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Law on Road Traffic Safety


Published: 2000-12-10

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Official Translation

 

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

LAW ON ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY

 

October 12, 2000. No. VIII – 2043

Vilnius

 

CHAPTER I

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

Article 1. Purpose and Application of the Law

 

1. This Law shall establish the legal basics of road traffic safety in the Republic of Lithuania, obligations of the State institutions in implementing the policy of road safety, and the principal rights and obligations of traffic participants, institutions of road supervision, police officers, and also the basic requirements linked with the technical condition of motor vehicles, checking of the technical condition of motor vehicles, in striving to safeguard the lives, health and property and improve the traffic conditions of transport and pedestrian traffic and also to reduce the negative effect of motor  vehicles on the environment.

2. The Law on Roads shall set the requirements of roads, the construction and supervision thereof, road structures, equipment, technical means of traffic regulation and the obligations of road owners and other institutions.

 

Article 2.Basic Definitions of this Law

 

1. Assessment of conformity with requirements means the activity by means of, which is determined directly or indirectly, to what extent the vehicle is conforming to the prescribed requirements.

2. Motor vehicle accident means a road traffic incident in the course of which with the involvement of a moving vehicle, passengers have been killed or injured or at least one of the motor vehicles, the load, road, its structures or any other property situated at the incident site has been damaged or destroyed.

3. Motor vehicle means any motor vehicle travelling on roads and intended for carriage of goods and (or) passengers or drawing other motor vehicles. This definition does not include motorcycles, tractors, self-propelled vehicles and agricultural machines.

4. Bicycle means a vehicle having at least two wheels, propelled by the muscular energy of the persons on that vehicle.

5. Bicycle path means the part of the road intended for bicycles and mopeds, where traffic by motor vehicles is prohibited.

6. Traffic means the process arising from the carriage of passengers and goods by road by motor vehicles or without them within the road boundaries.

7. Traffic participant means a person who is taking part in road traffic (driver, pedestrian, passenger and road worker).

8. Traffic organisation means the array of the technical and legal means and administrative actions that regulate road traffic.

9. Order of traffic means the order of movement, halting and standing in roads as prescribed by this and other Republic of Lithuania laws and other legal acts.

10. Residential zone means house yards, squares, parking areas or a part of a road and also the entries and exits to houses, yards or parking areas.

11. Road means the entire width of a land surface strip which is designated and used for traffic, including its traffic area, intersections, sidewalks, shoulders, pedestrian and bicycle paths and dividing strips. This definition also includes streets, viaducts, bridges and other road structures.

12. Roadside means the road part adjacent to the traffic part (from its side to the shoulder of the road, having the same paving as the road or (and) which is separated from the traffic part by a line of demarcation and which is not a sidewalk, pedestrian (bicycle) path or a part of the road used for other special purposes.

13. Road signs mean the signs indicated in the Rules of the Road, which determine traffic order, warn the traffic participants or provide information to them.

14. Road marking means the marking of roads with lines, arrows, written indications and other symbols in vertical and horizontal positions.

15. Moped means a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle, which is fitted with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder capacity of less than 50 cm3 and a maximum design speed of under 45 km per hour.

16. Motorcycle means a two-wheeled vehicle with or without a sidecar, powered with internal combustion engine having a cylinder (cylinders) capacity of more than 50 cm3 and a maximum design speed of over 45 km per hour.

17. Power-driven vehicle means any self-propelled vehicle running on a road under its own power, other than rail-borne vehicles and mopeds.

18. Pedestrian means a person present on the road who is not in a vehicle, also one in a wheelchair, on roller skates, skateboard, pushing a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, drawing (pushing) a sled, child’s carriage or a different type of wagon. A person, who is working on the road and whose workplace is the road, is not considered a pedestrian.

19. Pedestrian path means a part of the road appropriately marked for pedestrian use.

20. Pedestrian and bicycle path means a path or sidewalk used for mixed pedestrian and non-motor vehicle traffic, marked with appropriate road signs, where motor vehicle traffic is prohibited.

21. Trailer means a vehicle designed to be drawn by a power-driven vehicle. Semi-trailers are also considered trailers.

22. Semi-trailer means a trailer coupled to a motor vehicle in such a way that a substantial part of its mass and the mass of its load are borne by the motor vehicle.

23. Regulator means a person authorised to regulate traffic and wearing a uniform and (or) having a distinguishing mark (sleeve band, regulator’s stick, a swinging round red reflector or a small bright flag).

