Driving in a reserved lane: what you need to know to avoid being fined

Public transport lanes are designed to facilitate the movement of buses, trolleybuses and other public vehicles along the route. Often, ordinary car owners face a fine or even deprivation of their rights for driving in such a way. However, they can sometimes choose a dedicated path.

In addition to buses and trolleybuses, this route can also be used by any other public transport with established stopping points in the city. Taxis are also allowed to use this lane if they have a license and controllers are installed on the car. In some areas, taxis are also required to display yellow numbers.

When the ambulance, fire brigade or police are on an emergency mission, they can use the public transport lane. At the same time, they must have a flashing beacon on. Utilities have the right to move along the “subdivision” during the performance of certain works, such as snow removal from the roadway.

Ordinary car owners can also use the public transport lane without disastrous consequences. It is open to all when turning right or left in cases where the “marked area” is separated before turns by intermittent markings, automotive lawyer Lev Voropaev told Evening Moscow.

When leaving and turning right, the driver must also move into the rightmost lane first and only after that make another lane change.

As long as the public transport lane is separated by a broken marking line, the driver of an “ordinary” car can enter it for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers, provided that it does not create obstacles to the movement of vehicles on the route.

It is also possible to move in a dedicated lane if the appropriate signage indicates it.

In other cases, it is forbidden to use the “dedicated” channel. The fine for this is one and a half thousand rubles, for Moscow and St. Petersburg – three thousand rubles. If oncoming traffic is carried along this lane, a fine of five thousand rubles or deprivation of rights for a period of four to six months will ensue.

See also: On March 1, new traffic rules for personal mobility equipment came into effect.