In Russia this year they may begin issuing new style driver licenses. The traffic police have prepared a new form, but legislation still needs to be changed. The main innovation is additional categories that would divide drivers by experience and vehicle type. The article explains which categories may appear and how the new rules may limit beginners from driving powerful vehicles.

New-style driver’s licenses may begin to be issued as early as this year. This was stated by Viktor Kiryanov himself, the head of Russia’s traffic police. According to him, all work on creating the new driver’s license form has already been completed at the traffic police. “For it to be adopted, changes to the legislation are necessary, and that is a lengthy process. After all, this will entail changes to the training programs in driving schools, a new mechanism for administering the exam. Most likely, the new-style licenses will appear at the end of 2009, but this timeframe is approximate,” Mr. Kiryanov said.
New licenses will differ slightly in design. But the main thing is different: additional driver categories will appear. At present, our licenses have only five categories: A (motorcycles), B (passenger cars), C (trucks), D (buses), and E (articulated trucks). But the new licenses will already have 7-12 categories (the exact number has not yet been announced).
Most likely, the current categories will be joined by new ones: A1, B1, C1, D1, and perhaps others as well. The “1” will most likely indicate that the driver belongs to the so-called “beginners” and therefore has certain restrictions. For example, a motorcyclist with an A1 license will not be able to ride super-powerful sport bikes, and a driver with category C1 will not be allowed behind the wheel of a huge BelAZ. “For example, suppose a motorcycle is bought for a 16-year-old child. He asked for it for a long time, studied well, and earned it. He completed a driving course and received a driver’s license. But he will not have enough skill or experience to handle a powerful motorcycle. So let him get used to lighter equipment with an engine displacement of, say, 250 cc. He rides for three years, gains experience, behaves responsibly — then he can buy a more powerful motorcycle,” Viktor Kiryanov believes.