16.2.53. Which vehicle will pass this intersection second?
UAЯкий транспортний засіб проїде дане перехрестя другим?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the ability to safely and correctly determine the order of passage at uncontrolled intersections according to priority road signs. Such situations are typical on urban and rural roads, and a mistake in assessing 'who must yield to whom' directly affects the risk of an accident, which is why this topic regularly appears on the theoretical exam.
The task belongs to the section of the Traffic Rules concerning intersection passage, specifically the application of clause 16.11 at intersections of roads with different priorities. Additionally, it checks understanding of priority signs (2.1 'Yield', 2.3 'Main Road') and plate 7.8 'Direction of the Main Road': even if the main road changes direction at the intersection, the advantage still remains with the vehicle entering the intersection on the main road, and the driver on the secondary road must yield regardless of the further maneuver of the other vehicle.
In this case, the white car is moving along the main road, so it passes through the intersection first, and the red car is approaching from the secondary road and must comply with the 'yield' requirement according to clause 16.11, so it will be second. The option stating that the white car passes second is incorrect because it ignores the priority of the main road and attempts to substitute it with the 'obstacle on the right' rule, which applies only between vehicles on roads of equal priority.
Clause 16.11
At an intersection of roads of unequal importance, the driver of a vehicle moving on a secondary road must yield to vehicles approaching this intersection along the main road, regardless of their further direction of movement.
Application: the red car (on the secondary road) is required to yield to the white car (on the main road), so the red car will proceed after the white one, that is, second.
Clause 1.10 (term “Main road”)
Main road — a road with a hard surface relative to a dirt road, or one marked with signs 1.22, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7.
Application: according to the priority sign, it is determined that the white car enters the intersection on the main road (even if its direction at the intersection changes according to the plate).
Clause 1.10 (term “Secondary road”)
Secondary road — a road that adjoins the main road, or a road marked with signs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7.
Application: according to sign 2.1, it is established that the red car is moving on a secondary road and does not have priority over vehicles on the main road.
Clause 1.10 (term “Yield (do not create obstacles)”)
Yield (do not create obstacles) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or start moving, not to perform any maneuver, if this may force other road users who have priority to change their direction or speed.
Application: the driver of the red car does not have the right to start crossing the intersection while a vehicle with priority (the white car on the main road) is passing.
Clause 33.2.1 — 33 “Road signs”, 2 “Priority signs”, sign 2.1 “Yield”
Sign 2.1 “Yield” — the driver must yield to vehicles moving on the main road.
Application: this sign confirms the obligation of the red car to yield to vehicles approaching on the main road.
Clause 33.2.3 — 33 “Road signs”, 2 “Priority signs”, sign 2.3 “Main road”
Sign 2.3 “Main road” — a road that is given priority at uncontrolled intersections.
Application: the white car has priority at the uncontrolled intersection over vehicles on the secondary road.
Clause 33.7.8 — 33 “Road signs”, 7 “Plates to road signs”, plate “Direction of the main road” (7.8)
Plate “Direction of the main road” — shows the direction of the main road at the intersection.
Application: according to the plate, it is determined that the main road at the intersection changes direction, but this does not cancel the requirement of clause 16.11: the vehicle on the secondary road (red) still yields to the vehicle on the main road (white).
That is, the correct answer is “The red car.”, given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules it is moving on the secondary road and according to clause 16.11 must yield to the vehicle approaching on the main road, so it will proceed after the white car — second.
There is no traffic light or traffic controller at this intersection, so it is unregulated. Therefore, the order of passage is determined by priority road signs and by which road is the main one and which is secondary.
According to the signs with the main road direction plate, it is clear that the main road changes direction at the intersection. The white car approaches the intersection on the main road, while the red car approaches on the secondary road. This is also indicated by the shape of the signs: for the driver on the secondary road, a 'Yield' sign is installed, and for the driver on the main road, a main road priority sign with the corresponding plate.
Next, we apply clause 16.11 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: at an intersection of roads with different priorities, the driver moving on the secondary road must yield to vehicles approaching on the main road, regardless of where they are going next. That is, the red car does not have the right to start crossing until the white car, which is moving on the main road, has passed through the intersection.
An important point: the 'right-hand rule' does not determine the order between these two cars here, because it applies to vehicles that arrive simultaneously on roads of equal priority. In this case, the roads are not equal, so the requirement to yield from clause 16.11 takes precedence.
Therefore, the white car will pass through the intersection first, and the red car second.
Thus, the correct answer is "The red car," since it is moving on the secondary road and, according to clause 16.11, must yield to the vehicle on the main road, so it will pass after the white car.