These Rules, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Road Traffic", establish a uniform procedure for road traffic throughout the entire territory of Ukraine.

Other normative acts concerning the specifics of road traffic (transportation of special cargo, operation of certain types of vehicles, traffic in closed areas, etc.) must be based on the requirements of these Rules.

Right-hand traffic of vehicles is established in Ukraine.

Road traffic participants are obliged to know and strictly comply with the requirements of these Rules, as well as be mutually polite.

Every road traffic participant has the right to expect that other participants also comply with these Rules.

The actions or inaction of road traffic participants and other persons must not create danger or obstruction for traffic, threaten the life or health of citizens, or cause material damage.

A person who has created such conditions is obliged to immediately take measures to ensure road safety on this section of the road and take all possible measures to eliminate obstacles, and if this is impossible, warn other road traffic participants about them, notify the authorized unit of the National Police, the road owner or the body authorized by them.

Using roads for purposes other than their intended use is permitted subject to the requirements of Articles 36–38 of the Law of Ukraine "On Motor Roads".

Drivers are obliged to be especially attentive to such categories of road traffic participants as cyclists, persons moving in wheelchairs, and pedestrians. All road traffic participants must be especially careful with children, elderly people and persons with obvious signs of disability.

Restrictions in road traffic, other than those provided for by these Rules, may be introduced in the manner established by legislation.

Persons who violate these Rules bear responsibility in accordance with the legislation.

The terms used in these Rules have the following meaning:

bus — an automobile with more than nine seats including the driver's seat, which by its design and equipment is intended for the transportation of passengers and their luggage with the provision of necessary comfort and safety;

motorway — a motor road that:

• is specially built and intended for vehicular traffic, not intended for entry to or exit from adjacent territory;
• has separate carriageways for each direction of traffic, separated from each other by a central reservation;
• does not intersect at the same level with other roads, railway and tramway tracks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, animal crossings, has fencing on shoulders and central reservation and is enclosed by mesh;
• is marked with road sign 5.1;

motor road, street (road) — a part of territory, particularly in a populated area, with all structures located on it (bridges, overpasses, flyovers, above-ground and underground pedestrian crossings) and traffic management devices, intended for vehicular and pedestrian traffic and limited in width by the outer edge of sidewalks or the edge of the right-of-way. This term also includes specially built temporary roads, except randomly rolled roads (tracks);

motor roads of national importance — public motor roads, which include international, national, regional and territorial motor roads marked with the corresponding road signs;

road train (vehicle combination) — a motor vehicle connected to one or more trailers by means of a coupling device;

safe following distance — the distance to the vehicle moving ahead in the same lane, which in case of its sudden braking or stopping will allow the driver of the vehicle moving behind to avoid a collision without performing any manoeuvre;

safe speed — a speed at which the driver is able to safely control the vehicle and manage its movement in specific road conditions;

safe lateral clearance — the distance between the lateral parts of moving vehicles, or between them and other objects, which guarantees road safety;

towing — the movement of one vehicle by another vehicle, not related to the operation of road trains (vehicle combinations), on a rigid or flexible coupling or by partial loading onto a platform or onto a special support device;

truck — an automobile which by its design and equipment is intended for the transportation of goods;

cyclist — a person operating a bicycle;

bicycle — a vehicle, other than wheelchairs, powered by the muscular force of the person on it;

bicycle path — a paved path outside the carriageway of a street and/or road, located separately or adjacent to a sidewalk or pedestrian path, intended for cycling, and marked with road sign 4.14 and horizontal marking 1.36;

bicycle lane — a lane intended for cycling within the carriageway of a street and/or road, marked with road sign 5.88 and corresponding horizontal road marking;

bicycle crossing — a place where cyclists cross the carriageway within or outside an intersection, marked with road marking 1.15;

visibility in the direction of travel — the maximum distance at which from the driver's position one can clearly identify the boundaries of road elements and the position of traffic participants, enabling the driver to orient while operating the vehicle, particularly for choosing a safe speed and performing a safe manoeuvre;

forced stop — cessation of vehicle movement due to its technical malfunction or danger caused by the cargo being transported, the condition of a road traffic participant, or the appearance of an obstacle to movement;

