19.30. Is it permitted to stop by changing the lane in case of being dazzled?
UAЧи дозволено зупинитися, змінивши смугу руху у разі засліплення?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning road safety at night and in conditions of poor visibility, when a driver may be temporarily blinded by the headlights of oncoming vehicles. In such moments, the risk of driving errors increases sharply: the driver sees the markings, the edges of the roadway, neighboring vehicles, and the roadside worse, so any maneuvers can lead to an accident.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules that regulates driving at night and actions in case of reduced visibility, specifically the requirement of paragraph 19.3. According to the traffic rules, when visibility is reduced due to headlights, you must reduce your speed to a safe level, and if blinded, the driver is required to stop in their own lane, turn on the hazard warning lights, and not change lanes. That is, this rule directly prohibits changing lanes even with the intention of "stopping more safely."
The analysis of the options in this theoretical exam task is straightforward: the statement that such a stop can be made by changing lanes contradicts paragraph 19.3, because when blinded, the driver actually does not control where they are moving. The correct course of action is to keep direction within your own lane, brake smoothly without sudden presses, turn on the hazard lights, and resume driving only after normal visibility and control over the road situation have been restored.
Clause 19.3
In case of reduced visibility in the direction of travel caused by the headlights of oncoming vehicles, the driver must reduce speed to a level that does not exceed what is safe under the actual visibility conditions of the road ahead, and in case of being dazzled – stop without changing the lane of travel and turn on the hazard warning lights.
Application explanation: in the event of being dazzled, the Traffic Rules directly require stopping in your own lane (without changing to the left/right), so stopping with a lane change is a violation of this requirement.
Clause 1.10 (term "Lane of travel")
Lane of travel — a longitudinal strip on the carriageway at least 2.75 m wide, which may be marked or unmarked with road markings and is intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.
Application explanation: the question checks understanding that "without changing the lane of travel" means not making a maneuver into another longitudinal lane on the carriageway even for the purpose of stopping.
That is, the correct answer is "Prohibited.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, in case of being dazzled, the driver must stop without changing the lane of travel.
While driving at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility, a situation may arise when an oncoming vehicle blinds you with its headlights. At this moment, the driver partially or completely loses the ability to clearly see the lane, markings, shoulder, and other vehicles for a few seconds. That is why the Traffic Rules establish a specific procedure of actions.
According to clause 19.3 of the Traffic Rules, if visibility has worsened due to the headlights of oncoming vehicles, the driver must first reduce speed to a safe level, taking into account the actual visibility of the road. And if actual blinding occurs, the requirement is stricter: you must stop, turn on the hazard warning lights, and do so without changing your lane.
The logic behind this prohibition is simple: when you change lanes while blinded, you are essentially not in control of where you are moving. This can lead to entering the oncoming lane, colliding with a vehicle in the adjacent lane, or driving onto the shoulder, where there may be pedestrians, cyclists, or already stopped vehicles. That is why the Traffic Rules require you to stop in your own lane, without "looking for a place" by changing lanes.
In practice, it looks like this: you are blinded, you maintain direction within your lane, gradually reduce speed, and stop in the same lane, immediately turning on your hazard warning lights so that other drivers understand the reason for your forced stop. You are allowed to resume driving only when your vision recovers and you can safely control the situation again.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," because according to clause 19.3, in case of blinding, you must stop without changing lanes, so as not to create danger by entering the adjacent or oncoming lane or the shoulder.