10.23. Which of the drivers has correctly chosen the lane for turning when entering an intersection with a roundabout?
UAХто з водіїв правильно зайняв смугу для повороту у разі в’їзду на перехрестя, де організовано круговий рух?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests knowledge of the rules for passing intersections with roundabouts and the ability to correctly choose a lane before making a maneuver. Such situations directly affect road safety: incorrect lane selection or careless lane changes on a roundabout often lead to trajectory conflicts, sudden braking, and accidents.
The question relates to the topic of Maneuvering (section 10 of the Traffic Rules) in combination with the requirements of road signs (in particular, regulatory sign 4.10 "Roundabout"). The key point here is the provision of paragraph 10.4 of the Traffic Rules: in general, before turning, the driver must take the appropriate extreme position in advance, but for entering an intersection with an organized roundabout, there is an exception. If the directions of movement by lanes are not defined by signs or markings, entry onto the roundabout is allowed from any lane in your direction, so both drivers in this situation have chosen their lanes correctly.
The analysis of the options in this theoretical exam comes down to understanding the exception to p. 10.4: the statement that only the driver of the red car or only the driver of the white car is acting correctly would be true only if there were signs 5.16/5.18 or marking 1.18, which assign directions to specific lanes. Since there are no such indications, both options "only one driver" do not comply with the traffic rules. At the same time, it is important to remember the practice: already on the roundabout itself, when changing lanes, p. 10.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine applies (the one who changes lanes yields; in case of simultaneous lane changes, the vehicle on the right has priority), so it is better to plan your trajectory in advance to avoid dangerous lane changes at the intersection.
Clause 10.4
Before turning right or left, including in the direction of the main road, or making a U-turn, the driver is required to take in advance the appropriate outermost position on the carriageway designated for movement in that direction, except in cases where the turn is made when entering an intersection with organized circular traffic, the direction of movement is determined by road signs or road markings, or movement is possible only in one direction as established by the configuration of the carriageway, road signs, or markings. A driver making a left turn or U-turn outside an intersection from the appropriate outermost position on the carriageway of that direction must yield to oncoming vehicles, and when performing these maneuvers not from the outermost left position on the carriageway — also to vehicles moving in the same direction. A driver making a left turn must yield to vehicles moving in the same direction ahead of them and making a U-turn. If there is a tram track in the middle of the carriageway, the driver of a non-rail vehicle making a left turn or U-turn outside an intersection must yield to the tram.
This clause checks the key rule: when entering an intersection with organized circular traffic, it is not required to necessarily take the "outermost" lane (as for a regular turn) if the directions are not distributed by signs/markings.
Clause 33.4 — 33 "Road signs", 4 "Mandatory signs", sign 4.10 "Roundabout"
Sign 4.10 "Roundabout" requires movement at an intersection with a roundabout in the direction indicated by the arrows on the sign.
This provision checks the recognition that ahead is precisely an intersection with organized circular traffic, and therefore the exception from clause 10.4 regarding lane selection before a "turn" at such an intersection applies.
Clause 10.3
When changing lanes, the driver must yield to vehicles moving in the same direction in the lane into which they intend to move. In the case of simultaneous lane changes by vehicles moving in the same direction, the driver changing to a lane located to the right must yield to the vehicle on the right.
This clause is additionally relevant in the context of circular traffic: if, after entering the roundabout, drivers begin to change lanes, the lane change rules apply (whoever changes lanes yields, and in the case of simultaneous lane changes — priority to the right).
Thus, the correct answer is "Drivers of both vehicles.", considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, entering an intersection with organized circular traffic does not require necessarily taking only the outermost position (clause 10.4) if directions are not set by signs/markings, and sign 4.10 only establishes the direction of movement on the roundabout itself.
In front of us is an intersection with a roundabout. This is confirmed by the mandatory sign 4.10 “Roundabout”, which obliges drivers to move around the central island in the indicated direction. Therefore, both cars are approaching just such an intersection.
The general rule of paragraph 10.4 of the Traffic Rules is as follows: before turning right or left, the driver must in advance take the corresponding extreme position on the carriageway. That is, usually to turn right you need to move closer to the right edge, and to turn left or make a U-turn — closer to the left edge.
But in the same paragraph 10.4 there is an important exception: when making a turn while entering an intersection with a roundabout, the requirement to necessarily occupy the extreme lane does not apply if the direction of movement is not defined by road signs or markings. In other words, entry onto the “roundabout” is allowed from any lane of your direction if there are no special indications assigning each lane to a specific direction.
In the given situation, both drivers approached the intersection in their respective lanes of the same direction, and there are no conditions requiring either of them to necessarily move to the extreme right or extreme left lane before entering. Therefore, each of them occupies the lane correctly and can enter the roundabout from their lane. Already on the roundabout itself, if one of the drivers decides to change lanes, he must act according to the rules for changing lanes and not create obstacles for another vehicle.
Thus, the correct answer is “Drivers of both vehicles,” since when entering an intersection with a roundabout in the absence of signs or markings that determine the directions of movement by lanes, paragraph 10.4 allows entry from any lane of the same direction.