Photo: Parking in spaces for people with disabilities (Getty Images) Author: Konstantin Shirokun
A topic that is especially painful for large cities with their parking problems: who has the right to park a car in a parking space marked with the sign 7.17 “Persons with disabilities”? And is it always enough to have a similar sign on the car itself?
Read about who can legally deviate from the Traffic Rules in the RBC-Ukraine article.
A car for people who have limited mobility due to health reasons is almost the only means of transportation outside the home. It is not surprising that the law allows cars with the 30.3 ґ “Driver with a disability” sign to sometimes deviate from the Traffic Rules. Moreover, in life, the situation has several options and concerns a larger number of people – for example, it happens that the car is someone else's and there is no 30.3 ґ sign on it.
Who is allowed to use the “Driver with Disabilities” sign?
The identification sign p. 30.3ґ “Driver with disabilities” is attached to their cars by citizens with disabilities, as well as drivers who transport such citizens in their cars. The disability group is not specified in either the Traffic Regulations, or in the Law “On the Fundamentals of Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine”, or in the documents of the Cabinet of Ministers (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of 31.01.18 No. 53).
Also, the sign 30.3ґ can be kept on the family car by parents of a child with a disability. It is even envisaged to enter in the registration certificate the entry “Installation of the sign “Disabled” is permitted”, this is done in the column “Special notes” when registering the car of a citizen with a disability at the Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But in fact, it turns out that this is not necessary – if during trips you keep a certificate of disability with you or have obvious signs of disability, you can do without both the plate on the car and the entry in the registration certificate.
The rbc.ua auto journalists did not find any requirements to have a special sign on the car, item 30.3ґ, in the legislation, which means that even without such a blue (previously yellow) sign, a citizen with disabilities formally has the same rights on the road as with a sign. That is, officially, he can deviate from the requirements of certain points of the traffic rules. However, when the police have questions about this, you will have to prove your case by presenting documents or existing physical disabilities.
Also, a driver of a vehicle transporting a person with disabilities (with or without the blue (yellow) plate, paragraph 30.3ґ) may deviate from certain traffic regulations. However, the passenger must hold an exemption certificate.
What rules can disabled drivers violate?
In general, drivers with disabilities (or drivers who transport such citizens) can make the following deviations from traffic rules:
Driving under signs 3.1 “No entry” and 3.2 “No entry for motor vehicles” (p. 2.8). It is also permitted to enter a pedestrian zone, even if the person does not live or work there (p. 26.3);
Standing in the area of the signs prohibiting parking: 3.35 “Parking prohibited”, 3.36 “Parking prohibited on odd days”, 3.37 “Parking prohibited on even days”, 3.38: “Restricted parking zone”;
Stop where sign 3.34 “No stopping” is in effect, but only if there is sign 7.18 “Except for persons with disabilities” under it (clause 2.8 of the Traffic Regulations of Ukraine);
Do not wear seat belts. According to paragraph 5.2 of the Traffic Regulations, a disabled passenger (we emphasize – a passenger, not a driver), whose physiological characteristics do not allow them to use a seat belt, may not wear a seat belt.
Short
In order to effectively use the benefits provided to drivers or passengers with disabilities, it is better for them to have not only the appropriate certificate, but also the 30.3ґ identification plate on the car window. Such double “insurance” will simplify communication with patrol police crews, and with parking service employees, and with parking guards and various establishments.
In preparing this article, materials from AutoBild and Autocentre were used.
Let us recall that RBC-Ukraine recently reported what is better for a car: a canopy, a garage or a parking lot.