Alexey Gladky
Peculiarities traffic rules of different countries of the world. Cheat sheet for those who travel behind the wheel
Introduction
Driving on foreign roads behind the wheel of a car is no longer a fantasy, but a reality. Someone likes to travel on their own or rental car, someone is on a business trip, someone is visiting, etc. In any case, there is a problem of adaptation to the peculiarities traffic in a specific country.
Despite the fact that the conceptual organization of traffic throughout the world is based on the same principles, each country has its own specific features. Most often they relate to such aspects as speed limits, parking rules, overtaking and advancing vehicles, rules for crossing intersections, traffic rules in settlements etc. Ignorance of these features can cause serious trouble (from fines to imprisonment).
For those who plan to drive a car in a foreign country (countries), this book is intended. In it, we will talk about what characteristics and the nuances are in the traffic rules different countries peace. We hope that its study will help to avoid unpleasant surprises in unfamiliar traffic conditions.
However, first consider key principles traffic management relevant for most countries. This is the subject of the first chapter of the book.
Chapter 1 Modern Road Traffic: Myths and Reality
In this chapter, we will talk about the basic principles of road traffic: who are its participants, with the help of which traffic is regulated, what is right-hand and Left side traffic, as well as much more.
What is road traffic?
Road traffic exists in every modern state regardless of the level of its development and the wealth of the local population: somewhere people drive around in chic sparkling cars, somewhere in second-hand middle-aged cars, citizens of impoverished states consider it lucky to have some kind of wrecked car like the old Zhiguli or Moskvich (as in Cuba). Well, in addition to cars, horse-drawn carts, rickshaws, carts, sledges and other similar modes of transport drive on the roads of the world.
It is clear that traffic in without fail must be organized - otherwise, in constant accidents, people will be maimed and killed, as well as cars will beat. Therefore, in any country there is an official accepted document, which is designed to organize and regulate traffic. This document is the Rules of the Road (abbreviated as SDA).
By the way
The first rule of the road in history appeared at the end of the 19th century. Today it causes a smile, because it sounded like this: every person who sees a car on the road is obliged to quickly go forward and warn all people on the way about it.
SDA is a set of all norms, requirements and rules related to the organization of traffic. They are mandatory for every participant in the movement - whether it is a pedestrian, a driver of a vehicle or someone else. Violation of traffic rules everywhere it is considered a gross offense, as a punishment for which a person can be fined, deprived of their rights, and even sent to prison.
It is worth noting that the Rules of the Road are, although the main, but not the only document on the organization of traffic. For example, in Russia there is also the Federal Law on Road Safety, the Manual on the work of the traffic police of the traffic police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (this document regulates the work of the road patrol service of the traffic police), the Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation "On a medical examination for intoxication" with the Instructions for carrying out medical examination for the state of intoxication of the person who drives vehicle. Among other documents regulating the organization of traffic in the Russian Federation, we note the following:
Basic provisions for the admission of vehicles for operation;
List of malfunctions and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited;
Regulations on compulsory insurance auto civil liability (OSAGO);
Rules for the transport of dangerous goods.
However, traffic is regulated not only normative documents but also by special technical means. These include, first of all, traffic signs, road markings and traffic lights (Fig. 1.1). In the absence or malfunction of a traffic light, traffic can be regulated by a traffic police officer (regulator), whose signals and gestures each participant in the movement must know.
Rice. 1.1. Road signs, markings and traffic lights - technical means traffic control
Since not all drivers strictly comply with traffic rules (this is especially true for Russia and countries former USSR), to ensure order on the roads and control the execution traffic rules in any state there are special services. For example, in Russia this service is called DPS GIBDD (Road Patrol Service of the State Inspectorate for Road Safety), in Belarus - GAI (State Automobile Inspectorate), etc. Note that this service is always a power structure and an internal unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (or another similar agency).
Please note
Every road user in any state must obey the requirements of the worker traffic police. In case of disobedience, force, special equipment or firearms can be used against the violator, and often local legislation allows shooting to kill.
