14.27. How should the driver of the grey car, who intends to overtake, act in this situation?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safety during one of the most high-risk maneuvers on the road — overtaking. In the theoretical test, it checks whether the driver can not only assess the situation ahead but also monitor the situation behind, so as not to create an obstacle for another vehicle that has already started the maneuver.
The question belongs to Section 14 of the Traffic Rules (Overtaking) and directly checks the requirement of clause 14.2 a): before starting to overtake, you must make sure that none of the drivers behind, who could be obstructed, has already begun overtaking. In the given situation, the green car has already signaled with the left turn indicator and has in fact started overtaking, so the gray car must act as the vehicle being overtaken: not change its trajectory into the oncoming lane and not complicate the completion of the maneuver for the other road user (additionally, this is consistent with clause 14.3, which prohibits obstructing overtaking).
If you choose the option of accelerating and pulling out in front of the green car, the gray driver creates a dangerous obstacle for the one who is already overtaking: the trajectories may intersect, and the green car will be forced to brake sharply or change direction. The correct logic for this exam question is as follows: first, allow the green car to safely complete the overtaking, and only then, after once again assessing the oncoming lane and the situation behind, perform your own maneuver in accordance with the traffic rules.
Clause 14.2 a) (Section 14 "Overtaking")
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.
Brief application: if the vehicle behind (the green car) has already started overtaking, the driver of the gray car does not have the right to begin overtaking, as this would create an obstruction.
Clause 14.3 (Section 14 "Overtaking")
The driver of the overtaken vehicle is prohibited from impeding overtaking by increasing speed or by other actions.
Brief application: when the gray car becomes the overtaken vehicle (is being overtaken by the green car), it must not create obstacles to the overtaking maneuver, in particular, it must not start its own overtaking at this moment.
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles involving entering the oncoming traffic lane.
Brief application: the question concerns overtaking (not "passing"), so the special requirements of Section 14 apply, in particular clause 14.2 a).
That is, the correct answer is "Wait until the green car overtakes him, and only then perform the overtaking," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, overtaking is a maneuver involving entering the oncoming lane, and before starting it, the driver must make sure that the vehicle behind has not started overtaking (clause 14.2 a)) and must not impede overtaking when being overtaken (clause 14.3).
In this situation, the driver of the grey car only intends to overtake, but before starting the maneuver, they are required to assess the situation not only ahead but also behind. Overtaking is a maneuver that can create danger, so the Rules require you to make sure that your actions do not interfere with others.
The diagram shows that the green car, which is moving behind, has already signaled with the left turn indicator and has actually started overtaking. This means that it was the first to begin the overtaking maneuver by entering the oncoming lane, and its trajectory will intersect with that of the grey car if the grey car also starts overtaking at the same time.
According to clause 14.2 a) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that none of the drivers of vehicles moving behind, who may be obstructed, has started overtaking. In our case, such an obstruction is already obvious: the green car is overtaking, and if the grey car pulls out to the left, it will force the green car to either sharply change speed or trajectory, which directly creates a danger.
In addition, even if the grey car does not change lanes, it must not complicate the completion of the maneuver for the green car. Therefore, the most correct and safest action for the driver of the grey car is to stay in their lane and maintain their speed, allow the green car to finish overtaking, and only after that, when it is clear behind, reassess the oncoming lane and begin their own overtaking.
Thus, the correct answer is "Wait until the green car has overtaken, and only then overtake," since before starting to overtake according to clause 14.2 a), you must make sure that the vehicle behind has not started overtaking, and the green car is already performing this maneuver, so the grey car does not have the right to create an obstacle for it.