14.22. Does the driver of the black car have the right to start overtaking the blue car?
UAЧи має право водій чорного автомобіля розпочати обгін синього автомобіля?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety during one of the most high-risk maneuvers on the road — overtaking. The key idea here is not the driver’s “bravery,” but the guarantee of safely completing the maneuver without creating obstacles for other road users, primarily oncoming traffic. Such situations often occur in real traffic and are regularly encountered in the theoretical exam.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding overtaking, specifically the requirements of clause 14.2 (subclause “v”) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. According to this clause, before starting an overtaking maneuver, the driver must make sure that the oncoming lane they intend to enter is free of vehicles at a sufficient distance for overtaking. If there is already a vehicle on the oncoming lane and the distance does not guarantee safe completion of the maneuver, overtaking is prohibited — the driver must yield to the oncoming vehicle.
The explanation of the options in this theoretical block is simple: the statement about the need to refrain from overtaking and yield to the oncoming car corresponds to the requirements of clause 14.2 (c) and the logic of safe driving. The alternative “overtaking is allowed” is incorrect, as it ignores the main condition for overtaking — the availability of a free oncoming lane at a sufficient distance, and relying on “having enough time” contradicts the approach of the Traffic Rules, where confidence in safety is important, not assumptions.
Clause 14.2 (subclause "v") of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
Before starting an overtaking maneuver, the driver must make sure that: a) none of the drivers of vehicles moving behind him, for whom an obstacle may be created, has started overtaking; b) the driver of the vehicle moving ahead in the same lane has not signaled an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left; c) the oncoming lane, onto which he will move, is free of vehicles at a sufficient distance for overtaking; d) after overtaking, he will be able to return to his lane without creating obstacles for the vehicle he overtook.
Application to the situation: the driver of the black car does not have the right to start overtaking if there is a vehicle in the oncoming lane at a distance insufficient for safe overtaking (this violates the requirement of subclause "v").
That is, the correct answer is "Does not have the right – must yield to the oncoming vehicle," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, before starting to overtake, the driver is required to make sure that the oncoming lane onto which he will move is free at a sufficient distance for overtaking.
When overtaking, the driver actually enters the oncoming traffic lane, so before starting the maneuver, they are required to assess not only the vehicle ahead but also the oncoming traffic flow. This is one of the riskiest maneuvers, because a miscalculation of distance or speed can lead to a dangerous approach with oncoming vehicles.
According to clause 14.2 (c) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, overtaking is allowed only when the oncoming lane the driver intends to enter is clear for a sufficient distance. That is, the driver must be sure that during the overtaking, they will not force the oncoming vehicle to brake or change direction, and will have enough time to safely return to their own lane.
In the situation shown, there is already a vehicle (oncoming traffic) moving in the oncoming lane. This means that the condition “the oncoming lane is clear for a sufficient distance” is not met: if the driver of the black car starts overtaking the blue car, they risk not having enough time to complete the maneuver before approaching the oncoming vehicle or creating an obstacle for it. In such conditions, relying on “I will make it” is not acceptable, because the Traffic Rules require a guarantee of safety, not an assumption.
Therefore, the correct action for the driver of the black car is to refrain from starting the overtaking maneuver, remain in their lane, and yield to the oncoming vehicle. Only after that, provided there is sufficient visibility and the oncoming lane is clear, should they assess the possibility of overtaking.
Thus, the correct answer is "Does not have the right – must yield to the oncoming vehicle," since during overtaking the oncoming lane is not clear for a sufficient distance, as required by clause 14.2 (c) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine.