21.3. What is prohibited for the driver of a route vehicle when carrying passengers?
UAЩо забороняється водієві маршрутного транспортного засобу під час перевезення пасажирів?
Question without image
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety of passenger transportation and factors that distract the driver while driving. For route vehicles, the risks are significantly higher, as the driver is responsible not only for themselves but also for dozens of passengers and other road users. That is why the traffic rules establish additional restrictions that reduce the likelihood of mistakes due to loss of attention and increased reaction time.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the transportation of passengers and special requirements for drivers of route vehicles (point 21.2, as well as the general prohibition on communication devices from point 2.9(f)). Certain actions such as talking to passengers, eating or drinking, and smoking are directly prohibited during passenger transportation because they distract from monitoring the road situation. And the use of a phone or other communication devices while holding them in hand is prohibited for drivers while driving by the general norms of the Traffic Rules, so in theoretical exam tests, this option is also considered unacceptable for a route vehicle driver.
The analysis of options in similar tasks comes down to the fact that each listed point is an independent prohibition: communicating with passengers, eating/drinking, smoking, and using communication devices in hand while driving equally reduce attentiveness and control over driving. Therefore, the correct answer within the theoretical exam is a generalizing choice that covers all these actions, as the traffic rules prohibit them collectively during the transportation of passengers by route vehicles.
Clause 1.10 (the term "Route vehicle")
Route vehicle — a public transport vehicle (bus, minibus, trolleybus, tram) that operates along a designated route and has specified stops for boarding (alighting) passengers.
This term is necessary to understand exactly to whom the special prohibitions established for drivers of route vehicles during passenger transportation apply.
Clause 21.2
The driver of a route vehicle is prohibited from talking to passengers, eating, drinking, smoking, as well as transporting passengers and cargo in the cab if it is separated from the passenger compartment while transporting passengers.
This is the main clause that directly contains the list of prohibitions, which are usually presented in the answer options (therefore, the correct option is "all of the above").
Clause 2.9 (subclause "d")
The driver is prohibited from: using communication devices while driving a vehicle, holding them in hand (except for drivers of emergency vehicles when performing urgent official duties).
This clause additionally reinforces the prohibition on being distracted while driving (including for the driver of a route vehicle), if among the answer options in the ticket there is "using a phone/communication device in hand".
Thus, the correct answer is "All of the above.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, clause 21.2 directly prohibits the driver of a route vehicle during passenger transportation from talking to passengers, eating/drinking, smoking, and transporting passengers/cargo in a separated cab (and in addition, the general prohibition of clause 2.9(f) regarding holding communication devices in hand while driving also applies).
When transporting passengers, the driver of a route vehicle bears increased responsibility for traffic safety. Therefore, the Traffic Rules establish additional restrictions for them so that nothing distracts from driving or affects reaction speed.
According to clause 21.2 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, the driver of a route vehicle is prohibited from performing actions that distract attention from the road and driving. These include, in particular, communicating with passengers while driving, as well as eating, drinking, or smoking. In practice, this looks like: a driver who responds to a passenger, takes money, eats, or drinks involuntarily shifts attention from the road situation to routine actions, which increases the risk of missing a pedestrian, a traffic light signal, or sudden braking ahead.
This clause also prohibits transporting passengers or cargo in the cab if it is structurally separated from the passenger compartment. The meaning of this restriction is simple: the driver's cab must remain a working area where neither passengers nor foreign objects create pressure on the driver, obstruct the view, restrict movement, or affect safe driving.
Since the list of prohibitions in the question covers several actions at once, and each of them directly falls under the restrictions of clause 21.2, the correct answer is the generalized option.
Thus, the correct answer is "All of the above," since clause 21.2 of the Traffic Rules prohibits the driver of a route vehicle from being distracted (talking, eating, drinking, smoking) and violating the requirements for transportation in the cab if it is separated from the passenger compartment while transporting passengers.