11.38. On roads with what minimum number of lanes for traffic in one direction is it prohibited to drive onto the side designated for oncoming traffic?
UAНа дорогах з якою мінімальною кількістю смуг для руху в одному напрямку заборонено виїжджати на бік, призначений для зустрічного руху?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety and the prevention of driving into oncoming lanes, which is one of the most dangerous causes of head-on collisions. For the theoretical exam, it is important to understand how the organization of traffic on the road (the number of lanes in your direction) affects permitted maneuvers and where a strict prohibition on entering the oncoming lane applies.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the positioning of vehicles on the carriageway and lane selection, specifically the requirements of paragraph 11.4 of the Traffic Rules. The essence of the rule is as follows: on two-way roads where at least two lanes are organized in one direction, it is prohibited to enter the side intended for oncoming traffic. The logic is simple: for overtaking or passing, the driver must use the lanes in their direction (changing lanes to the left within their direction), rather than risking entering the oncoming flow.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to the minimum number of lanes from which this prohibition begins to apply. The option "two or more" corresponds to the direct wording of paragraph 11.4, and is therefore correct. The options "three or more" and "four or more" are incorrect because they raise the threshold: the prohibition already applies when there are two lanes in your direction, and on such sections, additional markings are often used to separate flows (for example, 1.3), which are also prohibited to cross. From a practical point of view, this knowledge helps to correctly perform overtaking/passing and avoid serious violations when driving on multi-lane two-way roads.
Clause 11.4
On two-way roads that have at least two lanes for movement in one direction, it is prohibited to drive onto the side intended for oncoming traffic.
Clause 1.10 (term "Traffic lane")
Traffic lane — a longitudinal strip on the carriageway at least 2.75 m wide, marked or unmarked by road markings and intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.
Clause 34.1 — 34 "Road markings", 1 "Horizontal markings", marking 1.3
Marking 1.3 (double solid line) separates traffic flows of opposite directions; crossing it is prohibited.
That is, the correct answer is "Two or more," given that according to the definition in Clause 11.4 of the Traffic Rules, it is directly prohibited to drive onto the side for oncoming traffic on two-way roads that have at least two lanes for movement in one direction.
While driving on the road, it is important to understand what a traffic lane is. According to the Traffic Rules, it is a part of the carriageway intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles, which may be marked with road markings or not, but has sufficient width for the safe movement of cars.
Clause 11.4 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine establishes a separate, strict prohibition for roads with two-way traffic: if there are at least two lanes in one direction, it is not allowed to drive onto the side of the road intended for oncoming traffic. The logic of this rule is simple: when there are two or more lanes in your direction, there is no need to "move" into the oncoming lane to perform a maneuver, and the risk of a head-on collision increases sharply in such cases.
Imagine a road where there are two lanes in each direction. You want to overtake a slower vehicle. On such a road, you must perform the maneuver within the lanes of your direction (by changing to your left lane), and not by driving into the oncoming side. That is why the Traffic Rules directly prohibit entering the oncoming lane on such roads.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Two or more," since clause 11.4 of the Traffic Rules prohibits driving onto the side intended for oncoming traffic on two-way roads where there are at least two lanes in one direction.