14.20. Is the driver of the blue car allowed to overtake the moped?
UAЧи дозволено водієві синього автомобіля обігнати мопед?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety of maneuvering in high-risk areas where the traffic situation can change instantly. During the theoretical exam, drivers are often tested on their ability to distinguish between permitted and prohibited maneuvers specifically at intersections, as this is where vehicle trajectories cross, turns are possible, vehicles may enter from other directions, and pedestrians may appear.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding overtaking and passing, particularly the application of clause 14.6 (a) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, which establishes a direct prohibition on overtaking at intersections. It is important to remember the definition from clause 1.10: overtaking is passing that involves entering the oncoming traffic lane. Thus, it does not matter that a moped is moving ahead: if overtaking requires entering the oncoming lane within an intersection, such a maneuver is prohibited.
Analysis of the options in similar tasks comes down to correctly identifying the maneuver and the place where it is performed. The option that allows overtaking is incorrect, as it contradicts the direct rule of clause 14.6 (a). Instead, the correct option is the one with the prohibition: overtaking is not performed at intersections regardless of the type of vehicle moving ahead. In practice, this means that only passing without entering the oncoming lane may be allowed (if conditions and markings permit), but overtaking as defined by the Traffic Rules of Ukraine at an intersection is not permitted.
Clause 14.6 a) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
Overtaking is prohibited: a) at an intersection.
Application: in the image, the vehicles are within the intersection, therefore performing overtaking (with entry into the oncoming lane) is prohibited regardless of which vehicle is being overtaken (including a moped).
Clause 1.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles, involving entry into the oncoming lane.
Application: the question is formulated as "to overtake," that is, it refers specifically to a maneuver that, by definition, involves entering the oncoming lane.
Clause 1.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (term "Intersection")
Intersection — a place where roads cross, adjoin, or branch at the same level, the boundary of which is the imaginary lines between the beginning of the rounding of the edges of the carriageway of each road. The place where an exit from an adjacent territory adjoins the road is not considered an intersection.
Application: the diagram shows an intersection, and therefore the direct prohibition of overtaking from clause 14.6 a) applies.
Thus, the correct answer is "Prohibited," given that by the definition of the Traffic Rules, overtaking (entering the oncoming lane) at an intersection is prohibited.
In the image, the blue car is moving behind the moped within the intersection area. An intersection in the Traffic Rules is understood as a place where roads cross or adjoin at the same level, that is, a section where the trajectories of vehicles may unexpectedly intersect.
To answer the question, it is important to correctly identify the maneuver. Overtaking, according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, is passing another vehicle, which necessarily involves entering the oncoming traffic lane. That is, if in order to pass the moped faster, the driver of the blue car needs to enter the oncoming lane, this will be considered overtaking.
Clause 14.6 (a) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine directly prohibits overtaking at intersections. The reason is simple: at an intersection, the traffic situation changes rapidly—oncoming cars, vehicles from other directions, pedestrians may appear, as well as possible turns and lane changes by other road users. During overtaking, the driver partially loses control over all directions at once, which significantly increases the risk of an accident.
In this situation, it does not matter that there is a moped ahead and it is moving slower: if the maneuver involves entering the oncoming lane within the intersection, it falls under the prohibition. Theoretically, only passing without entering the oncoming lane is possible, but the question is specifically about overtaking, which is not allowed at intersections.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since overtaking (with entering the oncoming lane) at an intersection is directly prohibited by clause 14.6 (a) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine.