14.5. Is the driver of the blue vehicle allowed to overtake the white vehicle in this situation?
UAЧи дозволено в цій ситуації водієві синього автомобіля виконати обгін білого автомобіля?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safety of overtaking near potentially dangerous sections of the road, in particular railway crossings. In the theoretical test, such tasks check whether the driver correctly understands where exactly the overtaking ban applies, and whether they can distinguish the approach section to the crossing from the section of road after passing it, where the conditions are different.
The question belongs to the section of the Traffic Rules regarding overtaking (points 14.2 and 14.6). The key provision here is point 14.6(b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: overtaking is prohibited at railway crossings and less than 100 m before them. Since in this situation the crossing is already behind, the "100 m" restriction does not apply, so the mere fact that the crossing is behind does not make the maneuver prohibited. In the absence of prohibitory signs (for example, 3.25 "Overtaking prohibited") or a solid line marking 1.1, the driver may overtake, provided they comply with the requirements of point 14.2: ensuring the maneuver is safe, the oncoming lane is clear, and it is possible to safely return to their lane.
That is why the option about prohibition "if the speed of the white car is above 30 km/h" is incorrect: the "30 km/h" rule applies to the effect of sign 3.25, not to the railway crossing. The statement about prohibition "in any case" is also incorrect, because the Traffic Rules do not establish a general ban on overtaking immediately after a crossing. The option "allowed after 100 m" confuses the direction of the restriction: 100 m is counted before the crossing, not after it, so if the maneuver is safe, overtaking may be allowed immediately after passing the crossing.
Clause 1.10 (term “Overtaking”)
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles involving entering the oncoming traffic lane.
Clause 14.2
Before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that: the vehicle behind has not started overtaking; the driver of the vehicle ahead in the same lane has not signaled a left turn (lane change); the oncoming lane (or the lane the driver intends to enter) is clear for a sufficient distance for overtaking; after overtaking, the driver can return to the original lane without creating danger or obstacles.
Clause 14.6 b)
Overtaking is prohibited: b) at railway crossings and less than 100 m before them.
Key for this question: the “100 m” prohibition applies specifically to the section before the crossing, not after it; after passing the crossing, this prohibition under clause 14.6 b) no longer applies (if there are no other prohibitions).
Clause 33.3 — 33 “Road signs”, 3 “Prohibitory signs”, sign 3.25 “Overtaking prohibited”
Prohibits overtaking all vehicles except single vehicles moving at less than 30 km/h.
(Application: if sign 3.25 is installed on the section after the crossing, overtaking would be prohibited regardless of the crossing already being behind.)
Clause 34.1 — 34 “Road markings”, 1 “Horizontal markings”, marking 1.1
Marking 1.1 (narrow solid line) — separates traffic flows of opposite directions (or marks lane boundaries in hazardous areas); crossing it is prohibited.
(Application: if overtaking requires crossing solid line 1.1 — it is prohibited.)
Thus, the correct answer is “Allowed.”, considering that according to the traffic rules, overtaking is prohibited at a railway crossing and less than 100 m before it (clause 14.6 b), but in this situation, the crossing is already behind and there are no other shown prohibitions (signs/markings) that would make overtaking impossible.
In this situation, the key factor is the location of the overtaking maneuver relative to the railway crossing. Clause 14.6(b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine explicitly prohibits overtaking at a railway crossing and within 100 meters before it. That is, the restriction applies to the crossing itself and the approach section leading up to it.
In the image, both vehicles have already passed the railway tracks, meaning the hazardous section is now behind them. Accordingly, the driver of the blue car is neither on the crossing nor within the 100-meter zone before it, so the prohibition from clause 14.6(b) does not apply here.
Since there are no additional prohibitions visible in this section (such as signs prohibiting overtaking or a solid line marking), the driver may overtake provided it can be done safely: ensuring there are no oncoming vehicles at a sufficient distance and that it is possible to return to their lane without creating danger.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Allowed," since overtaking is prohibited only at the crossing and within 100 meters before it, and after passing the crossing, this prohibition no longer applies.