Detour sign - what it looks like and what the sign means

Are you required to turn on your turn signals in this situation?

1.	Yes, but only if there are other vehicles at the intersection.
2.	Yes.
3.	No.

At this intersection, following the “Move to the right” sign, you can continue moving only to the right. In this case, you must turn on the right turn signal lights corresponding to this maneuver.

The concept of detour in traffic rules

In the current traffic rules there is no concept of detour at all, so to decipher it and understand the rules of the commission, you should refer to Article 12.15 of the Code of Administrative Violations. It contains the following definitions:

12.15 Part 3. Driving, in violation of the Traffic Rules, onto a lane intended for oncoming traffic when going around an obstacle, or onto tram tracks in the opposite direction when going around an obstacle, shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of 1,000 to 1,500 rubles.

It turns out that a detour is a maneuver performed by the driver of a vehicle, which occurs when leaving the main lane. It is only possible if it is not possible to continue driving in your “own” lane.

In simple words, if a car changes lanes due to an obstacle (the originally occupied lane is blocked by someone/something), then this maneuver can be considered a detour. And if the same manipulations are performed while the vehicles are active (they are just driving), the maneuver will be regarded as overtaking or ahead of the curve.

What is the difference between overtaking and detour

Many drivers cannot understand the difference between overtaking and detour, and this happens because there are no explanations in the current traffic regulations. But you just need to remember the definition of overtaking - this is getting ahead of one or more moving vehicles, and in this case you must enter the lane of oncoming traffic and return to your lane.

For incorrectly overtaking, according to traffic rules, the driver is punished much more severely than for overtaking in violation.

Crossing a solid road to avoid a bus

Maneuver restrictions

There are 3 situations on the road in which it is strictly prohibited to make a detour maneuver:

It is necessary to enter the lane of oncoming traffic if the car is moving on a 4-lane (or more) highway.
The detour is made on a three-lane highway and the driver must enter the far left lane.
The maneuver is performed before crossing and requires driving into oncoming traffic. This ban applies to any highway, regardless of the number of lanes.

Fines for violation

The traffic rules clearly state that it is prohibited to go around an obstacle only if the vehicle is forced to move into oncoming traffic. Therefore, the fine is clearly defined in Article 12.15, paragraph 3 of the Code of Administrative Violations:

3. Driving into a lane intended for oncoming traffic in violation of the Traffic Rules while going around an obstacle shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of one thousand to one thousand five hundred rubles.

If the traffic police inspector determines that overtaking was committed, then the punishment for its incorrectness is very severe - deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of 4-6 months.

What trajectory can you continue moving along?

1.	Only according to A.
2.	Only according to B.
3.	For any reason.

At this intersection, the road being crossed has three carriageways. The “Move to the right” sign applies only to the first intersection of roadways in front of which it is installed, ordering all vehicles to turn right onto the first roadway, i.e. only along trajectory A.

Avoiding an obstacle through a solid road: who performs the maneuver and how, signs

Crossing a solid marking line in any case is a violation, and therefore, even when driving around an obstacle, the traffic police inspector will issue a fine to the driver. The only option to avoid punishment is to make a detour through a continuous road when there are road signs indicating permission to perform the maneuver or in the presence of a traffic police officer.

Avoiding an accident through a clear road

According to the rules, emergency vehicles must be removed from the road as much as possible and not interfere with the movement of other vehicles. But this is only possible after the traffic police have drawn up a protocol. This results in a legal contradiction, but this does not give the right to bypass the obstacle through a solid line - you will need to either wait until the highway is cleared, or strictly follow the instructions of the traffic controller, or subsequently pay a fine.

Avoiding obstacles on the left and right

When choosing whether to detour on the right or on the left, you should choose the first option. If there is a fence or any other obstacle to the right of the obstacle, then there is simply no choice left.

Many drivers do not pass on the right because there is a lawn there. But this is the “lesser evil”, if we take the punishment under the traffic rules as a basis - there is no definition of a lawn in the statute at all, it will be extremely difficult for the traffic police inspector to prove a violation, which will help to avoid penalties.

Sign to avoid obstacles on the right or left

A detour sign looks like a circle with a blue background and a white arrow on it indicating the detour direction (left or right).

