16.1.14. Must the driver of the blue car give way to the cyclist in this situation?
UAЧи повинен водій синього автомобіля дати дорогу велосипедистові в даній ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the understanding of safe passage through intersections when both road users receive a permissive traffic light signal but perform different maneuvers. Such situations are typical in the theoretical exam, as mistakes during left turns most often lead to conflicts with oncoming vehicles, particularly cyclists, who are also full participants in road traffic.
According to the content of the task, it concerns a controlled intersection where the order of passage is determined by traffic light signals (Section 16 of the Traffic Rules, clause 16.1). Next, the key rule of clause 16.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine applies: the driver of a non-rail vehicle who turns left or makes a U-turn on a green light must give way to oncoming vehicles moving straight (or turning right). A bicycle is a vehicle, so an oncoming cyclist who continues straight has the right of way, while the one turning left must yield.
The option stating that yielding is not required contradicts the direct provision of clause 16.6 and is a typical trap: "green" by itself does not mean equal priority in conflicting trajectories. In practice, a correct understanding of this rule helps to make a left turn without forcing the cyclist to change speed or direction, as well as to reduce the risk of accidents at intersections, which is exactly what this exam question for the theoretical test checks.
Clause 16.6
“When turning left or making a U-turn at a green signal of the main traffic light, the driver of a non-rail vehicle must yield to a tram moving in the same direction, as well as to vehicles moving straight or turning right from the opposite direction. This rule must also be followed by tram drivers among themselves.”
In this situation, the blue car is turning left at a green signal, and the cyclist is moving straight from the opposite direction, so the driver of the car is required to yield as the cyclist is an oncoming vehicle moving straight.
Clause 16.1
“At regulated intersections, the order of passage is determined by the signals of the traffic light or the traffic controller.”
Since the intersection is regulated by a traffic light, the order of passage is determined by the rules for regulated intersections, and when both directions have a permissive (green) signal at the same time, the requirement of clause 16.6 regarding left turns and the priority of oncoming straight movement applies.
That is, the correct answer is "Must.", given that according to the Traffic Rules, when turning left at a green light, the driver must yield to oncoming vehicles moving straight (clause 16.6), and the intersection is regulated (clause 16.1).
In this situation, we have an intersection where traffic is controlled by traffic light signals. According to clause 16.1 of the Traffic Rules, this means the intersection is regulated, and drivers proceed according to the permissive or prohibitive signal.
The blue car is moving on a green signal and intends to turn left. The cyclist is also approaching from the opposite direction and continues straight. Since both participants are within the area governed by the same traffic light regime, the order of precedence is determined not by the fact that both have a green signal, but by the maneuver each is performing.
Clause 16.6 of the Traffic Rules establishes the rule: when the driver of a non-rail vehicle turns left on a green signal, they must yield to vehicles moving straight in the opposite direction (or turning right). A bicycle is a vehicle, so the cyclist in this situation is equated to the oncoming traffic flow, which has priority over the one turning left.
Therefore, the blue car must yield to the cyclist and complete the left turn only after the oncoming straight movement is safe and does not require the cyclist to change speed or direction.
Thus, the correct answer is "Must.", because at a regulated intersection, a driver turning left on a green signal is required to yield to oncoming vehicles moving straight, and the cyclist in this situation has the right of way.