Kazakhstan will change the rules for driving mopeds, tightening requirements for their owners, technical inspection stations and driving schools. Penalties for exceeding the speed limit by 60 kilometres and more per hour will increase. Corresponding amendments to the law "On Road Traffic" and the Code of Administrative Offences (CAO) in the second reading passed the Majilis on Wednesday at the plenary session.

On the amendments told the Majiliswoman Ekaterina Smyshlyayeva. According to her, mopeds with an engine volume of less than 50 cubic centimetres will also refer to mechanical vehicles that are subject to state registration with the receipt of a state number plate. To prevent a collapse in the car registration system, the new registration requirements will come into effect 6 months after the signing of the law. This time is given for the legalisation of mopeds.

At the same time, moped drivers will be equated to full-fledged road users. This means that in order to drive mopeds, they must undergo mandatory registration with an authorised body, an annual technical inspection, and compulsory civil liability insurance.

Another important requirement for moped drivers is to obtain a category A1 driving licence. For drivers of categories A, B and C it will be assigned automatically, without additional training. They will also have six months to resolve the issue of driving licences.

Moped drivers will be prosecuted in the same way as car drivers. At present, they are punished with a fine of 2 MRP for violating traffic rules. After the law comes into force, for example, they will face a fine of 10 MPP for driving through a traffic light.

At present, driving a moped while drunk carries the same liability as for appearing in public places under the influence of alcohol, with a fine of 5 MRP. After the adoption of the norms, moped drivers will be arrested for 15 days and deprived of their licence for seven years. Drivers who have not had a driving licence will not be able to obtain one for seven years.

The law also envisages a new procedure for controlling speed limits on national highways with the introduction of an average speed, which will be calculated automatically by certified control and measuring devices on straight sections of roads and out of town, where there are no detours. No new type of liability will be introduced for exceeding the average speed. The current Article 592 of the Code of Administrative Offences already provides for a fine of 10 MRP for exceeding the established speed limit of 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.

But for exceeding the speed limit by 60 or more kilometres per hour from the permitted speed limit, a stricter liability is introduced - a fine of 40 MPP.

The requirements for technical inspection stations are toughened. In order to open a service station, it will be necessary not to notify the authorised state body, as now, but to obtain a work permit from it, providing the whole package of documents and data on the availability of material and technical base.

Self-training for driving test is excluded, now it will be conducted only in special educational organisations. In addition, driving instructors at the time of training and passing the test are equated with drivers of motor vehicles, and training in urban conditions should be conducted on agreed routes, - concluded Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva.

Source: time.kz