10.62. Are you allowed to make a U-turn at an intersection within 10 meters of a pedestrian crossing?
UAЧи дозволено Вам виконати розворот на перехресті в зоні 10 метрів від переходу?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safety when changing the direction of movement in a high-risk area where the paths of vehicles and pedestrians intersect. It is especially important to understand how general prohibitions near pedestrian crossings combine with the rules for passing intersections, as theoretical exams often test knowledge of exceptions to the rules and the ability to apply traffic regulations in real-life situations.
The question checks Section 10 "Starting Movement and Changing Its Direction" (points 10.7, 10.1, 10.4) in conjunction with Section 16 "Passing Intersections" and the requirements for priority (point 16.6), as well as Section 18 regarding behavior near pedestrian crossings. The key idea is this: the general prohibition on making a U-turn at a crossing and within 10 meters of it has an exception if the maneuver is performed specifically at the intersection and not within the pedestrian crossing itself, provided there are no other restrictions by signs, markings, traffic signals, or instructions from a traffic controller.
The answer "yes" is correct because the Traffic Rules explicitly allow the "10-meter rule" not to apply in the case of a permitted U-turn at an intersection, but the driver must act safely: signal, perform the maneuver from the appropriate (usually far left) lane, watch for pedestrians and yield to them, as well as yield to oncoming vehicles moving straight or turning right, and to trams moving in the same direction. The answer "no" would only be correct if the U-turn is not performed at the intersection, is made directly at the crossing, or if there are additional prohibitions by traffic organization.
Clause 10.7 (Section 10 "Starting and changing direction of movement")
U-turns are prohibited: ... g) at pedestrian crossings and within 10 m of them on both sides, except in cases where a U-turn is allowed at an intersection.
Brief application: the general prohibition of "10 m before/after the crossing" does not apply if the U-turn is performed exactly at the intersection (in the absence of other prohibitions by signs/markings/traffic lights/traffic controller), but a U-turn cannot be performed directly within the pedestrian crossing itself.
Clause 10.1 (Section 10 "Starting and changing direction of movement")
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning or making a U-turn, and stopping, the driver must give the appropriate signal with turn indicators, and in their absence or malfunction — by hand, and make sure that this will be safe and will not create obstacles or danger to other road users.
Brief application: even if a U-turn at the intersection is allowed, it must be performed only after assessing safety and with mandatory signaling.
Clause 10.4 (Section 10 "Starting and changing direction of movement")
Turning left or making a U-turn should be done from the far left position on the carriageway (the appropriate lane) intended for movement in that direction, unless otherwise specified by road signs or markings.
Brief application: at an intersection, a U-turn is performed from the appropriate (usually far left) lane, unless otherwise established by traffic organization.
Clause 16.6 (Section 16 "Passing intersections")
When turning left or making a U-turn at an intersection, the driver of a non-rail vehicle must yield to a tram moving in the same direction, as well as to oncoming vehicles moving straight or turning right.
Brief application: permission to make a U-turn at an intersection does not cancel the obligation to yield to specified road users.
Clause 18.1 (Section 18 "Passing pedestrian crossings")
At uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, the driver is obliged to reduce speed, and if necessary stop, to yield to pedestrians who are crossing the carriageway or have entered it to cross.
Brief application: when making a U-turn at an intersection, the driver is obliged to ensure the safety of pedestrians at the crossing and yield to them if they are crossing.
Clause 1.10 (term "Intersection")
Intersection — a place where roads cross, adjoin, or branch at the same level, the boundaries of which are determined by imaginary lines between the beginning of the rounding of the edges of the carriageway of each road.
Brief application: performing the maneuver "at the intersection" is the condition under which the exception to "10 meters from the crossing" (clause 10.7 e) can be applied.
Clause 1.10 (term "Pedestrian crossing")
Pedestrian crossing — a section of the carriageway or engineering structure intended for pedestrian movement across the road, marked by road signs and/or road markings.
Brief application: even if a U-turn at the intersection is allowed, the prohibition from clause 10.7 directly applies to making a U-turn on the crossing itself — that is, within this marked section.
That is, the correct answer is "Yes.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a U-turn within 10 m of a pedestrian crossing is prohibited, but clause 10.7 (e) explicitly establishes an exception: if the U-turn is performed at the intersection (and not within the crossing itself), the "10 m" requirement does not apply.
When preparing for the exam, it is important to distinguish the general prohibition of making a U-turn near a pedestrian crossing from the situation when the maneuver is performed specifically at an intersection. According to the Traffic Rules, making a U-turn is prohibited at pedestrian crossings and closer than 10 meters from them on both sides. However, there is an exception in this rule: the 10-meter restriction does not apply if the U-turn is allowed to be performed at the intersection.
An intersection, according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, is a place where roads cross, adjoin, or branch at the same level. It is precisely at intersections that the rules provide for maneuvers to change the direction of movement, including U-turns, if there are no prohibitory signs, markings, traffic light signals, or instructions from a traffic controller. Therefore, the close location of a pedestrian crossing to the maneuver area within the intersection itself does not make the U-turn prohibited.
At the same time, the driver must perform the U-turn safely: not to start or finish the maneuver on the pedestrian crossing itself, to monitor the presence of pedestrians and give them the right of way, as well as to yield to oncoming vehicles moving straight or to the right. The maneuver should be performed from the appropriate position on the carriageway (as a rule, from the far left lane or closer to the center line) with the turn signal activated.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Yes.", since the prohibition of making a U-turn closer than 10 meters from a pedestrian crossing does not apply in the case of a permitted U-turn at an intersection, provided that the maneuver is not performed on the crossing itself and is carried out safely, giving priority to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.