In Azerbaijan, the law "On the Road" rules governing the movement of pedestrians and drivers. But how do they comply with the prescribed rules? Whom does the law expose guilty and whom does it make innocent?
On the streets of our capital we can often see the following picture: a moped driver representing any company in the service sector (this may be due to the conveying of food, mail, courier services, etc.) is stopped by the police and they start a hard argument on something right in the middle of the street. The policeman tries to ward off the moped to the penalty parking and the driver proves the invalidity of sanctions against him, referring to the volume of his engine.
Such cases occur repeatedly. And what does the law say? How is it used? What is the practice in this area? We contacted one of the companies involved in conveying food and tried to get acquainted with their position in this matter.
Preferring to remain anonymous, the head of one of the centers told ANN.Az that for two or three-wheel mopeds with the engine capacity of not more than 50 cubic meters per centimeter, moving because of its maximum design speed at a speed not exceeding 50 kilometers per hour, it is not mandatory to have a driving license or a number plate. "The vehicle has to have a data sheet. Plus, the driver must have a certificate of the "A" category. If these rules are followed, then the problem should not occur. If they are not, then, of course, the vehicle is stopped by police and sanctions prescribed by the law are applied. Our employees are regularly confronted with lawlessness. They ask the number plate and the driver's license. After that they tow the mopeds to the penalty park and we are forced to pay a 180-manat fine."
CEO said that such facts happen very often.
He also said that they serve the population using not only mopeds, but also large vehicles. Therefore, when taking people at work, they require the presence of a driving license. "Employees themselves should be interested in this. If you want to get a job, you have to obtain a driver's license. Because every time they are stopped by the police, there are problems with penalties, etc." he said.
The Chairman of Public Association "Help to educate drivers" Fazil Mammadov told ANN.Az that on this issue there is a serious legislative void. "The law has certain emptiness in connection with this problem. If we consider that there are separate pedestrians and drivers, the pedestrians themselves are penalized for contravention of traffic rules, when they ignore road signs or do not use underpasses, etc. But with respect to the moped the law has no prescriptions. So often there are accidents involving them. I think this issue should be put to parliamentary debate and the corresponding law should be adopted," he said.
Mammadov also noted that the voids in the law and the failure to bring those responsible to justice lead to frequent disturbances and tragic cases faced by people involved in road accidents. "How can this be, if a pedestrian is fined AZN 20 for not using an underpass, and a moped rider breaking the law is not prosecuted because of the lack of a driver's license? The Act should also include questions related not only to mopeds, but also bicycles and scooters. Sometimes, when cars are standing at a red light, they are passing between the vehicles, regardless of the red light. As a result, accidents happen and the other party becomes liable. True, the moped driver suffers. But according to the requirements of the current version of the law, arrested are those, who are absolutely not to blame. Therefore, it is obligatory to fill this gap in the law," he said.
In connection with this problem ANN.Az tried to get also acquainted with the position of the State Traffic Police Department of Baku. However, our calls to this structure were not responded by the press office or employees of the Public Relations Department. We will try to inform you on their position, too.
Seymour
ANN.Az
