave consequences.
In places with heavy traffic, special markings are applied on the roadway and special prohibitory traffic signs are installed. That is, on such a segment there will always be:
- a pointer with the words "Lane",
- a sign prohibiting entry to any vehicles,
- solid white line on the pavement.
The driver must understand that the tramway is not an additional lane for the movement of vehicles.
Any maneuver should be accompanied by turning signals, which turn off only after its completion.
DPS officers recommend paying attention to cornering. If there is no special sign, then the maneuver should take place at right angles. There are times when drivers ignore this and turn, moving on rails. Traffic police inspectors regard this as a ride on the oncoming tram rails, which, of course, is taken for going into the oncoming traffic lane and is punishable by a fine of 1,500 rubles or (less often) the loss of a driver’s license.
If marked
On some city highways, a continuous marking strip may occur. This topic raises many questions in driving schools and disputes in specialized forums.
On the one hand, according to the SDA, traffic along tram tracks in a passing direction is not prohibited, and on the other, as indicated in the same norm in clause 1.1, it is impossible to cross continuous.
On repeated requests for clarification of the situation, officially the traffic police said that this marking line shows the edge of the roadway. Penalties for ignoring these requirements prescribed by the marking of the roadway this year are one thousand and one and a half thousand rubles.
There are situations when tram tracks are isolated from the roadway with a curb. SDA equate it to a solid line.
Crossroads maneuvers
Each driver must remember that it is permitted to travel along tram tracks in the same direction only if all lanes of the roadway are occupied. Moreover, this relates only to parallel movement.
Tram crossing at an unregulated intersection is allowed in the following episodes:
- the vehicle moves with the tram in one direction, the latter being to the right of the car, public transport, if any, continues to move straight;
- when moving in one direction, the tram running to the right of the car and the vehicle will make a left maneuver;
- the tram located on the right hand of the car driver can make a left turn, while the car continues to move straight.
Sometimes on city highways before the intersection you can see signs 5.10, 5.15.1, 5.15.2 informing about traffic in lanes or about a road with reverse traffic. In this case, penalties for going on rails will be mandatory. When entering a road with a marked reverse movement, you need to consider that the sign indicates traffic only along the rightmost lane of the roadway. Reconstruction can only be performed if such movement is permitted by advising signs or special road markings.
Left turn
According to the SDA, this maneuver is permitted only if the following conditions are met:
- there is no marking on the roadway,
- the tram track is to the right of the vehicle moving in the last lane.
The driver must remember that this turn must be made in accordance with paragraph 8.5 of the SDA. That is, in the absence of signs 5.15.1, 5.15.2 and markings 1.18 on the turn, tram rails running on the left and on the same level as the roadway allow the car to turn left with them. The main thing is not to forget that the car should not be an obstacle for the tram car.
Penalties
Many violations involving traffic along the tram tracks of a passing direction are considered very gross. But the deprivation of a driver’s license is not provided.
The most modest of them is the intersection of a continuous strip separating the rails from the highway. In accordance with paragraph 12.16 of the SDA, this error is punishable by a fine of 500 rubles. A fine for stopping on rails will also be collected from the violator who makes the movement along the tram tracks of the associated direction. Today it’s one and a half thousand rubles.
Secondary and subsequent non-compliance with the Traffic Rules may result in the loss of a driver’s license for a period of at least one year. If this violation was recorded by a video camera, the fine increases to five thousand rubles.
Traffic accidents on tram tracks
The main thing that needs to be remembered: the transport department of the settlement will recover the lost profit through the court from the culprit of the incident. Indeed, while waiting for traffic police inspectors, parsing and registration of road accidents , trams will not run along the route. And these are losses for the electric vehicle fleet. They can be tens of thousands of rubles. Courts, by the way, almost always take the side of representatives of the administration. Therefore, the machine must be removed from the tracks as quickly as possible.
Even if the movement along the tram tracks of a passing direction provoked an accident in which the tram did not participate, it is necessary to draw up a road accident diagram, take photographs from different angles, record phone numbers of witnesses and remove the vehicle from the rails. Then, both the victim and the culprit should come to the nearest traffic police department to draw up and sign the protocol. Or, if there are no discrepancies between the participants in the accident, you can resort to the scheme of registration of a transport accident that is gaining popularity according to the Euro protocol.
If an accident happened with the participation of the tram, the car driver can be guilty only in two cases:
- the car continued driving at the prohibition signal of traffic lights,
- the tram left the depot at that moment.
In all other cases, the driver must remember that any permitted maneuver on the tram rails should not interfere with the movement of electric vehicles.