Changes in traffic tickets from April 10, 2018: we look at all the updates for driving schools and drivers

On April 10, 2018, new editions of traffic rules exam tickets approved by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate became effective. These changes affected not only the wording of the questions, but also the essence of some traffic rules. For driving school cadets and drivers planning to retake the theory, the relevance of updated tickets has become critical - errors in new questions could lead to failure of the exam.

The main adjustments affected topics related to transportation of passengers, using lighting devices, and also administrative fines for violations. For example, questions have arisen about the rules for towing with a flexible hitch, the rules for using low beams in the daytime have been changed, and current amounts of fines for speeding and driving through red lights have been added. In this article we will analyze in detail all the key novelty, explain the logic of the changes and give recommendations on how to successfully pass the theory using the updated tickets.

Why traffic tickets were changed in 2018: official reasons

The traffic police regularly updates exam tickets, but the edition dated April 10, 2018 was one of the largest in recent years. Main reasons for changes:

• 📜 Bringing it into line with current laws: in 2017–2018, amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses and Traffic Regulations were adopted (for example, tougher penalties for drunk driving, new rules for electric vehicles). Tickets needed to be updated to ensure the questions reflected current regulations.
• 🚗 Adaptation to modern realities: there were questions about electric cars, systems ADAS (driver assistants), as well as clarifications on the use "Spikes" sign in winter.
• 📊 Eliminating ambiguous language: Some old questions had ambiguous interpretations, which led to disputes in exams. For example, the question about overtaking at a pedestrian crossing has been clarified.
• 💡 Increased practical focus: added situational tasks that are more common in real driving (for example, driving through roundabouts).

It is important to understand that the changes affected not only the text of the questions, but also response logic. For example, in old tickets the question about speed limit in residential areas had the answer “20 km/h”, and in the new edition - “no more than 20 km/h”. Such nuances could confuse unprepared cadets.

Key changes in tickets: analysis by topic

The updates covered more than 30 issues from different categories. We have organized them into thematic blocks to make it easier to navigate.

1. Rules for using lighting devices

One of the most noticeable changes is the clarification of mandatory use of low beams or DRLs during the day. Previously, only low beams appeared on tickets, but now they have added daytime running lights (DRL) and fog lights as an alternative. Example of a new question:

⚠️ Attention! In ticket 19 (question 1) a new answer option has appeared: “It is allowed to use fog lights instead of low beam headlights during daylight hours.” Previously, this option was considered a mistake.

Also added questions about switching lights when oncoming traffic (for example, when you need to switch from far to near 150 m before an oncoming car). In old tickets the distance was indicated as “at least 150 m”, but now - exactly 150 m or more.

2. Carrying passengers and towing

This block contains questions about:

• 🚐 Transportation of children under 12 years of age: it is clarified that in a passenger car a child must travel in child restraint (DUU) even in the front seat if he is under 7 years old. Previously, the wording was less strict.
• 🔗 Towing with a flexible hitch: added a question about the maximum length of the cable (from 4 to 6 meters) and the mandatory presence warning triangle on a towed vehicle.
• 🚚 Transportation of goods: clarified that the load should not cover state registration plates, brake lights and lanterns.

3. Fines and administrative penalties

The block of questions about fines has undergone the most serious changes. Now the tickets appear current amounts (for 2018) and new types of punishments. For example:

• 💰 Speeding: fines increased. For exceeding 40–60 km/h - 1,000–1,500 rub. (previously it was 500–1,000 rubles).
• 🚦 Running a red light: the fine increased to 1,000 rub. (instead of 800 rubles), and for repeated violation - 5,000 rub. or deprivation of rights.
• 🍺 Driving while intoxicated: penalty increased to 30,000 rub. + deprivation of rights for 1.5–2 years (previously it was 20,000 rubles).

Also added questions about car evacuation for illegal parking and fines for lack of compulsory motor liability insurance (800 rubles instead of the previous 500 rubles).

Details about fines for compulsory motor liability insurance

The new tickets now contain a question: “What is the amount of the fine for driving a vehicle without an MTPL insurance policy?”

The correct answer is 800 rubles (as of 2018). Previously, tickets included an amount of 500 rubles, but since 2015 the fine has been increased.

4. New road signs and markings

In 2018, new signs were introduced into the traffic rules, and this was reflected in the tickets:

• 🅿️ Sign "Parking with payment terminal" (6.4 + plate 8.10): question about how to pay for parking.
• 🚲 Bicycle zone sign (5.33.1): it is clarified that in such a zone pedestrians have the right to move along the entire width of the roadway.
• 🔄 Roundabout sign (4.3): added a question about priority when entering a circle (if there are no “Give Way” or “Stop” signs, those who are already moving in a circle have priority).

Also clarified the question about yellow dotted markings 1.10, which indicates places where stopping is prohibited. Previously, tickets did not have a clear distinction between the yellow and white dotted lines.

