A refinement of the GOST 52766 standard, titled Public highways. Regulation elements. General requirements, is gaining attention as a potential norm for the future. The modification aims to clarify and expand several key provisions that affect road infrastructure design and safety across highways, including main toll routes and other public road categories.
The most notable updates touch on lighting, vegetation, bus service spacing, pedestrian facilities, and crossing visibility. Together, these changes are intended to improve nighttime visibility, reduce maintenance complexity, and enhance the safety and comfort of travelers on diverse road networks.
First, mandatory lighting becomes a universal requirement for toll roads, independent of their category or traffic intensity. This measure aligns lighting standards with the goal of ensuring safe travel conditions on all high-traffic corridors where toll collection facilities operate, as better illumination supports driver perception, reaction time, and overall road safety after dark.
Second, the amendments introduce refined guidelines for plantings alongside roads. In certain situations, shrubs may substitute for railings, provided that the vegetation adheres to the specified criteria. The updated rule sets a maximum shrub height of eighty centimeters, balancing landscape aesthetics with a clear line of sight for drivers and pedestrians near walkways and road edges.
Third, there is a proposal to shorten the minimum distance between bus stops on selected road classes. Where proximity previously permitted stops no more than three kilometers apart on category 1B through 4 roads, the new proposal envisions a reduction to a maximum distance of one and a half kilometers. This change is designed to improve accessibility for public transport users and to strengthen the responsiveness of bus networks in urban and peri-urban areas.
Fourth, the new standard specifies that the landing area at a bus stop must measure at least two meters in width. This requirement supports safe boarding and alighting, provides space for passenger queues, and accommodates accessibility needs, including those of people with reduced mobility.
Fifth, section 4.5.2, dealing with pedestrian crossings, receives an upgrade to its visibility provisions for pedestrians crossing at the same level as the roadway. The text introduces a refined approach to determining the minimum sight distance required for vehicles to stop in time, incorporating an updated calculation method that reflects current vehicle speeds, driver behavior, and roadway geometry. This enhancement aims to reduce the likelihood of vehicle-pedestrian conflicts at unmapped or shared crossing zones.
These proposed changes were introduced for discussion in September of two thousand twenty-two, with the consultation period extending into early October of that year. The process connected engineers, city planners, road authorities, and other stakeholders as they evaluated the practical implications for compliance, budgeting, and implementation timelines across regions that rely on GOST-based standards.