Attention! Starting from December 8, 2021, installation of the “Spikes” sign on the car is not required , because A new version of the traffic rules, discussed in a separate article, came into force.
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Good afternoon, dear reader.
The text of the traffic rules provides for the installation of special identification signs, which until December 8, 2018 included the “Spikes” sign or the “Ш” sign.
This sign was intended to inform drivers of other vehicles that the vehicle has studded tires.
In this article you will learn about the features of this sign:
- Is it necessary to install a “Spikes” sign?
- Dimensions for making a sign yourself?
- Where to install the "Ш" sign?
- Is there a fine for not having a “Spikes” sign?
- Is it possible to pass a technical inspection without a sign?
Let's get started.
Is the spike sign required or not?
In practice, it was not possible to see the “Ш” sign on every car with winter tires. To put it bluntly, less than half of Russian drivers installed this sign.
In this regard, the question arises: is it necessary to glue the “Spikes” sign at all? Is this required by law?
Until December 8, 2021, the following paragraph 8 of the main provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation was in effect:
8. The following identification marks must be installed on vehicles: ... “ Spikes ” - in the form of an equilateral triangle of white color with the apex up with a red border, in which the letter “Ш” is inscribed in black (the side of the triangle is at least 200 mm, the width of the border is 1 /10 sides) - behind motor vehicles with studded tires;
In addition, consider clause 2.3.1 of the traffic rules:
2.3. The driver of the vehicle is obliged to:
2.3.1. Before leaving, check and ensure that the vehicle is in good technical condition on the way in accordance with the Basic Regulations for the admission of vehicles to operation and the responsibilities of officials to ensure road safety.
Thus, until 2021, the “Spikes” sign had to be installed . This was required by traffic rules.
In addition, from April 4, 2021 to December 8, 2021, the absence of the “Spikes” identification mark was included in the list of faults for which the operation of vehicles is prohibited:
7.151. There are no identification marks that must be installed in accordance with paragraph 8 of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers - Government of the Russian Federation of October 23, 1993 N 1090 “On the Rules traffic."
Why do you need the “Ш” sign on the car window?
The identification mark is triangular in shape with a red border, in which the letter “Ш” is inscribed in the center in black on a white background means thorns. It must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle.
With its help, drivers behind will know that this vehicle has studded tires . It serves as a warning to other cars to keep their distance as the vehicle has a shorter braking distance in slippery conditions.
Many drivers began to complain that traffic police officers fined them for not having a “spike” sign. However, employees may do this for two reasons;
- The presence of the “Ш” sign on the rear window warns drivers of other vehicles that there is a need to keep their distance, since in the event of an emergency stop, studded tires significantly reduce the braking distance.
- Rubber spikes can cause damage to surrounding vehicles as they can easily fly out. This is due to the fact that some drivers buy inexpensive tires instead of tires from well-known manufacturers.
The Technical Regulations of the Customs Union were recently ratified and entered into force. This document, important for all motorists, came into force in January 2015. Changes have also occurred in the traffic rules, for example, the rule for replacing summer and winter tires, as well as the possibility of their operation, the period for replacing summer with winter tires and vice versa.
Traffic police officers are obliged to ensure traffic safety on the roads. For non-compliance with the above rule, they can issue a fine to the driver of a car without the “Ш” sign in the amount of 500 rubles.
Often, drivers of cars without the “Ш” sign, outraged by the written protocol, then go to court. There are many cases when the court acquits motorists, since a fine can be issued in case of a malfunction in the vehicle .
A sticker with the letter “Ш” is not a reason to assume that the vehicle is faulty. Still, it is better to have a “Ш” sign on the rear window, since it is recommended that all cars have one.
This is indicated in the paragraph on the admission of vehicles to operation, as well as officials who are obliged to monitor road safety.
Dimensions of signs for self-production
The thorn sign can be purchased in a store or made independently. In this case, the following conditions must be observed:
- The sign is a red triangle with a black letter Ш inscribed in it.
- The length of the side of the triangle is at least 20 cm.
- The width of the red border is 10% of the length of the side of the triangle.
If you do not want to draw a triangle yourself, then I suggest you download and print the finished version on an A4 sheet:
Please note that the triangle is quite large. A side length of 20 cm just fits on an A4 sheet (its width is 21 cm). However, this is the size regulated by the Rules.
Some tips for making your own sign:
- For printing, it is better not to use plain paper with a density of 80 g/m2, because... the sign will be short-lived. It is better to take photo paper with a density of 120 - 150 g/m2.
- A sign intended for black and white printers should be colored yourself. To do this, take a red felt-tip pen or pencil and paint over the edge of the sign.
- To attach the sign, it is best to use a suction cup (or 3 suction cups on the corners of the triangle). If you stick the sign with tape, then after it is removed there will be a mark on the car glass. In addition, a sign stuck with tape is unlikely to be reused.
When it comes to purchasing a “Spikes” sign in a store, you need to consider the following details:
- Finished signs quite often have dimensions that do not comply with traffic regulations. It should be taken into account that it makes no sense to install a small sign, because... it will be legally considered that there is no sign on the car. As a result, the sign will simply block part of the view through the rear window, but will not provide any benefits.
- There are several options for attaching a sign . I recommend choosing the option with a suction cup (with suction cups). The sign, made in the form of a sticker, can only be used once; when removed, traces of glue may remain on the glass.
