10.65. The driver of the grey car is entering a roundabout. Is it necessary in this case to switch on the left turn indicator?
UAВодій сірого автомобіля здійснює в’їзд на перехрестя з круговим рухом. Чи потрібно в такому випадку вмикати лівий покажчик повороту?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety of passing intersections and the correct use of turn signals. In practice, it is precisely an incorrect or “unnecessary” signal that often causes misunderstandings between drivers when entering a roundabout, especially on multi-lane approaches, where any signal may be perceived as an intention to change lanes. Therefore, the theoretical exam tests not a “habit,” but the understanding of the logic behind the traffic rules.
The content of the task checks the section of the Traffic Rules regarding signaling (in particular, the requirement in clause 9.2 to activate the indicator only in the corresponding direction before turning, changing lanes, or any other change of direction) in conjunction with the topic of passing roundabouts and the effect of mandatory signs (sign 4.10 “Roundabout”). The key idea is this: the very act of entering a roundabout does not equal the maneuver of “turning left,” since the direction of movement on the circle is already determined by the traffic organization and the configuration of the carriageway. The left signal in this situation does not clarify the driver’s actions and may mislead other participants, which contradicts the purpose of signals and the general safety principle (clause 10.1).
If we analyze the options, the answer “Yes” is incorrect, because the left indicator is appropriate only when the driver is actually making a left turn or changing lanes to the left, and not simply entering a roundabout. The “No” option is correct: in a typical situation of entering a roundabout, the left indicator is not needed and may be misinterpreted by other drivers as an intention to change lanes. Understanding this rule helps to answer exam questions correctly and to act more safely in real traffic, avoiding unnecessary risks due to incorrect signals.
Clause 9.2
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning or making a U-turn, stopping or parking, the driver must signal with the direction indicators of the corresponding direction, and if they are absent or faulty — by hand. The signal must be given in advance before starting the maneuver and must be stopped immediately after it is completed.
Brief application: the principle being checked is that the “corresponding direction” indicator is activated (left — only when making a left maneuver/changing lanes to the left), and not “out of habit” at a roundabout.
Clause 10.1
Before starting to move, changing lanes, and any change in the direction of movement, the driver must make sure that it will be safe and will not create obstacles or danger to other road users.
Brief application: an incorrect signal (for example, left when entering a roundabout, when in fact there is no “left” maneuver) can mislead other drivers and thus create danger.
Clause 33.4.4 — 33 “Road Signs”, 4 “Mandatory Signs”, sign 4.10 “Roundabout”
Allows movement only in the direction indicated by the arrows (organizes roundabout traffic at the intersection).
Brief application: at such an intersection, the direction of movement is determined by the traffic organization (arrows on the sign), but this by itself does not mean an obligation to activate the “left” indicator — signals are given when actually performing a specific maneuver in the corresponding direction (clause 9.2).
Clause 9.4
Giving a signal with the direction indicators does not give the driver priority in traffic and does not relieve him of taking safety measures.
Brief application: even if the driver mistakenly activates the left indicator, this does not “legalize” his actions; on the contrary, such a signal can be misinterpreted by others (as an intention to change lanes), which contradicts the purpose of signaling.
That is, the correct answer is "No.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the direction indicators are used only before the corresponding maneuver (clause 9.2), and the very fact of entering a roundabout is not a “left turn” that would require the left indicator.
Turn indicators are not used "for intersections in general," but rather when the driver is actually changing the direction of movement or lane. This directly follows from the Traffic Rules: the signal is given in advance before turning, making a U-turn, or changing lanes, to warn other road users of your intention.
When the driver of the gray car enters a roundabout, they are not making a left turn in the usual sense. The configuration of the carriageway and the "Roundabout" sign dictate the only possible direction of further movement along the circle, meaning the driver is simply entering a designated section of the road, not choosing "left or right" as at a regular intersection.
In such a situation, turning on the left indicator can create a false impression for other drivers, especially at a multi-lane entry: it may be perceived as an intention to change lanes to the left, not as "entering the roundabout." That is why the left indicator is not used when entering a roundabout: it does not clarify the maneuver and can be misleading.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No," because when entering a roundabout, the driver is not making a left turn or changing lanes, but is moving in the direction determined by the configuration and the sign, so the left turn indicator is not needed.