15.37. Which of the drivers has correctly stopped their vehicle on a two-way road outside a populated area?
UAЯкий з водіїв правильно зупинив свій транспортний засіб на дорозі з двостороннім рухом за межами населеного пункту?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safe stopping on a two-way road outside a populated area. The topic is important for road safety, as improper positioning of a vehicle during a stop can mislead oncoming drivers, create obstacles, and provoke dangerous maneuvers on high-speed sections.
Within the theoretical exam, the section of the Traffic Rules regarding stopping and parking (points 15.1–15.3) is tested in combination with the basic principle of right-hand traffic (point 1.2). The logic is simple: if there is no specially designated place, you must stop on the shoulder, and if there is no shoulder or it is impossible, as far to the right as possible near the right edge of the carriageway. At the same time, the rule that allows stopping on the left side applies only in populated areas and only under certain conditions, so outside a populated area, stopping “on the opposite side” is incorrect.
In this situation, the correct option is the one with the blue car: it stopped on the right shoulder in the direction of its movement, as required by the traffic rules. The option with the red car is incorrect because stopping on the left shoulder outside a populated area actually forces you to cross the oncoming lane and leaves the vehicle against the flow, which increases the risk of an accident. This knowledge helps in practice to quickly choose a safe place to stop and avoid common mistakes on the exam.
Clause 1.2
Right-hand traffic for vehicles is established in Ukraine.
Clause 15.1
Stopping and parking of vehicles on the road must be carried out in specially designated places or on the shoulder.
Clause 15.2
If there is no shoulder or it is impossible to stop or park on it, stopping and parking are allowed near the right edge of the carriageway, as far to the right as possible, so as not to create obstacles for other road users, and on one-way roads — also near the left edge of the carriageway.
Clause 15.3
In populated areas, stopping and parking of vehicles are allowed on the left side of the road, which has one lane in each direction (without tram tracks in the middle) and is not divided by a continuous road marking line 1.1, as well as on the left side of a one-way road. If there is a dividing strip or boulevard on the road, stopping and parking near them are prohibited regardless of the presence of a pedestrian path on them.
Thus, the correct answer is "The driver of the blue car.", taking into account that according to the Traffic Rules, outside a populated area, stopping must be performed on the shoulder or as far to the right as possible near the right edge of the carriageway (clauses 15.1–15.2) considering right-hand traffic (clause 1.2), and the possibility of stopping on the left side is provided by clause 15.3 only for populated areas and only under established conditions.
The image shows a two-way road outside a populated area. In Ukraine, right-hand traffic is in effect, so each driver must drive on their right side and, accordingly, stop in such a way as not to end up on the side of oncoming traffic.
The rules require stopping in specially designated places, and if there are none — on the shoulder. In this situation, there is a shoulder, so the safe and correct option is to pull onto it, without occupying the traffic lane.
Clause 15.3 of the Traffic Rules makes an important clarification: stopping on the left side is allowed only within populated areas and only under certain conditions (when the road has one lane in each direction, etc.). Since this section of road is outside a populated area, this rule does not apply. Therefore, stopping on the left shoulder actually means that the driver has crossed into the oncoming lane and parked the car "against the flow," which is incorrect and dangerous.
The blue car stopped on the right shoulder in the direction of its movement, that is, did exactly what the Rules require for a road outside a populated area. The red car stopped on the left, where stopping is not allowed under these conditions.
Therefore, the correct answer is "The driver of the blue car," since outside a populated area on a two-way road, stopping must be performed on the right shoulder, and stopping on the left is not allowed.