Sign "Thorns": what does it mean? what is it needed for?

In winter, it is not only difficult to walk on foot if the paths are not sprinkled with sand, drivers also have no easier time than pedestrians, despite the fact that various anti-icing reagents are poured onto the roads in tons. It is for this reason that you have to switch from summer tires to winter ones.

There are three main types of winter tires:

with spikes;
Velcro - with a corrugated tread;
combined - Velcro + spikes.

There are also drivers who choose universal all-season tires, but it is suitable for regions with a mild climate, where winter, as such, does not happen.

According to the Rules of the Road, it is necessary to glue the “Spike” sign on the rear window if you choose studded tires.

The sign itself is a triangular plate with a red border and the letter "Ш" in the middle. The length of the side of the triangle must be at least twenty centimeters, and the width of the border must be at least one tenth of the length of the side. The Rules do not specifically indicate the place where it needs to be glued, but it says that it must be located at the rear of the vehicle.

The most important requirement is that the sign must be visible to those who are moving behind you. Therefore, most drivers stick it on the inside of the rear window in the lower or upper left corner, although it will not be a violation if you stick it in the right corner or even outside near the taillights. Where is it better to glue it, see here.

The sticker itself is sold in almost any automotive store. If you wish, you can download the sign on our website Vodi.su and print it - the dimensions fully comply with the requirements of GOST.

This plate performs a number of useful functions:

warns drivers behind you that you have studded tires, which means that the braking distance will be shorter, so they must keep their distance;
if the rubber is not of the highest quality, then the spikes can fly out - another reason to keep your distance;
to determine who is responsible for the accident.

The last point is very important, since situations often occur when one driver slows down at an intersection, and the other, due to non-observance of the driving distance, drives into his bumper. If it turns out that the one who braked first has studded tires, but there is no “Spikes” sign, then the blame can be divided equally, or even completely lie on him, since the driver behind him could not correctly calculate the braking distance.

Sign "Thorns": what does it mean? what is it needed for?

This situation is very controversial and with the help of good knowledge of the traffic rules and the Code of Administrative Offenses, it can be proved that the fault lies with the one who crashed, since in the traffic rules, paragraph 9.10 it is said clearly and clearly:

“It is necessary to maintain such a distance from the vehicles in front in order to avoid a collision in case of emergency braking and stopping without resorting to various maneuvers.”

Accordingly, the driver must take into account:

condition of the roadway;
road conditions;
the technical condition of your vehicle.

And any excuses in the event of a collision only indicate that the culprit did not keep the distance, and did not calculate the length of the braking distance - we already wrote about the length of the braking distance on Vodi.su.

Penalty for the absence of the sign "Sh"

The fine for the absence of this sign is a painful issue for many, since you can see many reports that someone was fined 500 rubles under Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

In fact, no fine is provided, as well as for the absence of signs "Disabled", "Deaf Driver", "Beginner Driver" and so on.

The main provisions for the admission of the vehicle to operation list the reasons that do not allow the use of this vehicle:

faulty braking system;
“bald” tread, tires with different patterns on the same axle;
faulty exhaust system, noise level exceeded;
the wipers do not work;
lighting fixtures installed incorrectly;
steering play exceeds the permitted level, there is no regular power steering.

Sign "Thorns": what does it mean? what is it needed for?

Nothing specifically is said about the sign "Thorns". Despite this, the inspectors still continue to use the ignorance of ordinary drivers and issue fines. Therefore, if you have a similar situation, ask the inspector to show you where it is written that without the “Spikes” sign, the operation of the car is prohibited. Well, so that such cases do not arise, print this sign and attach it to the rear window.