Chapter 1. General provisions

• 1. These Rules determine the traffic order on the roads of the Republic of Belarus.
• 2. The following principal terms and expressions are used in these Rules:
• 2.1. bus is a motor vehicle having more than nine seats, including the driver's seat;
• 2.2. motor vehicle is a power-driven vehicle having not less than four wheels mounted on not less than two axles, except for wheel tractors and self-propelled machines. Quadricycles (carriages), four-wheeled power-driven vehicles having driving gears of a motor vehicle type and unladen mass not exceeding 550 kg, are treated as motor vehicles;
• 2.3. road-train is a combination of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle (wheel tractor) and a coupled trailer, pole trailer, semitrailer (unless otherwise stated, hereinafter — trailer);
• 2.4. traffic safety is the condition of the traffic which ensures minimal possibility of a danger for the traffic and of a road accident;
• 2.5. cycle, velomobile (hereinafter — cycle) is a vehicle, with the exception of wheelchairs, propelled by the muscular force of the person(s) on that vehicle;
• 2.6. cycle track is a road element separated by structural means or with help of horizontal road marking lines and designated for traffic of cycle drivers (hereinafter — cyclists), marked with a road sign “Cycle track”;
• 2.7. road visibility is a maximum distance in the direction of traffic, at which it is possible to recognize from the driver's seat all the elements of the road and technical means of traffic organization in front of the vehicle and to get the correct orientation while driving it;
• 2.8. driver is a natural person who drives a vehicle, with the exception of a person who is being trained in driving a power-driven vehicle (passing a qualifying practical exam to get the right to drive a power-driven vehicle). A person training how to drive a power-driven vehicle (taking a qualifying practical exam to get the right to drive a power-driven vehicle) and being inside it, and also horseback rider or driver of animals, is treated as a driver;
• 2.9. compelled standing of a vehicle is a stopping of movement of a vehicle because of its technical failure or danger caused by road-users, load being transported, driver's (passenger's) condition, appearance of an object impeding traffic;
• 2.10. lawn is a land plot with a vegetable, mainly grass, covering naturally or artificially created;
• 2.11. priority road is a road marked with the road signs “Priority road”, “Intersection with minor road”, “Minor road junction”, “Motorway” or “Road for motor vehicles”, with respect to one being crossed (merging); a road with improved surface with respect to a road without such surface, a road with gravel surface with respect to a dirt road, any road with respect to exits from adjoining territories or residential areas. Availability on a secondary road immediately before the intersection of a section of road with a surface (improved or gravel) does not make it equal in importance with the one being crossed;
• 2.12. state technical inspection is a set of organizational and technical means directed to prevent the admission in road traffic of vehicles that do not comply with the requirements of technical normative legal acts of the republican body of state administration on standardization, metrology and certification (hereinafter — technical normative legal acts);
• 2.13. animal-drawn vehicle is a vehicle propelled by the muscular force of an animal (animals);
• 2.14. children are minor road-users whose age is known or obvious due to external features for other road-users;
• 2.15. road is a complex of engineering structures or a land strip designated and used for the traffic of vehicles and pedestrians under the established procedure;
• 2.16. track for horseback riders is a land strip designated for the traffic of horseback riders under the established procedure, marked with the road sign “Horseback riders' track”;
• 2.17. road traffic is movement of pedestrians and/or vehicles on a road including parking and standing within the road, and public relations connected therewith;
• 2.18. road accident is an accident committed with participation of at least one power-driven vehicle being in movement that resulted in injuries to life or health of a natural person, or damages to his property or property of a legal person;
• 2.19. railway vehicle is a locomotive, electric train, diesel-train, railcar, another vehicle designated for carriage passengers and goods on the railway;
• 2.20. level-crossing is a level intersection between a road and a railway;
• 2.21. residential area is a territory the entries and exits of which are marked with road signs “Residential area” and “End of residential area”, and also yard territory adjacent to residential buildings;
