20.10. In the event of a forced stop of a vehicle on a railway crossing, the driver must immediately:
UAУ разі вимушеної зупинки транспортного засобу на залізничному переїзді водій зобов'язаний негайно:
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (PDR) concerning safety at railway crossings—one of the most high-risk sections of the road. A forced stop on the tracks creates a critical danger, as a train has a long braking distance and cannot stop instantly. Therefore, the traffic rules require the driver to act quickly and without delay to reduce the risk of tragedy for passengers and other road users.
The question tests knowledge of the PDR section on crossing railway tracks and the procedure in case of a forced stop (item 20.8), as well as related requirements for warning others (in particular, the use of hazard warning lights according to item 9.9). The logic of the rules is simple: you must simultaneously take care of people and remove the vehicle from the danger zone as a priority. This is the key idea that the theoretical exam assesses.
Individual options such as “only evacuate people” or “only clear the crossing” are incomplete: evacuating passengers without attempting to immediately clear the tracks leaves a collision risk for others, while trying to move the vehicle without evacuating people puts them at direct risk if a train appears. The Traffic Rules of Ukraine require both steps to be performed immediately, and if it is not possible to clear the crossing—then to follow the further procedure of warning the train driver and giving alarm signals, which makes knowledge of this topic critically important in a real situation.
Clause 20.8
In case of a forced stop of a vehicle at a railway crossing, the driver must immediately evacuate people and take measures to clear the crossing, and if this cannot be done, he must: a) if possible, send two people along the tracks in both directions from the crossing for at least 1000 m (if only one, then in the direction of the likely appearance of the train, and at single-track crossings — in the direction of the worst visibility of the railway track), explaining to them the rules for giving a stop signal to the train (locomotive, railcar) driver; b) remain near the vehicle and, by giving general alarm signals, take all measures to clear the crossing; c) in case a train appears, run towards it, giving a stop signal.
Application: this clause directly establishes two primary (immediate) actions in the event of a forced stop at a railway crossing: evacuate people and take measures to clear the crossing.
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."
Application: clarifies what is considered a "forced stop" as mentioned in the question and in clause 20.8.
Clause 1.10 (term "Railway crossing")
"Railway crossing — intersection of a road with railway tracks at the same level."
Application: defines the location (crossing) for which the special procedure under clause 20.8 applies.
Clause 9.9
The hazard warning lights must be switched on: a) in the event of a forced stop on the road; b) when stopping at the request of a police officer or due to the driver being dazzled by headlights; c) on a motor vehicle moving with technical malfunctions, if such movement is not prohibited by these Rules; d) on a motor vehicle being towed; e) on a motor vehicle marked with the identification sign "Children" transporting an organized group of children, during their boarding or alighting; f) on all motor vehicles in a convoy during their stop on the road; g) in the event of a road traffic accident (RTA).
Application: additionally regulates the obligation to turn on the hazard warning lights in the event of a forced stop, including at a crossing (as an element of warning other road users).
That is, the correct answer is "Perform both actions," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, in the event of a forced stop at a railway crossing (clause 20.8), the driver is obliged to immediately both evacuate people and take measures to clear the crossing.
A forced stop on a railway crossing is one of the most dangerous situations in traffic, because a crossing is a place where the road intersects with the tracks at the same level, and a train cannot stop quickly. Therefore, the Traffic Rules require the driver to act immediately and simultaneously in two directions: to ensure the safety of people and to remove the car from the tracks as quickly as possible.
First, the driver is obliged to immediately have the passengers exit the vehicle. This is done so that in the event of an approaching train, people are not left in the direct danger zone. At the same time, it is important to warn other road users: in any forced stop, the hazard warning lights must be turned on so that the car is visible.
Second, the driver must immediately take measures to clear the crossing. That is, try to push the car, organize towing, involve other drivers or pedestrians, use available technical means, in order to remove the vehicle from the tracks as quickly as possible. The main idea of this Traffic Rule requirement is simple: the tracks must be cleared as quickly as possible.
If it is not possible to clear the crossing, the Traffic Rules provide a further clear algorithm: if possible, send people along the tracks in both directions for a significant distance to warn the train driver, stay near the car and give general alarm signals, and if a train appears—run towards it with a stop signal. But the primary actions in the question are specifically to have people exit and to take immediate measures to clear the crossing.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Perform both actions," since according to the Traffic Rules, in the event of a forced stop on a railway crossing, the driver must simultaneously ensure the safety of passengers (have people exit) and immediately attempt to clear the crossing to prevent a collision with a train.