The situation when the public transport in front sharply reduces the speed or stops at the curb is familiar to every driver. Reflectively, the hand reaches for the gear lever, and the eye evaluates the oncoming lane for quick maneuver. However, it is at this point that many make the fatal mistake of confusing a permitted detour with a prohibited overtaking, often resulting in serious accidents or fines.
Traffic rules clearly regulate interaction with fixed-route vehicles, but the devil, as always, lies in the details. The presence or absence of markings, the type of stop sign, as well as the actions of the bus itself – all this forms the final legal assessment of your maneuver. In this article, we will discuss in detail when driving past a stopped bus is allowed, and when it threatens with deprivation of rights.
It is important to understand that public transport is a priority for a reason. Passengers leaving the door or running to the open door are at high risk. Safety of pedestrians In this context, it is put above the desire of the driver of the car to save a few seconds. Therefore, before starting any maneuver, you need to make sure not only that there are no oncoming cars, but also that you do not violate specific prohibitions for stop zones.
Difference between overtaking and driving ahead of the traffic rules
The fundamental point in understanding the rules is to make a clear distinction between two similar but legally distinct actions. Overtaking - is the advance of one or more vehicles associated with exit to the lane intended for oncoming traffic. If you maneuver within your lane, even if the speed in front of the bus is lower than yours, it is called advance.
Why is this distinction critical? Overtaking in the public transport stop zone is often strictly prohibited, especially if there is an oncoming lane. Aheading can be allowed, but with serious speed and distance restrictions. Code of Administrative Offences There are different penalties for violations related to these maneuvers.
Drivers often forget that to qualify the action as overtaking, it is necessary to go to the “meeting”. On roads with one lane in each direction, overtaking a bus at a stop will almost always be a violation, unless the sign 5.16 or 5.17 otherwise permits. At the same time, on multilane roads with a dividing line, the situation changes dramatically.
- 🚗 Overtaking is always associated with the risk of a head-on collision and requires leaving for the oncoming lane.
- 🚌 The advance occurs in the passing direction and is governed by the rules of restructuring.
- ⛔ Public transport stop signs may prohibit overtaking, but do not always prohibit ahead.
⚠️ Note: If the bus is at a stop in a village, and you go to the oncoming lane to detour it, you overtake. In 90% of cases, this is a violation of paragraph 11.4 of traffic rules, prohibiting overtaking in places of stops of route vehicles.
Action of signs 5.16 and 5.17 in the stopping zone
Stop zones of fixed-route vehicles are designated by special signs 5.16 ("Bus and/or trolleybus stop place") and 5.17 ("Tram stop place"). These signs do not just inform about the presence of a stop, they create a zone around themselves with a special mode of movement. The radius of the sign is usually 15 metres on either side of the sign unless otherwise provided by the marking.
There are strict restrictions within this zone. According to paragraph 14.3 of the traffic rules, drivers are obliged to give way to buses leaving the designated place of stop. This means that even if you are driving in your lane, you must allow public transport to flow safely. Ignoring this rule is a direct road to an accident, since the dimensions of the bus limit the view.
In addition, in the area of these signs, stopping and parking of vehicles other than taxis is often prohibited, unless indicated by an additional plate. Violation of the stopping mode In such an area, it can lead to the evacuation of the car, since a parked car blocks the entrance of the bus to the curb, forcing passengers to go to the roadway.
Nuances of markup 1.1 and 1.17
If the stop is marked not only by signs, but also by yellow zigzag marking 1.17, then ordinary cars are strictly prohibited from entering it to stop. The gaps in this markup are intended exclusively for route vehicles. Crossing a solid line 1.1 when leaving such a stop is also a violation.
Can I cross a line for the sake of a detour?
One of the most common questions concerns the situation when the bus has stopped, and on the right or left of it (on a one-way road) there is a solid line of markings 1.1. Many drivers believe that the obstacle in the form of standing vehicles allows you to violate the requirements of marking. However, the traffic rules of the Russian Federation do not contain a direct permit to cross a solid line for overtaking or detouring a standing bus.
It is believed that if the bus is long, it can be equated with a stationary obstacle. However, judicial practice shows that the stop for boarding and disembarking passengers is a regular mode of operation of route transport, and not a malfunction or accident. Therefore, detouring the bus through a solid line with exit to the oncoming lane will be regarded as a gross violation.
If the bus stopped not on the “pocket”, but just at the edge of the carriageway, and there is no place to travel on the right, the situation becomes a stalemate. In this case, the only legal option is to wait until the bus completes the landing. Attempting to leak between the bus and the curb, unless it is 3 meters wide, is also prohibited.
| Situation | Markings | Allowed? | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus in your pocket | A solid line. | No (overtaking) | Deprivation of rights |
| Bus in your pocket | Intermittent line | Nope. 11.4 MOD | Fine |
| Bus at the edge of the road | A solid line. | No. | Deprivation of rights |
| Bus at the edge of the road | Intermittent line | Yes (with caution) | Pedestrian accident |
The danger of passengers entering the roadway
The most critical aspect of bus detour is the human factor. Passengers, especially during peak hours or in bad weather, may be inattentive. Children, elderly people or just people in a hurry often run from behind the front of the bus without looking around. For the driver of the car, who is at this moment going to overtake, the pedestrian appears too late.
