18.3. How should the driver of the grey car act in this situation?
UAЯк повинен вчинити в даній ситуації водій сірого автомобіля?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety near public transport stops and the interaction of drivers with pedestrians in places where boarding and alighting occur directly on the roadway. Such situations are considered highly dangerous, as passengers may suddenly appear in front of the vehicle, and the driver is required to act proactively, not creating a risk of collision.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the traffic rules regarding passing a tram that is stopped at a stop, as well as the ability to apply clause 18.8 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. Additionally, the student must understand the meaning of sign 5.46.1 "Tram Stop Point" and the definition of "give way (not create obstacles)" from clause 1.10. In the theoretical exam, these nuances are often decisive: if the tram doors are open, one should expect the appearance of pedestrians from the side of the doors.
The analysis of the options shows typical mistakes. The option of sounding the horn and continuing to move after reducing speed is incorrect, because the traffic rules require a complete stop, and the horn does not replace the obligation to yield to pedestrians and may only provoke dangerous actions. The option of overtaking the tram on the left also does not comply with the essence of the rule: the key requirement here is not the maneuver, but a complete stop to yield to pedestrians and a prohibition on resuming movement until the pedestrians have left the roadway and the tram doors are closed.
The practical conclusion for learning and passing the traffic rules exam is simple: near a tram stop where passengers exit onto the roadway, the driver should behave as if there is a pedestrian crossing ahead, but with the additional condition of monitoring the tram doors. This rule prevents collisions at the moment when someone is late for boarding or is just exiting the tram.
Clause 18.8
The driver of a vehicle must stop to give way to pedestrians who are walking from the side of the open doors to the tram (or from the tram), which is standing at a stop, if boarding or alighting is carried out from the carriageway or a boarding platform located on it. Continuing to drive is allowed only when the pedestrians have left the carriageway and the tram doors are closed.
Clause 33.5 — 33 “Road signs”, 5 “Information and guidance signs”, sign 5.46.1 “Tram stop point”
Indicates the beginning of the tram boarding platform. At the bottom of the sign, a plate 7.2.1 “Zone of effect” may be depicted, indicating the length of the boarding platform.
Clause 1.10 (term “Give way (do not create obstacles)”)
Give way (do not create obstacles) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, not to perform any maneuvers, if this may force other road users who have priority to change their direction or speed.
Clause 1.10 (term “Carriageway”)
Carriageway — an element of the road intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.
That is, the correct answer is: “Stop to give way to pedestrians. Continuing to drive is allowed only when the pedestrians have left the carriageway and the tram doors are closed.”, considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to stop near the tram at the stop to let pedestrians pass from the side of the open doors and has the right to resume movement only after the carriageway is cleared by pedestrians and the tram doors are closed.
In this situation, the grey car is approaching a tram stop, as indicated by the informational sign "Tram Stop Point." This means that the tram may be standing on the tracks in the middle of the roadway and performing boarding or disembarking of passengers without a separate sidewalk platform, i.e., passengers are forced to step directly onto the roadway.
That is why the driver of a non-rail vehicle must act according to paragraph 18.8 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. This paragraph requires stopping to yield to pedestrians who are going from the tram or to the tram from the side of the open doors, if boarding/disembarking is taking place from the roadway or from a platform located on it. In such a situation, pedestrians are actually crossing the lane of vehicle traffic, so priority is given to them.
It is important to understand that it is not enough just to make sure that there is currently no one in front of the car. The rules explicitly set the condition under which movement can be resumed: only after pedestrians have completely left the roadway, and only when the tram doors are closed. The logic is simple: as long as the doors are open, a pedestrian may appear at any moment, either exiting the tram or hurrying to board, and starting to drive at this moment would create a danger.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Stop to yield to pedestrians. You may continue driving only when the pedestrians have left the roadway and the tram doors are closed," because paragraph 18.8 of the Traffic Rules obliges the driver to stop near the tram at the stop when passengers are moving across the roadway from the side of the open doors, and allows driving only after the crossing is completed and the tram doors are closed.