The main issues of the organization of international road traffic are set out in the Convention on Road Traffic. This document, the full text of which you will find in Appendix 1, was developed and adopted with the aim of improving road safety through the unification and standardization of traffic rules on November 8, 1968 in Vienna at a UNESCO conference.
Who are road users?
Each of us is a road user. Note that you don't have to be a motorist to do this, as road users also include vehicle occupants and pedestrians.
Like general legislation, traffic rules vary from country to country. This is due to the different mentality, culture and traditions. There are also General requirements, which must be observed both in Russia and in Australia. Among them, compliance speed limit, fastening the belt. But there are also very interesting rules that must be observed in order not to be left without a license or receive a fine. In the article we will consider Interesting Facts about traffic rules in different countries around the world.
Europe
North America
Interesting facts about transport in Mexico: there the donkey is considered a species personal transport, and in order for the owner to be able to move legally on it, he needs to get rights. At the same time, the rights must contain photographs of both the owner and the donkey itself.
United Arab Emirates
IN United Arab Emirates road rules are regulated not only by traffic rules, but also by "black marks". Maximum number tags that can be obtained during the year - 24. If there are more of them, then the driver is deprived of his rights and may be held criminally liable. There are also such violations for which the driver receives 24 marks at a time. For example, driving while intoxicated, dangerous driving, driving a vehicle that does not have state registration plates, exceeding the speed limit by more than 60 km / h, an accident that resulted in the death of people.
USA
Australia
In Australia, the traffic police is different from the Russian one. The police have the right to patrol carriageway on civilian vehicles and measure the speed of vehicles moving in any direction. At the same time, it is useless to try to hide from the police - they have a very powerful cars, who will not be able to catch up with only violators in sports cars.
Even despite the fact that the Rules of the road in most countries of the world are largely similar, the management in different parts of our planet can differ dramatically from what we are used to. And all thanks to the unusual at first glance, and in some places even strange requirements of these same rules.
USA
Many people think that the most unusual rules for motorists exist in some backward country, but this is not so. The most unusual rules - in the USA! For example, in the state of Tennessee, drivers and passengers are prohibited from shooting at whales from a moving vehicle. And it would seem that everything would look logical, if not for one thing - the state of Tennessee is surrounded on all sides by land and has no access to the sea.
And if the inhabitants of Tennessee are unlikely to meet whales, then the inhabitants of Pennsylvania were less fortunate. All drivers are required by state law to carry car covers. This is necessary so that, in the event of a meeting with horse-drawn carriage, the driver covered his vehicle with this cover so as not to frighten the horse.
However, the Ohio state authorities went further in the issue of road safety, and, having decided to protect children from unnecessary danger when rollerblading and skateboarding, they did not find anything better than to forbid them from doing this. So in the city of Canton, Ohio, a minor violator of this prohibition will face a fine of a thousand dollars and imprisonment for six months!
Japan
Japan is no less scrupulous about the safety of pedestrians. There, after rain, drivers have to be extremely careful - accidentally splashing water or mud on a pedestrian, the motorist will be forced to part with a very tangible amount. Needless to say, Japanese drivers treat pedestrians with respect under such conditions.
China
What can not be said about the Japanese neighbor - China. Pedestrians have a hard time there. And all because residents cross the roadway as they please. In China, pedestrian crossings do not have the same importance as in most countries, and only indicate a place where a pedestrian can cross the road, as long as there are no cars nearby. As for the drivers themselves, they are strictly forbidden to let pedestrians through - to slow down and even more so to stop before crossings. Attempts by the Chinese to cross the roadway is far from a sight for the faint of heart.
Germany
Also, overly emotional people will have to control themselves on German roads. In Germany, the traffic rules exclude whole line emotions and gestures that are unacceptable on the road. For example, a demonstration of the language, a hand bent at the elbow or the middle finger will cost the driver at least three to four thousand euros, and the manifestation of unwanted emotions without gestures will cost at least two hundred euros.
