15.38. In which of the illustrations are the vehicles parked correctly on roads within populated areas?
UAНа якому з малюнків транспортні засоби поставлені правильно на дорогах у населених пунктах?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the ability to safely choose a place to stop and park within a populated area. The topic is directly related to road safety: an incorrectly parked car can block visibility, create conflicts with traffic flow, and provoke accidents, especially when vehicles are placed near elements that divide the carriageways.
The theoretical exam includes situations where it is important to distinguish between permitted stopping on the left side and prohibited stopping. This question checks the section of the traffic rules about stopping and parking (points 15.1 and 15.3), as well as understanding the term "median strip" from point 1.10 and the meaning of sign 5.5 "One-way road." In populated areas, stopping/parking on the left may be allowed, but only under specific conditions, and it does not "override" other prohibitions.
In the case of a road with a boulevard or median strip in the middle, stopping and parking near them is directly prohibited by point 15.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, even if the spot seems convenient. On the other hand, on a one-way road within a populated area, the traffic rules allow stopping and parking on the left side (point 15.1), provided there are no additional restrictions by signs or markings, so this is the case that meets the requirements of the Traffic Rules.
The practical benefit of this topic for a driver is simple: before stopping, you need to assess not only the side of the road but also the type of road and the presence of a median strip/boulevard. This approach helps you confidently answer exam questions, park correctly in the city, and avoid creating dangerous situations when dropping off passengers or making a short stop.
Clause 15.1
Stopping and parking of vehicles are allowed on the right side of the road on the shoulder, and in the absence of a shoulder or if it is impossible to stop on the shoulder — near the right edge of the carriageway. In populated areas, stopping and parking are also allowed on the left side of the road if there is one lane in each direction without tram tracks in the middle and on one-way roads.
Clause 15.3
On roads with a boulevard or a median strip, stopping and parking of vehicles near them are prohibited.
Clause 1.10 (term "Median strip")
Median strip — a structurally separated element of the road that divides adjacent carriageways. The median strip is not intended for the movement or stopping of vehicles; lawns, greenery, sidewalks, fences, etc., may be placed on it.
Clause 33.5.5 — 33 "Road signs", 5 "Information and guidance signs", sign 5.5 "One-way road"
Indicates a road or carriageway on which vehicle movement across the entire width is carried out in one direction.
That is, the correct answer is "In the second one.", given that on a one-way road in a populated area, stopping/parking on the left side is allowed (clause 15.1), whereas stopping and parking near a boulevard/median strip are prohibited (clause 15.3).
The situation takes place in a populated area, as indicated by the buildings near the road. For the correct choice of a stopping or parking place here, it is important not only which side of the road the car is on, but also what kind of road it is and whether there are any elements near which stopping is prohibited.
According to clause 15.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, stopping and parking are prohibited, in particular, near a median strip and a boulevard. The logic of this requirement is simple: a vehicle parked near the median strip is actually at the left edge of the roadway, where traffic is usually more intense and faster, and therefore such parking creates increased danger for all road users.
In the first illustration, the cars are placed right next to the median strip (boulevard in the middle of the road). Therefore, even though this is a populated area, such parking contradicts clause 15.3 and is incorrect.
In the second illustration, the road is marked as a one-way street. In a populated area, stopping and parking on the left side is allowed on such a road, provided there are no additional prohibitions (signs, markings, or other restrictions). In the given situation, no such prohibitions are shown, so the car is parked correctly.
Thus, the correct answer is "In the second one," since in the first illustration parking is done near the median strip (which is prohibited by clause 15.3), while in the second, stopping/parking on a one-way street in a populated area is allowed in the absence of additional restrictions.