• 2.22. wheel tractor is a power-driven vehicle for performance of different technologic operations by means of linkage-mounted, semi-linkage-mounted and towed machines or instruments and also as driving unit of stationary machines or for movement with a coupled trailer;
• 2.23. position nearest the right (left) edge of the carriageway is a position of a vehicle on the carriageway appropriate to the direction of traffic, which makes impossible movement of even single-track vehicles accordingly on its right (left) at the same direction;
• 2.24. maneuvering (manoeuvre) is beginning of movement of a vehicle, changing traffic lanes (hereinafter — lane changing), and also turning to the right or to the left, U-turn, exit from the carriageway, reverse driving;
• 2.25. route vehicle is a power-driven vehicle (bus, trolleybus, tramway, other vehicle engaged in movement in a regular or rapid transit, including express transit), moving according to an established route with stops marked as such;
• 2.26. power-driven vehicle is a vehicle propelled by an engine;
• 2.27. moped is a power-driven vehicle propelled by an engine with a working capacity of up to 50 cubic centimeters and with a maximum design movement speed, determined by its technical characteristics, not exceeding 50 km/h. Cycles with a helper engine, mokicks and other power-driven vehicles with similar characteristics are treated as mopeds;
• 2.28. motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle with or without a side trailer, propelled by an engine with a working capacity exceeding 50 cubic centimeters. Three-wheeled power-driven vehicles with an unladen mass not exceeding 400 kilograms and also power-driven vehicles, equipped with an engine with a working capacity of up to 50 cubic centimeters and having a maximum design speed, determined by their technical characteristics, exceeding 50 km/h are treated as motorcycles;
• 2.29. built-up area is a territory, with entries and exits marked with road signs “Beginning of the built-up area” and “End of the built-up area” or road signs “Beginning of the boundary of the built-up area” and “End of the boundary of the built-up area”;
• 2.30. inadequate road visibility is a range of forward vision less than 300 meters which is due to weather (meteorological) conditions (rain, snow and other atmospheric precipitations) and other factors reducing transparency of the atmosphere (dust, smoke, fog, smog);
• 2.31. overtaking is advancing of one or several moving vehicles, connected with the exit to the lane (side of the carriageway) reserved for the oncoming traffic;
• 2.32. driver's field of vision is an objective possibility to see the road conditions from the driver's seat;
• 2.33. marked intersection is an intersection before which there is priority signs on the road;
• 2.34. verge is a road element marked by structural means or with horizontal road marking continuous line, adjacent directly to the edge of the carriageway, at the same level with it, and not designated for traffic of vehicles, except for the cases provided by these Rules;
• 2.35. limited driver's field of vision is a driver's field of vision limited by geometrical parameters of the road, engineering structures bordering on it, plants and other objects and also by vehicles;
• 2.36. single-track vehicle is a vehicle with wheels arranged in a single line one after another;
• 2.37. traffic hazard is changing of the road traffic conditions or the technical condition of the vehicle that endangers road-users safety and compels the driver to slow down or stop;
• 2.38. outpace is movement of the vehicle with a speed exceeding the speed of a passing vehicle (vehicles);
• 2.39. organized pedestrian column is a group of pedestrians marked in accordance with these Rules, that has a leader and moves according to a certain route;
• 2.40. organized transport column is a vehicle or a transport column, moving with constantly switched on passing lamps, accompanied by a operative-service vehicle (vehicles) with switched on flashing lights (beacon lights) (hereinafter — beacon lights) of blue or blue and red colors;
• 2.40¹. leaving the place of a road accident is actions of a road accident participant, aimed at hiding of the fact of such accident or of the circumstances of its commitment, which entails the necessity for officers of the State Automotive Inspection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (hereinafter — GAI) to take steps on determining identity (search) of such a participant and/or vehicle's search;
• 2.41. vehicle's standing is a deliberate stopping of a vehicle for a period of up to 5 minutes, and also for more than 5 minutes if it is needed to pick up (set down) passengers or to load (unload) the vehicle;
