10.35. You are the driver of a vehicle. While driving on a bridge, you realize that you have chosen the wrong direction. What should you do?
UAВи водій автомобіля, рухаючись по мосту, зрозуміли, що обрали не вірний напрямок. Ваші дії:
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safely changing direction in high-risk areas. Bridges, overpasses, and flyovers have limited width, guardrails, often lack shoulders, and also present challenging traction conditions (uneven surfaces, icing, crosswinds). Any sudden maneuver here significantly increases the risk of an accident and may force other drivers to brake sharply or swerve.
The question tests Section 10 of the Traffic Rules, specifically clause 10.7 regarding the prohibition of U-turns on bridges, overpasses, flyovers, and under them, as well as the general requirement of clause 10.1 to perform maneuvers only when it is safe and does not create obstacles. For the theoretical exam, it is important to clearly remember: even if you made a mistake with your route, you cannot "correct" it on an engineering structure — the correct tactic is to finish crossing the bridge and only then make a U-turn at a place where it is permitted by signs, road markings, and visibility conditions.
The analysis of the options here is straightforward: any U-turn directly on the bridge is a violation of clause 10.7, regardless of whether the driver signals and yields to oncoming traffic. Turning on the indicator and "yielding to everyone" do not cancel the prohibition and do not make the maneuver legal. The only correct option for the driver is to calmly continue driving without creating danger and change direction only after the bridge in a permitted location.
Clause 10.7 (Section 10 "Starting to move and changing its direction", prohibition of U-turns)
U-turns are prohibited, in particular: on bridges, overpasses, viaducts, and under them.
Application: a bridge is considered an engineering structure, so making a U-turn directly on a bridge is not allowed regardless of the reason (including if the driver made a mistake in the direction of travel). You must finish crossing the bridge and make a U-turn only in a place where it is not prohibited by the Traffic Rules/signs/markings.
Clause 10.1 (Section 10 "Starting to move and changing its direction", general safety requirements for maneuvers)
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning, or making a U-turn, or stopping, the driver must make sure that it will be safe and will not create obstacles or danger to other road users.
Application: even if the driver intends to change the direction of travel, he is obliged to do so only safely and in a permitted place; on a bridge, a U-turn is directly prohibited by clause 10.7, so the "safe" and "correct" course of action is to continue driving to the end of the bridge.
Thus, the correct answer is "Cross the bridge and then make a U-turn in a permitted place," given that by the definition of the Traffic Rules, U-turns on bridges (as well as overpasses, viaducts, and under them) are prohibited, and any change in the direction of travel should be performed only safely and in a permitted place.
When you have already entered the bridge and realize while driving that you have chosen the wrong direction, the main rule for the driver in this situation is not to try to correct the mistake with a maneuver where it creates increased danger.
According to clause 10.7 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, U-turns are prohibited on bridges, overpasses, and viaducts. That is, even if you need to turn back, you cannot make a U-turn directly on the bridge, regardless of traffic intensity or whether it 'seems there is enough space.'
The practical reason for this prohibition is simple: a bridge is an engineering structure with a limited roadway width, often without a proper shoulder, with barriers and an increased risk of consequences in case of error. Attempting a U-turn on a bridge forces other drivers to brake sharply or swerve, and any steering failure or loss of control in such an area is harder to compensate for. As a result, the risk of an accident, traffic jam, or blockage increases.
Therefore, the correct tactic is to calmly continue driving, finish crossing the bridge, and only after that find a place where a U-turn is permitted by road signs, markings, and visibility and safety conditions, and perform the maneuver there.
Thus, the correct answer is "You will cross the bridge and then make a U-turn at a permitted location," since a U-turn on a bridge is prohibited by clause 10.7 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, and safely correcting your route is only possible after crossing the bridge in a zone where the maneuver is allowed.