Road rules for scooters in 2021 - what is prohibited for moped drivers

During the warm season, many two-wheeled vehicles - scooters and mopeds - appear on the roads. Often their drivers are people who do not have a driving permit. This article will help you learn about the traffic rules (traffic rules) on general roads for scooters with a capacity of up to 50cc. Let's consider who can control it, how to cross intersections, what a moped driver can and cannot do.

According to official definitions, a moped is a 2 or 3 wheeled vehicle equipped with an engine with a capacity of up to 50 cc and a maximum speed of 50 km/h. ATVs with similar engine parameters also fall into this category.

Permitted age for driving

The Russian Traffic Regulations do not specify a minimum age for moped drivers. But it is worth considering that you must obtain a license for this transport.

IMPORTANT! For mopeds and scooters, you need to get a category “M” driver’s license, which is issued only to citizens at least 16 years of age. Therefore, only persons over sixteen years of age can drive a moped.

Many parents buy mopeds for their children aged 10-15 years. This is not only an unwise act, but also illegal, given that the child will be driving the scooter independently. If a child driving a moped is stopped by traffic police, the parents will have to pay a considerable fine.

How and where to get a moped license

To obtain a driving license, a newly qualified driver will have to take a “young fighter” course and pass exams at the traffic police department.

Of course, an educational institution must have not only qualified teachers, but also an appropriate license.

The training lasts no more than two months and is divided into theory and practice. The latter takes place at a specialized site, where students demonstrate their mastery of technology.

What are the main restrictions for drivers?

A moped and a motorcycle are different vehicles, despite the same number of wheels. The category of mopeds includes:

M - engine capacity no more than 50 cubic meters. cm.;
A1 - engine capacity no more than 125 cubic meters. cm.

The category indicated on the driver's license must correspond to the engine power of the vehicle. The maximum speed of a moped should not exceed 50 km/h, otherwise it can be classified as a motorcycle.

If we briefly talk about the requirements for the vehicle and its driver, then it is worth highlighting the following points:

You can drive a moped from the age of 16 and only if you have a license with the appropriate category.
The maximum speed of a moped, declared in the PTS, should be no more than 50 km/h. If an ATV has similar characteristics, then it is equated to mopeds.
You can carry passengers on a moped only if there are special places designated for this.
The vehicle must be equipped with headlights and turn signals. According to clause 19.5 of the traffic rules, all vehicles must have running lights or low beam headlights on during the daytime. At night it is forbidden to move without headlights.
If the vehicle's maximum speed is 40 km/h or less, entry on the highway is prohibited.
The driver and passengers must wear a fastened helmet.
A moped cannot be towed (under any circumstances). This transport is only allowed to be transported with partial or full loading on a transport vehicle. Only motor vehicles with a side trailer (sidecar) can be towed.
It is prohibited to transport large items on a scooter. The load must not interfere with vehicle control, block the view, or exceed the norm of 0.5 m in length or width of the motor vehicle.
It is prohibited to make a U-turn across tram tracks or make a left turn on the roadway (route).
You cannot cross the path of pedestrians while moving along a zebra crossing.
Drivers are required to hold the steering wheel with at least one hand while driving. Driving without hands is prohibited.

REFERENCE: If the category ML is indicated in the “special notes” column on the driver’s license, then the person will not be able to drive a moped, since this designation implies that the driver has health problems that prevent driving.

Category restrictions

Obtaining the right to drive a moped is limited by the presence of certain diseases that are identified during a medical examination. There are a number of contraindications.

These include:

pathological mental disorder;
psychological disorder caused by the use of psychotropic medications;
absence of an upper or lower limb, fingers;
dysfunction of the vestibular analyzer.

Lack of vision concludes the list.
Despite this, there are some acceptable indicators that you can count on to obtain rights. The best eye should see at least 0.6, the worst - 0.2:

Lack of vision in one eye, 0.8 units in the sighted eye.
More than 30 days after ophthalmic surgery.

Vision may improve as a result of operations or exercises, so if the dynamics are positive, you can visit the ophthalmologist again. The data recorded by him will become one of the legal grounds for obtaining the desired access.

Where can you drive a vehicle?

The basic rule for driving on the roadway is that drivers of mopeds and scooters must move on the far right side of the lane in a single file. Thus, you can ride a moped on the same roads as a car. Besides:

Riding a moped on the side of the road is allowed if this does not interfere with pedestrians;
Single-file traffic is allowed in the lane for cyclists (marked with special markings).

If there are several mopeds on the lane, then they must move one after another.

Traffic rules for scooters up to 50cc

Traffic Laws. List of main problems

At what age can you ride a scooter?

In the constantly changing rules, it is difficult to navigate the permissible minimum age of a person who has the right to drive a vehicle, category M. At the moment, according to the rules, you can ride a scooter or moped after reaching 16 years of age. The cause of many accidents is scooter riders under 16 years old, simply put – children driving!

It is from the age of 16 that you can acquire a category M license. Having a license is a prerequisite for legal driving. Otherwise, you can receive a fine ranging from 5 to 15 thousand rubles, as well as pay for storing the vehicle in a impound lot. A person who transfers a vehicle to a person without a license (most likely, parents) receives a fine of 30 thousand rubles - you must agree, a decent amount.

Do you need M rights?

