Motorcyclists on the streets of Moscow
In the fall of 2013, new categories and subcategories of driving vehicles appeared. Instead of one motorcycle category there were three of them: M (mopeds, scooters up to 50 cc), A1 (light motorcycles with a volume of up to 125 cc) and A (any motorcycles).
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In addition, the rules of training in driving schools have changed. For all candidates for drivers, 134 hours are allotted for theory, and 18 hours for driving a motorcycle. In the traffic police, future motorcyclists pass exams in three exercises: the first is the “dimensional corridor”, the “overall semicircle”, acceleration and braking, the second is the snake, the rut board, low-speed control, and the third is the “dimensional eight”. Obviously, successful passing the exam is just a confirmation of basic skills.
And how much can a motorcycle driver properly respond to the road situation in real conditions? This is not checked by the traffic police. But in vain. More than a thousand motorcyclists die in Russia annually and nearly 10 thousand are injured. According to the president of the Movement without Danger expert center, Natalia Agre, the main problems are the lack of knowledge or ignorance of traffic rules by motorcycle drivers and the lack of management skills, as well as the non-use of protective equipment.
In general, the problem of road safety and road accidents involving motorcyclists did not arise today or yesterday. Two years ago, the traffic police was preparing a draft resolution, which provided for the passing of a practical exam in a real city traffic. In addition, it was supposed to raise the minimum age for obtaining category A rights. But the government did not accept the project. Either felt that it was very difficult, or were afraid of public outcry.
driving school
Last year, the topic was again raised at the round table on bike and motorcycle safety with the participation of various experts and government officials. Proposals were sent to the Public Chamber (OP). And a year later, the representative of the OP Dmitry Chugunov sent a letter to the Transport Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation with a proposal to initiate amendments to the current legislation and oblige those who wish to ride a motorcycle to pass a practical exam not only at the site, but also in urban conditions. According to Dmitry Chugunov, the introduction of such an exam, as well as the creation of a new training system in driving schools, will significantly reduce the number of accidents involving motorcyclists and scooter drivers.
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The need to change the training of motorcyclists and passing exams is also supported by Andrei Boyko, the holder of the Russian Cup in ring motor racing, a journalist and television commentator. He believes that today training in a driving school and passing an exam in the traffic police is just a formality that allows you to get a “crust”. Even bringing his skills on the site to the ideal, on the road a beginner will encounter a lot of difficulties for which he is simply not ready. No one, for example, teaches you how to drive a motorcycle on a slippery road. Sharp braking with rebuilding for most is also something incomprehensible.
“Of course, you need to enter exams in an urban setting. Moreover, the exam should last at least 20 minutes. Traffic police must make sure that the newcomer is ready for the city movement,”says Boyko. In his opinion, organizing such exams is not so difficult.
Molodtsov
Ilya Molodtsov Ilya Molodtsov
Ilya Molodtsov, deputy head of the examination work department of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the city of Moscow, believes that the reform of training and the procedure for obtaining driver’s license for motorcyclists is vital. The norm obliging candidates for drivers in subcategory A1 and category A to pass an exam in traffic conditions was initially contained in the draft government decree "On access to driving." The project was developed by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in 2013, but for a number of reasons it did not receive approval.
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