15.70. What must the driver make sure of before opening the door of the vehicle?
UAУ чому повинен переконатися водій перед тим, як відчинити двері транспортного засобу?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (PDR) concerning safety during stopping and passenger boarding/alighting. Even when a car is stationary, danger can arise instantly due to careless door opening: a cyclist, motorcyclist, or car may collide with the door, and a pedestrian may end up in a dangerous area. That is why the traffic rules specifically regulate the actions of the driver and passengers when opening doors.
The question tests knowledge of the PDR section related to stopping and parking, particularly the requirements of point 15.13. It states that it is prohibited to open doors, leave them open, or exit the vehicle if this endangers safety or creates obstacles for other road users. In the theoretical exam, it is important to understand the difference between “danger” and “obstacle”: safety refers to the risk of an accident or injury, while an obstacle is when others are forced to brake sharply, change direction, or maneuver around.
In the option suggesting to make sure the carriageway is completely clear, the idea is generally cautious, but the wording is too narrow and does not reflect the content of point 15.13: danger can come not only from vehicles on the carriageway, but also from cyclists, pedestrians, movement in a public transport lane, or even open doors blocking a path. Instead, the combination of the conditions “does not endanger safety” and “does not create obstacles” accurately reflects the PDR requirements and explains why, in this exam question, the correct answer is precisely the combination of these two criteria.
Practically, this means: before opening the door, the driver must assess the situation using mirrors and by looking around, choose a safe moment, and also monitor the actions of passengers to ensure they do not open the door suddenly. This understanding helps answer exam questions correctly and forms a safe habit that reduces the risk of typical accidents during boarding or alighting.
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.
Application of the clause: before opening the door, the driver must make sure that this will not lead to danger (in particular for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.) and will not create obstacles for other road users (will not force them to sharply change speed/direction, stop, go around, etc.).
That is, the correct answer is "Answers 2 and 3," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, opening the door is only allowed if it does not endanger safety and does not create obstacles for other road users.
When a car stops for boarding or alighting, danger can arise not only when starting to move but also at the moment of opening the doors. Therefore, before opening the doors, the driver must act cautiously and assess whether this will create a risk for other road users.
According to clause 15.13 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, it is prohibited to open the doors, leave them open, or exit the vehicle if this may endanger safety or create obstacles. In practice, this means the driver must make sure that the doors will not be in the path of other road users and will not cause a dangerous situation.
For example, if you have stopped at the edge of the roadway and a cyclist or motorcyclist may be passing nearby, suddenly opening the door can lead to a collision. Or if a car is approaching from behind, open doors may force another driver to swerve sharply, creating danger for everyone.
It is also important to remember that the driver is responsible not only for their own actions but must also ensure the safety of passengers’ actions, so that they do not open the doors at a dangerous moment and do not create obstacles.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Answers 2 and 3," since before opening the doors, you must make sure that this does not endanger safety and does not create obstacles for other road users.