10.45. What must the driver do, if necessary, to ensure road safety when reversing a vehicle?
UAЩо в разі потреби повинен зробити водій для забезпечення безпеки дорожнього руху під час руху заднім ходом на транспортному засобі?
Question without image
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning road safety during maneuvers, specifically when reversing. Such a maneuver is considered high-risk due to limited visibility, "blind spots," and the difficulty of controlling the situation behind and to the sides of the vehicle. In the theoretical exam, it is important to understand that the driver's responsibility here lies not only in being cautious but also in choosing the correct actions when their own ability to observe is insufficient.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules on maneuvering, namely the requirements of point 10.9 of the Traffic Rules. The regulation directly states: when reversing, the driver must not create danger or obstacles for other road users, and to ensure safety, if necessary, must seek assistance from other persons. That is, the key idea of this rule is not "warning everyone with signals," but actually ensuring control of the situation when it cannot be reliably assessed from the driver's seat.
The analysis of the answer options in the exam ticket comes down to the fact that turning on the hazard warning lights while reversing is not established by the Traffic Rules of Ukraine as an obligation under point 10.9, so such a choice does not meet the requirements of the rule. Instead, seeking help from other persons is exactly the course of action provided by the traffic rules when visibility is limited (exiting a yard, tight space between cars, obstacles, heavy pedestrian traffic, nighttime), and the driver cannot independently guarantee a safe maneuver.
The practical significance of this topic for driving school students and preparation for the theoretical exam lies in the fact that even with a rear-view camera or parking sensors, there may still be blind spots. The correct behavior according to the Traffic Rules is not to rush, to control the trajectory and intervals, to remember about the displacement of the front part of the car when turning, and if necessary, to involve an assistant in order not to create danger for other road users.
Clause 10.9
When reversing, the driver must not create danger or obstacles for other road users. To ensure traffic safety, if necessary, the driver must seek assistance from other persons.
Explanation of application: if, while reversing, visibility is limited and the driver cannot independently ensure the maneuver is safe (presence of "blind spots," obstacles, pedestrians, etc.), the Traffic Rules directly require involving a helper.
That is, the correct answer is "Seek assistance from other persons," given that, according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, if necessary while reversing, the driver is obliged to ensure safety by seeking assistance from others.
Reversing is considered a maneuver with increased risk because it is more difficult for the driver to control the situation behind the vehicle: the view is limited by the car’s pillars, trunk height, parked cars, as well as so-called “blind spots.” Because of this, pedestrians, cyclists, or other obstacles that are not visible from the driver’s seat can pose a danger.
According to clause 10.9 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, when reversing, the driver is required to ensure safety and not create obstacles or danger for other road users. In practice, this means: before starting the maneuver, you must make sure the area behind is clear, control the trajectory using mirrors and by looking back, and also remember that when turning the rear of the car, the front part may shift to the side and also pose a danger.
If the situation is such that the driver cannot reliably assess distances or see the area behind (for example, reversing out of a yard with limited visibility, maneuvering in a tight courtyard between cars, driving near a place with a crowd of pedestrians, at night, or with obstacles blocking the view), then self-control may not be sufficient even if there is a camera or parking sensor. In such a situation, the requirement of the Traffic Rules is fulfilled by involving a person who will indicate a safe direction and warn about obstacles.
It is important to understand that turning on the hazard warning lights while reversing is not mandatory, since clause 10.9 establishes a different course of action if the driver cannot guarantee safety independently: to seek outside assistance.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Seek help from other persons," because according to clause 10.9 of the Traffic Rules, when reversing, the driver must ensure safety, and when, due to limited visibility, he cannot do this independently, he is required to involve an assistant.