overtaking in adjacent lane — movement of a vehicle at a speed exceeding the speed of a vehicle moving alongside in the same direction in an adjacent lane;

vehicle owner — a natural or legal person who possesses property rights to a vehicle, confirmed by the relevant documents;

driver — a person who operates a vehicle and holds a driving licence (tractor operator's licence, temporary permit for the right to operate a vehicle, temporary card for the right to operate a vehicle) of the appropriate category. A driver is also a person who teaches vehicle operation while being directly in the vehicle;

dimensional-weight control — inspection of the dimensional and weight parameters of a vehicle (including a motor vehicle), trailer and cargo for compliance with established norms regarding dimensions (width, height from the road surface, vehicle length) and load (actual mass, axle load), conducted in accordance with the established procedure at stationary or mobile dimensional-weight control points;

lawn — a section of homogeneous territory with a turf cover artificially created by sowing and growing turf-forming grasses (mainly perennial cereals) or sodding;

braking distance — the distance travelled by a vehicle during emergency braking from the moment of applying force to the brake system control mechanism (pedal, handle) to the place of its stop;

main road — a paved road relative to a dirt road, or one marked with signs 1.22, 1.23.1-1.23.4 and 2.3. The presence of pavement on a secondary road immediately before an intersection does not equate it in importance to the intersecting road;

give way — a requirement for a road traffic participant not to continue or resume movement, not to perform any manoeuvres (except for the requirement to vacate the occupied lane), if this may force other road traffic participants who have priority to change their direction of movement or speed;

daytime running lights — external white-coloured lighting devices provided by the vehicle design, installed at the front of the vehicle and intended to improve the visibility of the vehicle during daytime driving;

child restraint system — equipment capable of holding a child in a seated or reclined position, which in the event of a collision or sudden braking of the vehicle reduces the risk of injury to the child in it by limiting the mobility of their body;

maximum authorized mass — the mass of the equipped vehicle with cargo, driver and passengers, established by the vehicle's technical characteristics as the maximum permissible. The maximum authorized mass of a road train is the sum of the maximum authorized mass of each vehicle in the road train;

maximum authorized axle load — the maximum axle load of a vehicle specified in subparagraph "c" of paragraph 22.5 of these Rules;

maximum authorized dimensions — the maximum dimensions of a vehicle specified in subparagraph "a" of paragraph 22.5 of these Rules;

road traffic accident — an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured, or material damage was caused;

road works — works related to the construction, reconstruction, repair or maintenance of a motor road (street), artificial structures, road drainage structures, engineering facilities, installation (repair, replacement) of technical means of traffic management;

road conditions — a set of factors characterizing (taking into account the season, time of day, atmospheric phenomena, road illumination) visibility in the direction of travel, the condition of the carriageway surface (cleanliness, evenness, roughness, grip), as well as its width, the magnitude of gradients on descents and ascents, cambers and curves, the presence of sidewalks or shoulders, traffic management means and their condition;

traffic situation — a set of factors characterized by road conditions, the presence of obstacles on a particular section of road, the intensity and level of traffic management (presence and condition of road markings, road signs, road equipment, traffic lights), which the driver must take into account when choosing speed, lane and vehicle control techniques;

patrol police road station — a section of terrain marked with road sign 6.10 near the carriageway of the road with a building or other structure located on it, intended for patrol police officers during their duty;

operation of a vehicle combination — transportation by a tractor of a trailer in accordance with the instructions for its use (compliance of the trailer with the tractor, presence of a safety connection, unified signalling and lighting system, etc.);

flyover — an engineering structure for vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic, raising one road above another at their intersection, as well as for creating a road at a certain height without exits to another road;

residential area — courtyard territories, as well as parts of populated areas marked with road sign 5.34;

leaving the scene of a road traffic accident — actions of a road traffic accident participant aimed at concealing the fact of such accident or the circumstances of its commission, which necessitated police measures to establish (search for) this participant and/or search for the vehicle;

railway crossing — an intersection of a road with railway tracks at the same level;

dazzle — a physiological state of the driver resulting from the effect of light on their vision, when the driver objectively has no ability to detect obstacles or recognize the boundaries of road elements at a minimum distance;

