City planner cites reasons for raising truck fines

The increase in fines for non-compliance with the requirements prescribed by road signs, which prohibit the movement of trucks, helps to regulate the flow of van traffic and adjust the rules that allow trucks to enter cities. Elena Ovdenko, city planner, lecturer at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, lecturer at the Russian Society of Knowledge, told about this on December 12.

The expert said that overloading of vans leads to wear and tear of the road surface, as a result of which it requires repair more often.

"Truck transportation occupies a larger area than passenger cars. The city lives according to its own rhythms, it has peak hours, when the main flow of residents moves from work and to work. And, if at this time in the flow will be built into the flow and truck transport, it will provoke a collapse," - said Ovdenko.

She said that if the hours of entry of heavy trucks into the city will be adjusted, it will facilitate the system of movement of residents and relieve the roads. According to her, fines are a measure that incentivizes people to be responsible. Ovdenko compared the introduction of fines for transit passage in an inappropriate place with the policy of introducing paid parking lots.

"They were started to be introduced at one time to motivate people to use alternative public transportation. In the case of trucks, the same logic: to influence the life of the urban transportation system with operational measures," the planner added.

The expert also admitted that this measure may be necessary for further development of unmanned freight transportation. According to her, this project is now being implemented on the Moscow - St. Petersburg route in test mode, but it is planned to expand in the future.

"It is very important that transportation can enter and leave the city in a timely manner, without violating the rules and the established time of movement," - pointed out the lecturer of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Fines for the most frequent traffic violations have increased. What you need to know

Earlier in the day, the State Duma adopted amendments to increase fines for some traffic violations. Thus, parliamentarians approved a 10-fold increase in fines for passing under a sign prohibiting the movement of trucks. In all regions it will be increased from Br500 to Br5 thousand.