15.66. What measures must the driver of a vehicle take in the event of a forced stop at a location where stopping is prohibited, if it is impossible to remove the vehicle?
UAЯких заходів повинен вжити водій транспортного засобу в разі вимушеної зупинки на місці, де зупинка заборонена, при відсутності можливості прибрати транспортний засіб?
Question without image
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety during a forced stop, especially in situations where the vehicle ends up in a place where stopping is prohibited. Such cases (breakdown, obstacle, danger from cargo, or the driver's condition) create an increased risk of an accident, so the traffic rules require not only to stop, but also to make the car as visible as possible to others and, if possible, to remove it from the dangerous location.
The question tests knowledge of the sections of the Traffic Rules regarding stopping and parking, as well as warning signals, specifically the requirements of paragraph 15.14 and related paragraphs 9.9–9.11. The logic of the Rules is as follows: the driver must first take all measures to remove the vehicle (for example, onto the shoulder or to another nearest safe place). If this is not possible, it is necessary to act according to the rules for indicating an emergency situation: turn on the hazard warning lights, and in certain cases, additionally place an emergency stop sign or a flashing red lantern (taking into account distances and visibility conditions). That is why the theoretical exam emphasizes the principle: sometimes one warning method is sufficient, but in certain situations both are required simultaneously.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to the fact that “only hazard lights” do not always meet the requirements of the Traffic Rules (for example, in limited visibility, a sign/lantern is also needed), and “only a sign or lantern” is also not a universal solution, because the hazard warning lights must be turned on during a forced stop on the road, if they are working. The correct approach in this exam question: use the hazard warning lights or a sign/lantern, and in cases provided by the traffic rules, enhance safety by using both warning methods so that other drivers can see the danger in advance.
Clause 15.14
In the event of a forced stop in a place where stopping is prohibited, the driver must take all measures to remove the vehicle, and if this is not possible — act in accordance with the requirements of clauses 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 of these Rules.
Clause 9.9
The hazard warning lights must be switched on: a) in the event of a forced stop on the road; b) when stopping at the request of a police officer or due to the driver being blinded by headlights; c) on a mechanically propelled vehicle moving with technical malfunctions, if such movement is not prohibited by these Rules; d) on a mechanically propelled vehicle being towed; e) on a mechanically propelled vehicle marked with the identification sign "Children" transporting an organized group of children, during their boarding or disembarkation; f) on all mechanically propelled vehicles in a convoy during their stop on the road; g) in the event of a road traffic accident (RTA).
Clause 9.10
Together with switching on the hazard warning lights, a warning triangle or a flashing red lantern must be placed at a distance that ensures road safety, but not closer than 20 m from the vehicle in populated areas and 40 m outside them, in the event of: a) a road traffic accident (RTA); b) a forced stop in places with limited road visibility in at least one direction of less than 100 m.
Clause 9.11
If the vehicle is not equipped with hazard warning lights or they are faulty, a warning triangle or a flashing red lantern must be placed: a) behind the vehicle specified in clause 9.9 ("c", "d", "e") of these Rules; b) on the side with poorer visibility for other road users in the case specified in subparagraph "b" of clause 9.10 of these Rules.
Clause 1.10 (term "Forced stop")
Forced stop — cessation of movement of a vehicle due to its technical malfunction or danger caused by the cargo being transported, the condition of a road user, or the appearance of an obstacle to movement.
Thus, the correct answer is "Perform the action from answer 1 or 2, and in cases established by the Traffic Rules — both actions simultaneously," considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, in the event of a forced stop in a prohibited place, the driver is first obliged to take measures to remove the vehicle (clause 15.14), and if this is impossible — to indicate the danger by switching on the hazard warning lights (clause 9.9) and, in specified cases, additionally set up a warning triangle/flashing red lantern (clauses 9.10–9.11), which may require performing one or both actions depending on the circumstances.
A forced stop differs from a regular stop in that it happens not at the driver’s will, but due to a technical malfunction, danger from the cargo, the driver’s condition, or the appearance of an obstacle. That is why, even in a place where stopping is prohibited, such a situation is permitted, but the driver is obliged to act in a way that does not create additional danger for others.
Clause 15.14 of the Traffic Rules requires, first and foremost, to do everything possible to remove the vehicle from the prohibited location. In practice, this means trying to move onto the shoulder, into a “pocket,” to the edge of the roadway, or to another nearest safe place where the car will not block traffic and will be more visible. If the technical condition or circumstances do not allow moving the car, then you must proceed to the actions provided for in the section on emergency signaling and hazard marking.
In such a situation, the Traffic Rules provide two main ways to warn other drivers: turn on the emergency warning lights (this is mandatory in the event of a forced stop on the road) and/or set up an emergency stop sign or a flashing red lantern. For example, if you stopped due to a breakdown in a traffic lane, the first step should be to turn on the “emergency lights” so that other road users immediately understand that the vehicle is not moving for a valid reason.
The Rules separately clarify when you need not only the “emergency lights” but also the sign (or lantern): these are cases when a forced stop occurs in a place with limited visibility, that is, when other drivers may notice your car too late. Then the sign or lantern is placed at a safe distance, not closer than 20 meters in a populated area and 40 meters outside it, to warn about the obstacle in advance. If the emergency warning lights are absent or faulty, the sign (or lantern) actually becomes the main way to mark the hazard.
Thus, the Rules do not limit the driver’s duties to just one action. Depending on the situation, you either use one method of marking or both at once to ensure maximum visibility and safety.
Therefore, the correct answer is: “Perform the action from answer 1 or 2, and in cases established by the Traffic Rules, both actions simultaneously,” since if it is impossible to remove the car from a place where stopping is prohibited, the Traffic Rules require marking the hazard with emergency warning lights and/or an emergency stop sign (flashing red lantern), and in conditions of insufficient visibility may require using both means together.