24. Traffic safety means a traffic condition, which entails protection from road traffic incidents and consequences thereof, for its participants.

25 Safeguarding of traffic safety means the activity by means of which one strives to prevent traffic accidents and lessen consequences thereof.

26. Special vehicles means vehicles of operative services and other vehicles equipped with special luminous and audible signals.

27.Parking means a scheduled halting of a vehicle which makes it stationary longer than the time needed to pick up or set down passengers and to load and unload goods.

28. Standing means a scheduled halting of the vehicle which makes it stationary for no longer than the time needed to set down or pick up passengers or to load or unload goods.

29. Sidewalk means the part of the road designated for pedestrians, which is, adjacent to the part designated for vehicular traffic or separated from it by a grassy area.

30. Motor vehicle means a piece of equipment designated for the carriage of passengers and (or) goods. This definition also includes tractors and self-propelled machines and mechanisms.

31. Combination of vehicles means several vehicles coupled together, which participate in traffic as a unit.

32. User of vehicle means a person, who by right of ownership, trust, leasing, use or other lawful basis is in possession of and using the vehicle. A natural person who is driving a user’s vehicle is not regarded as user of the vehicle.

33. Driver means a person, who drives a vehicle, guides cattle, also rides horseback, drives horse-drawn cart.

34. Carriageway means the part of a road intended for use by vehicular traffic. A road may comprise several carriageways, separated by dividing strips or a difference of level.

35. State Technical Inspection means compulsory periodic inspection of any vehicle registered in the Republic of Lithuania.

 

Article 3. Order of Traffic

 

1. In the Republic of Lithuania traffic moves on the right side of the road.

2. The Rules of the Road which are approved by the Government, shall

determine the order of traffic in the territory of Republic of Lithuania.

 

CHAPTER II

 

SAFEGUARDING OF TRAFFIC SAFETY

 

Article 4. Traffic Safety Commission

 

1.The Government shall form the State policy in the sphere of safeguarding of traffic safety. The Commission of Traffic Safety (hereinafter, Commission) operating continuously, shall control the implementation of this policy.

2.The Government shall establish a Commission comprised of the entities of State administration and municipal administration, and representatives of non-government organisations and approve its regulations and the State programme of traffic safety. When necessary, other natural persons or legal persons and representatives of enterprises not having the rights of a legal person, may also be included in this Commission.

3. The Commission shall:

1) set the priority directions and measures for improving traffic safety;

2) draft the State Traffic Safety Programme;

3) coordinate the activities of State administration and municipal administration entities and others, in implementing the programme of State Programme of Traffic Safety;

4) coordinate the activities in the sphere of safeguarding traffic safety of the entities of State administration, municipal governments, public organisations, legal and natural persons and enterprises not having the rights of a legal person;

5) render an accounting to the Government regarding the implementation of the State policy on traffic safety;

6) analyse the condition of traffic safety within the Republic of Lithuania;

7) form special groups of experts in order to determine the causes of motor vehicle which have resulted in particularly grave consequences.        

4. Measures for the improvement of traffic safety and terms of implementation and funding thereof must be established in the State Programme For Traffic Safety, which is provided for in item 2 of paragraph 3 of this Article. It must provide separate measures of instruction for traffic participants, including preschool and schoolchildren, changing traffic organising in high accident concentration locations, road maintenance, legal regulation, educational activities, scientific research work, preparation of specialists and thereof and implementation of the preventive measures by the police.

5. Entities of State administration and municipal administration shall provide to the Commission all of the information necessary for the implementation of the functions of the Commission.

6. The Commission shall have the right to:

1) obtain from the State administration and municipal administration entities information and documents, needed to draft the State Traffic Safety Programme and also, information concerning the implementation and other information and documents needed for the performance of its own functions;

2) submit proposals to State administration and municipal administration entities, concerning the implementation of the measures outlined in the State Traffic Safety Programme.

7. The Budget funds earmarked for safeguarding traffic safety also, road maintenance, construction and repair programme funds, municipal budget funds, those from payments of vehicle insurance payments, penalties for Traffic Regulation violations, voluntary personal payments as well as the funds supplied by international organisations shall be used for funding of traffic safety safeguarding.

