14.31. Is the driver of the red car allowed to overtake at this location on the road?
UAЧи дозволено водію червоного автомобіля виконати обгін в даному місці дороги?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safety during overtaking maneuvers that involve entering the oncoming lane and the risks that sharply increase near intersections. In such places, a driver may not have enough time to assess the situation: vehicles may appear from secondary directions, and the vehicle ahead may suddenly begin to turn or change its trajectory. That is why the traffic rules pay special attention to overtaking, and this topic often appears on the theoretical exam.
It tests knowledge of Section 14 "Overtaking," specifically the requirements of clause 14.6 a), which clearly states: overtaking is prohibited at intersections (the exception is roundabouts). An additional hint is warning sign 1.21 "Intersection of roads of equal importance," which notifies about approaching an intersection, and therefore the driver must plan maneuvers so as not to end up in the oncoming lane within the intersection. Even if the road marking is dashed and crossing it is formally possible, this does not cancel the prohibition of overtaking specifically at the intersection.
Analysis of answer options: the statement about the permissibility of overtaking at an intersection if the vehicle ahead is moving slowly is incorrect, because the Traffic Rules of Ukraine do not contain such a "30 km/h threshold" as an exception for intersections. Instead, the correct conclusion is based on a direct rule: in a situation of approaching an intersection, the maneuver must be excluded if there is no guaranteed possibility to complete it before the intersection begins. In practice, this teaches students not to "save seconds" before intersections, but to anticipate the situation and remain in the flow, which is a key skill for passing the theoretical exam and for safe driving.
Clause 14.6 a) (Section 14 "Overtaking")
Overtaking is prohibited: a) at intersections (except for roundabouts).
Explanation of the clause application: in a place where the overtaking maneuver will be performed at an intersection or cannot be guaranteed to be completed before it begins, such overtaking is prohibited.
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles, involving entering the lane of oncoming traffic.
Clause 1.10 (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.
Explanation of the clause application: it is precisely in the section defined by the Traffic Rules as an "intersection" that a direct prohibition of overtaking under clause 14.6 a) applies.
Clause 33 (Road Signs), 1 "Warning Signs", sign 1.21 "Intersection of Roads of Equal Importance"
"Intersection of Roads of Equal Importance." Installed outside populated areas at a distance of 150—300 m, in populated areas — at a distance of 50—100 m before the start of the hazardous section. If necessary, the sign is installed at another distance, which is indicated on plate 7.1.1 "Distance to the Object".
Explanation of the clause application: the sign warns the driver about approaching an intersection where overtaking is prohibited according to clause 14.6 a).
Clause 34 (Road Markings), 1 "Horizontal Markings", marking 1.5
Marking 1.5 — a narrow dashed line that separates traffic flows of opposite directions on roads with two or three lanes, and also marks the boundaries of lanes when there are two or more lanes intended for movement in one direction.
Explanation of the clause application: marking 1.5 may allow crossing the line, but it does not cancel the prohibition of overtaking at intersections established by clause 14.6 a).
Thus, the correct answer is "Prohibited.", given that according to the Traffic Rules, overtaking at intersections is prohibited (clause 14.6 a), and sign 1.21 warns of approaching such an intersection.
In this situation, the driver of the red car sees the warning sign 1.21 "Intersection of roads of equal importance." This means that there is an intersection ahead, and the driver must assess in advance whether it is safe and permitted to perform maneuvers involving entering the oncoming lane.
Overtaking, as defined in the Traffic Rules, is passing another vehicle by entering the oncoming traffic lane. This is exactly the maneuver the red car is planning when it wants to overtake the blue one.
Next, an important restriction from clause 14.6 a) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: overtaking is prohibited at intersections. The reason is simple and practical: vehicles may appear from the side road at the intersection, and the driver of the vehicle being overtaken may begin to turn or change direction. During overtaking, visibility and the ability to react quickly are reduced, so the risk of collision increases sharply.
At the location shown, the sign warns that the intersection is already near. If the red car starts overtaking now, there is a high probability that the maneuver will be completed at the edge of the intersection or directly on it. And this would be a direct violation of the prohibition on overtaking at intersections, even if the road markings allow crossing the line.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since there is an intersection ahead (sign 1.21), and according to clause 14.6 a) of the Traffic Rules, overtaking at intersections is prohibited and the maneuver may be completed already at the intersection.