US-produced cars with red rear turn signals and ‘running lights’ [we think that means side markers] may not be imported to Russia “through official channels,” Mikhail Kamynin, an official with Russia’s Foreign Ministry, told the Prime-Tass news agency on Thursday.
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According to the amendment to Russian traffic rules that took force on 1 January, all cars should be equipped with running lights and turn signals of only yellow or orange colours.
“We a not talking about additional (import) barriers here,” said Kamynin. “The amendments bring the Russian traffic rules in line with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and (other international treaties).”
US carmakers traditionally equipped their cars with red rear running lights and red rear turn signals. Amber turn signals were allowed from the mid-1970s but automakers routinely use both; sometimes switching colours when vehicles get minor updates.
Currently the Russian government is considering an option to apply the new rule regarding lights to cars imported to Russia after 1 January, Kamynin said.
There are about three million US cars in Russia at the moment that are equipped with both red rear running lights and red rear turn signals, according to the report.
Few European-made models have side marker lamps in markets outside North America. Those that do – predominantly Volvos – have amber lenses at the rear, rather than the red ones fitted to US-bound versions.
