15.57. What is prohibited for the driver and passengers of a vehicle when opening the doors?
UAЩо забороняється водієві, а також пасажирам транспортного засобу під час відчинення дверей?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safety during stopping and parking, when the driver or passengers open the doors and exit the vehicle. In practice, these actions often create a sudden obstacle: open doors increase the width of the vehicle and can cause a collision with a car, motorcycle, or cyclist, as well as obstruct pedestrians on the roadside. Therefore, learning this rule directly affects safe behavior on the road and successful completion of the theoretical exam.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules that regulates stopping and parking, specifically paragraph 15.13 of the Traffic Rules. The essence of the rule is as follows: the prohibition applies not only to the driver but also to passengers, and covers three actions with the doors and exiting at once. It is not “absolute” at all times, but applies in cases where opening the doors, leaving them open, or exiting may endanger safety or create obstacles for other road users.
Analysis of the answer options shows that the first three formulations narrow the requirement to only one action (only opening, only leaving open, or only exiting). However, paragraph 15.13 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine lists all three prohibited actions simultaneously, so the correct option is the one that reproduces the full content of the rule: it is not allowed to open the doors, keep them open, or exit if this creates danger or obstacles. For preparation for the theoretical exam, it is important to remember: the duty to ensure safety lies with both the driver (through mirrors and control of passengers) and the passengers, especially when the doors are opened towards the roadway.
Clause 15.13
It is prohibited to open the doors of a vehicle, leave them open, or exit the vehicle if this endangers safety or creates obstacles for other road users.
Brief application: the requirement applies to both the driver and passengers — before opening the doors/exiting, they must ensure that this will not create danger or obstacles (in particular for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians).
Clause 1.10 (term "Driver")
Driver — a person who operates a vehicle and has a driver's license (tractor driver's license, temporary permit to drive a vehicle, temporary ticket to drive a vehicle) of the appropriate category. A driver is also a person who teaches driving while being directly in the vehicle.
Brief application: the question directly concerns the "driver," so it checks the understanding that this is a road user to whom the prohibition of clause 15.13 applies.
Clause 1.10 (term "Passenger")
Passenger — a person who uses a vehicle and is in it, but is not involved in operating it.
Brief application: the question directly concerns "passengers," so it checks that the prohibition of clause 15.13 applies not only to the driver but also to passengers.
That is, the correct answer is: "To open the doors of a vehicle, leave them open, or exit the vehicle if this endangers safety or creates obstacles for other road users," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, this is directly prohibited by clause 15.13 (for both driver and passengers) if it creates a threat to safety or obstacles for other road users. Brief summary text.
During a stop or parking of the vehicle, the driver and passengers should remember that open doors actually increase the width of the car. For other road users, this can be an unexpected obstacle, especially if the doors open towards the roadway where other vehicles, cyclists, or motorcyclists are moving.
Clause 15.13 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine sets restrictions specifically for the moment of opening the doors and exiting the car. The essence of the requirement is as follows: it is not allowed to perform actions with the doors or exit when this may create danger or hinder others. That is, the prohibition is not “absolute,” but applies in cases where opening the doors or exiting may lead to a conflict situation on the road.
In practice, this looks like the following: if the car has stopped near the edge of the roadway and a cyclist or motorcyclist is approaching nearby, suddenly opening the door can cause a collision. It is also dangerous to leave the doors open when other vehicles are passing a parked car at a short distance, or when a pedestrian is walking along the roadside. The driver can more easily assess the situation using mirrors, but passengers are also required to act carefully, and the driver must control the safety of disembarking.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "To open the doors of the vehicle, leave them open, and exit the vehicle if this endangers safety and creates obstacles for other road users," since clause 15.13 of the Traffic Rules prohibits opening/keeping the doors open and exiting the car in cases where this may create danger or an obstacle for other road users.