15.69. What measures must the driver take before leaving their vehicle?
UAЯких заходів повинен вжити водій, перед тим як залишити свій транспортний засіб?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about basic safety during stopping and parking: the driver is responsible not only for driving, but also for ensuring that the parked car does not pose a danger to other road users and does not become an easy target for criminals. In the theoretical exam, such wording checks practical skills "before leaving the car" and understanding which actions are mandatory according to the traffic rules.
The question relates to the section of the Traffic Rules on stopping and parking, specifically to the requirements of clause 15.12. It directly obliges the driver to take all measures to prevent unauthorized movement of the vehicle and entry into it and/or its unlawful seizure. In real life, this means securing the car with the parking brake, additionally engaging first or reverse gear if necessary (especially on a slope), as well as closing the windows, locking the doors, and activating the security system if available.
When analyzing the options, the correct one is the combination of actions against unauthorized movement and against entry/theft, because these are the exact requirements stated in clause 15.12 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. The wording about "cargo integrity" seems logical from the point of view of everyday caution, but in the context of this exam question it is not a direct requirement of clause 15.12: the traffic rules separately regulate the placement and securing of cargo (for example, before starting to drive), but when leaving the car, the key requirements remain securing the vehicle and protecting it from unauthorized access.
Clause 15.12
The driver is prohibited from leaving the vehicle without taking all measures to prevent its spontaneous movement, unauthorized access to it, and/or its unlawful seizure.
That is, the correct answer is "Answers 1 and 2," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver, before leaving the vehicle, is required to simultaneously take measures both against spontaneous movement and against unauthorized access/unlawful seizure.
When a driver stops and is about to leave the vehicle even for a short time, they are no longer directly controlling the situation. Therefore, the Traffic Rules require that before leaving the vehicle, the driver must do everything necessary to ensure that the car does not move on its own and that outsiders cannot get inside or take possession of it.
The first part of the requirements concerns preventing unintentional movement. For example, if a driver parks on a slope and does not secure the vehicle, it may roll and cause an accident or hit a pedestrian. Therefore, before leaving, the car should be reliably held stationary: this is usually done with the parking brake, and additionally, engaging a gear (first or reverse) can further reduce the risk of rolling.
The second part of the requirements concerns security from intrusion and unlawful possession. In practice, this means that before leaving, the driver should close the windows, lock the doors, and, if possible, activate the security system. These actions reduce the risk of theft of items from the cabin or theft of the vehicle itself.
Sometimes, answer options mention the "integrity of the cargo," but the question itself about what the driver must do before leaving the vehicle is directly related to the requirements of paragraph 15.12 of the Traffic Rules: preventing unintentional movement and preventing intrusion/possession.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Answers 1 and 2," since before leaving the vehicle, the driver is required to take measures to prevent it from moving unintentionally and to prevent outsiders from entering or unlawfully possessing it.