15.42. In which place is the driver of the red car allowed to stop the vehicle on the road within a populated area?
UAУ якому місці водію червоного автомобіля дозволено зупинити транспортний засіб на дорозі в населеному пункті?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety and the organization of stopping within a populated area. The correct choice of a stopping place directly affects visibility, road capacity, and the risk of creating obstacles for other road users, which is why this topic regularly appears on the theoretical exam and requires understanding not only of "which side" but also under what conditions stopping is permitted.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding stopping and parking (points 15.1–15.3). The logic is as follows: first, you stop in specially designated places or on the shoulder (p. 15.1), and if these are absent or stopping there is impossible, it is allowed to stop near the right edge of the carriageway as far to the right as possible (p. 15.2). At the same time, there is an important exception within populated areas (p. 15.3): on a two-way road with one lane in each direction, no tram tracks in the middle, and no solid line marking 1.1, stopping is also permitted on the left side.
That is why the option "only on the right" does not take into account the provision of p. 15.3 for populated areas, while the option "only on the left" ignores the basic rule of p. 15.2, which always allows stopping at the right edge in the absence of a shoulder. As a result, the correct approach is when the driver can choose the edge of the carriageway on either side, but only if the conditions of p. 15.3 are met and without creating obstacles to traffic, which is a key skill for passing the theoretical exam and for everyday driving.
Clause 15.1
"Stopping and parking of vehicles on the road must be carried out in specially designated places or on the shoulder."
This clause checks the basic priority of the place for stopping/parking: first, specially designated places or the shoulder, and only in their absence/impossibility — the carriageway.
Clause 15.2
"If there are no specially designated places or a shoulder, or if stopping or parking there is impossible, they are allowed near the right edge of the carriageway (as far to the right as possible, so as not to obstruct other road users)."
This clause checks the rule that in the absence of a shoulder (or if stopping on it is impossible), stopping is allowed near the right edge of the carriageway.
Clause 15.3
"In populated areas, stopping and parking of vehicles are allowed on the left side of the road that has one lane in each direction (without tram tracks in the middle) and is not divided by marking 1.1 (narrow solid line), as well as on the left side of a one-way road. If the road has a boulevard or a dividing strip, stopping and parking of vehicles near them is prohibited."
This clause checks the exception for populated areas: under the given conditions, stopping is also allowed on the left side of the road (i.e., near the left edge of the carriageway).
That is, the correct answer is "Near the right or left edge of the carriageway," given that according to the Traffic Rules, in a populated area, in the absence of a shoulder, stopping is allowed near the right edge of the carriageway (clause 15.2), and is also additionally allowed on the left side of the road under the conditions specified in clause 15.3.
Let's start with the basic rule: stopping is primarily performed in specially designated places or on the shoulder. If such places are not available or stopping on the shoulder is impossible, then the Rules allow stopping near the right edge of the carriageway, as far to the right as possible, so as not to interfere with traffic.
Next, we take into account that the situation takes place specifically in a populated area. For populated areas, the Traffic Rules make an important clarification: on certain roads, stopping is also allowed on the left side. This is possible when the road has one lane in each direction, there are no tram tracks in the middle, and there is no solid line marking 1.1 that strictly separates the traffic flows.
In this situation, we see a two-way road, with one lane in each direction, no tram tracks in the middle, and no solid line dividing the carriageway. There is also no shoulder, so stopping must be done right at the edge of the carriageway. Therefore, the driver can choose either the right edge (according to the general rule) or the left edge (according to the special provision for populated areas, provided the specified conditions are met).
Thus, the correct answer is "Near the right or left edge of the carriageway," since in a populated area, in the absence of a shoulder, stopping is allowed near the right edge, and on a road with one lane in each direction, without tram tracks and without a solid line marking, stopping is also allowed near the left edge.