With what malfunctions it is forbidden to operate the car: obvious and not so options

Last updated Apr 16, 2022

Content

What malfunctions completely prohibit the movement of the car?

What malfunctions prohibit operation, but allow you to get to the place of parking or repair?

Everyone knows that you can not operate a car with faulty brakes, steering and headlights. Some received fines for not having regular mudguards and now they know that there is such a possibility. But how many people remember that you can't drive a car if it doesn’t have a rear bumper or the spare wheel raise-lower mechanism does not work? And meanwhile, this is the truth. However, not all malfunctions completely prohibit movement: for many, there is an important clause in the traffic rules. Let's remember all the malfunctions in which the operation of the car is prohibited, and highlight in bold italics the most non-obvious and little-known. And at the same time we will figure out when you can’t go at all, and when “if you really need it, then you can.”

Where is the list of “forbidden” faults?

To get acquainted with the list of malfunctions in which operation is prohibited, just open the traffic rules: this List is placed in a separate appendix to the Rules. It remains only to choose from them those that relate to cars – let's do this.

Under what malfunctions is it always forbidden to drive, and under which it is possible with restrictions?

An important remark is contained in clause 2.3.1 of the SDA. He refers to the aforementioned List of Faults, but divides them into two categories: critical faults with which you cannot drive, and those with which driving is possible with restrictions.

So, according to clause 2.3.1, ” it is forbidden to move in case of a malfunction of the working brake system, steering, coupling device (as part of a road train), off (missing) headlights and tail lights in the dark or in conditions of insufficient visibility, inactive on the driver’s side windshield wiper during rain or snow. Please note that for some malfunctions there are additional conditions: for example, it is not forbidden to drive without working optics during the day with good visibility or with faulty windshield wipers in the absence of rain or snow.

Thus, the above malfunctions prohibit driving in any case: even if the brakes fail 100 meters from the garage or service, the driver must immediately stop and transport the car on a tow truck. But for the rest of the malfunctions from the List, the rules are more loyal. Paragraph 2.3.1 states that ” if other malfunctions occur along the way, with which the operation of vehicles is prohibited by the annex to the Basic Provisions, the driver must eliminate them, and if this is not possible, then he can proceed to the place of parking or repair in compliance with the necessary measures precautions.”

And in the List there are also such malfunctions that the driver can detect and eliminate before leaving – for example, the difference in wheels on the same axle or lighting devices that violate traffic rules. To complete the picture, we indicate this remark for those faults to which it is applicable.

What malfunctions completely prohibit the movement of the car?

So, here is a list of malfunctions in which driving a car is completely prohibited, indicating the item number in the official List.

Brake systems

The braking efficiency standards of the service brake system do not comply with GOST R 51709-2001.

The reference to GOST for the car owner, of course, does not mean anything: the standard is too large to know it by heart. However, you should focus on at least your own feelings: a decrease in braking efficiency, changes in the response to the brake pedal, pedal failures, extraneous noise during braking and other obvious problems – a reason to stop, check the brakes for problems and, if necessary, call a tow truck.

The tightness of the hydraulic brake drive is broken.

This must be checked before driving off: smudges on the wheels and on the ground near the wheels clearly indicate a leak in at least one of the brake circuits. When driving, depressurization of the brake drive will indicate the failure of the brake pedal.

Steering

The total play in the steering of a car exceeds 10 degrees
There are movements of parts and assemblies not provided for by the design. Threaded connections are not tightened or not secured in the prescribed manner. The device for fixing the position of the steering column is inoperative.

If no one starts driving with loose steering mounts, then not everyone remembers the mandatory serviceability of the fixing mechanism. However, if the steering wheel in the car is adjustable in height and / or reach, the locking mechanism in the selected position must work – otherwise you can’t drive either.

The power steering provided by the design is faulty or missing.

Not everyone remembers that driving with a non-working power steering is prohibited. The same applies to cars where the standard power steering is disabled or dismantled: the Rules prohibit such alterations.

External lights

Do not work in the set mode or external lighting devices and retroreflectors are dirty.

Movement in this case is prohibited at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility.

Windshield wipers and washers

Windshield wipers do not work in the set mode.

Movement in this case is prohibited during rain or snowfall.

Windshield washers provided for by the design of the vehicle do not work.

Movement in this case is prohibited during rain or snowfall.

What malfunctions prohibit operation, but allow you to get to the place of parking or repair?

Well, now let's designate the malfunctions with which the driver has the right to drive to the place of parking or repair. Please note: all of them also prohibit the operation of the car and only provide an opportunity to get to the parking or repair place immediately after the malfunction occurs, provided that the driver cannot fix it on his own.

Brake systems

The parking brake system does not provide a stationary state:

vehicles with a full load – on a slope up to 16 percent inclusive;

cars and buses in running order – on a slope of up to 23 percent inclusive.

External lights

The number, type, color, location and mode of operation of external lighting devices do not meet the requirements of the vehicle design.

A simple clause indicates that all optics should work normally. For this item there is a note familiar to many: “on vehicles discontinued, it is allowed to install external lighting devices from vehicles of other makes and models.” However, it should be borne in mind that the installation of non-factory lighting devices does not eliminate the need for their compliance with the requirements of GOST.

Headlight adjustment does not comply with GOST R 51709-2001.

Not all drivers remember the last time they adjusted their headlights. Meanwhile, incorrect adjustment prohibits the operation of the car.

Do not work in the set mode or external lighting devices and retroreflectors are dirty.

If the driver moves during the day in conditions of good visibility, then with faulty optics, you can get to the place of repair, observing the maximum precautions.

