Dangerous maneuvers

According to statistics, overtaking is one of the most dangerous maneuvers on the road, leading to head-on accidents with the most serious consequences. Of the total number of people killed in car accidents, one in five suffered fatal injuries in such accidents. "Izvestia" found out how to reduce the number of accidents related to driving into the oncoming lane.

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According to the operational data of the State Traffic Inspectorate, for eight months of this year, almost 80 thousand Accidents (-3.3% compared to January–August last year) recorded on Russian roads, 5,169 car accidents (-18.3%) were related to driving into the oncoming lane. The share of such incidents in the total number of car accidents is relatively small — about 6.5%. However, the consequences of an accident that occurred in the oncoming lane are among the most severe. 1,687 people (-21.4%) became victims of such incidents, which is almost one in five people killed in car accidents.

According to statistics, about a third of accidents in the oncoming lane occur due to the fact that one of the drivers started overtaking in the area of traffic signs prohibiting this maneuver or drove into oncoming traffic through a solid marking line. For this traffic violation, the current legislation provides for a fine of 7.5 thousand rubles or the deprivation of a driver's license for 4-6 months.

And for repeated violations, the deprivation of rights is provided for a year. However, most of these car accidents are recorded in places where signs and markings allow such a maneuver to be performed. By itself, the presence of appropriate signs and markings does not mean that the driver can overtake, the traffic police remind.

— Road signs and markings only inform the driver that it is allowed to overtake another vehicle on this section of the highway. But they don't give him carte blanche to perform such a maneuver. Driving into the oncoming lane on the principle of "it's allowed here" without full confidence in the safety of this maneuver is categorically unacceptable — this behavior most often ends sadly," said Police Colonel Sergey Hrantskevich, head of the Department for road Safety Promotion and prevention of child traffic injuries of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

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Safety rules

The State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia reminded: according to paragraph 11 of the traffic regulations, before overtaking, the driver must make sure that the oncoming lane is free from other vehicles at a distance sufficient to complete this maneuver. Also, the motorist must turn on the turn signal in advance, make sure that the drivers of the cars in front of him and behind him do not overtake. Only after that, in compliance with all precautions, is it allowed to perform the maneuver. At the same time, the driver of an overtaking vehicle is prohibited by traffic regulations from obstructing overtaking, for example, by increasing speed, the department reminds.

Overtaking is prohibited at pedestrian crossings, at regulated and unregulated intersections, when driving on a secondary road, at railway crossings and closer than 100 m in front of them, on bridges, overpasses, overpasses and under them, as well as in tunnels, the Traffic Police remind. This maneuver is not allowed at the end of a climb, on dangerous turns, or on other sections of roads with limited visibility.

— When overtaking, you should not only correctly assess the road situation, as well as calculate its possible development, but also take into account the technical characteristics of your car, road and weather conditions. If there is the slightest doubt about the safety of this maneuver, you should abandon it and wait for a more favorable moment to commit it," recommends Sergey Hrantskevich.

Overtaking should be avoided during bad weather — rain, fog, snowfall, ice, it is strongly recommended in the State Traffic Inspectorate. In conditions of insufficient visibility, the motorist cannot correctly assess the situation on the road, make sure that there is enough space in the oncoming lane to safely complete overtaking. Accordingly, the risk of a head-on accident increases many times, the department notes. On a wet, snowy, or icy highway, a change in traction on the driving wheels of the car or steering can lead to loss of control of the car, uncontrolled skidding, as well as a collision or departure of the car off the road.

— Regardless of the weather and road conditions, overtaking should be avoided if there are children in the car. When transporting underage passengers, the driver must not only exercise maximum care and caution, but also choose the rhythm of movement in such a way as to eliminate the need for overtaking and other potentially dangerous maneuvers," emphasizes Sergey Hrantskevich.

Prevention and prevention

The most effective way to prevent accidents involving oncoming traffic is to separate traffic flows. Therefore, during the reconstruction of highways, additional lanes appear where possible, eliminating the need to overtake in the oncoming lane.

Where it is impossible to widen the road for one reason or another, metal, cable and other fences are installed that physically delimit traffic flows.

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Priority area

Another way to increase safety and reduce the number of accidents associated with driving into the oncoming lane is to equip overtaking road signs with additional signs informing about the distance at which this sign operates. This gives motorists the opportunity to calculate their actions in advance and maneuver where it is safest.

An important component is the prevention and prevention of traffic violations leading to car accidents in the oncoming lane, the State Traffic Inspectorate emphasizes. Various social campaigns initiated by the department, as well as social advertising on television, radio and billboards along the roads, are devoted to these issues. Traffic police officers pay increased attention to safety aspects when overtaking during parent-teacher conferences, meetings with students of driving schools, drivers of transport companies, as well as during communication with road users.

Reducing the number of accidents related to driving into the oncoming lane and reducing the severity of the consequences of such accidents is one of the priorities of the State Traffic Inspectorate. This work requires an integrated approach and will be continued in close cooperation with road services, public organizations, transport enterprises and motorists, according to the Main Directorate for Road Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

"The material" was prepared as part of the implementation of the federal project "Road Safety" of the national project "Infrastructure for Life".