13.10. What distance must drivers of vehicles whose speed does not exceed 40 km/h maintain outside populated areas?
UAЯкої дистанції повинні дотримуватися водії транспортних засобів, швидкість яких не перевищує 40 км/год. поза населеними пунктами?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning road safety when driving in a convoy outside populated areas, where there are slow-moving vehicles on the road. Choosing the correct distance here is important not only to avoid rear-end collisions but also to reduce the risk of dangerous overtaking on two-lane rural roads, where oncoming traffic and limited visibility often create critical situations.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the traffic rules regarding distance and interval, specifically the requirements of clause 13.2 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, as well as understanding the term "distance" (clause 1.10). The essence of the rule is as follows: if a vehicle is moving outside a populated area at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h, the driver must leave such a gap to the vehicle ahead so that a vehicle overtaking can freely return to its lane between these slow vehicles. This is directly related to preparation for the theoretical exam, as the rule is aimed at ensuring that the overtaking vehicle has a "window" to safely complete the maneuver when oncoming traffic appears.
An analysis of the answer options shows why the third is correct: it accurately reflects the requirement of clause 13.2 and explains why the distance is needed in this situation. The first option describes the general idea of a safe distance but does not take into account the special rule for slow vehicles outside populated areas, so it is incomplete. The second option contradicts the traffic rules, as the distance cannot be chosen "at discretion" when the rules establish a specific principle for its selection; the exception to the requirement of 13.2 applies only when the driver of a slow-moving vehicle gives warning signals about overtaking or bypassing.
Clause 13.2
On roads outside populated areas, drivers of vehicles whose speed does not exceed 40 km/h must maintain such a distance that vehicles overtaking them can return to their previously occupied lane without hindrance. This requirement does not apply if the driver of a slow-moving vehicle gives warning signals about performing an overtaking or bypass maneuver.
Clause 1.10 (term "Distance")
Distance — the space between vehicles moving one after another, which ensures road safety.
That is, the correct answer is "Such a distance that vehicles performing overtaking can return to their previously occupied lane without hindrance," given that according to the definition in Clause 13.2 of the Traffic Rules, a special requirement for the distance for vehicles with a speed up to 40 km/h outside populated areas is directly established to ensure the possibility of unhindered return of overtaking vehicles to their lane.
When vehicles are moving outside populated areas at speeds up to 40 km/h, they essentially form a “slow” convoy. Due to the speed difference, other drivers overtake more frequently, and that is why the Rules establish a special requirement for the distance between such vehicles.
According to paragraph 13.2 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, a driver of a vehicle moving no faster than 40 km/h outside populated areas must choose the distance not “in meters” or “in seconds,” but based on the principle of safe return for the overtaking vehicle. That is, the distance to the vehicle ahead should be such that a driver who has started overtaking can, if necessary, complete the maneuver and return to their lane between these slow vehicles without sharp braking or creating danger.
Imagine the situation: on a two-lane road outside the city, two trucks are moving ahead at 35–40 km/h almost “bumper to bumper.” A passenger car starts to overtake them, but an oncoming vehicle appears ahead. To avoid a head-on collision, the driver of the car needs a “gap” between these two slow vehicles to safely return to the right lane. If the distance between the slow vehicles is too small, the overtaking driver has nowhere to return, and the risk of an accident increases sharply. That is why the Rules require keeping such a distance that allows overtaking vehicles to return to their previously occupied lane without hindrance.
At the same time, it is important to remember the clarification from the same paragraph: if the driver of the slow-moving vehicle gives advance warning signals about overtaking or bypassing, then this distance requirement in this form does not apply, since the situation on the road and the behavior of the convoy changes.
Therefore, the correct answer is “Such a distance that vehicles performing overtaking can return to their previously occupied lane without hindrance,” since paragraph 13.2 of the Traffic Rules obliges slow vehicles outside populated areas to leave enough space for other drivers to safely complete overtaking.