14.23. May the driver of the green vehicle start overtaking the grey vehicle?
UAЧи може водій зеленого автомобіля почати обгін сірого автомобіля?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safety of overtaking and the interaction of drivers when entering the oncoming traffic lane. Overtaking is one of the most risky maneuvers in the traffic rules, as any mistake in assessing the intentions of other drivers or distance can lead to a side collision or a dangerous situation in the oncoming lane.
The question tests Section 14 "Overtaking" and primarily the requirements of clause 14.2(b) of the Traffic Rules: before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that the vehicle ahead in the same lane has not signaled an intention to turn or change lanes to the left. If the vehicle in front has already turned on the left indicator, it means it is preparing to move left (including for overtaking), and therefore overtaking from behind is not allowed until it completes its maneuver. Additionally, it is important to understand the term from clause 1.10: overtaking involves entering the oncoming lane, so the simultaneous movement of two cars to the left creates a direct conflict of trajectories.
The analysis of the answer options in the context of the theoretical exam is simple: giving a sound signal does not give "permission" to overtake and does not cancel the requirement of clause 14.2(b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, so such an option is incorrect. The only correct logic of actions for the driver behind is to keep a distance, wait for the vehicle in front to finish overtaking (or another left maneuver), and only then reassess the safety conditions before overtaking.
Clause 14.2 (Section 14 “Overtaking”), subclause b)
Before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that: a) none of the drivers of vehicles moving behind him, who may be obstructed, 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, which he will enter, is free of vehicles at a sufficient distance for overtaking; d) after overtaking, he will be able to return to the occupied lane without creating obstacles for the vehicle he is overtaking.
In this situation, the grey car has already signaled a left turn (intention to change lanes/drive left to overtake), so the driver of the green car does not have the right to start overtaking until this maneuver is completed by the grey car (the condition of subclause b) is not met).
Clause 1.10 (term “Overtaking”)
Overtaking is passing one or more vehicles, involving entering the oncoming traffic lane.
This definition explains that the maneuver of the grey car (with the left turn signal and intention to move left) is the beginning of overtaking, and therefore the requirements of clause 14.2 regarding the prohibition to start overtaking under such conditions apply to the green car.
Therefore, the correct answer is “Cannot – must wait until the grey car completes overtaking,” given that according to the traffic rules definition, overtaking involves entering the oncoming lane, and clause 14.2 b) directly prohibits starting to overtake if the vehicle ahead has already signaled a left turn (left lane change).
When overtaking, the driver actually moves into the oncoming traffic lane, so before starting such a maneuver, they must check several safety conditions. In this situation, the key point is that the gray car ahead is already indicating an intention to move left: its left turn signal is on, which means it is either starting to overtake or preparing to change lanes to the left.
According to clause 14.2 (b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that the vehicle moving ahead in the same lane has not signaled an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left. This rule is in place to prevent two cars from simultaneously moving left, when their paths may cross. In real traffic, this often leads to a side collision or sudden maneuvers in the oncoming lane.
Therefore, the driver of the green car does not have the right to start overtaking at the moment when the gray car is already signaling an intention to move left. The correct action for the green car is to stay in its lane and wait until the gray car completes its overtaking (or other leftward maneuver), and only then reassess the possibility of overtaking according to the rules.
Thus, the correct answer is "Cannot – must wait until the gray car completes overtaking," since the gray car has signaled a left turn (intention to change lanes to the left), and according to clause 14.2 (b), starting to overtake in such a situation is prohibited.