11.7. Is the driver of the vehicle moving correctly on a road that is divided into lanes by road markings?
UAЧи правильно водій автомобіля рухається по дорозі, яка поділена на смуги лініями дорожньої розмітки?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety and predictability of movement on a multi-lane road, where the directions and boundaries of the lanes are defined by horizontal road markings. Correct lane occupation reduces the risk of side collisions and dangerous "trajectory conflicts," since other drivers expect that a vehicle will move within a single lane, not "on the line" between them.
The question tests the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the positioning of vehicles on the carriageway and lane driving (item 11.10 of the Rules), as well as understanding the term "traffic lane" from item 1.10. If the carriageway is divided by lane markings, the driver must choose a lane and drive within its boundaries; crossing or driving over the dashed line that marks the lane boundaries (marking 1.5) is allowed only as a short-term action during lane changing, that is, during a clear maneuver to change lanes.
The first answer option is incorrect because the prohibition against driving in two lanes at once does not depend on whether there are other road users nearby: the very fact of such positioning violates the requirements of item 11.10 and creates unpredictability. The second option logically corresponds to the rule: driving "on the marking" means occupying two lanes, and crossing the dashed line is only allowed at the moment of changing lanes. Such wording often appears in the theoretical exam, so it is important to remember: the permitted maneuver is lane changing, not prolonged driving along the lane boundary.
Clause 11.10
On roads where the carriageway is divided into lanes by road markings, it is prohibited to drive while occupying two lanes at the same time. Crossing over broken lane markings is allowed only when changing lanes.
Clause 1.10 (term "Traffic lane")
Traffic lane — a longitudinal strip on the carriageway at least 2.75 m wide, which may be marked or unmarked by road markings and is intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.
Clause 34.1.5 — 34 "Road markings", 1 "Horizontal markings", marking 1.5
Line 1.5 — a broken line that indicates the boundaries of traffic lanes; it may be crossed from either side.
Thus, the correct answer is "Incorrect: crossing over broken lane markings is allowed only when changing lanes," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver must drive within a single lane, and crossing a broken line is permitted only when changing lanes (clause 11.10 of the Traffic Rules).
A traffic lane in the Traffic Rules is understood as a longitudinal part of the carriageway of sufficient width for the movement of non-rail vehicles, which may be marked with road markings. If the road is divided into lanes by markings, the driver must choose one lane and move within its boundaries.
In the given situation, the car is actually "lying" on the boundary between the lanes: part of the car is in one lane, part in another, and at the same time the wheels are riding on the dashed line that separates the lanes. Such movement means that the driver is occupying two lanes at once, even though they are not performing a lane change as a maneuver.
Clause 11.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine establishes two key requirements for such roads: first, it is prohibited to move while occupying two lanes at the same time; second, the dashed line that separates the lanes may be crossed or driven on only at the moment of changing lanes. That is, a brief crossing onto the dashed line is only allowed when the driver is clearly changing lanes (for example, for overtaking, approaching a turn, or preparing to exit), and not when driving "on the marking" without a defined lane.
Practically, this is important because other drivers expect you to have a predictable trajectory within a specific lane. Driving along the boundary of two lanes creates uncertainty and increases the risk of a side collision with vehicles moving in the adjacent lane.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Incorrect: driving onto dashed lane markings is allowed only during lane changes," because according to clause 11.10 of the Traffic Rules, on a road with lanes marked by road markings, the driver is required to move within a single lane, and driving onto the dashed line is allowed only during a lane change.