20.4. Is it permitted to open the barrier at a railway crossing without authorization?
UAЧи дозволяється самовільно відкривати шлагбаум на залізничному переїзді?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety at railway crossings and tests the driver's ability to act in high-risk situations. Any manipulation of the barrier at a crossing directly affects safety, since a train has a long braking distance and cannot stop quickly, so even a brief mistake by the driver can lead to the most severe consequences.
The question checks knowledge of the section of the traffic rules regarding movement through railway crossings, specifically the requirements of clause 20.7 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. The regulation explicitly prohibits opening the barrier independently, driving around it, or bypassing vehicles standing in front of the crossing when movement through it is prohibited. The logic is simple: the driver does not have complete information about train movements and does not control the operation of the crossing signals, so "it seems possible" does not mean "allowed and safe."
In the option where it is suggested to act if the sound and light signals are off, the mistake is that the absence of signals does not give the driver the right to raise the barrier independently: technical malfunctions or the operating mode of the crossing do not cancel the prohibition. The statement about "a short time to let a passenger car through" is also incorrect, because the traffic rules do not provide exceptions based on the type of vehicle or the "urgency" of the trip. For the theoretical exam, it is important to remember: the barrier is not a recommendation, but a physical restriction that must not be ignored or changed on your own.
Clause 20.7
It is prohibited to open the barrier gate without authorization or to drive around it, as well as to drive around vehicles that are stopped in front of the crossing when passage through it is prohibited.
This clause directly establishes a prohibition on any actions by the driver aimed at opening the barrier gate without permission or bypassing the barrier gate when movement through the railway crossing is prohibited.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," given that according to the Traffic Rules, opening the barrier gate at a railway crossing without authorization is expressly prohibited by clause 20.7.
At a railway crossing, the barrier is installed not "for convenience," but as a means of forcibly restricting movement when crossing becomes dangerous. If it is lowered, this means that crossing is prohibited or may soon be prohibited due to an approaching train.
Clause 20.7 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine explicitly states that a driver is not allowed to open the barrier independently. The logic of the rule is simple: the driver does not have complete information about train movements and does not control the operation of the crossing signals. Even if it seems that a train is "not visible," it may be approaching from behind a turn, an obstacle, or another train may be following the first one.
A typical dangerous situation: the driver sees that one train has already passed and, in a hurry, raises the barrier manually, believing that the danger has passed. However, at such crossings, there may be a second train on an adjacent track or another train may be coming in the same direction with a shorter interval. Unauthorized actions at this moment create a direct risk of collision, the consequences of which are usually the most severe.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since the Traffic Rules (clause 20.7) explicitly prohibit opening the barrier independently, as the driver cannot guarantee safety at the crossing and may end up in the path of a train.