20.7. Is it permitted to proceed through the railway crossing in the situation shown in the illustration?
UAЧи дозволено рух через залізничний переїзд у ситуації, зображеній на малюнку?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safety at railway crossings and the ability to correctly interpret railway crossing signal lights. For the theoretical exam, it is important to understand that special signals operate at crossings, and a mistake in interpreting them can lead to a dangerous situation or a violation of traffic rules.
The question tests the section of the Traffic Rules about traffic light signals at railway crossings (item 8.7.6) and the priority of control devices (item 8.3). According to the traffic rules, flashing red signals of the railway crossing light prohibit passage, whereas a flashing white-moon signal means that the signaling is working properly and does not prohibit the movement of vehicles. Therefore, in a situation where the white-moon signal is active and the red ones are off, there is no reason to prohibit passage according to the traffic light signal.
If the answer options include "allowed" and "prohibited," the correct one will be the one that corresponds to the meaning of the white-moon signal: it does not establish a prohibition, so passage is possible provided the driver is attentive and there are no other obstacles. The "prohibited" option would only be correct if the flashing red signals were on (often accompanied by an additional audible warning). In practice, sometimes sign 2.2 is also installed nearby, but for the theoretical exam the key rule is this: a working traffic light (not a flashing yellow) takes precedence over priority signs, so you should primarily follow the railway crossing signals.
Clause 8.7.6 (railway crossing traffic light signals)
Traffic at railway crossings is regulated by traffic lights with two red signals or one white-moon and two red signals, which have the following meanings: a) flashing red signals prohibit the movement of vehicles across the crossing; b) a flashing white-moon signal indicates that the signaling is operational and does not prohibit the movement of vehicles. At railway crossings, an audible signal may be activated simultaneously with the prohibitive traffic light signal, which additionally informs road users about the prohibition of movement across the crossing.
This question specifically checks the understanding that a flashing white-moon signal does not prohibit movement across the crossing (that is, movement is allowed in the absence of other prohibitions).
Clause 8.3 (priority of traffic control signals)
The signals of a traffic controller take precedence over traffic light signals and the requirements of road signs.
Traffic light signals, except for the flashing yellow, take precedence over priority road signs.
Application to the situation: if a priority sign (for example, 2.2) is installed together with a railway crossing traffic light, then when the traffic light is operating (not flashing yellow), the driver is guided by the traffic light signal.
Clause 33.2 — 33 "Road signs", 2 "Priority signs", sign 2.2 "No entry without stopping"
It is prohibited to pass without stopping before marking 1.12 (stop line), and in its absence — before the sign.
Application to the situation: the presence of sign 2.2 indicates the obligation to stop, but when the traffic light signaling at the crossing is operating, the driver is primarily guided by the traffic light signals according to clause 8.3.
Thus, the correct answer is "Allowed.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a flashing white-moon signal of the railway crossing traffic light indicates that the signaling is operational and does not prohibit the movement of vehicles across the crossing (clause 8.7.6 b), and traffic light signals take precedence over priority signs (clause 8.3).
In this situation, movement across the railway crossing is regulated by a special crossing traffic light. For such crossings, the Traffic Rules provide separate signals: two red (prohibitive) and a white-moon (which indicates that the signaling is functioning and there is no prohibition).
According to clause 8.7.6 a) of the Traffic Rules, it is the flashing red signals that mean prohibition of movement across the crossing. In the image, the red signals are off, while the flashing white-moon signal is on. This means that the crossing signaling is working and does not prohibit passage.
A priority sign 2.2 (no entry without stopping) is installed nearby. However, in this situation, the traffic light signal is decisive, since an operating traffic light takes precedence over priority signs. Therefore, there is no obligation to stop solely because of the presence of sign 2.2, when the traffic light is giving a permissive white-moon signal for crossing.
Thus, the correct answer is "Allowed.", since the crossing traffic light is showing a flashing white-moon signal and the prohibitive flashing red signals are absent.