France
The French, on the other hand, are more fortunate in this respect - not only are they not prohibited from such a manifestation of emotions, but they are even allowed to "calm" their nerves. The main thing is that its content in the blood should be no more than 0.5 ppm - this roughly corresponds to a drunk glass of wine or a bottle of beer. However, if the alcohol content is higher allowable rate, then the driver will have to pay a fine of 135 euros, and pick it up from the impound. It is believed that with great content alcohol in the blood of the driver becomes potentially dangerous to others.
Brazil
In Brazil, the attitude towards alcohol while driving is so tough that in the event of a death in an accident, a person will still be required to pass an alcohol test.
Cyprus
Israel
But here in Israel, even posing a danger to others, you can avoid the need to pay fines when it comes to speeding. In this country, exceeding is the same serious offense as in other countries, with the amendment that exceeding here can simply be explained to the police by saying that they were moving at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
The police are likely to release the driver after such a confession. After all, the number 120 for the Israelis is considered a wish for longevity, and spoiling the mood of a person who wished you long years with a fine is already somehow indecent.
Thailand
In Thailand, it is considered indecent to ride without a shirt on any vehicle, be it a car, a moped or even a bicycle - this is prohibited. From personal experience it can be added that in the land of smiles, it is just as difficult to cross the road as in China, the pedestrian crossing there does not have the proper authority, to put it mildly.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has gone the farthest in its bans. Here, women are forbidden to drive not only cars, but also bicycles. The only exception is the intra-block roads, otherwise, complete patriarchy reigns on the roads of Saudi Arabia.
But, despite these minor differences, the rest of the traffic rules in all countries are built according to the same type, and even a tourist will not find it difficult to drive a car in an unfamiliar environment. True, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, it is worth studying the road rules of a particular country for such nuances.
Here, in fact, that's all.
If you, having come to rest in another country, decide to rent a car in order to have time to get acquainted with all the sights with the breeze, do not forget that some points of the traffic rules of this country may differ significantly from the usual Russian ones.
Although, in many ways, of course, the rules converge, but there are significant amendments. In other words, what is good for a Russian is a deprivation of rights for a German.
Germany
Since we are talking about this country, it would be nice for a driver on the autobahn to know that there is no place for excessive emotionality. In German traffic rules, there is a whole list of emotions that are not appropriate on the road. Among them are a demonstration of the middle finger, a hand bent at the elbow, and even a tongue show. The minimum fine for incontinence here is 200 euros (8,000 rubles), for indecent gestures, you can lose 3-4 thousand.
USA
The most incredible rules of the road, of course, in the USA. So, in the state of Pennsylvania, when meeting with a horse-drawn cart, a motorist must urgently cover his vehicle with a blanket so as not to frighten the horse. Not allowed in Arkansas sound signals
near eateries after 21:00. In the state of California, you will be punished for washing your car with your underwear and storing anything other than the car itself in the garage.
Thailand
In this resort and such a hot country, it is strictly forbidden to ride a motorcycle, bicycle, moped and in a car without a shirt.
France
Public transport has an advantage in France, so it is strictly forbidden to enter a specially designated bus lane. But driving after a bottle of beer or a glass of wine is not at all illegal. The main thing is that the alcohol content in the blood does not exceed 0.5 ppm. In case of violation, you will have to pay 135 euros (5,400 rubles) and look for your car at the impound.
Israel
Speeding here is, of course, a violation. On the other hand, it is quite easy to "explain" it to the police. It is enough to admit that they were driving at a speed of 120 km / h - and forgiveness is guaranteed. This is because the number 120 for the Israelis is a wish for longevity.
Saudi Arabia
Patriarchy reigns here and on the roads: on almost all highways, women are forbidden to drive. Moreover, this rule applies to cycling. A woman can steer only on intra-quarter and private roads. Tourists who violate this law are deported from the country.
Japan
Here and on the roads, as in everything else, order and respect for each other reign. After rain, you must drive on Japanese highways with extreme care so as not to spray a pedestrian. For such a violation, you will have to pay a fine equivalent to 1,800 rubles.
