16.2.81. What is the order of passage of vehicles at this intersection?
UAЯка черговість проїзду транспортних засобів на даному перехресті?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests one of the most important safety skills for a driver: correctly determining the order of passage at intersections. The theoretical exam often includes situations where there is no traffic light or traffic controller, and the decision depends on priority road signs and the ability to distinguish the main road from the secondary one. Mistakes in assessing priorities at uncontrolled intersections most often create conflict situations on the road.
According to the content of the task, it is necessary to establish that the intersection is uncontrolled, and the roads at it are not equal: this is indicated by sign 2.3 "Main road" and plate 7.8 "Direction of the main road," which only clarifies how the main road passes through the intersection. Next, the traffic rules from the section on passing intersections apply, primarily clause 16.11 of the Traffic Rules: the one approaching from the secondary road must yield to vehicles approaching on the main road, regardless of their further direction. In this situation, the car is moving on the main road, and the tram is coming from the secondary road, so the car has priority; "tram advantage" does not apply here, as it is typical for roads of equal status, not for the "main-secondary" case.
Analysis of the answer options helps avoid common traps in the exam. The option where the tram goes first is incorrect, as it ignores the requirement of clause 16.11 to yield from the secondary road. The option about dependence on speed is also wrong: the order at such intersections is determined by signs and the norms of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, not by who is moving faster. Reference to clause 16.14 is appropriate as an additional rule in cases where several participants need to pass on the same (main or secondary) road, but in this task, the key is the priority of "main over secondary" according to clause 16.11.
Clause 16.11
At an intersection of roads with different priorities, 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.
Explanation of application: the tram enters the intersection from the secondary road, therefore it is obliged to yield to the car moving along the main road (regardless of where exactly the car turns/goes next).
Clause 16.14
If the main road at the intersection changes direction, drivers of vehicles moving along the main road must follow the rules for passing intersections of roads with equal priority among themselves. The same rule must be followed among drivers of vehicles moving on secondary roads.
Explanation of application: this clause is needed for cases when there are several vehicles simultaneously on the main (or several on the secondary) roads at the intersection, and it is necessary to determine the order among them. In this task, clause 16.11 is decisive (interaction "main — secondary").
Clause 1.10 (term "Main road")
Main road — a road with a paved surface relative to a dirt road, or one that is marked with signs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7.
Clause 1.10 (term "Secondary road")
Secondary road — a road that crosses the main road (or adjoins it) and is not a main road.
Clause 33.2.3 — 33 "Road signs", 2 "Priority signs", sign 2.3 "Main road"
Sign 2.3 "Main road" — a road on which priority is given at intersections of roads with different priorities.
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" — informs about the direction of the main road at the intersection; used with priority signs.
Thus, the correct answer is "Car, tram.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a vehicle moving on a secondary road is obliged to yield to vehicles approaching on the main road (clause 16.11), and in this situation the tram starts moving from the secondary road.
First, we determine what kind of intersection this is and which rules apply to passing through it. Since there is neither a traffic light nor a traffic controller, the intersection is unregulated. Next, we look at the priority signs: they indicate that the roads here are not equivalent, meaning there is a main road and a secondary road, and the plate under the sign only clarifies the direction of the main road at the intersection.
After this, the most important question for determining the order of passage is: from which road does each vehicle enter the intersection? According to clause 16.11 of the Traffic Rules, a driver approaching from a secondary road must yield to vehicles approaching the intersection on the main road, regardless of whether they are turning or going straight.
In this situation, the car is moving along the main road, while the tram is approaching the intersection from the secondary road. Therefore, the tram must yield to the car. It is important not to confuse this with the case of equivalent roads, where the tram has priority; here, it is specifically an unequal intersection, so the “rail advantage” does not apply when the tram is coming from the secondary road.
Clause 16.14 of the Traffic Rules concerns the interaction between vehicles already taking into account the general rules at the intersection, but in this task, the key decision is given precisely by the “main-secondary” priority according to clause 16.11: the one on the main road goes first.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Car, tram." because the car is approaching the intersection on the main road, and the tram is coming from the secondary road and, according to clause 16.11 of the Traffic Rules, must yield.