21.4. Is the driver allowed to open the doors of the vehicle before it comes to a stop?
UAЧи дозволено водієві відчиняти двері транспортного засобу до його зупинки?
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This exam question focuses on the safety of passenger transportation and the general requirements for the safe operation of a vehicle. In the traffic rules, it is important not only to perform maneuvers correctly but also to control the boarding and alighting of passengers in such a way as not to create risks for people inside the cabin and near the vehicle. Premature opening of doors while moving or rolling to a stop can lead to a passenger falling out, hitting a pedestrian or cyclist, as well as dangerous situations due to inertia during braking.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine on passenger transportation and the driver's duties (points 21.4–21.5). The rule is formulated unambiguously: the driver is prohibited from opening the doors before a complete stop, just as it is forbidden to start moving until the doors are closed. That is why the option of a "complete prohibition" meets the requirements of the traffic rules, while references to the absence of passengers on the steps do not change the essence of the prohibition: danger can arise both for passengers near the doors and for other road users outside. The statement about permission "in any case" directly contradicts the traffic rules and cannot be correct for the theoretical exam.
In practice, this topic is most relevant for drivers of buses, trolleybuses, trams, and route minibuses, where people often stand near the exit in a crowded cabin. Knowledge of this requirement helps to avoid typical violations before stops, when passengers start moving towards the exit in advance, and increases the overall culture of safe transportation, which is exactly what this exam question on the Traffic Rules of Ukraine checks.
Clause 21.4
The driver is prohibited from starting to move until all doors are fully closed and from opening them before the vehicle has come to a stop.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver is expressly forbidden to open the vehicle doors before it has come to a complete stop.
While the vehicle is in motion, the doors must remain closed, and any actions to open them are only permitted after a complete stop. This is directly related to safety: open doors create a risk of passengers falling out, hitting a pedestrian, cyclist, or another vehicle, and also make it harder to control the situation around the vehicle.
The rules set a clear requirement for the driver: they must not open the doors until the vehicle has come to a stop. Likewise, movement cannot begin if the doors are not fully closed. The logic is simple: even a low speed or sudden braking can cause a passenger standing by the exit or leaning on the door to lose balance and fall out.
This question most often concerns buses, trolleybuses, trams, and route minibuses, where passengers may be standing near the doors in a crowded cabin. For example, if the driver starts opening the doors while still approaching the stop, a passenger may step outside before the vehicle has fully stopped, or inertia may push them out, which poses a risk of serious injury. That is why the Traffic Rules require a complete stop first, and only then may the doors be opened for boarding or alighting.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since the driver is not allowed to open the doors before the vehicle has come to a complete stop, in order not to endanger passengers and other road users.