Limited review The main enemy when overtaking the overall transport. You can't physically see what's going on at the front bumper of the bus. Even if the bus driver sees you in the mirrors, he can’t guarantee that his passenger won’t step aside. That is why paragraph 14.3 of the traffic rules obliges to give way not only to the bus itself, but also to create safe conditions for its maneuver.
In the event of a pedestrian hitting a public transport, the overtaking driver is almost always found guilty, regardless of whether the pedestrian ran across the road according to the rules. The court practice is inexorable: the risk of overtaking in the stop zone is disproportionately high.
⚠️ Warning: If you can’t see pedestrians because of a standing bus, reducing the speed to a minimum or stopping completely is the only right solution. No delay is worth a human life.
Fines for improper overtaking of public transport
Violation of overtaking rules in the stop zone of a route vehicle entails serious responsibility. If the traffic police inspector or camera captures the exit to the oncoming lane in a place where it is prohibited (and the stop zone is such a place), part 4 of article 12.15 of the administrative code of the Russian Federation is applied.
The penalty for such a maneuver is severe: a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 4 to 6 months. In case of repeated violation within a year, the driver is waiting for deprivation of rights for 1 year. This makes saving a minute an extremely expensive undertaking.
If the overtaking was not completed, but the driver has already started the maneuver and was stopped, this is also considered a violation. It is important to note that detouring the bus on the right, through the sidewalk or the curb, if they are not designed for traffic, is also punishable by a fine, albeit less (usually 1500-2000 rubles), but the risk of damaging the car or knocking down a pedestrian remains high.
If you have a DVR, keep a record of the moment of overtaking. In a controversial situation where the bus was not at a designated stop, but just at the edge of the road, the video can prove that you were ahead of the curve, not overtaking in a prohibited area.
Algorithm of safe maneuvering in difficult conditions
To avoid fines and accidents, it is necessary to develop a clear algorithm of actions when approaching a public transport stop. First, assess the traffic situation: is there signs 5.16/5.17, what markings, whether the alarm is on at the bus? If the bus is already standing, slow down in advance.
If you see that the bus is just coming to the stop, it is better to re-arrange in advance to the adjacent row, if the traffic situation and markings allow it. Do not try to “dive” at the last moment in front of the nose of the hromada – this provokes conflict and an emergency situation. Remember that the size of the bus requires more space for maneuver.
At night, be sure to use light signals to indicate your presence, but don’t blind the bus driver with high beams. If the view is closed and overtaking is necessary (for example, the bus is faulty and costs a long time), make sure that the stop sign does not apply at that point or has passed its range.
☑️ Pre-overtaking check
The main principle of safety: if there is the slightest doubt about the safety of maneuver or the legal purity of actions, it is better to lose 2 minutes standing behind the bus than to get a fine or become a participant in an accident.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I get around the bus if it is on the sidewalk?
No, the detour across the sidewalk is strictly prohibited. This is a violation of paragraph 9.9 of traffic rules, which entails a fine of 2000 rubles. In addition, pedestrians may be on the sidewalk, which poses a direct threat to their lives. Even if the bus is not running properly, it does not give you the right to break the rules.
What if the bus stopped in the middle of the road without stopping?
If the bus stops outside the range of signs 5.16 or 5.17 (for example, due to a breakdown or traffic jams), it is considered a normal vehicle. In this case, the general rules of overtaking apply: you can overtake, if it is not prohibited by signs, markings and does not interfere with the oncoming. However, it is necessary to exercise the utmost caution.
Is there a penalty for overtaking a bus if it turns on the turn signal?
Turning the left turntable on by the bus means it is about to start moving or rebuilt. According to p. 14.3 SDA, you must give way to it. Attempting to overtake the bus at this moment (especially on the right side or cut it off) can lead to an accident, and the fault will be on you, since you did not fulfill the requirement to give way to the route vehicle.
Can I overtake the bus at a pedestrian crossing near the stop?
Absolutely not. Overtaking at a pedestrian crossing is always prohibited (p. 11.4 traffic rules, whether there is a bus or not. If the public transport stop is located near the “zebra”, the risk of hitting a pedestrian increases many times. You can lose your rights for such a maneuver.
Is it a violation to just walk up to the bus at its speed?
Movement in parallel with the bus, if you do not exceed its speed and do not make advance, formally overtaking is not. However, long-distance driving in the blind spot of the bus is dangerous. The driver of a huge car may simply not see you and start rebuilding. It is better to either fall behind or to complete the advance quickly and safely, if permitted.