There are no diffusers on the lighting devices or diffusers and lamps are used that do not correspond to the type of this lighting device.
Installed on the vehicle:

in front – lighting devices with lights of any color other than white, yellow or orange, and retroreflective devices of any color other than white;

behind – reversing lights and lighting of the state registration plate with lights of any color other than white, and other lighting devices with lights of any color other than red, yellow or orange, as well as retroreflective devices of any color other than red.

The requirements of this paragraph are among those that need to be checked and eliminated before the trip: illegal lighting devices do not appear on the car by themselves. And for this you can not only get a fine, but also lose your rights.

Windshield wipers and washers

Windshield wipers do not work in the set mode.

If it is not raining or snowing at the time of the malfunction, the driver can drive to the place of repair or parking.

Windshield washers provided for by the design of the vehicle do not work.

If it is not raining or snowing at the time of the malfunction, the driver can drive to the place of repair or parking.

Wheels and tires

The remaining depth of the tire tread pattern (in the absence of wear indicators) is at least 1.6 mm, for winter tires – at least 4 mm.
Tires have external damage (punctures, cuts, ruptures), exposing the cord, as well as delamination of the carcass, delamination of the tread and sidewall.

Many people drive for years on tires that have little damage – however, any visible damage is prohibited by the Rules.

There is no fastening bolt (nut) or there are cracks in the disk and wheel rims, there are visible violations of the shape and size of the mounting holes.

The absence of even one wheel nut or bolt is a reason to prohibit operation until the cause is eliminated.

Tires do not match the vehicle model in terms of size or load capacity.

Installing bigger wheels and wider tires is the passion of many car owners. However, you need to stay within the limits of what is permitted by the manufacturer, otherwise it will be impossible to operate the machine.

Tires of various sizes, designs (radial, diagonal, chamber, tubeless), models, with different tread patterns, frost-resistant and non-frost-resistant, new and retreaded, new and with a deep tread pattern, are installed on one axle of the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with studded and non-studded tires.

Of course, installing a spare tire in case of a puncture refers to a situation where the driver has the right to drive to a parking or repair place. However, it is forbidden to continue to ride on a spare wheel that differs from other wheels.

Engine

The content of harmful substances in the exhaust gases and their opacity exceed the values established by GOST R 52033-2003 and GOST R 52160-2003.
The tightness of the power supply system is broken.

If the driver finds drops of gasoline under the car before the trip, then he can only go to the place of repair – operation is prohibited until the fuel leaks are eliminated.

The system of release of the fulfilled gases is faulty.

A malfunction means damage, burnouts or the absence of part of the exhaust: with such a problem, you can also only get to the place of repair.

The tightness of the crankcase ventilation system is broken.

If driving without a silencer is an obvious reason for a ban on operation, then a malfunction of the crankcase ventilation system will be a surprise to many.

The permissible level of external noise exceeds the values established by GOST R 52231-2004.

Other structural elements

The number, location and class of rear-view mirrors do not comply with GOST R 51709-2001, there are no glasses provided for by the vehicle design.

You can not drive not only without standard rear-view mirrors, but also without glasses, including side windows.

Sound signal does not work.

The horn can only be used in limited cases, but you cannot drive without it.

Additional items have been installed or coatings have been applied to limit visibility from the driver's seat.

Practice shows that the inspector can pay attention not only to tinting, but also to objects that impair the driver's view, including video recorders and radar detectors installed in the viewing area. In addition, there is an official note for this item: “Transparent colored films may be attached to the top of the windshield of cars and buses. It is allowed to use tinted glass (except mirror glass), the light transmission of which corresponds to GOST 5727-88. It is allowed to use blinds and curtains on the rear windows of cars if there are external rear-view mirrors on both sides.

The body or cabin door locks provided for by the design, <…>, the driver's seat adjustment mechanism, speedometer, tachograph, anti-theft devices, glass heating and blowing devices do not work.

If the car does not have a door lock, driver's seat adjustment mechanism or speedometer, this also means that you cannot drive such a car until the malfunction is fixed.

The rear protective device, mudguards and mudguards provided for by the design are missing.

You can ride without a front bumper, but you can’t ride without a rear bumper, as well as without the mudguards provided for by the design.

There is no first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency stop sign in accordance with GOST R 41.27-2001.

Formally, the inspector can check the presence of a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher only during the inspection of the car, but this does not mean that it is not necessary to carry them with you. And the point is not even that without them the operation of the car is prohibited, but that they can save lives, including the driver himself.

Illegal equipping of vehicles with the identification mark “Federal State Security Service”, flashing beacons and (or) special sound signals, or the presence on the outer surfaces of vehicles of special color schemes, inscriptions and designations that do not meet the state standards of the state.
There are no seat belts and (or) seat head restraints if their installation is provided for by the vehicle design.
The seat belts are inoperable or have visible tears in the webbing.
Spare wheel holder, winch and spare wheel lifting and lowering mechanism do not work. The ratchet device of the winch does not fix the drum with the fastening rope.

Few people remember that among the malfunctions that prohibit the operation of the car, there is a broken mechanism for raising and lowering the spare wheel located under the bottom. It is also worth checking its performance from the point of view of logic: being on the track with a puncture without the ability to change the wheel is a dubious prospect.

The tightness of the seals and connections of the engine, gearbox, final drives, rear axle, clutch, battery, cooling and air conditioning systems and hydraulic devices additionally installed on the vehicle is broken.

Simply put, any smudges from the engine, gearbox, axles and other components must be repaired immediately. Only condensate from the air conditioning system can flow outside.

The state registration plate of the vehicle or the method of its installation does not comply with GOST R 50577-93.
Changes have been made to the design of the vehicle without the permission of the State Inspectorate for Road Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the State or other bodies determined by the Government of the State.