Tramway: construction norms and traffic rules

A tram way is an engineering structure with such constructive elements as: base (or lower structure), upper structure, drainage structures, roadbed, and road surface.

Building codes

Preparation of the roadbed - the initial stage of the construction of tram tracks. If the canvas is placed on the roadway of the street, a longitudinal pit is digged, if the paths are on a separate canvas, then a mound or grooves are created.

Further, underlay supports and ballast are laid. They form the basis of the tramway. These supports are longitudinal legs, sleepers or frame structures. For ballast choose rubble, sand or fine gravel.

The upper structure of the track is the rails, special working parts (crossings, crossovers, crossings, etc.), fasteners, which are intended for connecting rails and sub-rail supports (lining, linings, bolts, crutches, screeds, screws, etc.). , As well as electrical connections.

For the removal of groundwater and rainwater, drainage structures are laid.

The road surface is laid outside the rails and between, if the tramway is located on the carriageway of the street. The covering can be from pavers, asphalt, cobblestone or reinforced concrete slabs.

Constructional dimensions of track

The main parameter is the track width. This is the gap between the working faces of the rail heads, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track. On the straight track, this size is taken to be 1,524 mm (Russian standard gauge). In sections with curvature or turns, the track width may be increased in accordance with the radius of rotation or curve.

Areas with a double-track direction of travel are laid taking into account the width of the wagons (2,600 mm) and the necessary gap between them (600 mm). Therefore, when there are no supports for contact wires on the cross-roads, the generally accepted minimum width in the straight section is assumed to be 3 200 mm, normal - 3,500 mm. In the presence of supports, the width of the intersection should be at least 3 550 mm.

When laying a tram track, the actual width of the intersection is marked between the axes of parallel paths.

Placement and appointment

According to the traffic rules, tram tracks are placed in the presence of an alley or boulevard along the edges of the carriageway, in the absence of - in the center. On the embankments, major highways or streets with traffic in one direction, roads are laid along one side of the carriageway.

Preference in the arrangement of paths is given to the canvas isolated from the rest of the traffic. This is not always realistic: there is not enough free land, especially in big cities.

By appointment, tram lines are divided into:

• Service (paved in depot areas and between operational ways and depots);
• Temporary (mounted for a short period of repair work);
• Operational (main tramways).

The operational tramway is laid mostly in two directions. Single-track is placed in places where it is impossible to lay paths in two directions.

Every driver should know that tramways are not considered a roadway strip, but are a separate road element. Therefore, even the rails of passing roads with a car lane are not intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles over them. Departure to the tram track in special cases is regulated by the DD Rules.

Permitted maneuvers on tram tracks

Completely authorized maneuver on the rails for electric transport is an intersection.

Rules DD allow movement on tram rails, only if:

• They are located to the left of the driver;
• They are at the same height as the roadway;
• And the tram and car are moving in one direction.

The movement of vehicles along the rails of a passing direction is permissible if all the strips of the roadway are occupied. But at the same time, conditions should be created for the unobstructed passage of the tram. In addition, access to tram tracks may be prohibited by appropriate road signs.

Prohibited actions of vehicles on tram tracks

The penalty will be issued for the following driver actions:

• Travel on rails, located to the right of the car;
• Driving on a tramway that is lower or higher than the carriageway;
• Departure to the oncoming tram ways (for this can deprive the right to drive);
• Turn on the rails through the right side.

In addition, sanctions will be imposed while ignoring prohibitive road signs and / or markings on the roadway. These include signs 3.19; 4.1.1; 4.1.2; 4.1.4, as well as the markup 1.1; 1.2.1 and 1.3.

Turns and turns

As is clear from the DD rules, vehicles on the roads for electric transport are allowed directly, it is also possible to turn through the left side and turn (without interfering with the passage of electric vehicles), including crossing the street through the intersection.

The left turn is permitted by the DD Rules if:

• There are no marking lines on the roadway;
• The tram track lies to the right of the car and at the same height as the road.

Starting the maneuver, you need to make sure that there is no electric transport at the moment. The turn is made only at a right angle. Non-observance of this condition is equated with leaving to the lane of the opposite direction, which entails a fine of 5,000 rubles. Sometimes this is caused by turning off the turn signal before the completion of this maneuver.

You can make a turn as follows:

• Make sure that the tram tracks are in the direction of the car and are located not above / below the roadway, and that signs and road markings that prohibit this maneuver are not available;
• Give way (if necessary) to electric transport;
• To reorganize on tram ways of a passing direction;
• Turn on the turn signal, make a turn;
• Turn off the turn signal.

If the turn on the tram tracks is allowed (under the conditions described above), then overtaking is prohibited. Because it is impossible without going to the opposite lane.

Right turn through tram ways. The rules are regulated as follows. To complete this maneuver, the vehicle must take its rightmost position. It is strictly forbidden to start the right turn from the paths for electric transport.

Possible errors in the spread

One of the main - the maneuver begins with the roadway, and not with the tram track. Responsibility in this case is not provided. The conversation is only about creating an emergency situation. If it is wrong to start a turn, there is a high probability of colliding with a vehicle moving along the tracks straight.

