14.51. While driving through a tunnel during daylight hours, is the driver of a vehicle permitted to overtake?
UAПід час руху тунелем у світлу пору доби водій транспортного засобу має право виконувати обгін:
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety of maneuvering in areas with increased risk. Tunnels are dangerous because they have limited visibility, changing lighting, less space for reaction, and make it more difficult to judge speed and distance. That is why the traffic rules establish special strict restrictions for tunnels, which are important to remember when preparing for the theoretical exam.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules on overtaking and passing, specifically item 14.6 (subparagraph "d"), which clearly states that overtaking in tunnels is prohibited. Additionally, it is important to understand the term "overtaking" from item 1.10: it is passing that involves entering the oncoming traffic lane. Therefore, the answer "Yes" is incorrect, because daylight hours do not lift the prohibition, and the correct answer is "No," since the prohibition always applies, regardless of conditions outside the tunnel.
Practically, this means: if you need to pass a slower vehicle, you should plan the maneuver before entering the tunnel and only in the absence of other restrictions (markings, signs, etc.). After entering, overtaking becomes unacceptable, and this is most often checked in the format of an "exam question" on the theoretical test, so that the driver does not apply the "daylight visibility logic" to situations where the traffic rules establish an unconditional prohibition.
Clause 14.6 (subclause "d")
Overtaking is prohibited: … d) in tunnels.
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles involving entering the oncoming traffic lane.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, overtaking in tunnels is expressly prohibited (clause 14.6 "d") regardless of the time of day.
When a driver approaches a tunnel, they must remember that a tunnel is considered a high-risk area: limited visibility, different lighting conditions, and less space for safe maneuvering. Therefore, the rules establish specific restrictions for it.
According to clause 14.6 (f) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, overtaking in tunnels is prohibited. This means that as soon as a vehicle is already moving inside a tunnel, overtaking is not allowed under any circumstances.
The daylight hours do not change this prohibition. Even if it is daytime outside and visibility seems sufficient, overtaking within the tunnel is still directly prohibited by the rules.
In practice, this means that if there is a need to overtake a slower vehicle, this can only be done before entering the tunnel, provided such a maneuver is not prohibited by other requirements or signs. After entering the tunnel, overtaking becomes unacceptable regardless of which vehicle is ahead or the lighting conditions.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No," since overtaking in tunnels is directly prohibited by clause 14.6 (f) of the Traffic Rules, and the time of day does not affect this prohibition.