16.2.58. When driving straight at this intersection, you must:
UAПід час руху прямо на даному перехресті Ви повинні:
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safe passage of uncontrolled intersections and the correct determination of priority at a conflict point of movement. Such situations often cause traffic accidents because drivers mistakenly apply the “right-hand rule” or focus only on the direction of another vehicle’s turn, ignoring special regulations regarding rail vehicles.
The question tests the section of the Traffic Rules concerning the passage of intersections, in particular the application of paragraphs 16.11 and 16.12 of the Traffic Rules. The logic is as follows: first, according to the priority signs, it is determined who is on the main road and who is on the secondary road (this corresponds to the general principle of paragraph 16.11). Next, if a car and a tram are in equal conditions at an uncontrolled intersection (for example, both are approaching on the main road) and their paths cross, a special rule of paragraph 16.12 applies: the tram has priority regardless of whether it is going straight or turning left (the exception is a roundabout intersection).
That is why the option where the driver tries to go first and does not yield to the tram is incorrect: it contradicts the requirements of paragraph 16.12 and creates an obstacle for the rail vehicle (in the sense of the term “give way”). The correct decision is to yield to the tram and complete the passage of the intersection after it — this is a typical check on the theoretical exam, which teaches to timely recognize equal conditions and apply the tram’s priority, not the general rules of precedence.
Clause 16.12
At any uncontrolled intersection, a tram, regardless of the direction of its further movement, has priority over non-rail vehicles approaching it on an equivalent road, except at intersections where a roundabout is organized.
Application: in a situation where you and the tram are in equal conditions at an uncontrolled intersection (in particular, both are moving on the main road or on equivalent roads) and your paths cross, the tram has priority — you are obliged to yield, even if the tram is turning left and you are going straight.
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 on the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.
Application: this clause is needed to correctly assess which vehicles have priority over vehicles from the secondary road. In this question, it helps to establish that both rail and non-rail vehicles on the main road have priority over those from the secondary road, and the order between them is further determined by clause 16.12 (tram priority).
Clause 1.10 (term "Yield")
Yield (do not create obstacles) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, or perform any maneuver, if this may force other road users who have priority to change their direction or speed.
Application: "yield to the tram" means not to enter or continue movement in such a way that the tram would be forced to brake or change its trajectory.
Clause 33.2.3 — 33 "Road Signs", 2 "Priority Signs", sign 2.3 "Main Road"
Sign 2.3 "Main Road" — a road on which non-rail vehicles moving along the intersected road are given priority.
Application: the sign confirms that you are approaching the intersection on the main road (and therefore, you are in "equal conditions" with the tram regarding priority over the secondary road), after which the priority between you and the tram is determined by clause 16.12.
Clause 33.7.8 — 33 "Road Signs", 7 "Plates to Road Signs", plate 7.8 "Direction of the Main Road"
Plate 7.8 "Direction of the Main Road" — shows the direction of the main road at the intersection.
Application: if plate 7.8 is absent, the main road passes through the intersection without changing direction; this helps to correctly determine that the oncoming tram is also on the main road, and therefore the priority between it and you is determined precisely by clause 16.12.
Thus, the correct answer is "Proceed second, yielding to the tram," given that according to the traffic rules, at an uncontrolled intersection, the tram has priority over non-rail vehicles approaching it on an equivalent (including main for both) road, regardless of the direction of its further movement.
At this intersection, traffic is not regulated by a traffic light or a traffic controller, so the order of passage is determined by priority signs and the rules for passing unregulated intersections.
In front of us, there is a 'Main Road' sign, and there is no 'Direction of the Main Road' plate underneath it. This means that the main road goes straight through the intersection. Priority signs are installed before the intersection from all directions, so vehicles approaching us on the same road line (including the tram) are also on the main road. Therefore, both we and the tram have equal priority conditions.
Next, we assess the conflict of trajectories: we are going straight, the tram is turning left, and our paths cross. In such a situation at an unregulated intersection, a special rule applies to rail vehicles. According to clause 16.12 of the Traffic Rules, at an unregulated intersection, a tram has priority over non-rail vehicles approaching it from an equivalent road, regardless of the direction in which it is moving (the exception applies to roundabout intersections, but that does not apply here). That is, the 'right-hand rule' between a car and a tram does not determine the order of passage in such conditions.
Clause 16.11 of the Traffic Rules also emphasizes a general principle: at an unregulated intersection, the driver must yield to vehicles that have priority according to the priority rules. Since the tram has priority at this conflict point, we must let it pass and continue driving only after that.
Therefore, the correct answer is 'Proceed second, yielding to the tram,' because at an unregulated intersection, both we and the tram are on the main (equally prioritized) road, and according to clause 16.12, the tram has priority regardless of its direction of movement, so it must be allowed to pass.