The second common mistake is a turn from the tramways in the opposite direction. In this case, the driver commits the gross violation provided by the DD Rules, clause 9.6, that is, commits departure and traffic along the tramway of the opposite direction.

Often the vehicle is on the oncoming tram track not across. In this case, the inspector of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate qualifies this maneuver as an exit to the oncoming lane of tram traffic. And this, of course, faces a fine.

Well and still there is an error at a turn through the left side on which vehicles are parked. In a similar situation, it is desirable to start the maneuver when the cars (deployed and parked) are on the same line. Such a start of a turn in conditions of limited space minimizes the possibility of collision.

Crossing an unregulated intersection

DD rules allow this only in cases where:

• Electric transport (located to the right of the driver) and the car are moving in passing, both will make a left turn;
• The tram (located on the right side of the car) and the TS move in one direction to the intersection, but the car continues to move straight;
• Electric transport to the right of the driver will perform a left turn while the trackless vehicle continues to move in a straight line.

If entry to the intersection is determined by the signs from the paragraphs of Rules DD 5.10; 5.15.1. And 5.15.2. Regulating traffic in lanes or pointing to a road with reverse traffic, sanctions for exit on the electric transport route will be mandatory, because it is prohibited. Turning to the right must be done without crossing the tram rails.

How can I turn, if the road and tram way have a passing direction? A maneuver is allowed if the tracks are on the same level. In such situations, a left turn is made from the tram tracks, as well as a turn. Other movement may be indicated by signs 5.15.1; 5.15.2. Or by road marking 1.18.

If there is an adjuster or traffic light

In this case, with a permissive signal or gesture of the inspector to both modes of transport, the tram has an unconditional advantage, irrespective of the direction of its movement. However, with the green arrow on, in the additional section of the traffic light, together with the prohibition signal of the traffic light, electric transport is obliged to give way to cars moving in other directions.

How much do I have to pay

The amount of recovery for an offense on the tramway depends on the seriousness of the offense. The most "expensive" of them is driving a vehicle on the tracks of the opposite direction. For this, a fine of 5,000 rubles or a deprivation of a driving license for a period of up to six months is provided. But if the offense was fixed by a video camera, then the driver gets off just fine.

The punishment threatens and for the intersection of a continuous strip separating the tram track from the roadway. Inspector DPS can just warn, or can write a fine of 500 rubles.

The same amount will be collected from a car enthusiast moving along the tramway tracks of a passing direction, but hindering the movement of electric vehicles.

Stopping the vehicle on the tramway SDA is classified as very rough violation. Today it "costs" 1,500 rubles. In the capital and St. Petersburg for this violation will have to pay 3,000 rubles.

Drivers who allow themselves to bypass the obstacle along the paths for electric vehicles of the opposite direction should be ready to pay this liberty by the amount of one and a half thousand rubles. And neither traffic congestion nor traffic jam are justification for misconduct: they are not recognized as an obstacle. If the motorist is repeatedly stopped for the same offense, the Administrative Code allows him to revoke his driver's license for a period of 12 months. And if this offense was fixed by a video camera, then the fine increases to 5,000 rubles. The same amount of recovery (and, perhaps, deprivation of identity card) is waiting for the driver, who traveled around the obstacle, which could be bypassed without stopping in the way of electric transport.

Sometimes the driver has good reasons for compelling him to the described violations. To prove their dignity, however, will have to be judiciary.

Road accidents

Almost always their driver is recognized as the culprit. In very rare cases, the wine is placed on the driver of the tram. For example, he left the depot without looking around, or started moving on a red (or yellow) traffic light signal.

The first thing you need to do to the driver, provoking an accident, is to free the way to electric transport. Because paying for the lost profit of the transport company is an expensive pleasure. Most often the court makes concessions to the plaintiff and assigns amounts exceeding 10,000 rubles. Therefore, the motorists advise, in all circumstances, an accident to release the tramway as soon as possible.

If electric transport is not involved in the incident, it is necessary to quickly take the witnesses' data, draw a road accident scheme, preferably with reference to a stationary object, take several photos from different angles and follow the nearest department of the traffic police. If the situation allows, it is possible not to apply to the inspection, modern rules and norms allow this.

Freelance situations

Travel by tramway, including oncoming traffic, is allowed during repair work on one or several lanes of the roadway. In this case, inspectors of traffic police organize a detour, which can pass along the opposite tram ways.

Also, traffic police officers have the right to offer such a detour because of a major traffic accident. But in these and similar situations, they must regulate the movement of the TS.

Tram tracks on the highway Enthusiasts

In Moscow, the reconstruction of the canvas on the sh. Enthusiasts. Now here are the wear-resistant rails, which made it possible to significantly increase the speed of the wagons. But repair of tram tracks is not everything. Now for the electric transport launched a "green wave". This is a special adjustment of traffic lights and motion sensors. The latter are set to approach the large transport. According to experts, both trams and motorists lose time to travel around intersections five times less: trams do not have to wait until they turn green at the traffic lights, and drivers stand on the "red" in the absence of a passing tram. The experimental "green wave" received a lot of positive feedback. Therefore, such an intellectual solution will be installed throughout the capital.