19.6. What actions must be taken in the event of a forced stop on the road at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility, if the side marker lights are not working?
UAЯк необхідно вчинити в разі вимушеної зупинки на дорозі в темну пору доби або в умовах недостатньої видимості, якщо габаритні ліхтарі несправні?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety during a forced stop at night or in conditions of poor visibility, when a stationary vehicle on the roadway becomes a particularly dangerous obstacle. In the dark and in fog, rain, or snowfall, other drivers are worse at judging distance and notice objects later, so the traffic rules require not only the correct use of lighting devices but also the priority removal of the hazard from the road.
The question tests the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the use of external lighting devices and driver actions during stopping/parking (clause 19.4), as well as related requirements for marking the vehicle in case of danger (clauses 9.10 and 9.11). In the theoretical exam, it is important to understand the logic: if the side (or parking) lights are faulty, simply "adding light" with other headlights does not solve the problem of properly marking the car as an obstacle, so the first priority is to remove the vehicle from the roadway, and if this is physically impossible—to clearly mark it as an emergency according to the Rules.
The analysis of the options here is illustrative. The intention to "move further to the right" by itself does not guarantee safety: the car may remain on the roadway or in a danger zone, and with faulty side lights it is still poorly visible. Turning on fog lights is allowed as an additional measure in conditions of poor visibility, but it does not replace the requirement of clause 19.4 regarding actions in case of faulty side lights. The correct approach, which this exam question checks, is to clear the road as much as possible, and if that is not possible—to mark the vehicle with hazard warning lights and an emergency stop sign/flashing red light in the manner specified by the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, so that other road users receive advance warning.
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 switched on, and in the event of a forced stop, additionally — the hazard warning lights. In conditions of insufficient visibility, it is also allowed to switch on the low beam headlights or fog lights and rear fog lights. If the side lights are faulty, the vehicle must be removed from the road, 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.
Clause 9.10
Together with switching on the hazard warning lights, a warning triangle or a flashing red light must be placed at a distance that ensures road safety, but not closer than 20 m from the vehicle in populated areas and 40 m outside them, in the following cases: a) in the event of a road traffic accident (RTA); b) a forced stop in places with limited road visibility in at least one direction of less than 100 m.
Clause 9.10 applies in this situation as one of the key requirements for "marking" the vehicle (together with the hazard warning lights, a warning triangle/flashing red light is placed in the cases specified by the Rules and at the minimum required distances).
Clause 9.11
If the vehicle is not equipped with hazard warning lights or they are faulty, a warning triangle or a flashing red light must be placed: a) at the rear of the vehicle specified in clause 9.9 ("c", "d", "e") of these Rules; b) on the side with poorer visibility for other road users in the case specified in subparagraph "b" of clause 9.10 of these Rules.
Clause 9.11 clarifies the procedure for marking in the event that the hazard warning lights are absent or faulty (i.e., marking is provided by a warning triangle or a flashing red light).
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 explains that a situation with faulty side lights while driving/on the road may be grounds for a forced stop and the application of the requirements of clause 19.4.
Clause 1.10 (term "Night time")
Night time — the part of the day from sunset to sunrise.
This definition clarifies the condition under which the special requirements of clause 19.4 regarding lighting devices and marking of the vehicle during a stop apply.
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient visibility")
Insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel of less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
This definition establishes when the requirements of clause 19.4 apply (just as at night).
Thus, the correct answer is: "The vehicle must be removed from the road. If this is not possible, it must be marked in accordance with the requirements of the Traffic Rules.", considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, in the event of a stop at night/under insufficient visibility with faulty side lights, clause 19.4 directly requires the vehicle to be removed from the road or, if this is not possible, to be marked according to the rules of clauses 9.10 and 9.11.
Imagine the situation: while driving at night or in fog, you are forced to stop due to a malfunction. In such conditions, other drivers see the road worse, and a stationary vehicle on the carriageway becomes a dangerous obstacle, especially if it is not visible from a distance.
The Traffic Rules (paragraph 19.4) require that when stopping at night or in conditions of poor visibility, the vehicle’s side (or parking) lights must be switched on, and in case of a forced stop, the hazard warning lights must also be activated. This is done so that other road users can notice the vehicle in advance and have time to react safely.
But the key point in this question is different: what to do if the side lights are not working. According to paragraph 19.4, in this case, the most correct and safest solution is to remove the vehicle from the road, that is, to clear the carriageway as much as possible (for example, to pull over onto the shoulder or to another place off the road). The logic is simple: if the vehicle cannot be properly marked with side lights, its presence on the road creates an increased risk of collision.
If it is not possible to remove the vehicle from the road (for example, there is no technical possibility to pull over, the shoulder is narrow, or there is another danger), then it must be marked in accordance with the requirements of the Rules. In practice, this means: turn on the hazard warning lights and place a warning triangle or a flashing red light as specified in paragraphs 9.10 and 9.11 of the Traffic Rules, so that other drivers receive advance warning about the obstacle on the road.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "The vehicle should be removed from the road. If this is not possible, it must be marked in accordance with the requirements of the Traffic Rules," since paragraph 19.4 of the Traffic Rules directly obliges, in case of faulty side lights, to first eliminate the danger by removing the car from the road, and if this is not possible — to ensure its clear marking according to the rules for an emergency stop.