From the beginning of next year, about sixty new road signs may appear on Russian roads. This concerns the introduction of an updated GOST, which comes into effect on January 1. Among the new signs are a vertical version of the "Stop" sign, a "Deaf Pedestrians" sign, as well as combined signs such as the recommended speed before a speed bump.
At the same time, no cardinal changes are expected for drivers: the main idea is not to introduce fundamentally new designations, but to combine existing ones. This practice has already been used when updating parking signs, when the main symbol was combined with additional signs - for example, about paid parking or places intended for people with disabilities. Now the list of such combined signs will become wider.
What changes are provided for by the new GOST
Parking signs will indicate not only the fact of permitted parking, but also the specific method of placing the car: parallel to the sidewalk, partially on it, diagonally ("herringbone") or any other method specified in the standard.
If a "speed bump" is installed ahead, a combined sign will appear - "Artificial Unevenness" along with the recommended speed.
A new sign "Snow-covered surface" has been introduced: an image of a cloud with precipitation will be placed next to a snowflake. It is used for situations where the speed limit is valid only when the road is snow-covered.
The "Deaf" sign will be used in areas where there is a likelihood of hearing-impaired or completely deaf pedestrians appearing. Such a sign can be installed near institutions or organizations serving people with hearing impairments.
The sign indicating the period of validity of road signs has also been updated. It added the ability to specify not only hours and days of the week, but also months - for example, if seasonal restrictions are introduced for heavy goods in the spring.
The vertical "Stop" sign can be used instead of horizontal markings and serves to indicate the point at which the driver is obliged to stop before a traffic light.
Why new signs are not yet appearing on the roads
Although the new standard allows the use of these signs even before it comes into force, in practice they are almost nowhere to be found. The reason is simple: for such signs to have legal meaning, it is necessary to change the Traffic Rules.
In the meantime, new designations are not prescribed in the Traffic Rules, it is impossible to demand their mandatory implementation from the driver. Moreover, some of the new signs are difficult for a driver unfamiliar with GOST to understand. For example, a sign indicating a specific part of the roadway to which the sign applies may cause difficulties for those who have not studied the standard separately.
Normative administration for such signs will also not be carried out: the driver is obliged to know and comply with the Traffic Rules, and not GOSTs. Therefore, until changes are made to the rules, the new designations remain only potential elements of the road infrastructure.
