15.72. What measures, according to the Traffic Rules, must the driver of a passenger car take when parked on an ascent or descent along the edge of the carriageway?
UAЯких заходів, згідно з Правилами дорожнього руху, повинен вжити водій легкового автомобіля, поставленого на підйомі або спуску вздовж краю проїзної частини?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safe stopping and parking on slopes, when a car is left along the edge of the carriageway. On an ascent or descent, even a functioning parking brake may not guarantee the vehicle remains completely stationary (due to slippery surfaces, load, unevenness), so the traffic rules require additional actions to prevent spontaneous movement and reduce the risk of uncontrolled rolling into traffic.
This tests the section of the Traffic Rules regarding stopping and parking, specifically the requirements of paragraph 15.7 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. It states that if on slopes (where the method of parking is not defined by signs, markings, or other means of traffic organization) a vehicle is parked along the edge of the carriageway, the driver must turn the steerable wheels in such a way as to eliminate the possibility of spontaneous movement. On the theoretical exam, this wording is often checked literally, so it is important to remember that turning the wheels is a mandatory condition for this method of parking on a slope.
The analysis of the answer options in the ticket comes down to the fact that the requirement to turn the steerable wheels directly follows from paragraph 15.7, so it is the correct one. Meanwhile, "it is mandatory to use wheel chocks" for a passenger car is not established by the Traffic Rules as a general requirement in this context: chocks can be a useful additional safeguard, but their mandatory use applies to other categories of vehicles under separate regulations, not to a typical passenger car within the scope of this exam question. Therefore, the combined option is also not suitable, as it contains an extra condition that is not mandatory for a passenger car.
Clause 15.7
On descents and ascents, where the method of parking is not regulated by traffic control devices, vehicles must be parked at an angle to the edge of the carriageway so as not to create obstacles for other road users and to eliminate the possibility of spontaneous movement of these vehicles. In such areas, it is permitted to park the vehicle along the edge of the carriageway, turning the steerable wheels in such a way as to prevent the possibility of spontaneous movement of the vehicle.
This exam question tests knowledge of the specific part of clause 15.7, which explicitly states: if a vehicle is parked along the edge of the carriageway on an ascent/descent, the driver must turn the steerable wheels to prevent spontaneous movement.
That is, the correct answer is "Turn the steerable wheels to prevent the possibility of spontaneous movement of the vehicle," given that by definition, clause 15.7 of the Traffic Rules directly allows parking along the edge of the carriageway on an ascent/descent only if the steerable wheels are turned to prevent spontaneous movement.
When you leave a passenger car on an incline or decline near the edge of the carriageway, the main task of the driver is to ensure that the car cannot roll away on its own. On a slope, even a slight loss of grip (for example, due to a slippery surface or unevenness) can cause the car to move without the driver, which is a danger to other road users.
Clause 15.7 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine explains that on inclines and declines, if the method of parking is not determined by signs or markings, the vehicle should be positioned so as not to obstruct others and, at the same time, to prevent it from moving on its own. The rules allow parking along the edge of the carriageway, but with a mandatory condition: the steering wheels must be turned so that the car cannot roll away.
The logic is simple: if the car suddenly starts moving under the force of gravity, the turned wheels will change the direction of its possible rollback and reduce the risk of uncontrolled movement straight along the lane. For example, on a decline, properly turned wheels create conditions under which the car will not freely roll down along the road but will be "diverted" from the trajectory of a straight rollback.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Turn the steering wheels to eliminate the possibility of the vehicle moving on its own," since clause 15.7 of the Traffic Rules directly requires that on an incline or decline, when parking along the edge of the carriageway, the steering wheels must be turned so that the car cannot roll away on its own.