2.12. What are the duties of road users?
UAЩо входить в обов'язки учасників дорожнього руху?
Question without image
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests a basic principle of road safety: on the road, not only technical skills matter, but also conscious compliance with traffic rules and proper interaction among all participants. This is where the logic of the Rules begins: predictable behavior, respect, and discipline reduce the risk of conflicts, sudden maneuvers, and accidents, especially in dense traffic or difficult conditions.
In terms of content, this question belongs to the General Provisions section of the Traffic Rules (point 1.3) and often appears on the theoretical exam, as it sets the "foundation" for all subsequent topics: signs, markings, intersection passage, speed limits, and maneuvering. The regulation directly requires not just being familiar with the rules, but strictly following them, as well as being mutually polite: not provoking dangerous situations with emotions, acting calmly, taking the necessary lane in advance, and not creating unnecessary obstacles for others.
The explanation of the answer options comes down to the precision of the Traffic Rules wording. The statement about "only knowing" is incomplete, since knowledge without execution does not meet the requirements of point 1.3. The option "demanding others to comply with the Rules" sounds logical, but the Traffic Rules of Ukraine do not grant participants the authority to control or "educate" others on the road; instead, everyone must act according to the rules and can expect others to do the same. That is why the correct logic of the answer includes two mandatory elements: strict compliance with the traffic rules and mutual politeness as the norm of behavior in the road environment.
Clause 1.3
Road users are required to know and strictly comply with the requirements of these Rules, as well as to be mutually courteous.
That is, the correct answer is "To know and strictly comply with the requirements of the Traffic Rules, and to be mutually courteous," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the duty of every road user directly includes knowledge and strict compliance with the requirements of the Rules and mutual courtesy.
When you become a participant in road traffic (as a driver, pedestrian, passenger, or cyclist), a basic obligation immediately applies to you, which is where the Rules begin. This is not about specific situations on the road, but about a general principle: in road traffic, you cannot act “at your own discretion”; you must be guided by the established rules.
Clause 1.3 of the Traffic Rules directly states that every road user must know the requirements of the Rules and comply with them in everyday traffic situations. This means that before driving or entering the road, you should understand how signs, markings, traffic light signals, maneuvering rules, priorities, speed limits, etc., work. It is also important that ignorance of the Rules is not an excuse in case of a violation.
The second part of this obligation concerns behavior culture. The Rules require mutual politeness and proper interaction between road users. In practice, this means that a driver does not provoke conflicts, does not “teach” others on the road, does not create dangerous situations due to emotions, but acts calmly and predictably. For example, in difficult traffic conditions, it is appropriate to behave in a way that does not complicate the situation for others: choose the necessary lane in advance, do not block traffic, do not force others to brake sharply.
It is important not to confuse the obligation to comply with the Rules with the “right to demand” that others follow them. The Traffic Rules do not grant road users the authority to independently control or punish others. Instead, the Rules are based on a different logic: everyone fulfills their part of the requirements and has the right to expect that others will also act according to the rules, without conflicts or aggression.
Therefore, the correct answer is "To know and strictly comply with the requirements of the Traffic Rules, and to be mutually polite," since clause 1.3 establishes the basic obligations for all participants: to comply with the Traffic Rules and to behave correctly and kindly in the road environment.