 

Article 5. Safeguarding of Traffic Safety

 

1. In safeguarding traffic safety the Government or its authorised institutions shall:

1) approve the State Traffic Safety Programme and adopt legal acts regulating traffic safety

2) approve the basic technical requirements for road motor vehicles and set the requirements of motor vehicle designing;

3) set the qualification requirements for vehicle and motorcycle drivers, driver training (education), conditions and procedure of examination, in striving to acquire the right to drive vehicles of certain categories, set requirements and conditions for enterprises, which engage in training drivers or driving instruction;

4) set the procedure for performing the State technical inspection of motor vehicles;

5) resolve questions involving the instillation of new science and technology developments in transport spheres and organising the implementation of special purpose scientific programmes.

6) plan measures by the means of which the negative impact of motor vehicles upon the environment is lessened; set the procedure of carriage of dangerous loads  across the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and issue licences to drivers for engaging in the carriage  of such;

7) analyse the carriage policy implemented by foreign states and set a policy of further cooperation with foreign states according to the procedure established within the transport sphere;

8) conduct supervision of motor vehicle production;

9) take part in elimination of the consequences of natural disasters and accidents, in organising search and rescue operations, organise investigation and registration of traffic disasters (except those involving road transport) and analyse the causes thereof;

10) organise traffic regulation, supervision and preventive work with traffic participants;

11) control observance of traffic safety and the requirements of legal acts regulating road traffic;

12) organise on roads control of the technical condition of motor vehicles;

13) organise the provision of first emergency medical aid for persons who are motor vehicle accident victims, until the arrival of first aid ambulance specialists;

14) gather information concerning the violations of the Rules of the Road and motor vehicle accidents;

15) control how persons, all types of enterprises, and institutions and organisations  adhere to laws and other standard acts, which set the requirements of traffic safety and protection of the environment from the harmful effect of motor vehicles;

16) set the requirements and procedure of  driver health checks;

17) set the procedure of instruction of traffic participants in administering  first medical aid;

18) check, whether the labour conditions of motor vehicle drivers, who work according to labour contracts, meet the requirements of the legal acts, which regulate the safety of work operations;

19) examine the circumstances and causes of serious accidents  at work and accidents at work with fatal consequences, in the course of which drivers of transport enterprises have become victims, and check whether transport enterprises adhere to the procedure of investigating accidents at work;

20) organise instructions in the basics of traffic safety in pre-school institutions and the schools of general education;

21) approve compulsory and elective education programmes and provide methodical means and recommendations.

2. The county governor shall control the implementation of traffic safety programmes throughout the entire county area.

3. The local governments shall decide traffic organisation questions in cities and towns and other roads of local significance, shall take care of municipal road and street maintenance, planning and construction of objects of transportation infrastructure, street construction, repairs and reconstruction and also organise the provision of medical aid to accident victims.

4. Public organisations, if they so desire, may take part and submit proposals regarding the implementation of the traffic safety measures prescribed in the programmes.

 

Article 6. Control of Traffic Safety

 

1. The police shall implement the control of traffic safety.

2. In implementing the control of traffic safety, the police shall:

1) supervise how traffic participants adhere to the provisions of this Law and the order of traffic prescribed in the Rules of the Road;

2) regulate traffic;

3) examine the violations of the Rules of the Road, conduct the investigation  in motor vehicle accident cases, write up protocols of administrative violations of the law in the cases prescribed by law, examine the cases of administrative violations of the law and impose administrative sanctions and other measures prescribed by law;

4) examine whether the permissible mass and dimensions of motor vehicles have not been  exceeded;

5) control, how persons, enterprises, institutions and organisations implement the laws and other legal acts with regard to the safeguarding of traffic safety and protection of the environment from the harmful effect of motor  vehicles;

6) control the technical condition of motor vehicles on the roads;

7) collect and analyse data on motor vehicle accidents and violations of the Rules of the Road;

8) in the absence of a qualified medical worker, render first medical aid to accident victims;

9) mark the site of an accident and employ other measures necessary to safeguard traffic safety;

10) employ measures to protect the  property left unattended as a result of an accident.

3. In performing police functions, police officers shall have the right to:

1) stop vehicles, check the documents of the driver, motor vehicle, documents of lading and other documents which the driver is required to carry with him, and the data from instruments whose installation aboard the vehicle is compulsory;

2) temporarily prohibit from driving the drivers who do not  have the right to drive and also, on suspicion that they are intoxicated, under the influence of narcotics, drugs, or other intoxicating substances. To use the measures set forth in legal acts to determine intoxication or to deliver the suspected drivers to a medical institution.

