When reversing is and is not allowed

Driving in reverse: where it is allowed, where it is forbidden, and what is the penalty?

Often in case the driver missed a turn on the secondary road or passed a free parking space, he simply reverses in order to perform the necessary maneuver afterwards. There are also subtle points about backing up like one-way roads. Where you can and cannot reverse, and what is the fine for this violation?

Of course, the official document regulating reversing is the traffic code. Item 8.12 specifies that “movement of a vehicle in reverse is permitted provided that this maneuver will be safe and will not create obstacles to other traffic participants”, and also designates places where it is forbidden to drive in reverse.

According to this paragraph, taking into account the references to paragraph 8.11, reversing is prohibited:

• at intersections;
• at crosswalks;
• in tunnels;
• on bridges, overpasses, overpasses and under them;
• at railway crossings;
• In places where the visibility of the road in at least one direction is less than 100 m;
• in places of stops of en-route vehicles.

Another paragraph in the Highway Code relating to reversing is 16.1, which states, among other things, that reversing on highways is prohibited.

Indeed, one of the contentious issues encountered in practice is reversing on a one-way road. The Supreme Court has eliminated ambiguity in interpretation: the relevant document on this topic is Ruling No. 20 of June 25, 2019. The fact is that drivers were fined not for driving backwards on a one-way road, but for backing into it.

The Supreme Court in its ruling emphasizes that “based on the content of paragraph 8.12 of the RF traffic code, reversing on a road with one-way traffic is not prohibited. However, “violation of any road sign requirements by the driver that caused the movement of the driven vehicle in the opposite direction on a road with one-way traffic, forms the objective aspect of the administrative offence under Part 3, Article 12.16 of the CAO RF (for example, violation of road signs 3.1 “Entry prohibited”, 5.5 “Road with one-way traffic”, 5.7.1 and 5.7.2 “Exit to the road with one-way traffic”)”. That’s why the Supreme Court indicates that “the actions of the driver, reversing on a road with one-way traffic in violation of road sign 3.1 “Entry prohibited” should be qualified under Part 3 of Article 12.16 of the CAO RF, and in the case when the maneuver was performed at the intersection – and part 2 of Article 12.14 of the CAO RF”.

Simply put, a driver who drives forward on a one-way road, and then stops and reverses as necessary, does not violate the rules. But the driver who drives in reverse from another road or out of the yard on a one-way road is in violation, and can be punished by Part 3 of Article 12.16 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Russian Federation, which provides for a fine of five thousand rubles or deprivation of driving license for four to six months, and in case he drove backwards from the intersection on a one-way road, he will get another fine of five hundred rubles under Part 2 of Article 12. And the controversial precedent itself arose largely because of the drivers who took a shortcut by driving backwards on a one-way road and moving as far as the nearest necessary intersection.

We solved the problem of backing into a one-way road – it remains to find out what fines are stipulated directly for driving in reverse. Here, as well as in DMD, there are two variants.

According to paragraph 2 of Article 12.14 of the Administrative Code of Ukraine, turning or reversing in places where maneuvers are prohibited, with the exception of cases involving traffic on the highway, shall incur an administrative fine of five hundred rubles. Among the forbidden places are those listed in paragraphs 8.11 and 8.12 of the traffic code – crossroads, bridges, crosswalks and so on.

If the driver reverses on the highway, he will be punished more severely in paragraph 3 of Article 12.11 of the Administrative Code: reversing on the highway shall be punishable by an administrative fine of two thousand five hundred rubles.

Road traffic regulations 8.12 – Where reversing is forbidden

Driving in reverse is allowed provided that the manoeuvre is safe and does not hinder other road users. If necessary, the driver must enlist the help of others.

Are you allowed to make a U-turn at an intersection in this manner?

You cannot make a U-turn using this method because reversing is prohibited at intersections.

To ensure safety when reversing from a parking place with limited visibility, you must:

When backing out of a parking space with limited visibility, you must enlist the help of others to help the driver ensure safety.

You accidentally drove through the correct driveway into the yard. Are you allowed to reverse in this situation to then turn right?

The one-way road sign does not prohibit reversing. In this situation, using reverse to then turn right into the yard is allowed.

Are you allowed to make a U-turn on a narrow roadway with a right into the yard?

You are not allowed to reverse at an intersection. However, yard entrances are not intersections. Therefore, you are allowed to reverse into and out of yards if they do not interfere with other traffic.

In what places is the driver allowed to drive in reverse?

Rearward movement of vehicles is prohibited at intersections, crosswalks, at stops of fixed-route vehicles. It is allowed to reverse on roads with one-way traffic.

Is the driver allowed to back up to a passenger standing on a bridge?

You cannot back up to a passenger standing on a bridge because backing up on bridges is prohibited.

You have accidentally made a turn at an intersection. Are you allowed to reverse in this situation to then continue to the left?

Once you have passed the intersection, you cannot reverse back to the position shown because reversing is prohibited at intersections.

You accidentally drove through the correct driveway into the yard. Are you allowed to reverse in this situation to then turn right?

You are not allowed to reverse to perform the maneuver indicated above as there is a stop place for route vehicles on the route indicated with a marking 1.17 and the sign “Stop place for bus and/or trolleybus”.

Is a driver allowed to drive in reverse in absence of other traffic participants?

Driving in reverse on roads marked with a one-way street sign is not forbidden. is not prohibited. However, since there is a crosswalk in the way of traffic where reversing is prohibited, the driver may reverse on this section of road only up to the crosswalk.

Is the driver of a passenger car allowed to back up to a passenger standing on the sidewalk in a tunnel?

You cannot back up to a pedestrian standing on the sidewalk in a tunnel because reversing in a tunnel is prohibited.

Is the driver of a passenger car allowed to back up to a passenger standing at a bus stop?

The passenger is at a designated bus stop. It is not allowed to back up to him as it is forbidden to back up at bus stops.

Article 12.14 of the Administrative Code.

2. U-turn or reversing in places where such maneuvers are forbidden, except as provided for by paragraph 3 of Article 12.11 (violation of traffic rules on the freeway) and paragraph 2 of Article 12.16 of this Code – shall incur an administrative fine of five hundred rubles.