16.2.62. Which vehicle will pass the intersection last?
UAЯкий транспортний засіб проїде перехрестя останнім?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safe passage of uncontrolled intersections, where the order of movement is determined not by a traffic light, but by priority signs and general 'give way' rules. Such situations most often cause mistakes on the road and in the theoretical exam, because drivers confuse the order: first, vehicles on the main road go, and only then those who approached from the secondary road.
The task tests the section of the Traffic Rules regarding passing intersections, in particular the application of paragraphs 16.11–16.13 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. The logic is simple: vehicles on the secondary road do not start moving until those approaching on the main road have passed (p. 16.11). Next, when vehicles are moving on the main road, the priority of the tram at an uncontrolled intersection among equivalent directions is taken into account (p. 16.12), as well as the requirement that when turning left, one must yield to a tram moving in the same direction and to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning right (p. 16.13). Therefore, the white and green cars cannot be 'the last', because they belong to the main direction and will pass before the vehicles from the secondary road.
When the main road is clear, a conflict remains between the yellow and gray cars, which approached from secondary but equivalent directions. Here, rule p. 16.13 applies: the one turning left must yield to the oncoming vehicle going straight. Thus, the yellow will not be the last, because after the 'main' vehicles have passed, it will go before the one making the left turn, namely, the gray car is forced to wait twice: first to let the vehicles on the main road pass (p. 16.11), and then also the yellow car at their equivalent intersection (p. 16.13).
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 the direction of their further movement.
Application: vehicles on the secondary road (yellow and gray) cannot begin to cross until the vehicles approaching on the main road (tram, white and green cars) have passed.
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 along a road of equal importance, except at intersections where a roundabout is organized.
Application: when vehicles are meeting on the main road, the tram has priority over non-rail vehicles approaching the intersection along a road equal in status to the tram's road.
Clause 16.13
Before turning left or making a U-turn, 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 on a road of equal importance in the opposite direction.
Application: after the vehicles on the main road have passed, between the yellow and gray cars (which are on secondary roads of equal status), the gray car, when turning left, must yield to the yellow car going straight — therefore, the gray car will pass last.
Clause 1.10 (the term "Yield (do not create an obstacle)")
Yield (do not create an obstacle) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, or perform any maneuvers, if this may force other road users who have priority to change their direction or speed.
That is, the correct answer is "The gray car.", considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, it, moving on a secondary road, must first yield to vehicles on the main road (clause 16.11), and then, when turning left at an intersection of secondary roads of equal status, must yield to the yellow car going straight (clause 16.13).
We are dealing with an uncontrolled intersection of roads with different priorities, so the order of movement is determined by priority signs. In this situation, we first assess who is on the main road and who is on the secondary road.
According to paragraph 16.11 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, drivers of vehicles on the secondary road must yield to those approaching on the main road, regardless of their further direction of movement. Therefore, the yellow and gray cars (which are on secondary routes) cannot start crossing until the vehicles from the main road have passed.
Vehicles on the main road pass each other according to the rules for crossing uncontrolled intersections. Here, we take into account paragraph 16.12 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: at an uncontrolled intersection, a tram has priority over non-rail vehicles approaching it on an equivalent road (within this intersection). Also, according to paragraph 16.13, a driver of a non-rail vehicle must yield to a tram going in the same direction and to oncoming vehicles moving straight or to the right before turning left. Therefore, vehicles on the main road will pass before those waiting on the secondary road.
Once the main road is clear, the yellow and gray cars remain on the secondary roads, but they are now in equal conditions (for them, this is an intersection of roads of equal priority). Then we apply paragraph 16.13 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: when turning left, the driver must yield to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction going straight (or to the right). The gray car is turning left, and the yellow car is going straight, so the gray car must yield to the yellow one.
Thus, the yellow car on the secondary road will pass before the gray one, and the gray car will have to wait first for the main road to clear, and then also yield to the yellow car.
Therefore, the correct answer is "The gray car," because it is on the secondary road and, in addition, when turning left, must yield to the yellow car going straight.