Sticker sizes
Vehicle owners are interested not only in the location where the “Spikes” sign is installed on the car, but also in its size. They are not regulated by GOST. According to traffic rules, the sign must be in the shape of a triangle, with sides of the same length. The sign itself is white, has a red border, and the letter “Ш” is black. It is mandatory to place a triangle on the car with its apex facing up. An important requirement is that the sticker must be placed only at the rear of the vehicle.
What size should the “Spikes” sign be? This point is not regulated in the traffic rules, but there are requirements that must be observed:
- The sign must not interfere with the operation of the windshield wiper.
- Should not hide the car number.
The size of the “Spikes” sign is not important, the main thing is that it is visible to other traffic participants. It must be visible at night at a distance of at least 20 meters.
Where to put the “Spikes” sign according to the rules?
The only requirement for installing the “Spikes” sign was given in paragraph 8 of the Basic Provisions. Namely, the sign must be installed at the rear of motor vehicles .
There is no information on this issue in other regulatory documents. So the “Ш” sign could be installed anywhere: on the rear window (inside or outside), on the door or trunk lid, on the bumper, on the rear body cover, on the awning.
Before installation, it was necessary to inspect the car and select a place where a triangle with a side of 20 cm would fit. The sign should have been attached there.
Legislative innovations
Not all drivers yet know that the spike sign has been canceled since 2019, despite the fact that the latest news has repeatedly mentioned that the document has not yet been adopted and is under consideration. This means that owners of vehicles with studded tires do not have to worry about traffic police sanctions and fines for not having the appropriate sign. Let us remind you that this requirement was provided for in paragraph 8 of the current rules, which define the list of conditions for the admission of vehicles to operation. This legislative norm applied to all types of passenger vehicles and was mandatory without any exceptions. But as of December 8, 2021, it has been abolished, as provided for by Resolution No. 1414 of November 24, 2018.
Read the full text of the Decree on:
As follows from the explanatory note, based on the results of the research, it became obvious that the sign had lost its information content. In modern vehicles, the dynamic characteristics are determined by a combination of other factors and depend on the use of innovative systems that reduce braking distances and stabilize the vehicle on the road during emergency maneuvers. And due to the fact that the “Spikes” sticker has lost its relevance, no longer contributes to increasing the level of safety on the roads, and in some cases can even cause an accident in conditions of limited visibility or difficult weather conditions, the traffic police came to the conclusion that it should eliminate the use of this sign and relieve drivers from having to comply with this obligation.
Fine for not having a “Spikes” sign
From April 4, 2021 to December 8, 2021, traffic police officers could impose a fine for the absence of the “Spikes” sign under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code:
1. Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which, in accordance with the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, operation of the vehicle is prohibited, with the exception of malfunctions and conditions specified in parts 2 - 7 of this article, -
entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles.
Please note that this article deals with the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited. Paragraph 8, which referred to the installation of the “Spikes” sign until 2021, refers to such faults.
Therefore, the punishment for the absence of the “Spikes” sign was a warning or a fine of 500 rubles .
The meaning of the sign "Thorns"
Types of tires for the cold season:
- Studded.
- Combined.
- With grooved protectors.
The Traffic Regulations provide for the installation of a “Spikes” sign only on a vehicle with studded tires.
Not all road users understand why the “Spikes” sign is needed. Let's consider why penalties are provided for its absence.
Reasons for the need to install a sign on a vehicle:
- Informing motorists who are driving behind that it is necessary to pay attention to reducing the braking distance of a car equipped with studded tires.
- If the rubber is of poor quality, the studs may fly out, so you must maintain a safe distance.
The absence of a “Spikes” sign in the presence of studded tires can be a powerful argument in determining the culprit of a traffic accident. This situation can arise if, during emergency braking, the car behind hits the bumper. In this case, the court may find both drivers guilty.
“Spikes” sign: what are the dimensions, requirements and fine for it?
There was almost always a need to install a corresponding sign on a car with studded tires. However, although the text of the traffic rules directly states this, drivers in recent years have increasingly ignored this point.
In fact, according to the text of the rules, the driver should not even start driving until he is sure that his car meets a number of requirements, including the presence of the “Spikes” sign with studded tires installed.
The rules only state that the sign must be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, you can stick it wherever it is convenient for you: any place on the rear window, any place on the car body, even on the bumper. The main thing is that the sign does not cover the license plate and rear lights, and that it is visible and not covered with dirt.
The braking distance of a car depends on a large number of factors. Knowing its approximate distance is extremely important not only for the driver himself, but also for the road users around him. An incorrectly calculated or accepted distance becomes dangerous in high-speed traffic conditions and can lead to unforeseen consequences. In practice, there are a huge number of cases where drivers did not violate the rules, but the collision occurred precisely because of an incorrectly calculated braking distance.
The above factors become even more significant in the winter season, when any traction on the road weakens. Accordingly, the minimum distance that the car must cover to come to a complete stop increases. In such conditions, driving on regular summer tires becomes very dangerous. To minimize risks and increase braking reliability, every driver is required to install appropriate tires in the winter season. Very often, to achieve the desired effect, such rubber is made with studs, which significantly increase braking efficiency.
IMPORTANT !!! On the other hand, other road users may simply be unprepared and not count on such a short braking distance, which can lead to an accident. To warn about such a feature and a potentially reduced braking distance, a corresponding sign is installed - “spikes”. If it is present, vehicles behind must keep a safe distance with the ability to avoid a collision during sudden braking.
Thus, the sign is purely informational and is primarily intended for other drivers. But its presence increases the safety of all motorists, since other drivers are prepared for sudden maneuvers.