• 2.42. traffic island is a technical means of the organization of the road traffic on level pedestrian crossings (unless otherwise determined, hereinafter — pedestrian crossing), marked by structural means over the carriageway and designated as a protective element where pedestrians can stop while crossing the carriageway. A part of the dividing strip used by the pedestrian crossing pertains to the traffic island. In the instances to be determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is allowed to mark traffic islands by means of horizontal road marking lines;
• 2.43. road accident eyewitness is a natural person who directly observed a road accident and has relevant information and can present it;
• 2.44. passenger is a natural person not involved in driving the vehicle, who is in/on the vehicle, and also who enters (boards) the vehicle or exits (alights) from the vehicle;
• 2.45. intersection is a level crossroad, roads junction or fork. The boundary of intersection is determined by imaginary lines joining respectively opposite outermost beginnings of carriageway curves of the intersection. Crossings with cycle tracks, footpaths, and tracks for horseback riders are not intersections;
• 2.46. pedestrian is a natural person participating in the road traffic outside a vehicle, including moving in a wheelchair, using roller skates, skis, other sport equipment, pushing a cycle, moped or motorcycle, drawing sleds or a carriage, and not performing, under the established procedure, repair and other works on the road;
• 2.47. footpath is a road element separated by structural means or with help of horizontal road marking lines and designated for movement of pedestrians, marked with a road sign “Footpath”;
• 2.48. pedestrian zone is a territory designated for movement of pedestrians and cyclists, with entries and exits marked with road signs “Pedestrian zone” and “End of pedestrian zone”;
• 2.49. pedestrian crossing is a part of carriageway designated for movement of pedestrians across the carriageway and marked with signs “Pedestrian crossing” and/or horizontal road marking;
• 2.50. lane is any one of longitudinal strips of the carriageway, whether or not defined by longitudinal road markings, and wide enough for one moving line of vehicles (with the exception of single-track ones);
• 2.51. advantage is a right to priority movement in a selected direction in relation to other road traffic participants;
• 2.52. obstruction is an object that is present on the way of a road traffic participant and compels him to slow down, make a bypass or stop;
• 2.53. adjoining territory is a territory directly adjacent to the carriageway, not designated for through traffic, that has yards, playgrounds, special parking areas for vehicles, gasoline stations, construction site, and other objects;
• 2.54. trailer is a vehicle designed for movement in a combination with a power-driven vehicle;
• 2.55. carriageway is a road element designated for vehicular traffic and in the instances provided by these Regulations — for pedestrian traffic;
• 2.56. crossover is an engineering structure over a road (railway lines), with exits to another road, providing traffic on different levels;
• 2.57. dividing zone is a road element marked with horizontal road markings, dividing adjacent carriageways and not designated for traffic or standing of vehicles and pedestrians outside specially marked areas;
• 2.58. dividing strip is a road element separated by structural means, dividing adjacent carriageways and not designated for traffic or standing of vehicles and pedestrians outside specially installed and marked areas;
• 2.59. authorized official directing traffic is an official of SAI, carrying out traffic regulation and wearing a special outfit (high visibility uniform with retroreflective elements, with a traffic baton and whistle). An official of the Military motor automobile inspection of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus wearing the outfit (high visibility uniform with retroreflective elements, with a red signal disk (retroreflector) and whistle) and providing support to traffic of organized transport columns consisting of vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Committee of State Security, State Border Committee, other troops and military formations of the Republic of Belarus shall be treated as an authorized official directing traffic;
• 2.60. self-propelled machine is a crawler tractor or an agricultural, road, building, other machine, which are not designed for participation in the road traffic without additional measures ensuring the road traffic safety, provided by the organization (factory) — manufacturer. Participation in the road traffic of self-propelled machines must be carried out in accordance with the requirement of these Rules for vehicles, unless otherwise provided by these Rules in relation to self-propelled vehicles;
• 2.61. parking of a vehicle is a deliberate cease of movement of a vehicle for more than 5 minutes on reasons not connected with picking up (setting down) of passengers or loading (unloading) of the vehicle;