3) summon to the police station the violators of traffic rules, participants and witnesses of motor vehicle accidents;

4) temporarily seize the registration documents of the driver or vehicle and issue a temporary document of a type set by the Government or an institution authorised by it;

5) temporarily prohibit  from driving and send to a medical institution for an additional examination, the drivers suspected of possibly posing a danger to traffic safety, due to the condition of their health;

6) change, limit, prohibit road traffic, when that becomes necessary in order to safeguard traffic safety or improve traffic conditions,

7) prohibit the use of vehicles, whose construction or technical condition fails to meet the valid Rules of the Road, normative acts or standards as well as those whose identification numbers fail to correspond to those appearing on the documents.

 

CHAPTER III

 

TRAFFIC PARTICIPANTS

 

 

Article 7. General Obligations of Vehicle Drivers

 

1. Vehicle drivers must be familiar with and implement traffic participant obligations, know the Rules of the Road and adhere to them, implement the instructions of police and other regulators regarding the order of traffic;

2. Driving without a licence shall be prohibited.

3. Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, drugs or other intoxicating substances shall be prohibited. Driving while suffering from an illness or fatigue and allowing the vehicle to be driven by persons, who are affected by at least one of the indicated factors shall also not be allowed, if this could pose danger to traffic safety.

4. Driving a vehicle, which lacks technical maintenance and fails to meet technical standards, shall be prohibited. Prior to starting out, the driver of a motor vehicle must check whether the motor vehicle is well maintained whether it contains first aid, fire-extinguishing equipment, emergency stop signs and other means mandatory for a motor vehicle, and also to monitor the vehicle’s condition en route. In the eve that a moving vehicle breaks down and for that reason fails to meet the technical requirements set forth by the Government or its authorised institution (hereinafter- technical requirements), and it is not possible to eliminate the problem, the driver adhering to the necessary means of caution, may proceed to a parking or repair area, with the exception of the instances stipulated in the Rules of the Road.

5. A driver must employ all the measures necessary to safeguard his own and the passengers’ safety during the journey. The Rules of the Road stipulate the cases and procedure of the use of safety belts, helmets, child’s safety seats and other protective measures.

6.The driver of a motor vehicle must know how to give first aid to victims of motor vehicle accidents.

7. The driver of a motor vehicle must have in his possession and furnish upon the request by a police officer a permanent or temporary driver’s licence of a standard form stipulated by the Government, vehicle registration, state technical inspection and other documents prescribed by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and the Rules of the Road. Persons permanently residing in a foreign state must furnish a driver’s licence which is valid in that state and vehicle registration document and also, other documents which the transport driver must submit, in implementing the requirements of other Republic of Lithuania laws and the Rules of the Road.

8. Upon the request by a police officer, the driver must submit to a Government approved sobriety test to check whether he is not intoxicated, under the influence of narcotics, drugs or other intoxicating substances.

9. The driver of a motor vehicle must provide a lift to police officers, who are performing immediate service obligations, and medical workers, enroute to see a patient whose life is in danger, and to transport to a treatment facility the persons who are in need of immediate medical assistance. The officers and medical workers who had been accorded the use of a motor vehicle, must upon the request by the driver, issue him a certificate of a form stipulated by the Government or its authorised institution, regarding making use of the vehicle.

10. When stopped by a police officer, drivers of motor vehicles must obey the lawful instructions of police officers, which are set forth in the Police Law, this Law and other Republic of Lithuania laws and observe the mode of behaviour set forth by the Rules of the Road.

 

Article 8. General Rights and Obligations of Other Traffic Participants

 

1. Adhering to the requirements, order and restrictions of this Law, the Law on Roads, other laws, Rules of the Road, and other legal acts each traffic participant shall have the right to freely use the roads.

2. The behaviour of traffic participants shall be based on mutual trust and caution.

3.Traffic participants must:

1) observe the Rules of the Road, implement the instructions of police and regulators regarding the order of traffic;

2) obey the lawful requests of the police and officers of the institutions responsible for road supervision;

3) observe all the necessary caution measures, not to endanger other traffic participants, other persons or the property thereof and the environment, not interfere with traffic, damage the part of the road intended for traffic, pedestrian and bicycle paths, road structures, traffic regulating devices, accident communication lines and green areas;

4) must employ all the necessary measures while striving to avoid  harmful consequences or to diminish them, except in instances when this shall endanger  the lives or health of other persons, or when such measures may create the conditions for causing more harm as compared to that which it would be possible to avoid;

5) having created an obstacle, posed danger on the road, observed an obstruction or threat, to remove this obstruction or threat, and in the absence of an opportunity to effect this, to inform the police, owner of the road or enterprise supervising the road thereof, mark the obstruction and using every available means warn the other traffic participants of the obstruction.

