14.26. What must the driver of the green vehicle do in this situation before starting to overtake?
UAЩо в даній ситуації повинен зробити водій зеленого автомобіля перед тим, як почати обгін?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety during one of the most high-risk maneuvers in traffic flow. Overtaking involves entering the oncoming traffic lane, so a mistake in assessing the intentions of the vehicle ahead often leads to head-on collisions or side accidents. In the theoretical exam, such tasks test not “memory of the wording,” but understanding of cause-and-effect relationships: why it is necessary to eliminate the main risks of trajectory conflict before overtaking.
The question tests knowledge of Section 14 “Overtaking” of the Traffic Rules, specifically the requirements of paragraph 14.2 (b). The essence of the check is simple: before starting the maneuver, 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 preceding car turns on the left indicator and begins to move left (for a turn or its own overtaking), overtaking at that moment creates a direct conflict and the danger of a collision.
Analysis of the answer options from the perspective of the Traffic Rules: the correct approach is when the driver first checks for the absence of a left signal/intentions from the vehicle ahead, as this is directly required by p. 14.2 (b). The option involving the use of a sound signal cannot be a mandatory condition for starting an overtaking maneuver: according to p. 9.6 (Section 9 “Warning Signals”), outside populated areas the sound signal is only allowed to attract attention, but it does not replace checking the intentions of the driver ahead and certainly does not mean that after the signal you must “immediately” start the maneuver. Accordingly, the option “all of the above actions” is also incorrect, as it includes the wrong statement about the necessity and haste of overtaking.
The practical significance of this topic for the driver: before overtaking, it is necessary to read the road situation and the behavior of the car ahead, especially its turn indicators and movement to the left, and also to remember the definition of overtaking from p. 1.10 as a maneuver involving entering the oncoming lane. This way of thinking on the theoretical exam helps to answer exam questions correctly, and in real traffic reduces the risk of accidents in situations where the car ahead may suddenly begin a left maneuver.
Clause 14.2 b) (Section 14 "Overtaking")
Before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that the driver of the vehicle moving ahead in the same lane has not signaled an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left.
Brief application: if the vehicle ahead has turned on the left turn signal (intends to turn left or change lanes/start overtaking), starting to overtake is dangerous and prohibited until the situation is clarified/changes.
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking is the passing of one or more vehicles involving entry into the oncoming traffic lane.
Brief application: the question concerns specifically the overtaking maneuver (with entry into the oncoming lane), for which the Traffic Rules establish special safety conditions, in particular the requirement of clause 14.2 b).
Clause 9.6 (Section 9 "Warning Signals")
To attract the attention of the driver of the vehicle being overtaken, headlight flashing may be used, and outside populated areas — a sound signal as well.
Brief application: giving a sound signal during overtaking outside a populated area is allowed (permitted), but is not a mandatory action "before starting to overtake" and does not replace the requirement of clause 14.2 b) to make sure there is no left turn/change lane signal from the vehicle ahead.
That is, the correct answer is "Make sure that the driver of the grey car has not signaled an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left, and then start overtaking," given that before starting to overtake the driver is required to fulfill the requirement of clause 14.2 b) of the Traffic Rules and ensure that the vehicle ahead is not signaling an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left.
Overtaking, according to the Traffic Rules, is an advancing maneuver in which the driver moves into the oncoming traffic lane. That is, the green car is planning a maneuver that is always associated with increased risk, so it can only be started after checking key safety conditions.
In this situation, the most important thing is to assess the actions of the gray car ahead, which is moving in the same lane. Clause 14.2 (b) of the Traffic Rules explicitly requires: before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that the driver of the vehicle in front has not signaled an intention to turn or change lanes to the left. The logic is simple: if the gray car is about to turn left or start overtaking itself, it may move left at the very moment the green car enters the oncoming lane. This creates a direct conflict of trajectories and a risk of an accident.
Therefore, before starting the maneuver, the driver of the green car must visually check whether the gray car's left turn signal is on and whether it is beginning to move left. Only when it is clear that the gray driver has not indicated an intention to turn or change lanes to the left, can the green car proceed to overtake.
Note: using the horn outside of populated areas is allowed to attract attention, but it is not mandatory and does not replace checking the intentions of the vehicle ahead. The main requirement in this question is to make sure that the vehicle in front does not intend to make a left maneuver.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Make sure that the driver of the gray car has not signaled an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left, and begin overtaking," because before overtaking, according to clause 14.2 (b) of the Traffic Rules, you must make sure that the car in front is not signaling a left turn or lane change, and only then start the maneuver.