Comparison table: old vs. new traffic tickets

Subject	Old wording (until 2018)	New wording (from 04/10/2018)
Low beam during the day	“During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have low beam headlights on.”	“During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have their low beam headlights or daytime running lights.»
Fine for speeding 40–60 km/h	“500–1,000 rubles”	“1,000–1,500 rubles”
Towing with a flexible hitch	“The distance between vehicles should be 4–6 m.”	“The distance between vehicles should be from 4 to 6 m, and there should be signal panels on the cable.”
Transportation of children under 12 years of age	“Child restraints must be used.”	"Must use child restraints, corresponding to the weight and height of the child. In the front seat - only from 7 years old.”
Running a red light	“Fine 800 rubles”	“Fine 1,000 rubles (for repeated violation - 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights).”

As can be seen from the table, changes often concerned detail — added clarifications that were previously omitted. This has made preparation more difficult, since now you need to remember not only the basic rules, but also small nuances.

How to prepare for the exam using new tickets: step-by-step instructions

If you prepared using old tickets, after April 10, 2018 you will have to review the material. Here is the algorithm of actions:

1. Download the current version of tickets (dated 04/10/2018) on the official website of the traffic police or in driving school applications. Do not use outdated sources!
2. Focus on changed topics: lighting devices, fines, towing, transportation of passengers.
3. Solve tickets in Exam mode, rather than just memorizing the answers. In the new tickets, the logic of the questions has become more complex.
4. Pay attention to the wording: for example, “not more than 20 km/h” ≠ “20 km/h”.

✅ I checked the relevance of tickets (version dated 04/10/2018)

✅ Learned new fines (especially for speed and red lights)

✅ I remembered the nuances of towing (cable length, signal panels)

✅ I cleared all the questions about lighting devices (DRLs, fog lights)

✅ Tested myself against time (20 minutes for 20 questions)

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One of the effective ways to prepare is solving tickets by topic, and not in a row. For example, separately work on the blocks “Lighting devices”, “Fines”, “Towing”. This makes it easier to remember the nuances.

⚠️ Attention! The new tickets have “traps” in questions about circular motion. It used to be that the circle was always the main road, but now it depends on the signs. If there is a “Give Way” sign in front of the circle, those entering have priority!

Typical mistakes in exams using updated tickets

An analysis of traffic police statistics shows that after updating tickets in 2018, mistakes were most often made in the following topics:

• 🔦 Lighting devices: they were confused when to turn on the low beams and when to turn on the fog lights. For example, many people mistakenly chose the answer that DRLs can be used at night.
• 👶 Transportation of children: they didn’t remember that a child under 7 years old should be in the front seat child seat, and from 7 to 12 years old - without a chair, but with a belt.
• 💸 Fines: they were confused about the amounts (for example, they cited old fines for speeding).
• 🔄 Circular motion: many out of habit believed that the circle was always the main road, not paying attention to the signs.

To avoid these mistakes, we recommend:

• Read carefully all answer options, rather than choosing the first one that suits you.
• Remember exact wording (for example, “no more than 20 km/h” instead of “20 km/h”).
• Pay attention illustrations on tickets - sometimes the answer lies in the details (for example, the presence of a “Give way” sign in front of the circle).

Where to find current traffic rules tickets 2018: trusted sources

To avoid running into outdated materials, download tickets only from official sources:

• 📌 Traffic police website (traffic police.rf): section “Exam tickets”. There is always the latest version here.
• 📱 Driving school applications: “Traffic Regulations Exam 2018”, “Traffic Regulations of Russia” (check the update date in the description).
• 📚 Official benefits: books with a traffic police stamp (for example, “Exam tickets of categories A, B, M” from the Eksmo publishing house).

Avoid sites with suspicious domains (eg. pdd-2017.ru) — there may be old versions of tickets. Also, do not trust “leaked” tickets from social networks - they often contain errors.

⚠️ Attention! Some mobile applications update tickets with a delay. Before the exam, check the application settings for the date of the last update - it should be no later than April 2018.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changes to traffic tickets 2018

❓ If I studied using old tickets, do I need to relearn?

Yes, if you plan to take the exam after April 10, 2018. The main differences are in fines, towing rules and the use of lights. We recommend that you go through all new tickets in Exam mode to identify any gaps.

❓ What questions have you added about electric cars?

The tickets contained questions about:

• 🔌 Sign “Charging electric vehicles” (6.21.1).
• 🚗 Parking rules for electric cars (allowed only when charging).
• 🔋Usage regenerative braking (question about saving energy).

These questions are few, but they appear on the exam.

❓ How have questions about alcohol while driving changed?

Fines have become stricter:

• First violation: 30,000 rub. + deprivation of rights for 1.5–2 years (previously it was 20,000 rubles).
• Repeated violation: 50,000 rub. + imprisonment for 3 years.
• Transferring control to a drunk driver: fine 30,000 rub. (previously 20,000 rubles).

Also added a question about zero ppm (since 2018, no more than 0.16 mg/l in exhaled air is allowed).

❓ Why are there so many questions about fines on new tickets?

The traffic police explains this as a necessity increase the legal literacy of drivers. Knowing the fines helps you avoid violations. In addition, fine amounts change frequently and tickets must reflect current data.

❓ Is it possible to take the exam using old tickets if I started studying before April 10, 2018?

No, from April 10, 2018, all exams in the traffic police are accepted only with the new edition of tickets. Even if you studied using old materials, you will have to improve your knowledge on updated issues.