4. It shall be prohibited to willfully transfer, conceal, remove or install technical devices, which set the order of traffic, to block the road, leave some type of objects in the road or otherwise interfere with traffic. It shall be prohibited to throw out from the motor vehicle any object and, trash, to spill oil in areas other than those designated for that purpose or otherwise litter the road or its surrounding area.

5. Upon receiving a summons the traffic participant must present himself at the appointed time to the police. He must bring with him an identification document, while a driver of a motor vehicle must bring a driver’s licence and a motor vehicle registration document.

6. The drivers must ensure that their motor vehicles would not cause noise, pollute the environment with emissions or create any other nuisance for people who reside near the road.

 

Article 9. Obligations of Drivers Engaged in the Carriage of Passengers and Goods

 

1.Passengers may be carried only in motor vehicles intended for that purpose and only in places specially constructed for that purpose.

2. It shall be permitted to carry passengers in the body of a goods motor vehicle only if it has been adapted for passenger carriage and having equipped it with seats, which meet technical requirements.

3. It shall be prohibited to carry children under 16 years in the body of  a goods carrying motor vehicle.

4. Drivers who have at least 3 years of service as drivers in that category, shall be permitted to engage in the carriage of groups of people in the body of a goods motor vehicle, while military drivers must have at least 6 months driving service and a certificate issued according to the procedure established by the Ministry of National Defense.

5. The Rules of the road shall establish the requirements and procedure, which must be observed by motor vehicles, engaged in passenger carriage, drivers and their crews and the procedure of carriage of passengers.

6.The vehicle driver, who is engaged in the carriage of passengers must carry a valid licence card, issued in accordance with the procedure set forth by the Government, and if carrying passengers on regularly established routes, also have a valid licence issued in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and to submit these and other documents for inspection by authorised personnel, and also, permit them to inspect the data indicated by the approved devices establishing the duration of driving and rest periods.

7.Persons loading the goods, the administrator and the driver of the vehicle must ensure that the laden goods shall not endanger traffic safety. The driver must refuse to carry a load, which has not been properly fastened, is not suited to be carried by a certain vehicle due to its mass, measurements or other reasons, obstructing the driver’s view or in other cases, in the presence whereof the Rules of the Road prohibit the carrying of the load.

8. Motor vehicles or a combination of vehicles, whose measurements, with laden mass or without it, exceed the amount established by the Government or its authorised institution, the drivers must carry a licence issued by the Government or its authorised institution.

9. In carrying dangerous loads, which have been included on the list of dangerous materials, one must observe the legal acts regulating the carriage of dangerous loads. Except in cases established by the laws and other legal acts regulating the carriage of dangerous loads, the driver must carry on his person certificates of preparedness to carry dangerous goods and the suitability of the vehicle for carriage of such, and while engaged in the carriage of explosives or (and) radioactive materials also, a licence issued according to the established procedure.

 

Article 10. Rights and Obligations of Drivers of Special Vehicles

 

1. In cases stipulated in the Rules of the Road drivers of special vehicles may ignore certain requirements listed in the Rules of the Road in instances when this does not endanger the other traffic participants. The drivers of vehicles escorted by special vehicles shall also exercise this right.

2. Other traffic participants must yield the way to motor vehicles indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article. The Rules of the Road shall establish the order of traffic while moving past standing special motor vehicles or as they are approaching.

3. The drivers of the motor vehicles equipped with turned on blinking orange lights may ignore the road signs (except for those limiting the maximum speed and the right of way), requirements of marking and location of motor vehicles on the carriageway part of the road, if this does not endanger traffic safety. Other traffic participants must not interfere with their work.

4.The Government or its authorized institution shall establish the procedure and conditions of issuing licences for installation and use of luminous and audible signals in motor vehicles and the procedure of the use of special audible and luminous signals in motor vehicles.

 

Article 11. Requirements of Persons Who Work on Roads

 

1. The persons in charge and workers who work on the road or near a road, must see to it that the work areas would be marked by necessary road signs, fencing and detour devices and under the conditions of darkness or poor visibility, by signal lights as well. The Rules of the Road shall set forth the procedure of the use of road signs, fencing and detour devices and signal lights.

