The sensational news was published by the Kommersant publishing house. For the first time, Russians can get a license from private hands, that is, the traffic police can transfer part of its functions, in particular, taking driving exams, to private hands, that is, to private driving schools.
Such a possibility is spelled out in a new draft resolution of the Russian government "On admission to driving vehicles", which determines the rules for taking examinations for candidates for drivers.
The new norms of this resolution can be conventionally presented in several blocks. The first block refers to motorcycles. Anyone who wants to get a driver's license "A" will have to pass the driving test, that is, its practical part, not only on the site, as it was before, but also in the city.
The rules for passing testing have not yet been established, but such a practice exists in some European countries. Particularly in the UK, the examinee receives instructions from the instructor via a radio station that is built into the helmet. At the same time, the instructor rides behind the candidate driver and monitors his actions.
According to Roman Frolov, president of the Russian Roads motorcycle club, this is a necessary innovation.
“Those who do not know how to drive well should not go on the road, it is extremely dangerous. But it is not entirely clear where the examiner should be located. It is clear that if the exam is carried out on a motorcycle with a sidecar, then this is the most convenient place for him. But exams, for traffic safety, are best carried out in certain areas, and not throughout the city. Also, this decree does not spell out the order of their passage. The optimal and best solution would be a specific, known in advance, a certain route, and not tasks. After reviewing the decree, we can say that the new rules do not complicate road traffic for motorcyclists. You just need to know the rules to drive. And in driving schools, as a rule, people with a large driving baggage come to obtain a license of category "A". "
The block of innovations will affect the owners of mopeds and scooters. As soon as the regulation acquires legal force, they will need to obtain a category "M" driver's license. It will be possible to rent for these rights from the age of 16. The theory and the site are given to the traffic police. Scooter drivers will be allowed to drive the entire width of the road. A moped will be a technique with an electric motor, the power of which is over 4 kW and an engine capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters.
The block about the work of driving schools is very interesting, since this is the most corrupt component of training. The traffic police intends to give up part of its authority to take exams. But this applies only to driving schools that have their own computerized race track. Today, in Russia, their number does not exceed 30, where the examinee will take the theory and the site, and the practical part, as now, will pass to the traffic police. And driving schools will be obliged to issue a certificate with a record of the driver's profession, whereas now they are simply issuing a certificate of completion of training.
Some experts are against these innovations
They explain this by the fact that driving schools will become breeding grounds for corruption and centers for the sale of rights, as it was before with the traffic police. According to Pyotr Shkumatov, coordinator of the Blue Buckets public movement, at the moment, in particular, in Moscow, it is very expensive to buy a license and it is a rather complicated procedure. “The system is well-established and works, albeit with some drawbacks and shortcomings. Previously, driving schools were dealers for the traffic police for the supply of another client, but now they really teach the rules of driving. They used to get used to easy money, they and the traffic police were fine with it. Now they were forced to work, they naturally do not like it. With the transfer of exams to driving schools, the pass rate will be 100%. Despite the fact that the decree regulates the inspection of schools in which the percentage of people passing the first time is high, this is not a panacea.
How will these schools be checked?
Down the chain, who will check the reviewers? It is necessary to close all opportunities so that people can buy a license, and then leave without knowledge on the road.
The traffic inspectorate itself, theoretically, is interested in rejecting such a would-be driver so that he does not get on the roadway, and due to the lack of knowledge of traffic rules, he did not do business. But it is beneficial for driving schools that they study for a short time, pay and leave. Therefore, a natural consequence of the introduction of the new rules will be an increase in the trade of rights in driving schools. With regard to computerized racetracks, then with the entry into force of the decree, all driving schools will automate them, and then they will return the money spent through the sale of rights.
Technology will not be able to defeat corruption; an integrated approach is needed. It is necessary to control technology in combination with the human factor with an adequate control system. Driving schools are obviously interested in passing this resolution, and this is obviously.
The new decree will not affect the course of examinations in the traffic police. Opinions were expressed about the division of studies, that is, a candidate for drivers first of all would have to study the theory and practical driving on the site, and then pass the relevant exams at the traffic police. After that, it was supposed to start practical exercises and pass this part of the exam. But this sequence was abandoned due to the complexity of the implementation. However, the new decree introduced a ban on the use of cameras, parking sensors and other "aids" during the exam.
Foreigners driving in Russia
The last block affects foreigners driving on Russian roads. Organizations, that is, legal entities, have been prohibited from hiring foreign drivers with foreign rights since May 5, 2014. They will have to pass an exam on the knowledge of traffic rules and only after that they will be able to obtain a Russian license. The remaining foreign drivers will not be affected, that is, they can drive with the driving license of their country.