China
There are many videos on the net of how the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire cross the roads - and this sight is not for the faint of heart. And all because pedestrian crossings in this country simply mark the place where a Chinese person can cross the road while there are no cars on it. Drivers are strictly prohibited from giving way to pedestrians and stopping in front of zebra crossings.
So, be careful and polite on the roads. Not only "away" for fear of a fine, but also at home.
: https://trinixy.ru
BRITANNIA
Perhaps the best thing about Britain is its car roads. Well-groomed, marked out with purely English foresight and thoroughness. It is clear where to go - the local roads leave the driver more likely than anywhere else in the world to reach their destination safe and sound.
Britain indeed has one of the lowest road death rates in the world, at 5.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Since the 1970s, fatalities on UK motorways have steadily declined. Pedestrian fatalities have dropped by an impressive 78 percent in Albion over the past 40 years. The total number of deaths in traffic accidents has decreased by 7 percent in the last few years alone. However, if you count the number of fatal accidents on the local roads to the number of cars moving on these roads today, then there is all the evidence of a sharply increased safety of British motorways: 199 deaths were for every 100 million car kilometers in 1967 and 48 deaths in 2007.
Between June 2009 and June this year alone, according to the Bureau for National Statistics, the number of deaths on British roads decreased by 19 percent compared to the previous same period.
Due to what such impressive victorious results have been achieved? Due to the relentlessly improving strategy and tactics of the road. Hundreds of studies are conducted annually in the country on the subject of road safety. So, for example, it was recently found that only 5 percent of drivers involved in an accident were speeding.
It turned out that more than 30 percent of accidents are caused by the inattention of drivers and the lack of habit to carefully monitor traffic situation. 16 percent of accidents are caused by careless or risky management.
In connection with the latter, appropriate measures were taken: a ban on talking on a mobile phone while driving and smoking. According to the new rules of the road code, an aggravating circumstance for driver accident will be what he smoked or lit up at the time of the accident. smoking while driving public transport And company car, is also impossible. You can't even enjoy driving. So, a miserable Dutch driver who was “lucky” to drive a truck with chicken legs on the roads of North Wales. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for eating pasta while spinning the steering wheel. The hungry Dutchman was tracked by a police helicopter circling over him.
In general, on the roads of Britain, a visitor who has arrived from other countries may get the erroneous impression that there is absolutely no supervision behind him.
And in fact, meeting the traffic police on the local roads is a matter of great luck. But another eye is watching the driver - the round eye of the yellow square head of the road high-speed camera.
A special sign on the road will warn the driver well in advance of the fact that a camera is installed on the road ahead, so that he has time to slow down. The purpose of such a fair game is not to catch the violator and not to charge more fines, but in fact to make him slow down in dangerous areas.
Meanwhile, it is the skill of the driver that is fundamental in the British concept of traffic safety. Few British people get a driver's license the first time. It will be great luck to get them on the third or fourth attempt.
Official data on accidents in America show: the number of accidents with fatal in the US is declining quite sharply.
Reports federal system of accidents in the United States, which is part of the structure of the main "road department" of America - the National Highway Administration, indicate that every year everyone dies in "fatal accidents" fewer Americans. So, if in 2008 34,172 people became victims on the roads, then last year this number decreased to 30,797. That is, the downward trend continued fatal accidents: in 2005, more than 39 thousand people crashed to death on US highways and roads, in 2006 - 38,646, in 2007 - 37,435.
According to experts, 40 percent of all American accidents and 60 percent of all fatal crashes are caused by drunk drivers, and their age is mostly in the range from 16 to 24 years. The second most common cause of traffic accidents in the United States is the exchange of SMS messages on a mobile phone. And if the use mobile phone While driving a car without a hands-free device is prohibited by law throughout the United States, SMS bans have not been introduced in all states.
For example, in Washington right on special screens installed along busy trails, drivers are reminded that texting while driving is a direct violation of the law. According to official data, about 1,500 Americans die or become disabled every year in the United States for this reason.
Despite the high culture of driving, disputes between drivers, as well as aggressive behavior on the road, are not uncommon in the United States. It is interesting that the police urge to immediately report drivers - boors by a special phone, and the nearest patrol is immediately put forward to search and detain violators.
