16.2.89. What is the order of passage of vehicles at this intersection?
UAЯка черговість проїзду автомобілями даного перехрестя?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine trains one of the most important safety skills for a driver: quickly and correctly determining priority at an uncontrolled intersection. In real traffic, such situations without a traffic light often become the cause of accidents, which is why tasks on reading priority signs and applying traffic rules for passing intersections are regularly included in the theoretical exam.
The question tests the section of the Traffic Rules regarding passing uncontrolled intersections, specifically points 16.11 and 16.14. First, using the 'Main Road' sign and the 'Direction of Main Road' plate, you need to determine who is traveling on the main road and who is on the secondary road. Next, consider that when the main road changes direction at the intersection, drivers on the main road pass each other as if on roads of equal importance (point 16.14), that is, according to the 'obstacle on the right' rule from point 16.12. A driver on the secondary road is in any case obliged to yield to all those approaching on the main road, regardless of their further maneuver (point 16.11).
If you compare the options, those where the vehicle from the secondary road is not last are incorrect: this directly contradicts the requirement of point 16.11 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, since it must yield to both vehicles on the main road. Also, the order between the two vehicles on the main road will be incorrect if you ignore the change in the direction of the main road according to the plate: in such a situation, there is no 'automatic' priority of one over the other, and the rule of an intersection of equal roads applies (point 16.14), where priority is given to the one approaching from the right. This logic explains the correct sequence in this ticket and helps to consistently answer similar tasks in the theoretical exam.
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 in the task: the blue car, moving on the secondary road, yields to all vehicles on the main road — the white and red cars.)
Clause 16.14
If the main road changes direction at the intersection, drivers of vehicles moving on it must follow the rules for passing intersections of roads of equal importance among themselves. This rule also applies to drivers moving on secondary roads among themselves. (Application in the task: between the white and red cars, both on the main road, the order is determined as at an intersection of equal roads — by the "right-hand rule".)
Clause 16.12
At an intersection of roads of equal importance, the driver of a non-rail vehicle must yield to vehicles approaching from the right, except at intersections with organized roundabouts. (Application in the task: for the red car, the white car is approaching from the right, so the red yields to the white.)
Clause 33.3 — 33 "Road Signs", 3 "Priority Signs", sign 2.3 "Main Road"
The "Main Road" sign informs/establishes that the road on which it is installed is the main road at the nearest intersection (gives the right of priority passage at uncontrolled intersections). (Application in the task: determines that the white (and accordingly the red, according to the direction of the main road) have priority over the blue, which approaches from the secondary road.)
Clause 33.7 — 33 "Road Signs", 7 "Plates to Road Signs", plate 7.8 "Direction of Main Road"
The "Direction of Main Road" plate indicates the direction of the main road at the intersection and is used together with priority signs (in particular, with the "Main Road" sign). (Application in the task: shows that the main road at the intersection changes direction, so clause 16.14 applies between vehicles on the main road.)
Clause 16.1
An intersection where the order of passage is determined by traffic light signals or a traffic controller is regulated; in their absence (or when the traffic light is off/yellow flashing), the intersection is considered unregulated, and drivers follow the rules for unregulated intersections and the installed signs. (Application in the task: the situation is considered as an unregulated intersection with priority signs.)
Thus, the correct answer is "White, red, blue cars.", taking into account that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the blue car is moving on the secondary road and according to clause 16.11 must yield to vehicles on the main road, and between the white and red cars (the main road changes direction) the order is determined by clause 16.14 and the "right-hand obstacle" rule from clause 16.12.
We are dealing with an uncontrolled intersection, so the order of passage is determined by priority signs and the rules for uncontrolled intersections. At the approaches, there is a 'Main Road' sign with a 'Direction of Main Road' plate, so first it is necessary to determine who is on the main road and who is on the secondary road.
According to the 'Direction of Main Road' plate, the main road at this intersection changes its direction and passes through the lanes where the white and red cars are approaching. The blue car is approaching from the secondary road. According to paragraph 16.11 of the Traffic Rules, a driver on a secondary road must yield to all vehicles approaching on the main road, regardless of where they turn next. Therefore, the blue car will in any case go last.
Next, we determine the order between those on the main road, that is, between the white and red cars. Since the main road changes direction at the intersection, according to paragraph 16.14 of the Traffic Rules, drivers moving on the main road must pass each other as at an intersection of roads of equal importance. This means applying the 'give way to the right' rule: the driver must yield to the vehicle approaching from the right. In this situation, for the red car, the white car is on the right, so the red car must yield to the white car.
After the white car goes first, the red car goes second. And only then, after fulfilling the requirement of paragraph 16.11 of the Traffic Rules to yield to everyone on the main road, will the blue car pass through the intersection.
Thus, the correct answer is "White, red, blue cars," since the blue car is on the secondary road and yields to all on the main road (p. 16.11), and the white and red cars on the main road pass each other according to the rule for roads of equal importance due to the change in direction of the main road, so the red yields to the white (p. 16.14).