 

Article 12. Granting of Right to Drive Motor Vehicles

 

1.Driving of motor vehicles, except in the cases of learning how to drive shall be permitted to persons having a driver’s licence issued by the Government or an institution authorised by it. A driver’s licence shall be issued to persons permanently residing in the Republic of Lithuania not younger than of the age stipulated in Article 13 of this Law, whose health condition is suitable to drive a motor vehicle of a certain category, who have learned the Rules of the Road, know other legal acts, that regulate traffic, and who have passed the qualifying examinations.

2. The driver’s licence indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be necessary for persons, who possess an international driver’s licence which meets the traffic requirements of the 1968 Vienna Convention, driver’s licences issued by the member states of the European Union and driver’s licences, which the Republic of Lithuania is bound by international agreements to recognise.

3. The Government or an institution authorised by it shall establish a list of diseases, having which shall prohibit persons from driving vehicles of certain categories, and the requirements for the physical examination of drivers.

4. A driver’s licence shall confirm the right to drive vehicles of the categories, which are indicated on the driver’s licence.

5. While driving a motor vehicle, the driver must fulfill the conditions indicated on the driver’s licence (drive only with glasses or contact lenses; hand driving, motor vehicle with motor vehiclematic drive, etc.).

 

Article 13. The Age of Drivers and Other Traffic Participants

 

1. The right to drive motor vehicles of certain categories shall be granted to persons at least:

1) 16 years for light motorcycles, whose internal engine cylinder capacity shall exceed 50 cm (3) but not over 125 cm(3) and its power capacity does not exceed 11 kW  (15 AG) (A1 category);

2) 18 years for motorcycles with or without a sidecar (A category), the right to drive motorcycles whose power is higher than 25 kW (34AG) or the relationship between its power and mass is over 0.16 kW (0.22 AG/kg), shall be granted only to those having no less than two years’ driving experience with motorcycles of lower characteristics, who have a driver’s licence for vehicles of the established category.

3) 16 years for B category three-wheeled or four-wheeled motor vehicles whose maximum power is over 45 km and/or its engine cylinder capacity is over 50 cc3. The unladen mass of a vehicle must not exceed 550 kg. The unladen mass in electric vehicles shall not include the accumulator battery mass (B1 category);

4) 18 years for motor vehicles, whose  maximum authorised  mass does not exceed 3500 kg and having no more than a seating capacity for eight in addition to the driver’s seat; these vehicles may be coupled to a trailer, the maximum authorised mass whereof is not over 750 kg (B1 category).

5) 19 years for B category motor vehicle and trailer, whose maximum authorised mass is over 750 kg and a combination vehicles (BE category);

6) 18 years, for motor vehicles, which are not designated for D category and their maximum authorised mass is over 3500 kg, but not over 7500 kg. Vehicles of this category may be coupled with a trailer, the maximum authorised  mass  whereof is not over 750 kg (C1 category);

7) 21 years for vehicles which do not belong to the D category and their maximum authorised mass is over 3500 kg; these vehicles may be coupled with a trailer, the maximum authorised mass whereof is not over 750 kg (C category);

8) 19 years for C1 category vehicle and trailer, whose maximum authorised mass is not over 750 kg, combinations. The maximum authorised mass of these combinations may not exceed 12000 kg and the maximum authorised mass of the trailer must not exceed the unladen mass of the drawing vehicle (C1E category);

9) 22 years, for C category vehicle and trailer, whose maximum authorised mass is over 750 kg, combination vehicles (CE category);

10) 22 years for vehicles, intended for the carriage of passengers and having the seating capacity of more than eight seats, excluding the driver’s seat; these vehicles may be coupled with a trailer, the maximum authorised mass whereof is not over 750 kg (D category);

11) 21 years intended for the carriage of passengers and having a seating capacity of more than eight, but less than 16 seats, excluding the driver’s seat; these vehicles may be connected with a trailer, the maximum authorised mass whereof is not over 750 kg (D1 category);

12) 23 years for D category vehicle and trailer, the maximum authorised mass whereof does not exceed 750 kg, combination vehicles (DE category);

13) 22 years for D1 category vehicle and trailer combination vehicles, the maximum authorised mass whereof is over 750 kg. The maximum authorised mass of these vehicles may not exceed 12000 kg and the maximum authorised mass of the trailer may not surpass the unladen mass of the drawing vehicle and it is not used for the carriage of people (D1E category);

14) 21 years for trolley buses (T category).

2. No persons below the age of 12 years shall be permitted to ride bicycles on roads, and if they have passed an additional course of instruction and holds a certificate issued by the school for those over 10 years. The age shall not be limited for cyclists within a residential zone.