Pedestrians are often the cause and victims of car accidents. Thus, the New York City Hall, having distributed a report on the situation with traffic safety in the main financial center of the United States, emphasized that the number of accidents involving pedestrians has increased on the streets of the city. Older New Yorkers aged 65 and over, who are involved in nearly 40 percent of car accidents, are of particular concern. pedestrian crossings with a lethal outcome. It is noteworthy that in a study of traffic problems in New York, it is indicated that the city's famous yellow taxis, with which the streets are filled, get into accidents much less often than private transport, and the death rate among motorcyclists on the streets of New York is 18 times higher than that of drivers and passengers in cars.
Any research on causes of road accidents in the USA are analyzed, and based on the results of the “analysis”, specific solutions. So, in the case of the mentioned study of the problems of accidents in New York, the city authorities immediately changed the rules for driving at New York intersections, and also began to discuss proposals to reduce the limit allowable speed movement.
BRUSSELS
Culture of auto-rudeness In Belgium, the problem of ensuring road safety is one of the priorities for local and federal authorities. And there are serious reasons for that.
According to statistics, which are carefully collected and processed by specialized organizations, in a relatively small country by European standards with a population of 11 million, about 1,000 people die every year on the roads as a result of road accidents, more than 60,000 people are injured of varying severity.
Experts note that over the past year there has been a significant reduction (up to 20 percent) in the number of accidents. Statistics allow experts to hope for a reduction in the short term, the number of deaths on the roads to 800 per year.
One of the important mechanisms for reducing mortality and ensuring road safety is a clear and well-functioning system for training drivers and issuing driving licenses. The Belgian system for issuing rights is somewhat different from the Russian one. Applicant driving license, who has reached the age of 17, must first pass theoretical course, after which he immediately receives a temporary driver's license. However, here he needs to make a choice - if desired, you can get crusts that give the right to drive a car only accompanied by more experienced driver(in this case, you do not need to take a practical course at a driving school), or the rights of the so-called. "independent" driver (in this case 20 hour course required practical driving). At the same time, a number of restrictions are imposed on the holders of temporary rights: they cannot drive the car in the evening from 22:00 to 06:00 in the morning on weekends and holidays, engage in commercial transport and leave Belgian territory by car.
In order to get "real" rights, devoid of all these restrictions, you need to travel for at least three months with temporary crusts, and then pass a serious practical exam. Tellingly, you can take the exam on own car. After every two unsuccessful attempts to pass the exam, the applicant must take an additional 6-hour theoretical course, of course, for a fee. In general, the entire procedure for obtaining a driver's license costs the applicant about 1,500 euros.
Paradoxical as it may seem, but despite such a thorough approach of the authorities to the training of drivers, traffic in the country every year becomes more and more chaotic and chaotic. Local old-timers note that in Belgium the notorious politeness and courtesy of European drivers is gradually disappearing. Even today, pedestrians crossing the road in designated places. The general culture of driving has significantly decreased, and sometimes it borders on rudeness. Driving through a red traffic light, non-observance of the traffic lane, not turning on the direction indicators when changing lanes, and even leaving a oncoming lane are very common in urban areas. Bicyclists deserve special mention, most of which fundamentally ignore all existing rules when moving along city streets.
ISTANBUL
There are more and more cars on the roads of Turkey every month. Fifteen millionth Istanbul is already in soon runs the risk of catching up with Moscow in terms of traffic jams and parking difficulties.
The relatively low cost of most Turkish-assembled cars, as well as car loans available to any average Turkish family (a ridiculous 0.45 percent per year for Russians) have made buying a car in Turkey a common thing. Surprisingly, even the stunning price for gasoline by Russian standards (a liter of 95 costs almost 4 lira here - about 80 rubles) cannot discourage the Turks from loving fast and often reckless driving.
