10.5. Is reversing allowed at this dangerous curve?
UAЧи дозволено в даному місці небезпечного повороту рух заднім ходом?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the understanding of a basic safety principle: maneuvers that worsen control over the traffic situation are unacceptable where the driver already has limited visibility. On dangerous bends, vehicles may appear suddenly, and a car moving in reverse becomes an unusual and hard-to-predict obstacle for other road users. That is why such situations are often considered in the theoretical exam as examples of increased risk.
The task concerns a section marked with warning sign 1.1 “Dangerous right turn,” which indicates a curve with potentially limited visibility. This is directly related to the section of the Traffic Rules about starting movement and maneuvering: clause 10.10 of the Traffic Rules prohibits reversing on road sections with limited visibility or insufficient sight distance. In other words, not a “general rule of caution” applies here, but a direct prohibition, regardless of the width of the carriageway or the intensity of traffic.
Explaining the answer options: the statement about the possibility of reversing “provided safety is ensured” is not suitable, because clause 10.10 establishes a categorical prohibition specifically for such places. Instead, the correct option is the prohibition, since a dangerous bend means limited visibility, and under such conditions, the driver cannot objectively assess the approach of vehicles and safely perform a reversing maneuver. From a practical point of view, this knowledge helps to avoid the most typical accidents on “blind” bends and to confidently answer similar questions during the exam.
Clause 10.10
It is prohibited to drive vehicles in reverse on motorways, roads for automobiles, railway crossings, pedestrian crossings, intersections, bridges, overpasses, flyovers, in tunnels, at their entrances and exits, as well as on road sections with limited visibility or insufficient visibility. Driving in reverse is allowed on one-way roads provided the requirements of clause 10.9 of these Rules are met and it is impossible to approach the object in another way.
Clause 1.10 (terms "Visibility", "Limited visibility", "Visibility in the direction of travel", "Insufficient visibility")
Visibility in the direction of travel — the maximum distance from the driver's seat at which the boundaries of road elements and the location of road users can be clearly identified, allowing the driver to orient themselves while driving, in particular for choosing a safe speed and performing a safe maneuver.
Insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel of less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Visibility — the objective ability to see the traffic situation from the driver's seat.
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.
Clause 33.1 — 33 "Road signs", 1 "Warning signs", sign 1.1 "Dangerous right turn"
Sign 1.1 "Dangerous right turn" warns of a road curve with a radius of less than 500 m outside populated areas and less than 150 m — within populated areas, or of a curve with limited visibility. The sign is installed outside populated areas at a distance of 150–300 m, within populated areas — at a distance of 50–100 m before the start of the dangerous section. If necessary, the sign is installed at another distance, which is indicated on plate 7.1.1 "Distance to the object".
That is, the correct answer is "Prohibited.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a dangerous turn is a section with limited visibility, and clause 10.10 directly prohibits driving in reverse on road sections with limited visibility.
A warning sign 1.1 "Dangerous right turn" is installed at this location. It informs the driver that there is a curve ahead where the visibility of the road situation is limited by the geometry of the turn itself. That is, the driver cannot see in advance what is happening beyond the turn, and likewise, other road users cannot see the vehicle in advance.
Reversing is, by its nature, a maneuver that requires much better control of the situation than moving forward. Even with careful observation through the mirrors, the driver has poorer visibility and less time to react, and for other road users, a vehicle moving in reverse is an unusual and dangerous obstacle.
That is why clause 10.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine directly prohibits reversing on road sections with limited visibility. A dangerous turn creates just such limited visibility: a vehicle approaching from around the turn may appear suddenly, and the driver reversing will not be able to safely assess the distance and closing speed.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since visibility is limited at a dangerous turn, and clause 10.10 of the Traffic Rules directly prohibits reversing on such road sections.