3. Persons who are under 15 years shall not be permitted to ride a moped.

4.Persons over 12 years of age shall be permitted to drive an  animal drawn vehicle, guide cattle and ride on horseback.

5. The Government or an institution authorised by it shall establish the categories of self-propelled and agricultural machines, which are not assigned to the category of motor vehicles, the minimum age of drivers, and also the categories of tractors and self-propelled machines.

 

Article 14. Driving Instruction

 

1. In cases where a person pays for his instruction, the person who shall meet the requirements set for a driving instructor established by the Government of its authorised institution, shall have the right to provide driving instruction. In instances when the instruction is not being paid for, persons who hold a driver’s licence of the corresponding category (of a category, which the person who is being given driving instruction wishes to acquire,) and three years of driving experience, shall have the right to give driving instructions.

2. The persons indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article shall have the right to right to drive a motor vehicle, if the student knows the Rules of the Road and adheres to the requirements thereof. It shall be prohibited to learn driving a motor vehicle without the participation of a person who has the right to instruct.

3. To start instructing to drive of a motor vehicle shall be permitted only within enclosed grounds or on a driving instruction course. Road instruction shall only be permitted when the student becomes sufficiently experienced in driving. It shall be permitted only on those roads, on which the owner of the road has not prohibited such.

4. The person who is given driving instruction on the road must not be more than one year younger than the age stipulated from which driving of vehicle is permitted.

5. A person who is providing driver instruction shall be considered equivalent to a driver. He must adhere to the requirements established for drivers and shall be responsible for observing the Rules of the Road during the course of instruction.

 

Article 15. Withdrawal of the Right to Drive Motor Vehicle

 

1.The right to drive a motor vehicle shall be lost in the following cases:

1) upon contracting any of the diseases, which is included in the list of diseases indicated in paragraph 3 of Article 12 of this Law, owing to which the person’s of health is  not suited for driving a motor vehicle;

2) with the  emergence of facts to the effect that that the right to drive a motor vehicle had been granted  upon presentation of false personal information, information on his health condition, or other false information instrumental in the decision to grant the driver’s licence;

3) in other instances provided for by the laws or international agreements  of the Republic of Lithuania.

2. The police shall adopt the decision to withdraw the right to drive a motor vehicle, except in the cases stipulated by laws. The right to drive a motor vehicle may also be withdrawn from those persons who have a driver’s licence issued in other countries which are also valid in the Republic of Lithuania.

 

 

CHAPTER IV

 

MOTOR VEHICLES

 

Article 16. General Requirements of Road Transport Vehicles

 

1. Only technically sound motor vehicles, which meet the technical requirements established by the Government or an institution authorised by it, will be permitted to participate in traffic.

2. The person in using the road transport vehicle, which participates in traffic and the driver thereof, shall ensure the technical condition of the motor vehicle.

3. it shall be prohibited to use motor vehicles, which have been adapted to left-side traffic and have a steering wheel on the right side except for those, which  have been registered in the Republic of Lithuania prior to May 1, 1993 or those, which by virtue of their design and equipment are intended to perform certain job functions. This restriction shall not apply (for up to 90 days per annum) to foreigners who have come to Lithuania, who do not hold a permit of temporary residence or a permit of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania, and also to the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, whose permanent place of residence is in a foreign state.

4. It shall be prohibited to install in the motor vehicle any devices and objects which shall impede the measuring of speed or detect speed measuring devices.

 

Article 17. Distinguishing Marks of Motor Vehicles

 

1. Each motor vehicle and trailer thereof (except for those not adapted for carriage on roads or those being carried) must have state numbers attached in the place designated for this purpose. Trolley buses may have written registration numbers. The Government or an institution authorised by it shall establish the procedure of marking motor vehicles.

2. It shall be prohibited to cover the number signs with protective materials, to bend them or otherwise alter their form and they must not be damaged, dirty or rusty.

3. A vehicle registered in the Republic of Lithuania, which is departing for other states and its trailer must bear the identifying mark of the Republic of Lithuania. A motor vehicle arriving in the Republic of Lithuania from another State must be marked with the identifying sign of the state in which it is registered. International agreements shall determine the identifying marks of a motor vehicle entering and exiting the Republic of Lithuania.

4. The Government or its authorised institution shall set the procedure of the issuance and use of the identifying mark “Handicapped.” The Rules of the Road may establish certain road signs or markings, which are not compulsory to drivers of the vehicles marked with this sign.