stop — cessation of vehicle movement for up to 5 minutes or longer if necessary for boarding (alighting) passengers or loading (unloading) cargo, fulfilling the requirements of these Rules (giving priority, complying with traffic controller requirements, traffic light signals, etc.);

pedestrian column — an organized group of people moving along the carriageway in one direction;

vehicle column — an organized group of three or more vehicles moving together in one direction directly one after another with permanently activated low beam headlights;

edge of carriageway (for non-rail vehicles) — a visible notional or road marking-designated line on the carriageway at the point of its adjacency to the shoulder, sidewalk, lawn, central reservation, tramway lane, bicycle or pedestrian path;

extreme position on the carriageway — the position of a vehicle at a distance from the edge of the carriageway (the middle of the carriageway or central reservation) that does not allow a vehicle moving in the same direction (including a two-wheeled vehicle) to move even closer to the edge of the carriageway (the middle of the carriageway or central reservation);

wheelchair — a specially designed wheeled device intended for road travel by persons with disabilities or persons belonging to other low-mobility population groups. A wheelchair has at least two wheels and is equipped with a motor or propelled by human muscular force;

passenger car — an automobile with no more than nine seats including the driver's seat, which by its design and equipment is intended for the transportation of passengers and their luggage with the provision of necessary comfort and safety;

manoeuvring (manoeuvre) — starting movement, changing lanes while in motion from one lane to another, turning right or left, making a U-turn, exiting the carriageway, reversing;

route transport vehicles (public transport vehicles) — buses, minibuses, trolleybuses, trams and taxis that travel along established routes and have designated places on the road for boarding (alighting) passengers;

motor vehicle — a vehicle propelled by an engine. This term applies to tractors, self-propelled machines and mechanisms, as well as trolleybuses and vehicles with an electric motor exceeding 3 kW;

minibus — a single-deck bus with no more than seventeen seats including the driver's seat;

bridge — a structure intended for crossing a river, ravine and other obstacles, the boundaries of which are the beginning and end of span structures;

moped — a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine displacement of up to 50 cc or an electric motor with a power of up to 4 kW;

motorcycle — a two-wheeled motor vehicle with or without a sidecar, having an engine with a displacement of 50 cc or more. Motor scooters, motorized wheelchairs, three-wheeled and other motor vehicles with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 400 kg are equated to motorcycles;

populated area — a built-up area, the entrances to and exits from which are marked with road signs 5.49, 5.50, 5.51, 5.52;

danger to traffic — a change in the traffic situation (including the appearance of a moving object approaching the lane of a vehicle or crossing it) or the technical condition of a vehicle that threatens road safety and forces the driver to immediately reduce speed or stop. A special case of danger to traffic is the movement within the lane of a vehicle of another vehicle against the general flow;

insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel of less than 300 m at dusk, in conditions of fog, rain, snowfall, etc.;

indivisible cargo — cargo that cannot be divided into two or more parts without excessive costs or risk of damage;

overtaking — passing one or more vehicles involving entering the oncoming traffic lane;

limited visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel limited by the geometric parameters of the road, roadside engineering structures, plantings and other objects, as well as vehicles;

field of view — the objective ability to see the traffic situation from the driver's position;

person moving in a wheelchair — a person with a disability or a person belonging to other low-mobility population groups and independently moving on the road in a wheelchair;

safety island — a traffic management device at surface pedestrian crossings, structurally raised above the road carriageway and intended as a protective element for pedestrians to stop while crossing the carriageway. The part of the central reservation through which a pedestrian crossing passes belongs to the safety island;

passenger — a person using a vehicle and being in it, but not involved in its operation;

priority — the right to move first in relation to other road traffic participants;

transportation of organized groups of children — simultaneous transportation of ten or more children with a supervisor responsible for accompanying them during the trip (for a group of thirty or more children, a medical worker is additionally appointed);

obstacle to traffic — a stationary object within the lane of a vehicle or an object moving in the same direction within this lane (except for a vehicle moving against the general traffic flow) that forces the driver to manoeuvre or reduce speed to a complete stop;

intersection — a place where roads cross, adjoin or branch at the same level, the boundary of which is imaginary lines between the beginnings of the curves of the edges of the carriageway of each road. A place where an exit from adjacent territory adjoins a road is not considered an intersection;

