16.1.8. Which vehicle will pass this intersection first?
UAЯкий транспортний засіб першим проїде дане перехрестя?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the ability to safely and correctly determine the order of passage at controlled intersections according to traffic light signals. Such situations often occur in the city, and a mistake in priority can lead to dangerous trajectory conflicts, sudden braking, or traffic accidents. That is why theoretical exam tasks include scenarios where it is necessary to distinguish between 'permission to move' and 'priority in movement.'
The question relates to the topic of Intersection Crossing Rules, specifically the section of the Traffic Rules about traffic light signals and movement with an additional section. The key regulation here is clause 16.9 of the Traffic Rules: if a driver moves in the direction of a green arrow in an additional section that is activated simultaneously with the red signal of the main section, they have the right to proceed only in the indicated direction, but must yield to vehicles moving from other directions on a permissive signal.
In this scenario, the correct answer is the option with the red car, as it receives priority due to the main green traffic light signal. The blue car, although it sees a green arrow 'straight ahead,' is in 'movement allowed with yielding' mode, meaning it must comply with the 'yield' requirement (terms from clause 1.10) and not force the vehicle with priority to change speed or direction. The practical conclusion for preparing for the theoretical exam: the main green signal always has priority over movement on an additional section activated together with red or yellow.
Clause 16.9
"When moving in the direction of the arrow that is activated in the additional section simultaneously with the yellow or red signal of the traffic light, the driver must yield to vehicles moving from other directions. When moving in the direction of the green arrow on the plate installed at the level of the red signal of a vertically arranged traffic light, the driver must take the far right (left) lane and yield to vehicles and pedestrians moving from other directions."
In this situation, the blue car is moving "on the additional section" with the red signal in the main section, so it is obliged to yield to vehicles from other directions, in particular to the red car, which is moving on the main green signal of the traffic light.
Clause 1.10 (definitions of "Yield" and "Priority")
"Yield — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, not to make any maneuvers (except for the requirement to vacate the occupied lane), if this may force other road users who have priority to change their direction or speed."
"Priority — the right to move first in relation to other road users."
These definitions are needed to correctly apply the requirement to "yield" from clause 16.9: the blue car does not have the right to force the red car to change speed or direction, because the red car has priority in these conditions.
That is, the correct answer is "The red car.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the blue car is moving on the green arrow in the additional section together with the red signal of the main section and is obliged to yield to vehicles moving from other directions (clause 16.9, definitions in clause 1.10).
At this intersection, traffic is regulated by a traffic light, so the order of passage is determined specifically by the traffic light signals, not by the “obstacle on the right” rule or other general rules.
The red car has the main green traffic light signal on. This means it is allowed to proceed in the usual priority order: it passes through the intersection as a vehicle that is directly permitted to move by the traffic light.
The blue car has a red signal in the main section, but at the same time, an additional section with a green arrow “straight ahead” is lit. According to paragraph 16.9 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, a green arrow in an additional section together with a red (or yellow) signal only permits movement in the indicated direction, but with the obligation to yield to vehicles moving from other directions on a permissive signal.
That is, the blue car has the right to go straight, but only after making sure that it does not force drivers with priority to change their speed or direction. In this situation, the red car is the one with priority, because it is moving on the main green signal.
Therefore, the correct answer is "The red car.", since it is moving on the main green traffic light signal, and the blue car with a green arrow in the additional section at red is required to yield to it.