If such a sign is posted for an accident, and the arrow indicates the possibility of making a detour on the left, then the presence of solid median strips can be ignored. The driver will have to return to his lane as soon as the obstacle no longer interferes with such a maneuver.

Road sign “Avoid obstacles on the right”

If the sign indicates the possibility of independently choosing a detour, then it is recommended to take it on the right - and the traffic rules for crossing a solid line will not be violated, and the likelihood of an accident in the oncoming lane will be reduced to the possible minimum.

Avoiding an obstacle at an intersection

Avoiding an obstacle at an intersection follows the general rules. If a driver drives into the oncoming lane, this is regarded by employees as a traffic violation. You can avoid punishment only by waiting until the obstacle is cleared from the roadway.

Avoiding obstacles on the side of the road

Driving around an obstacle on the side of the road is permitted by traffic rules; the inspector does not have the right to fine the driver. But you need to remember that the traffic police officer will have to prove that it was a detour and not an overtaking. And then, you need to understand the term “obstacle” - a traffic jam is not considered such.

How to move through a double solid line

It is strictly forbidden to move through a double continuous line, even if there is an obstacle in your lane. In case of violation, three types of punishment may follow:

a fine of 5,500 rubles - if the driver did not enter the oncoming lane, but crossed a double solid line due to the need to take a detour;
a fine of 1000-1500 rubles - if the driver crossed a double continuous line while driving around, which separates traffic flows in two different directions;
deprivation of a driver's license for 4-6 months or a fine of 5,000 rubles - if crossing a solid double marking line was not made for the purpose of avoiding an obstacle.

Watch this video about the rules for passing through a solid marking line:

You are allowed to continue driving:

1.	Only along trajectory A.
2.	Only along trajectory B.
3.	Along trajectories A and B.
4.	Along trajectories B and C.
5.	Along any trajectory from those indicated.

You can continue moving only along trajectory B, since by turning along trajectory A, you will not comply with the requirement to move as close as possible to the right edge of the roadway, and continuing further movement along the lane for route vehicles along trajectory B is prohibited.

What is an obstacle in traffic rules?

The traffic rules, paragraph 1.2, clearly indicate the definition of an obstacle:

“Obstacle” is a stationary object in the traffic lane (faulty or damaged vehicle, roadway defect, foreign objects, etc.) that does not allow further movement along this lane.

We can conclude that a pothole, shards of glass/car parts after an accident, a bus at a stop, a puddle, a traffic jam and even a careless pedestrian are not considered an obstacle - avoiding these obstacles by traffic police inspectors will be regarded as a violation of traffic rules.

What is an obstacle on the road according to traffic regulations?

Obstacles on the road according to traffic rules are:

fences erected in connection with ongoing road works;
hole or dip in the road;
a fallen tree, a piece of concrete slab, house walls and other large objects;
a vehicle with a warning triangle displayed.

Foreign objects on the roadway: what applies to them

Foreign objects on the roadway may include:

carcasses of large animals;
a sofa, refrigerator or any other large load that has fallen from the car;
big Stone;
large snowdrift.

Definition of an insurmountable obstacle

The Road Traffic Rules do not specify the concept of “insurmountable obstacle” at all. Therefore, any stationary object that cannot be avoided either in the oncoming lane or on the side of the road can be considered as such. Here's what a driver should do in this case:

wait until an insurmountable obstacle is removed from the road;
make a U-turn, unless prohibited by rules/signs, and move in the opposite direction.

Rules for avoiding obstacles on the road

Rules for avoiding obstacles on the road are classic:

you need to stop in front of the obstacle (at least 3 meters);
wait for the entire flow of vehicles to pass in the oncoming lane;
turn on the left turn sign;
make a detour and immediately return to your lane.

Which vehicles are only allowed to proceed to the right?

1.	Vehicles with a permissible maximum weight of more than 10 tons.
2.	Only for vehicles carrying cargo weighing more than 10 tons.
3.	Only for vehicles with an actual weight of more than 10 tons.

Under the sign 4.1.2 “Move to the right” there is a plate 8.11 “Limitation of the permissible maximum weight”, which indicates that the sign applies to vehicles with a permissible weight of more than 10 tons, which must turn right.