3.4. Is the driver of the blue vehicle allowed to take a place in this convoy?
UAЧи дозволено водієві синього автомобіля зайняти місце в даній колоні?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning road safety during the movement of organized convoys accompanied by emergency vehicles. Such situations are important for the theoretical exam, as the predictability of maneuvers, the integrity of the convoy, and the minimization of accident risks depend on the driver's correct actions.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding special light signals and movement priority (in particular, paragraph 3.4 of the Traffic Rules), as well as the rules for moving in convoys (paragraph 25.6). If a convoy is accompanied by a vehicle with a flashing beacon (including green or blue-green), other road users are prohibited not only from overtaking or passing such a convoy, but also from driving in an adjacent lane at the convoy's speed and merging into it, that is, taking a place in it for further movement.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to the fact that the answer “yes” contradicts the direct prohibition of paragraph 3.4: even if there is a gap between vehicles, this is not a “free space” for joining. The condition “yes, if the convoy speed is less than 30 km/h” is also incorrect, because the traffic rules do not link this prohibition to speed: it always applies when a convoy is accompanied by special vehicles. In practice, this means that the driver must wait for a safe opportunity to proceed without violating the integrity of the convoy and without creating obstacles for vehicles moving in an organized manner under escort.
Clause 3.4
It is prohibited to overtake or pass vehicles with activated blue and red or only red flashing beacons, as well as green or blue and green beacons, and the vehicles (columns) accompanied by them, as well as to move in adjacent lanes at the speed of the column or to take a place in the column.
This clause directly prohibits “taking a place in the column” if the column is moving accompanied by vehicles with the specified flashing beacons (in particular, green or blue-green).
Clause 25.6
Other vehicles are prohibited from taking a place for continuous movement in the column.
This clause additionally establishes a general prohibition for “other vehicles” (i.e., those not belonging to the column) to become participants in the column to move together with it.
Thus, the correct answer is "No.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver is prohibited from taking a place (for movement) in a column that is moving accompanied by a vehicle with activated special flashing beacons.
In the situation shown in the illustration, we see a convoy of vehicles accompanied by a special vehicle with a green flashing beacon activated. This signal is used specifically for escorting convoys and means that the vehicles are moving in an organized manner and are under special control.
According to paragraph 3.4 of the Traffic Rules, drivers of other vehicles are prohibited from interfering with the movement of such convoys: it is not allowed to overtake or pass them, to drive alongside in an adjacent lane at the speed of the convoy, or to merge into the convoy, that is, to take a place within it. The idea behind this prohibition is simple: any “insertion” of an outside vehicle disrupts the integrity of the convoy and creates risks for the safety and predictability of its movement.
Additionally, it should be understood that a convoy is not an ordinary flow of cars. Even if there is a gap between vehicles, this is not a “free space” for joining in. The rules explicitly prohibit other vehicles from taking a place for continuous movement within the convoy, so the blue car does not have the right to merge between the vehicles of the convoy and continue moving with it.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No," since other drivers are prohibited from taking a place in a convoy that is accompanied by a vehicle with flashing beacons activated.