Changes in traffic rules and other rules in 2012. Manual

Changes in road regulations will primarily affect those who like to break them. And also candidates for drivers.

Changes in traffic rules and other rules in 2012. Management

See also: Changes to traffic rules and other rules in 2013. Management

In February 2012, a new penalty point tariff will come into force.

The rules for the A and B driving license exams are to change at the beginning

next year. The rules will be stricter.

New penalty point calculator - download its full version

The tariff will include points for offenses that have so far been punished only with fines. The most important changes are as follows:

- There will be 5 penalty points for calling while driving on a cell phone without a hands-free kit. For this PLN 200 fine.

See: New driving exams only from July. You can do the course

- There will be 4 penalty points instead of 2 for driving without wearing a seatbelt, whether it is done by the driver or passenger. For this 100 zlotys fine.

- There will be 6 penalty points instead of 3 for carrying a child without a seat. For this 150 zlotys fine.

- There will be 5 penalty points for parking without a permit at the Disabled Access Area. Plus a PLN 500 fine.

Cyclists can do more - changes to the Highway Code

- There will be 2 penalty points for entering an intersection when it is not possible to exit. Plus a PLN 300 fine.

- There will be 10 penalties instead of 9 for overtaking at a pedestrian crossing. For this PLN 200 fine.

- There will be 10 instead of 8 penalty points for forcing priority to pedestrians in the lanes. For this PLN 350 fine.

- There will be 3 penalty points for covering license plates. For this 100 zlotys fine.

- There will be 2 penalty points instead of 1 for not complying with the stop sign. For this 100 zlotys fine.

— There will be 5 penalty points for towing a sled behind a car. In addition, a fine ranging from PLN 20 to PLN 500. This change is the result of last winter's tragic accidents. One of them took place in December last year in Sączów in the Silesian Voivodeship, when two children pulled on a sled behind an off-road vehicle ran into the path of a bus. A 10-year-old boy died on the spot, his sister was taken to hospital.

— There will be 10 penalty points for transporting more people than indicated in the registration certificate. Plus a PLN 100 fine. This change, in turn, was forced by the tragic accident of October 2010. In Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą, 18 people died when the Volkswagen transporter they were traveling in collided with a truck. The bus was registered for 6 people.

- The tariff will result in 1 penalty point for exceeding the speed by less than 11 km / h. The only penalty for this offense will be PLN 50.

Road traffic changes to improve safety

New driving license exams - the Road Code will be partially replaced by a new act

From February 11, 2012, the rules of driving exams were also to change. Then some of the provisions of the law on vehicle drivers were to come into force. Thus, some provisions of the Road Traffic Act, i.e. of the popular Highway Code, will cease to apply.

On Thursday, January 5, Minister of Transport Sławomir Nowak announced that new driving tests will be in force from January 2013. This change must still be adopted by the Parliament. More details: New driving tests only from 2013. The Minister confirms this

As for the theoretical exam, the changes are revolutionary. Instead of 18 questions, there will be 32 questions.

"Questions will be awarded for questions - from 1 to 3," explains Edward Kinder, director Provincial Traffic Center in Opole. - There will be a maximum of 74 points to score. In order for the exam to be passed, we have to get 68.

The gradation of points will depend on how a given question affects road safety. For example, those related to regulations will be scored higher than those related to mechanics.

The pool of questions that can be found in the exam also increases from 450 to 3000, and there will be only 46 seconds to answer each of them. Today it is approximately 1 minute 23 seconds.

— For now, we don't know what the new exam tests will look like, says Edward Kinder. — We will most likely find out about them in mid-January, when a new IT system will be installed in WORD.

Changes are also waiting for future motorcyclists

In addition to the existing test points, candidates for motorcyclists will have to perform a quick slalom between the cones on the maneuvering yard at a speed of 30 km / h.

- A new element will also be to avoid the obstacle at a speed of 50 km / h. It will probably be an obstacle with left and right turn signals - says Edward Kinder. - At the last moment, one will turn on to suggest the side from which the obstacle is to be avoided.

Further changes to the road code and driving licenses in just one year

A real revolution in road traffic regulations will take place in January 2013. Then, however, new categories of driving licenses for two-wheelers and quad bikes are to be introduced. It will also be harder to get them. The new categories will be as follows:

Category AM> Intended for moped and light riders quadricycles (weight up to 350 kg, speed up to 45 km / h, engine capacity up to 50 cm3. This category is available from the age of 14. This category replaces the moped card.

Category A1> Allows you to ride motorcycles up to 125 cm3, up to 15 hp. and a specific power of not more than 0,13 hp / kg, as well as on tricycles with a power of up to 20 hp. This category of driver's license is available from the age of 16.

Penalty points, or how not to lose your driving license

Category A2> Permits to drive motorcycles with engine power up to 47 hp. However, before that, he must be 18 years old.

Category A> The age of application for the largest motorcycles has been increased from 18 to 24 years.

There will also be changes in penalty points

Also in 2013, the rules related to the penalty point system will change. According to them, the driver will be able to collect 48 penalty points before losing his driving license. However, after exceeding the limit of 24 points, it will be directed to Provincial Road Traffic Centers for a fee re-education course. Now he has to pass the exam again. If in the next five years he exceeds the 24 point limit again, he will lose his driving license.

It will be more difficult for fresh drivers

From next year, drivers who obtained a category B driving license for the first time will be subject to special supervision for two years. The trial period is to be extended in the event of committing traffic violations by supervised drivers.

In the event of committing two offenses, the driver will be directed to a re-education course, and in the event of committing three - his driving license will be withdrawn. In addition, a new driver will have to complete a road safety training course and practical training between the fourth and eighth months from the date of receipt of the driving license.

This course will also be paid. It is not known how much it will cost. Provincial Road Traffic Centers are waiting for regulations in this matter.

Safe railway crossing. The car has no chance of colliding with the train

But it is not everything. During the trial period, before the eighth month from the date of receipt of the document, drivers will not be allowed to exceed 50 km / h in built-up areas, 80 km / h outside of it and 100 km / h on a motorway and expressway.

Changes to trailers

In February 2012, the Highway Code is also expected to change in the section regarding light trailers, i.e. trailers weighing up to 750 kg. Today there are some inconsistencies here.

One point states that with a category B driving license, we can tow a trailer with a permissible total weight not exceeding the curb weight of the vehicle, as long as the total permissible total weight of the set does not exceed 3,5 tons. Another point states that with category B you can drive a car with a GVW of 3,5 tons with a light trailer.

The inaccuracy is that if the car weighs 3,5 tons and the light trailer weighs 750 kg, the entire set weighs 4250 kg, which is more than 3,5 tons from the first point. Therefore, from February there will be a clear provision that with category B we can tow a light trailer weighing 3,5 kg with a vehicle with a GVW of up to 750 tons. This provision will be included in the new act on vehicle drivers. In January 2013, further provisions will come into force, which allow a driver with a category B driving license to drive a car and a trailer with a total permissible weight of 4250 kg. Therefore, the legislator intends to simplify the regulations, but in installments.

Slavomir Dragula

UPDATE - January 5