16.2.72. May the driver of the white vehicle enter the intersection in this situation?
UAЧи може водій білого автомобіля виїхати на перехрестя в даній ситуації?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safely passing intersections in a complex traffic situation when there is a traffic jam ahead. In the theoretical exam, it is important to demonstrate not only knowledge of priorities but also the ability to anticipate the consequences of your actions: entering an intersection without the possibility to clear it often leads to blocked traffic, conflicts, and dangerous situations.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding passing intersections, specifically the application of clause 16.4 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. Its essence is simple: it is prohibited to enter any intersection (even when movement is formally allowed and even if the driver has the right of way) if a traffic jam will force you to stop within the intersection and create an obstacle for other vehicles or pedestrians. That is why the driver must assess whether there is free space beyond the intersection to pass through it completely without being forced to stop.
The logic of the answers is based on the priority of the requirement in clause 16.4 over the 'right of way on the main road': the argument about the main road does not apply, because having the right of way does not give the right to occupy and block the intersection. The statement that you can go just because the direction is straight is also incorrect: the direction of movement does not cancel the prohibition to enter a traffic jam. The correct conclusion in this situation: if after entering you will have to stop at the intersection and thereby interfere with others, you must remain before the intersection and wait until it is possible to pass without blocking.
Clause 16.4
It is prohibited to enter any intersection, including when the traffic light signal allows movement, if there is a traffic jam that will force the driver to stop at the intersection, thereby creating an obstacle for the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians.
Brief application: even having the right of priority passage (for example, driving on the main road), the driver does not have the right to enter the intersection if, due to a traffic jam ahead, he will be forced to stop on it and block traffic from other directions.
Clause 1.10 (term "Intersection")
Intersection — a place where roads cross, join, or branch at the same level, limited by imaginary lines between the beginnings of the rounding of the edges of the carriageways of each road. The place where an exit from an adjacent territory joins the road is not considered an intersection.
Brief application: to comply with the requirement of clause 16.4, the driver must assess whether he will be able to completely cross the boundaries of the intersection (as defined by the term) without stopping on it.
That is, the correct answer is "Cannot, because stopping would create an obstacle for the movement of other vehicles," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, clause 16.4 directly prohibits entering an intersection if there is a traffic jam that will force you to stop at the intersection and create an obstacle for the movement of other participants.
In this situation, the driver of the white car is approaching the intersection on the main road, which means, according to the general rule, they have the right of way over vehicles coming from secondary directions. However, having the right of way on the main road does not mean that you can enter the intersection under any circumstances.
Ahead, immediately after the intersection, there is a traffic jam: movement in the forward direction is effectively blocked by vehicles, and there is no free space to continue driving after crossing the intersection. If the white car enters, it will inevitably be forced to stop right at the intersection, because there is nowhere ahead to "move into" and clear the crossing.
This exact behavior is prohibited by clause 16.4 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: a driver must not enter an intersection, even when movement is formally allowed, if a traffic jam would force them to stop at the intersection and thereby block the movement of other participants. In our case, stopping the white car at the intersection would create an obstacle for vehicles that could move from other directions, and would effectively "block" the intersection.
Therefore, the correct action for the driver of the white car is to stop before the intersection and wait until the roadway beyond it is clear, so as to cross the intersection without being forced to stop within its area.
Thus, the correct answer is "Cannot, because stopping would create an obstacle for other vehicles," since according to clause 16.4 of the Traffic Rules, it is prohibited to enter an intersection if a traffic jam would force you to stop on it and block other traffic.