If a person does not have a license to drive any vehicle, then obtaining a license with category M is a prerequisite for driving a moped. However, persons with rights of any category, be it A, A1, B, or others, do not need to specifically open category M.

Remember! Having a license of any category allows you to drive a vehicle belonging to category M.

Where can you ride a moped?

Here is a list of rules to follow if you are driving a moped:

You should always move closer to the right edge of the far right lane. A prerequisite is to place them in only one row, that is, one after the other. Driving two mopeds side by side is not allowed.
The presence of a special strip on the road surface for “pedal horses” forces the scooter rider to move along it.
The law allows you to drive on the side of the road in your own direction, as long as it does not impede the walking of pedestrians.
Under no circumstances should you drive in a bus lane marked A.
You cannot drive on the side of the road in the opposite direction, since the side of the road is part of the road, and right-hand traffic is common in our country.
It is allowed to change lanes if it is necessary to bypass an obstacle while the bus is standing.

How to make a left turn?

For scooter riders, there are certain restrictions when turning left:

It is prohibited to turn left or make a U-turn if there are tram tracks. That is, a scooter cannot cross the rails of a tram - this could result in the wheel getting caught in a rut and losing control.
A left turn on a moped is also prohibited if the road has more than 2 lanes of traffic in the same direction. You cannot enter the left lane for the purpose of making a left turn or U-turn. Only if one lane is allocated for passing traffic.

If it is necessary to turn left and such a maneuver is prohibited, the scooter driver, according to the rules, must do the following. Get off the scooter and cross the intersection at the pedestrian crossing, while holding the scooter in your hands next to you.

Note! You cannot cross an intersection at a pedestrian crossing while sitting on a scooter!

How many people can you carry?

The rules also stipulate such an item as transporting passengers on a scooter or moped. Below is how to do it correctly:

It is prohibited to carry people if the vehicle does not have a passenger seat. The number of seats must be indicated in the vehicle passport.
Children under 7 years old must be transported strictly in special seats.
A rule that many people don't know about. It is prohibited to transport a passenger by a driver with less than 2 years of driving experience. Driving experience is taken into account from the moment you obtain your license. You cannot, having received your license, immediately get behind a moped and transport passengers!

Where should vehicles be located on the roadway?

You can ride a scooter on the roadway, but only in the outermost row of the right lane. In populated areas it is also permissible to occupy the left lane. Motorcycles without a side trailer can travel in a row, occupying the right edge of the roadway.

If there is a lane for cyclists next to the roadway, then you need to move along it.

According to paragraph 24.4 of the traffic rules, a moped driver must give way to all vehicles if he is in a situation where he is moving on a bicycle path that intersects with an uncontrolled intersection.

What kind of motorcycle do you test for your license on?

The traffic police exam consists of a theoretical and practical part. Driving skills are assessed in a closed area - driving on public roads is not allowed.

Driving schools take the exams on motorcycles. How to choose a driving school In order to gain truly useful theoretical and practical driving skills, you need to seriously approach the issue of choosing a driving school.

At the Sverdlovsk driving school, training is carried out according to special programs approved and approved by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. At your service is a modern park, our own racing track and experienced industrial training specialists with an individual approach to each student, regardless of the level of initial training.

Is it possible to transport children

Places for transporting passengers must be indicated in the registration certificate. If the availability of special seats is not documented, then passengers cannot be carried.

If there is no special seat for children (child seat) that meets the safety requirements for transporting children under 7 years of age, then they cannot be transported. Children over seven years old can be transported if there is a passenger seat provided for by the design of the vehicle. It is important to remember that all passengers, regardless of age, must have a helmet that is adjusted to fit.

IMPORTANT! You can carry children on a moped only if you have category M or A1, which is valid for at least two years (that is, the mopedist already has driving experience).

Stipulated fines for violations

Like all road users, mopedists are fined for violating the rules.

Did not find an answer to your question? Call a lawyer! Moscow: +7 (499) 755-83-41 St. Petersburg: +7 (812) 917-23-31

for driving a moped without a license: a fine of 500 rubles if the driver simply forgot to take a license, but has category M; from 5 to 15 thousand rubles for those who do not have rights or are expired; 30 thousand for those who were deprived of a license;
driving on someone else's license is falsification of documents and for this you can be arrested for up to 6 months, or assigned correctional labor;
for the absence of an MTPL insurance policy or registration - 800 rubles;
driving while intoxicated entails a fine of 30 thousand, as well as deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of 1.5 to 2 years;
for the absence of a helmet (or if it is not fastened, including for the passenger) - a fine of 1000 rubles. A helmet on a moped is like a seat belt on a car;
for exceeding the speed limit, violating maneuvering rules, etc. Moped drivers face the same fines as motorists.

A moped is a full-fledged vehicle, albeit with some operational features. Mopedists have both privileges (for example, in the form of permitted movement on the sidewalk) and restrictions. You should take scooter driving seriously and follow all traffic rules.

Turning on the low beam on a scooter

It is very important not to ignore this issue, since, as mentioned above, owners of small vehicles often take important points lightly and believe that some traffic rules can be ignored. This also applies to turning on the headlights. The first thing a driver should do when getting behind the wheel is to turn on the low beam headlights.

Without this, other road users may not be able to see any type of motorcycle. This rule is valid from November 10, 2010 for owners of any transport.