 

Article 18. Categories of Vehicles According to their Construction

 

1. Motor vehicles shall be separated into the following categories:

1) L category - motor vehicles having no more than 4 wheels;

2) M category - motor vehicles intended for the carriage of passengers;

3) N category - motor vehicles intended for the carriage of goods;

4) O category - trailers and semi-trailers;

5) G category - motor vehicles of greater hauling capacity.

2.Vehicle categories shall be separated into classes. The Minister of Transportation shall approve the categories and classes.

 

Article 19. Registration of Motor Vehicles

 

Only the motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers registered according to the procedure established by the Government or an institution authorised by it, may be used in the Republic of Lithuania. This requirement shall temporarily (up to 90 days per annum) be not applied to foreigners who enter the Republic of Lithuania, who do not hold a permit of temporary residence or of a permit of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania, and also to Republic of Lithuania citizens whose permanent place of residence is in a foreign state.

 

Article 20. Assessment of Conformity of Motor Vehicles

 

1. An assessment of conformity shall be applied to motor vehicles and the component parts thereof, whose list  shall be approved by the Government or an institution authorised by it.

2. The Government or an institution authorised by it, shall set the procedure of the assessment of conformity.

3. An institution authorised by the Government shall conduct the conformity assessment of motor vehicles and component parts thereof.

 

Article 21. State Technical Inspection of Motor Vehicles

 

1. The use of motor vehicles shall only be permitted while in possession of a valid state technical inspection coupon.

2. The user of a motor vehicle, which is registered in the Republic of Lithuania, must submit it for state technical inspection.

3. The Government or an institution authorised by it shall set the frequency and the technical requirements of the State Technical Inspection procedure.

4. Enterprises having a licence to engage in this activity, except for the enterprises engaged in the technical maintenance and repair of motor vehicles shall conduct state technical inspections. The licence to conduct state technical inspection in accordance with the procedure set by the Government or its authorised institution shall be issued by an institution authorised by it.

 

Article 22. Speed Limitation and Labour and Rest Accounting

 

The Government or its authorised institution shall set the requirements for labour and rest accounting and installation, use, repair, control and periodic inspection of speed limitation devices.

 

CHAPTER V

 

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

 

Article 23. Obligations of Traffic Participant in Event of Motor Vehicle Accident

 

In the event of a motor vehicle accident, traffic participants must:

1) stop immediately and mark the spot of the accident according to the procedure set in the Rules of the Road;

2) remain at the site of the accident, if the traffic participant is involved in  the accident, except in the instances stipulated in the Rules of the Road;

3) inform the police of the accident;

4) employ all  the means necessary in order to provide first aid for the victims, call for medical assistance and if needed take the victim to a medical institution, except in cases, when that would pose danger to the victim’s life, and health;

5) traffic participants who are linked to the motor vehicle accident must not consume alcohol or other intoxicating substances, immediately following the accident until the circumstances thereof are investigated and determined at the scene of the accident.

 

Article 24. Rescue Operations

 

In the event that a person has been injured or killed in the motor vehicle accident,  a traffic jam has been caused as a result of the accident,  a road motor vehicle, which is carrying dangerous cargo or cargo which has been spilled on the road, is involved in the accident and thus is endangering traffic, the services of the institutions authorised by the Government must, come to the scene of the accident, at once.

 

Article 25.  Investigation of Motor Vehicle Accident

 

1. In motor vehicle accident cases, the police shall conduct an investigation and inquiry of the accidents in order to determine the person responsible for causing the motor vehicle accident.

2. Striving to establish and eliminate the causes of such motor vehicle accidents, a special group of experts, formed by the Commission, shall investigate motor vehicle accidents, which have resulted in particularly serious consequences, except in instances stipulated by laws. This group shall have the right to obtain the information related to the ongoing investigation, from all enterprises, institutions, organisations or other persons,.

3. The group noted in paragraph 2 of this Article shall submit to the Commission and other interested institutions the conclusions concerning the results of the investigation of and proposals on the elimination of the causes of motor vehicle accidents. 

 

CHAPTER VI

 

LIABILITY

 

Article 26. Liability

 

Persons in violation of this Law shall be liable in accordance with the procedure established by laws.

 

CHAPTER VII

 

FINAL PROVISIONS

 

Article 27. Entry into Force of Law

 

1. This Law shall enter into force from January 1, 2001.

 

2. The Government shall draft the legal acts necessary for the implementation of this Law.

 

 

 

I promulgate this Law passed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

 

 

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC                           VALDAS ADAMKUS