16.2.36. How should a driver act in a situation where it is impossible to determine the presence of a road surface, in the absence of priority signs?
UAЯк повинен поводитися водій у ситуації, коли неможливо визначити наявність покриття на дорозі, за відсутності знаків пріоритету?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning the safe passage of uncontrolled intersections, where mistakes in determining priority most often lead to conflicts and accidents. In real conditions (at night, in snow, mud, or puddles), a driver may not be able to see which road is paved, and therefore cannot reliably determine who has the right of way. For this reason, the traffic rules provide a precautionary algorithm that reduces the risk of simultaneous entry into the intersection.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding intersection passage, in particular the application of clause 16.15, as well as understanding of the term "main road" from clause 1.10. The logic is simple: if there are no priority signs and it is impossible to determine the presence of pavement, the driver has no grounds to consider themselves on the main road, so they should choose the less advantageous option and act as if they are on a secondary road. This rule is important for the theoretical exam because it demonstrates the ability to choose a safe model of behavior even in uncertain situations.
The analysis of the answer options in this task comes down to the fact that moving "straight ahead" by itself does not grant priority at an uncontrolled intersection without signs, so attempting to go first is a mistake and dangerous. Instead, the correct strategy corresponds to the requirements of clause 16.15: reduce speed, be ready to stop, and yield to other road users, since under such conditions you should consider yourself on a secondary road. This coordinates drivers' actions and reduces the risk that both will simultaneously "appoint" themselves as having priority.
Clause 16.15
If it is impossible to determine the presence of pavement on the road (nighttime, dirt, snow, etc.), and priority signs are absent, the driver must assume that they are on a secondary road.
Application: this clause directly establishes the procedure at an uncontrolled intersection when, due to visibility conditions or road state, it is impossible to understand which road has pavement (and therefore determine the "main" road by the presence of pavement), and there are no priority signs.
Clause 1.10 (term "Main road")
Main road — a road with pavement relative to a dirt road, or a road marked with signs 2.3 "Main road", 2.3.1–2.3.3 "Direction of main road". The presence of pavement on the secondary road immediately before the intersection does not make it equivalent to the intersecting road.
Application: the question is related to the impossibility of determining "pavement", which is one of the criteria for establishing where the "main road" is; if this criterion cannot be reliably determined and there are no priority signs, the special rule of clause 16.15 applies.
That is, the correct answer is "Assume that they are on a secondary road," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, priority can be established by the presence of pavement, and clause 16.15 directly requires that if it is impossible to determine this (and in the absence of priority signs), one must consider themselves to be on a secondary road.
At an uncontrolled intersection, the order of passage is determined either by priority signs or by the features of the main road. One of the features of the main road is, in particular, the presence of pavement (for example, asphalt) compared to a dirt road. However, in real conditions, it may happen that due to darkness, snow, mud, or puddles, the driver cannot reliably determine what kind of surface the intersecting roads have, and there are no priority signs.
In such a situation, the driver has no reliable way to prove to themselves that they are on the main road. Another road user may know the area better and act differently, and due to different understandings of priority, the most dangerous scenario arises: both drivers consider themselves to be “main” and enter the intersection at the same time.
That is why clause 16.15 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine establishes a precautionary rule: if it is impossible to determine the presence of pavement and there are no priority signs, the driver must act with maximum caution and choose for themselves the less advantageous option of priority. In practice, this means that when approaching such an intersection, you should reduce your speed, be ready to stop, and yield to vehicles that may have the right of way, in order not to create danger.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Consider that you are on a secondary road," because according to clause 16.15 of the Traffic Rules, in the absence of priority signs and the impossibility of determining the pavement, you must assume that you do not have priority and act as a driver on a secondary road.