20.12. What is the signal to stop a train given by a person in case of a forced stop of a vehicle on a railway crossing or other danger?
UAЩо є сигналом зупинки поїзда, який подається людиною в разі вимушеної зупинки транспортного засобу на залізничному переїзді або іншої небезпеки?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety at railway crossings and the actions of drivers and other individuals in critical situations when there is a real threat to train movement. Such knowledge is important for the theoretical exam, as any delay at a crossing can be very costly: a train has a large mass and a long braking distance, so the engineer needs to receive a clear, unambiguous danger signal as early as possible.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding movement through railway crossings, specifically the requirements of point 20.9, as well as understanding the terms "dark time of day" and "insufficient visibility" from the definitions of the Traffic Rules (p. 1.10). The essence of the rule is that the signal must not just be "noticeable," but standardized and recognizable from a distance: a circular motion of the hand is used, during the day with a bright or contrasting object, and at night or in poor visibility—with a light source (flashlight or torch).
The explanation of the answer options in this exam question comes down to the accuracy of the wording from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. The correct option is the one that directly states the circular motion of the hand with the appropriate object depending on visibility conditions—this literally corresponds to the requirements of point 20.9. The option with "hand gestures" is incorrect, because gestures can be different and do not guarantee that the engineer will recognize them as a train stop signal; that is why the answer "both are correct" is also wrong. In practice, this knowledge helps you act quickly and correctly: if your car stalls on the tracks or you notice a danger, you need not only to try to clear the crossing, but also to give a standardized signal, which gives the engineer a chance to react in time.
Clause 20.9
The signal to stop a train (locomotive, railcar) is a circular motion of the hand (in daylight hours — with a piece of bright fabric or any other well-visible object, in the dark or in conditions of insufficient visibility — with a torch or lantern).
Clause 1.10 (term "Dark hours")
Dark hours — the part of the day from sunset to sunrise.
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient visibility")
Insufficient visibility — road visibility of less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
That is, the correct answer is "A circular motion of the hand with a piece of bright fabric or any well-visible object in daylight hours, and with a torch or lantern in the dark or in conditions of insufficient visibility," considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the train stop signal is directly established by clause 20.9, and the conditions for its use are clarified by the terms "dark hours" and "insufficient visibility" from clause 1.10.
When a vehicle is forced to stop on a railway crossing or you notice another danger to train movement, you must not only take measures to clear the tracks but also give the train driver a clear and understandable stop signal. For such critical situations, the Traffic Rules provide for a special gesture that can be easily recognized from a distance.
Clause 20.9 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine states that the train stop signal is given by a person making a circular motion with the arm. To ensure this movement is visible to the train driver, the rules specify that during daylight hours, a bright or clearly visible object (such as a piece of cloth) must be held in the hand, and at night or in poor visibility conditions—a source of light, that is, a torch or flashlight.
The logic behind this requirement is simple: a train has considerable mass and a long braking distance, so the driver must notice the danger as early as possible. The circular arm movement creates a dynamic signal that is easier to "catch" with the eye from a distance, and a bright object during the day or a light at night makes this gesture as noticeable as possible against the background of the road, tracks, and surroundings.
For example, if a car stalls on a crossing during the day, the person giving the signal should make circular arm movements while holding a bright piece of cloth or another contrasting object. If this happens at night or in fog, the same circular gesture should be made with a flashlight (or torch) so that the signal is visible from afar.
Therefore, the correct answer is "A circular arm movement with a piece of bright cloth or any well-visible object during daylight hours, and with a torch or flashlight at night or in poor visibility conditions," since this is exactly how clause 20.9 of the Traffic Rules establishes a clear and noticeable way for the train driver to receive a stop signal in a dangerous situation.