28.4. While driving downhill, an obstacle appears in your lane. How will you pass the oncoming vehicle?
UAПід час руху на спуск на вашій смузі руху виникла перешкода. Як ви роз'їдетеся із зустрічним транспортним засобом?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning the safety of oncoming passing on road sections with a complex profile, where any mistake can lead to a head-on collision. In such situations, the key factor is the rule of “yielding the right of way” and the ability to correctly assess who can more easily stop and safely resume movement without creating obstacles for other road users.
The question tests knowledge of the sections of the Traffic Rules regarding priority during difficult oncoming passing, in particular the requirements of clause 13.4 and the special provision of clause 28.1 for mountain roads and steep descents. The logic of the Traffic Rules is as follows: if there is an obstacle in your lane and you need to partially occupy the oncoming lane to bypass it, you are obliged not to continue driving in a way that forces the oncoming vehicle to change speed or direction (the definition of “yield the right of way” from clause 1.10). Additionally, on sections marked with signs 1.6 “Steep descent” and 1.7 “Steep ascent,” priority is given to the vehicle moving uphill, and the driver going downhill must yield.
Therefore, the option where the driver going downhill yields to the oncoming vehicle corresponds to the requirements of the traffic rules and is suitable for the theoretical exam: you reduce speed, stop if necessary before the obstacle, and allow the oncoming car to pass safely. In contrast, the statement about “priority in movement” for the car going downhill is incorrect: on steep sections, it is more difficult for the vehicle going uphill to start moving again after stopping, so the Traffic Rules of Ukraine grant it priority in such conditions.
Clause 13.4
"If passing oncoming traffic is difficult, the driver whose lane has an obstacle or whose vehicle dimensions hinder oncoming traffic must yield. On road sections marked with signs 1.6 'Steep Descent' and 1.7 'Steep Ascent', in the presence of an obstacle, the driver of the vehicle moving downhill must yield."
This clause directly states that when passing oncoming traffic is difficult on a descent (with an obstacle present), priority is given to the vehicle moving uphill, and the driver going downhill is obliged to yield.
Clause 28.1
"On mountain roads and steep descents, where passing oncoming traffic is difficult, the driver of the vehicle moving downhill must yield to vehicles moving uphill."
This is a special rule for mountain roads/steep descents: if passing is complicated, the driver going downhill always yields to the one going uphill.
Clause 1.10 (term 'Yield (do not create an obstacle)')
"Yield (do not create an obstacle) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, nor perform any maneuver, if this may force other road users who have priority to change their direction or speed."
This definition explains that 'to yield' means not to create an obstacle for the oncoming vehicle, which has priority in this situation.
Clause 33.1.6 — 33 'Road Signs', 1 'Warning Signs', sign 1.6 'Steep Descent'
Sign 1.6 'Steep Descent'.
Used to indicate a section of steep descent where a special passing rule applies, as provided by clause 13.4 (and also in the logic of clause 28.1 for steep descents).
Clause 33.1.7 — 33 'Road Signs', 1 'Warning Signs', sign 1.7 'Steep Ascent'
Sign 1.7 'Steep Ascent'.
Indicates a section of steep ascent; when paired with sign 1.6, it is used to determine priority during difficult passing situations according to clause 13.4.
That is, the correct answer is "Yield to them.", considering that according to the Traffic Rules, when passing oncoming traffic is difficult on a steep descent (with an obstacle present), the driver moving downhill is obliged to yield to vehicles moving uphill.
Imagine the situation: you are driving downhill, and an obstacle appears in your lane (for example, stones, a parked car, narrowing due to roadworks). An oncoming vehicle is approaching you, and passing each other becomes difficult.
In such cases, the rule applies: if passing is complicated, priority is given to the one whose movement is less restricted, and the driver whose lane has the obstacle must yield. That is, the very presence of an obstacle in your lane already means that you must give way, since to pass you would have to partially occupy the oncoming lane.
The Traffic Rules separately establish the procedure for sections with descents and ascents (in particular, on mountain roads or on sections marked with warning signs of a steep descent/ascent). If an obstacle appears on such a section, priority is given to the vehicle moving uphill, and the driver going downhill must yield. The logic is simple: it is much harder for a vehicle moving uphill to stop and start again than for one going downhill.
In practice, this means that you should reduce your speed, stop if necessary near the right edge of your lane before the obstacle, and let the oncoming car pass, after which you can safely drive around the obstacle.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Yield to it.", because when driving downhill and there is an obstacle in your lane, it is the driver going downhill who is obliged to give way to the oncoming vehicle moving uphill.