From March 1, Russia will introduce a special Novice Driver sign for motorists with less than two years of experience, for now it will be advisory. The measure aims to reduce accidents involving beginners, but has already sparked debate. Some see it as useful, others fear ridicule on the road and possible problems using the sign on different cars. At the same time, the government is preparing other changes to improve safety. Driving schools must switch to a new program with more practical hours and more serious training for real road situations.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a government decree introducing a special “Novice Driver” sign starting March 1. Cars driven by drivers with less than two years of experience will be equipped with such a sign.
The measure is intended to reduce the number of accidents on the roads involving inexperienced motorists.
For now, the innovation will be advisory in nature; the badge, a yellow square with a black exclamation mark 110 mm high, which is attached to the rear of motor vehicles, will be used by young drivers at their own discretion.
Opinions among novice drivers about the innovation differ. Some believe that such a conspicuous distinction in traffic will not offend them in the least. Many already use various identifying badges, from the simple “U” in a red frame to the “Baby on Board” sign or the “Shoe,” indicating that a woman is behind the wheel.
However, the majority say that the special sign is an additional incentive to “pick on” a fellow driver on the road, where snobbery and rudeness already flourish. And for “stagers,” this sign will be like a red rag to a bull.
The opinion of honored lawyer and vice president of the Russian Motorists’ Movement Leonid Olshansky is also ambiguous: “If the situation with cell phones is repeated, when the rules initially said that you could not talk while driving, and only later was liability introduced for it, then we will fight such a law,” he comments. “A car belongs to its owner, and the owner and the driver are different categories. The owner is a category of civil law, while the driver is administrative,” says Leonid Olshansky. “So it turns out that if a driver often switches between different cars, this sign will have to be constantly torn off and reapplied.”
The scenario proposed by Olshansky was also confirmed by the traffic police. “Administrative liability must be provided so that during inspections such irresponsible people can be identified and punished,” says Denis Kisel, an inspector for road safety propaganda of the 3rd special battalion of the 1st special regiment of the traffic police (Northern) of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Moscow Region.
The traffic police explained that this measure will ensure peace of mind for both novice motorists and those around them. To feel on equal footing with everyone else, according to specialists, beginners need only drive 10,000–15,000 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the introduction of a special sign is not the only measure provided by the government to ensure greater driver safety on the road. This summer, all Russian driving schools will have to switch to a new program prepared jointly by the traffic police and the Ministry of Education and Science.
It calls for a significant increase in the hours allocated to driving practice and a change in the very principle of conducting these classes. They will be given 50 hours instead of the current 30, and students will be taught not only to start moving, brake, and perform several basic maneuvers on the practice ground, but also to respond adequately to various road situations. Also, in the course of training motorists under the new programs, more time will be devoted to training on simulators that create the illusion of driving.