18.4. What measures must drivers take when passing pedestrians who are waiting for the permissive signal of the traffic light on safety islands or on the line dividing traffic flows?
UAЯких заходів повинні вживати водії, проїжджаючи повз пішоходів, які очікують увімкнення дозвільного сигналу світлофора на острівцях безпеки або на лінії, що розділяє транспортні потоки?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety at regulated pedestrian crossings and intersections, when a pedestrian is on a safety island or on the dividing line between traffic flows. In such situations, the person is actually very close to the traffic lane, so any "close" passing creates a risk of contact, fright from the air flow, or danger if the pedestrian steps to the side. That is why this topic regularly appears in the theoretical exam and is directly related to accident prevention.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding passing pedestrian crossings, in particular the requirements of clause 18.3 of the Traffic Rules, as well as understanding of the terms from clause 1.10 (what a safe interval is and what a safety island is). The logic of the rule is simple: when pedestrians are forced to wait for a permissive signal on an element of the carriageway, the driver must ensure a sufficient lateral distance so as not to endanger them. Additionally, it is important in this topic to remember clause 18.2: even when moving on a permissive signal, the driver must yield to those who are finishing crossing.
The analysis of answer options in the tickets usually comes down to the difference between warning and actual safety. A sound signal is not a mandatory measure in this situation and may only frighten the pedestrian and provoke unpredictable movement. Instead, maintaining a safe interval is directly required by the traffic rules: this is the practical and legally correct way to pass people on a safety island or dividing line without risk to them and without violating the Traffic Rules of Ukraine.
Clause 18.3
"When passing pedestrians who have not managed to finish crossing the carriageway and are forced to stay on a safety island or on the line dividing traffic flows in opposite directions, drivers must maintain a safe lateral distance."
Clause 1.10 (term "Safe lateral distance")
"Safe lateral distance — the distance between the sides of vehicles or between a vehicle and other objects, whether moving or stationary, that ensures road safety."
Clause 1.10 (term "Safety island")
"Safety island — a road element in the form of a section of the carriageway, usually located at a pedestrian crossing, intended for pedestrians to stop while crossing the carriageway."
Clause 18.2
"At regulated pedestrian crossings and intersections, the driver, moving on a permitted traffic light or traffic controller signal, must yield to pedestrians who are finishing crossing the carriageway, as well as to blind pedestrians signaling with a white cane, regardless of the traffic light signal."
That is, the correct answer is "Maintain a safe lateral distance," considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, when passing pedestrians who are forced to stay on a safety island or on the line dividing traffic flows, the driver is obliged to maintain a safe lateral gap sufficient to prevent danger to pedestrians.
At a regulated pedestrian crossing, there are situations when a pedestrian has already stepped onto the roadway, but the traffic light changes and they do not have time to finish crossing. In this case, the person is forced to stop on a safety island or on the dividing line (median strip) that separates opposing traffic flows and wait for the next permitted signal.
For the driver, this means that there is actually a pedestrian on an element of the roadway next to the lane of travel. That is why the Traffic Rules (paragraph 18.3) set a clear requirement: when passing such pedestrians, the driver must not "speed up to pass faster" or "drive very close," but must ensure a sufficient lateral distance that guarantees safety.
In practice, this means: if you are driving through an intersection or along a crossing, and there is a pedestrian standing on a safety island, you need to pass in such a way that you do not create a risk of hitting them with your mirror or bodywork, do not frighten them with the air flow, and also leave a margin in case the pedestrian steps to the side or loses balance. That is, the main measure for the driver in this situation is to maintain a safe interval when passing the pedestrian.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Maintain a safe interval," since paragraph 18.3 of the Traffic Rules obliges the driver, when passing pedestrians who are forced to remain on a safety island or dividing line, to ensure a safe lateral distance for their protection.