pedestrian — a person participating in road traffic outside of vehicles and not performing any work on the road. Persons moving in wheelchairs without a motor, leading a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, pulling a sled, cart, baby stroller or wheelchair are also equated to pedestrians;

pedestrian crossing — a section of the carriageway, safety island or central reservation, or an engineering structure intended for pedestrian movement across the road. Pedestrian crossings are marked with road signs 5.38.1-5.41.2, road markings 1.14.1-1.14.3, pedestrian traffic lights. In the absence of road markings, the boundaries of a pedestrian crossing are determined by the distance between road signs or pedestrian traffic lights, and at an intersection in the absence of pedestrian traffic lights, road signs and markings — by the width of sidewalks or shoulders. A pedestrian crossing is considered regulated if traffic on it is regulated by a traffic light or traffic controller, and unregulated — a pedestrian crossing where there is no traffic controller, traffic lights are absent, turned off, or operating in flashing yellow mode;

pedestrian path — a paved path intended for pedestrian movement, constructed within or outside the road and marked with sign 4.16;

adjacent territory — territory adjacent to the edge of the carriageway and not intended for through traffic, but only for entering courtyards, parking lots, gas stations, construction sites, etc., or exiting from them;

trailer — a vehicle intended for movement only in connection with another vehicle. Semi-trailers and logging trailers also belong to this type of vehicle;

carriageway — an element of the road intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles. A road may have several carriageways, the boundaries of which are central reservations;

traffic controller — a police officer who regulates road traffic in high-visibility uniform clothing with elements of retroreflective material using a baton and whistle. Workers of the military road safety inspection, road maintenance service, attendants at railway crossings and ferry crossings who have the appropriate certificate and armband, baton, disc with a red signal or reflector, red lantern or flag and perform regulation in uniform clothing are equated to traffic controllers;

rail vehicle — a tram and platforms with special equipment moving along tramway tracks. All other vehicles participating in road traffic are considered non-rail;

central reservation — a structurally separated element or one separated by solid road marking lines 1.2 of a motor road that divides adjacent carriageways. The central reservation is not intended for vehicular traffic or parking. If there is a sidewalk on the central reservation, pedestrian movement is permitted on it;

agricultural machinery — tractors, self-propelled chassis, self-propelled agricultural, road construction, land reclamation machines and other mechanisms;

traffic lane — a longitudinal lane on the carriageway at least 2.75 m wide, marked or unmarked by road markings, intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles;

parking — cessation of vehicle movement for more than 5 minutes for reasons not related to the need to comply with the requirements of these Rules, boarding (alighting) passengers, loading (unloading) cargo;

dark hours — the part of the day from sunset to sunrise;

vehicle — a device intended for the transportation of people and/or cargo, as well as special equipment or mechanisms installed on it;

tramway track — an element of the road intended for the movement of rail vehicles, limited in width by specially designated tramway line paving or road markings. Non-rail vehicles are permitted to travel on tramway tracks in accordance with Section 11 of these Rules;

sidewalk — an element of the road intended for pedestrian movement, adjacent to the carriageway or separated from it by a lawn;

improved surface — cement concrete, asphalt concrete, reinforced concrete or steel-fibre reinforced concrete prefabricated surface, pavements laid with cobblestones and mosaic, prefabricated surface of small-sized concrete slabs, of crushed stone and gravel treated with organic and viscous materials;

shoulder — a structurally separated element or one separated by a solid road marking line of a motor road, adjacent directly to the outer edge of the carriageway, located at the same level with it and not intended for vehicular traffic, except in cases provided for by these Rules. The shoulder may be used for stopping and parking vehicles, pedestrian movement, mopeds, bicycles (in the absence of sidewalks, pedestrian, bicycle paths or if it is impossible to move along them), horse-drawn carts (sledges);

road traffic participant — a person who takes direct part in the process of movement on the road as a pedestrian, driver, passenger, animal herder, cyclist, as well as a person moving in a wheelchair;

actual mass — the mass of the equipped vehicle, determined by its technical characteristics, with the driver and cargo;

actual mass of a road train — the sum of the actual mass of each vehicle included in the road train;

overpass — a bridge-type engineering structure over another road (railway) at their intersection, providing traffic on it at different levels and allowing exit to another road.