19.4. What must be switched on in a vehicle during a forced stop on the road at night?
UAЩо вмикається на транспортному засобі під час вимушеної зупинки на дорозі в темну пору доби?
Question without image
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety during a stop on the road at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility. When a vehicle is stationary on the carriageway or shoulder, the risk of collision increases sharply, so the traffic rules require not only to "stop," but also to properly mark the vehicle with lighting devices and warn other drivers about the dangerous situation.
The question tests knowledge of Section 19 of the Traffic Rules (Use of External Lighting Devices), specifically clause 19.4, as well as understanding of the terms from clause 1.10 (what is considered a forced stop and when nighttime begins). The logic of the rule is simple: at night, the vehicle must be visible as an object on the road, so it is mandatory to turn on the side or parking lights, and if the stop is forced, it is additionally necessary to give a warning signal to other road users with the hazard warning lights.
When analyzing the answer options, it is important to distinguish the functions of the devices: only the hazard warning lights indicate a problematic situation, but do not always clearly "outline" the contours of the car in the dark; only fog lights are not mandatory when stopping and are used as needed in conditions of insufficient visibility; only side or parking lights mark the vehicle, but do not indicate the forced nature of the stop. It is precisely the combination of side/parking lights with the "hazard lights" that meets the requirements of clause 19.4 and is what is expected in the theoretical exam as the correct algorithm of actions in a real nighttime situation.
Clause 19.4
When stopping on the road at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility, the vehicle must have its side or parking lights turned on, and in the event of a forced stop, additionally — the hazard warning lights. In conditions of insufficient visibility, it is also allowed to turn on the low beam headlights or fog lights and rear fog lights. If the side lights are faulty, the vehicle should be removed from the roadway, and if this is not possible, it must be marked in accordance with the requirements of clauses 9.10 and 9.11 of these Rules.
This clause directly establishes which lighting devices must be turned on during a stop at night, and what is added in the case of a forced stop (hazard warning lights).
Clause 1.10 (term “Forced stop”)
Forced stop — cessation of movement of a vehicle due to its technical malfunction or danger caused by the cargo being transported, the condition of a road user, or the appearance of an obstacle to movement.
This definition is needed to distinguish a forced stop from a regular stop/parking and to correctly apply the requirement of clause 19.4 regarding the mandatory additional activation of the hazard warning lights.
Clause 1.10 (term “Night time”)
Night time — the period from sunset to sunrise.
This definition clarifies when exactly the requirement of clause 19.4 to turn on side or parking lights during a stop on the road applies.
That is, the correct answer is "Side or parking lights together with hazard warning lights," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, in the event of a forced stop on the road at night, side/parking lights must be turned on, and additionally — the hazard warning lights (clause 19.4).
When a vehicle stops due to necessity, it means the driver has stopped not by choice, but because of circumstances that do not allow for safe further movement: a technical malfunction, danger from the cargo, a sudden deterioration in the driver's condition, or the appearance of an obstacle. At night, such a situation becomes especially dangerous because it is harder for other drivers to notice a stationary car on the roadway in time.
The Traffic Rules of Ukraine (paragraph 19.4) distinguish two tasks for the driver during a stop at night: first, to mark the vehicle on the road, and second, if the stop is forced, to additionally warn other road users about the emergency situation. To mark the car, parking or side lights are turned on so its outline and location are visible. To warn about a forced stop, the hazard warning lights must be switched on.
For example, if at night on an unlit section of the road you get a flat tire or your engine stalls and you are forced to stop on the shoulder or partially on the roadway, just the hazard lights alone may not be enough for others to clearly perceive the vehicle's dimensions. That is why the rules require you to turn on both the parking (or side) lights and the hazard warning lights at the same time: the former make the car visible as an object on the road, the latter signal that the stop is forced and requires increased attention.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Parking or side lights together with the hazard warning lights," since during a forced stop at night, the Traffic Rules (p. 19.4) require you to simultaneously mark the vehicle with parking/side lights and additionally warn other drivers with the hazard warning lights.