• 2.62. tachograph is a controlling device (measuring tool) fitted on power-driven vehicles for continuous measurement and/or registration in an automatic mode of a travelled distance, speed of these vehicles, working and rest periods of drivers and other information;
• 2.63. night-time is a time period that begins after the sunset and ends with the sunrise;
• 2.64. technically permissible total mass is a maximum mass of a vehicle established by the organization (factory) — manufacturer (with load, driver and passengers). Technically permissible total mass of a road-train is the sum of technically permissible total masses of the motor vehicle (wheel tractor) and the trailer;
• 2.65. technical means of road traffic organization are devices, constructions and symbols, used on roads to regulate the road traffic, provide its safety and increase road traffic capacity;
• 2.66. slow vehicle is a power-driven vehicle that due to its construction or safety conditions on load transportation cannot move with a speed exceeding 30 km/h, marked with a sign “Slow vehicle”;
• 2.67. tramway is a power-driven vehicle designed for traffic on rails, participating in the road traffic and not belonging to railway vehicle;
• 2.68. transport column is a group of two or more power-driven vehicles following one another in one lane with constantly switched on passing lamps, marked with distinctive signs “Column”, unless otherwise provided by sub-clause 201.7 of clause 201 of these Rules;
• 2.69. vehicle is a device designed to move on a road and to transport passengers, load or equipment installed thereon;
• 2.70. operative-service vehicle is a vehicle having special colour graphic painting and/or light and sound signals;
• 2.71. trolley-bus is a power-driven vehicle propelled by an electric motor that draws power through overhead wires from an external source of electricity;
• 2.72. pavement (sidewalk) is a road element adjacent to the carriageway or separated from it by a lawn, provided for traffic of pedestrians and cyclists in accordance with these Rules;
• 2.73. heavy and/or bulky vehicle is a vehicle of such mass and/or dimensions which require a special permit, issued in the order established by the legislation, for travelling on the roads;
• 2.74. driving a vehicle is a manipulation with controls of a vehicle, resulting in changing of its position in relation to the initial one;
• 2.75. improved surface is a surface of the road made of asphalt-concrete or cement-concrete mixes, rubble, gravel, cindery or other mineral materials, processed by organic or mineral binding materials, and also of single-piece materials: paver, cobble, clinker, mosaic, etc.;
• 2.76. to give way (not to have priority) is a requirement not to resume or continue advance or manoeuvre (except for the requirement to leave the occupied lane made by the authorized official directing traffic or the driver of an operative-service vehicle) if it can compel another road-user (users) to change the direction and/or speed of movement;
• 2.77. road-user is a natural person being present within the limits of a road in/on a vehicle or outside it, with the exception of an authorized official directing traffic and a worker carrying out, under the established procedure, repair and other works on the road;
• 2.77¹. chassis of a vehicle is a component of a goods vehicle, its trailer, goods-and-passenger vehicle, drawing vehicle, designed for subsequent making of a vehicle, that has no components for carriage of passengers and/or goods and fitted equipment. Participation in the road traffic of chassis of vehicles must be carried out in accordance with the requirement of these Rules for vehicles, unless otherwise provided by these Rules in relation to chassis of vehicles;
• 2.78. road elements are one or several carriageways, tramway lines, sidewalks, pedestrian and cycle tracks, dividing zones, dividing strips, level-crossing deckings and verges;
• 2.79. flyover is an engineering structure for lifting one road over another in the place of their crossing, and also for placing on a certain height a road having no exits to another road.
• 3. Right-hand traffic of vehicles is established on the roads of the Republic of Belarus.
• 4. The State Automotive Inspection (SAI) coordinates the road traffic in the cases not mentioned by these Rules and also when technical means of the road traffic organization, not provided by these Rules and technical normative legal act, are used for experimental purposes. Timely notification in an accessible way of natural and legal persons about technical normative legal acts in the sphere of the road traffic and its safety is imposed on the republican body of state administration on standardization, metrology and certification.

  Forms and methods of control over the implementation of these Rules by road-users are determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

• 5. Violation of these Rules entails the liability established by the legislative acts.