14.45. Is the driver allowed to overtake while driving in foggy conditions?
UAЧи дозволено водієві виконати обгін під час руху в умовах туману?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety of maneuvering in difficult weather conditions, when fog can sharply reduce road visibility and distort the perception of distance and speed of oncoming vehicles. Overtaking is one of the riskiest maneuvers, as it involves entering the oncoming traffic lane, so the traffic rules have clear restrictions specifically for situations where the driver cannot assess the situation in advance.
The theoretical exam tests understanding of Section 14 "Overtaking" and the definitions in the Traffic Rules, in particular the definition of "insufficient visibility" (para. 1.10) and the prohibition of overtaking under para. 14.6 (d). The key nuance is that the mere presence of fog is not an automatic prohibition: the decisive criterion is the actual visibility in the direction of travel. According to the Traffic Rules, "insufficient visibility" occurs when it is less than 300 m, and only then is overtaking prohibited as dangerous.
Therefore, the option where the maneuver is possible provided visibility exceeds 300 m logically corresponds to the norms of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: under such conditions, there is formally no "insufficient visibility", and thus the prohibition under para. 14.6 (d) does not apply on this basis. On the other hand, the categorical statement that overtaking is always prohibited in fog is incorrect, as it contradicts the definition in para. 1.10: the prohibition is tied not to the phenomenon of fog, but to the visibility threshold of less than 300 m. In practice, the driver must still act cautiously, as fog can quickly thicken, but within the scope of this exam question, the decisive criterion is precisely the 300-meter threshold.
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient visibility")
Insufficient visibility — visibility of the road in the direction of travel less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Explanation of application: if in fog the visibility in the direction of travel becomes less than 300 m — this is already "insufficient visibility" according to the Traffic Rules, and the relevant prohibitions, including overtaking, begin to apply.
Clause 14.6 (d) (section 14 "Overtaking")
Overtaking is prohibited: d) at the top of a rise, on bridges, overpasses, flyovers, sharp turns, and other sections of roads with limited visibility or in conditions of insufficient visibility.
Explanation of application: in fog, overtaking is prohibited precisely when the fog creates "conditions of insufficient visibility" (that is, less than 300 m as defined in clause 1.10). If the visibility is more than 300 m — the conditions of "insufficient visibility" do not occur, and according to this rule, there is no prohibition on overtaking.
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles, involving entering the lane of oncoming traffic.
Explanation of application: the question concerns specifically the maneuver "overtaking" as defined by the Traffic Rules (with entering the oncoming lane), for which the prohibition is established in clause 14.6 (d) under insufficient visibility.
Thus, the correct answer is "Allowed if visibility in the direction of travel is more than 300 m.", given that according to the Traffic Rules definition, "insufficient visibility" is less than 300 m (clause 1.10), and overtaking is prohibited precisely "in conditions of insufficient visibility" (clause 14.6 d).
During fog, the key factor is not the mere presence of fog, but the actual visibility it creates in the direction of travel. In the Traffic Rules, this issue is directly related to the concept of "insufficient visibility."
According to term 1.10 of the Traffic Rules, insufficient visibility is when the visibility of the road in the direction of travel is less than 300 meters in twilight or in conditions of fog, rain, snowfall, etc. That is, the 300 m threshold is decisive: if you can see less than 300 m, this is already "insufficient visibility" according to the Rules.
Next, we apply clause 14.6 (d) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: overtaking is prohibited in areas with limited visibility or in conditions of insufficient visibility. Overtaking is a maneuver that usually involves entering the oncoming lane, so in conditions of insufficient visibility it becomes dangerous and is directly prohibited.
Let's imagine two situations. If the fog is dense and you can see ahead, say, only 150–200 meters, this is less than 300 m, so there are conditions of insufficient visibility—overtaking is prohibited. If the fog is light and you can clearly see the situation ahead at a distance of more than 300 meters, then according to definition 1.10, insufficient visibility does not occur, and therefore, on this basis, the prohibition from clause 14.6 (d) does not apply.
At the same time, the driver must assess the situation soberly: in fog, distances may be perceived inaccurately, and visibility may change suddenly. But within this exam question, the decisive criterion is the 300-meter threshold established in the definition of "insufficient visibility."
Therefore, the correct answer is "Allowed if visibility in the direction of travel is more than 300 m," since overtaking is prohibited specifically in conditions of insufficient visibility, and according to the Traffic Rules, this only occurs when visibility in the direction of travel is less than 300 meters.