In Turkey, it is not customary to wear seat belts, and no one here is particularly keen to teach Turkish drivers to do this. The RG correspondent met specialized child seats designed for transporting small passengers only in a few local stores - as a rule, you will not find this accessory in the cars of traditionally large Turks. But give the kid a ride front seat Turkey is very fond of cars. The traffic police, as a rule, look at these things through their fingers.
Nevertheless, violation of traffic rules in Turkey significantly hits the wallet. For exceeding the speed limit by 30 percent, a local motorist will be fined a tidy sum of 6 thousand rubles. Accordingly, the higher the speed, the higher the penalty. The RG correspondent felt this the hard way...
About four years ago I swept across the country loud scandal in connection with the sharply increased number of bribes to traffic police officers. The proceedings received a wide response in society, after which most of the police cars were equipped with cameras that allow tracking the actions of the “Turkish traffic police” during their work. After that, judging by official statistics, the number of bribes decreased significantly.
The so-called "purchase" of a driver's license is not accepted here either. Many interlocutors of "RG" did not immediately understand what was at stake here. Getting a license in Turkey is quite easy. It is necessary to complete three-month courses, the mandatory result of which is a state exam. The cost of three-month courses varies from one thousand to one and a half thousand lira (from twenty to thirty thousand rubles), depending on the city.
According to the sad statistics of fatal accidents, the number of accidents on the roads of Turkey especially increases on the eve, as well as in the midst of the Eid al-Adha holiday. Many Turkish families go by car to their numerous relatives, who live not only in Turkey itself, but also in many European countries. So, this year, about 200 people crashed on the road during the week of holidays. Unfortunately, such statistics are only getting worse every year, but the Turkish authorities have not yet made any major changes to the rules of the road. Perhaps only an annual increase in fines can somehow affect hot Turkish motorists.
HELSINKI
According to the Finnish law enforcement agencies, the reduction in road deaths was the result of the introduction of amendments to the traffic law. In accordance with them, cyclists are required to ride in helmets, and pedestrians wear reflective elements on their clothing, including in built-up areas and on illuminated streets. Previously, this rule applied only to unlit streets.
As the correspondent of "RG" was told in the Finnish police, at present, about half of all accidents involving pedestrians are registered in dark time days or twilight. In this regard, the police are sure, it is necessary to wear a reflector both when driving along a footpath, and in the absence of one along the street.
Drunk drivers remain a major problem for Finnish police officers. About 25-30 percent of fatal road accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Therefore, the most severe punishment that Finnish car enthusiasts can only suffer is for drunk driving. For this, they are deprived of their rights and can even be imprisoned.
IN last years among Finnish drivers, alcohol locks have become popular, which block the ignition if the alcohol level is at least 0.2 ppm. Many transportation companies install alcohol locks on their vehicles. This has a significant impact on improving road safety. Supervisor accident research In Finland, Pekka Sulander from the Center for Road Safety even suggested that alcohol locks should be included in all cars.
most terrible reason fatality on the roads is a collision of cars with moose. “Several thousand accidents involving elk and deer occur on Finnish roads every year. Therefore, we entered new sign“moose on the roads,” the Finnish police told the correspondent of RG.
WARSAW
According to statistics, about 50 thousand traffic accidents occur in Poland every year and more than 5.5 thousand people die.
This is the most high rate in the European Union. Moreover, from year to year, the number of deaths in car accident people is gradually growing. At the same time, the percentage of victims due to the fault of drivers and pedestrians also increases. According to the police, the main causes of accidents are violation of the speed limit, recklessness and drunk driving.
The Polish government, concerned about such statistics, is taking comprehensive measures to improve the situation on the roads. Nevertheless, the European Road Safety Council (ETSC) in Brussels has published a list of countries in which its members face the greatest dangers. In this list, Poland is in the top three along with Russia and Slovakia.
To turn the tide, in Poland since the new year, the responsibility for ignoring the rules of driving has again been tightened. For drunk driving, the driver is now forever deprived not only of his rights, but also of his car. However, the situation will radically change in better side so far failed. Pedestrians, cyclists and children are still often victims of road accidents. Meanwhile, traffic fines in Poland still remain one of the cheapest in the EU.
According to the materials of RG.RU
