16.2.68. Must the driver of the white car give way to pedestrians who are crossing the carriageway at the intersection along the line of the sidewalk extension?
UAЧи повинен водій білого автомобіля дати дорогу пішоходам, які переходять проїзну частину на перехресті по лінії продовження тротуару?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safe interaction of a driver with pedestrians at intersections while performing a maneuver. It is at turns that conflict situations most often arise, so the traffic rules require the driver to reduce speed in advance, carefully monitor the sidewalk areas, and be ready to stop in order not to create danger for people crossing the road.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding passing intersections and yielding to pedestrians, specifically the application of clause 16.2. It is important to remember the definition from clause 1.10: if there are no signs or markings of a pedestrian crossing at the intersection, its boundaries are still determined by the lines extending the sidewalks or shoulders. And clause 4.7 directly allows pedestrians to cross the roadway at intersections precisely along these lines, meaning their crossing is correct and lawful.
During the theoretical exam, mistakes are often made when confusing the priority between vehicles and the obligation to yield to pedestrians. The option that the driver may not yield is incorrect, because when turning, the requirement of clause 16.2 applies: the driver is obliged to yield to pedestrians crossing the roadway onto which he is turning, even if the car is moving "on the main road" (priority signs such as 2.3 regulate the order only between vehicles). The correct answer logically follows from the traffic rules and from the practice of safe intersection passage: pedestrians crossing along the line extending the sidewalk must be yielded to.
Clause 1.10 (term “Pedestrian crossing”)
Pedestrian crossing — a section of the carriageway or an engineering structure intended for pedestrians to cross the road. Pedestrian crossings are marked by road signs and/or road markings, and in their absence at intersections, the boundaries of the pedestrian crossing are determined by the lines of sidewalks or roadsides.
Application: if pedestrians are crossing at an intersection “along the line of the continuation of the sidewalk,” they are in fact moving within the boundaries of a pedestrian crossing (even without “zebra”/signs), as defined by the Traffic Rules.
Clause 1.10 (term “Give way (not to create an obstacle)”)
Give way (not to create an obstacle) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, nor to make any maneuvers, if this could force other road users who have the right of way to change their direction or speed.
Application: “give way to pedestrians” means, if necessary, to reduce speed and/or stop so as not to force pedestrians to change their speed or trajectory.
Clause 4.7
Pedestrians must cross the carriageway at pedestrian crossings, including underground and overground ones, and if there are none — at intersections along the lines of sidewalks or roadsides.
Application: The Traffic Rules explicitly allow (and require) crossing at an intersection along the line of the sidewalk/roadside if there is no marked crossing nearby.
Clause 16.2
At regulated and unregulated intersections, a driver turning right or left must give way to pedestrians crossing the carriageway onto which the driver is turning, as well as to cyclists moving straight in the same direction.
Application: Regardless of whether it is a main or secondary road, when turning at an intersection, the driver is obliged to yield to pedestrians crossing the carriageway (including along the line of continuation of the sidewalk).
Clause 18.1
When approaching an unregulated pedestrian crossing, the driver must reduce speed and, if necessary, stop to give way to pedestrians crossing the carriageway.
Application: If at an intersection the pedestrian crossing is determined by the lines of sidewalks (as defined in clause 1.10) and it is unregulated, the driver is obliged to give way to pedestrians crossing there.
That is, the correct answer is “Must always,” given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, crossing “along the line of continuation of the sidewalk” at an intersection is a pedestrian crossing (clause 1.10), pedestrians have the right to cross there (clause 4.7), and the driver is obliged to give way both when turning (clause 16.2) and when approaching an unregulated pedestrian crossing (clause 18.1) in the sense of “give way” (clause 1.10).
At an intersection, pedestrians may cross the roadway not only at a marked pedestrian crossing, but also along the line of continuation of the sidewalk if there is no “zebra” crossing. Such a crossing is considered a correct and legal way to cross specifically within the intersection.
When the white car is turning right or left, it crosses the path of pedestrians who at that moment are crossing the roadway along the line of continuation of the sidewalk. In this situation, the requirement of clause 16.2 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine applies: when turning at an intersection, the driver must yield to pedestrians who are crossing the roadway onto which the driver is turning. That is, if a pedestrian is already on the crossing or has stepped onto it, the driver must reduce speed and, if necessary, stop to let them pass.
It is important to understand that priority signs (which determine the main road) regulate the order of passage between vehicles, but do not cancel the obligation to yield to pedestrians when turning at an intersection. Therefore, even if the white car is moving “on the main road,” this does not give it the right to drive through pedestrians who are crossing along the line of continuation of the sidewalk.
Thus, the correct answer is "Must always," since when turning at an intersection, according to clause 16.2 of the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to yield to pedestrians who are crossing the roadway along the line of continuation of the sidewalk.