31.4. How should you act if the speedometer fails while driving?
UAЯк ви повинні вчинити, якщо під час руху відмовив спідометр?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (PDR) concerning road safety and the technical condition of a vehicle while driving. The speedometer is needed not for "convenience," but for precise speed control and adherence to speed limits, which directly affect the risk of accidents and the driver's responsibility. Therefore, a speedometer failure while driving is considered a significant technical malfunction that requires clear actions, not simply continuing the trip as usual.
The question tests knowledge of Section 31 "Technical Condition of Vehicles and Their Equipment," specifically clause 31.4.7 (d), where a non-functioning speedometer is directly listed among the malfunctions for which vehicle operation is prohibited. In addition, clause 31.5 applies: if such a malfunction occurs on the road, the driver must take measures to eliminate it on the spot, and if this is not possible — proceed by the shortest route to a parking or repair location, taking all necessary precautions. To indicate driving with a malfunction, the requirements of Section 9 "Warning Signals" (clauses 9.9 and 9.11) apply: you must turn on the hazard warning lights, and if they are absent or faulty — place an emergency stop sign or a flashing red light behind the vehicle.
An analysis of the answer options in the theoretical traffic rules exam shows the difference between "carefully continuing to drive" and "acting according to the PDR algorithm." Continuing the planned trip even with caution is incorrect, as this essentially means operating a vehicle with a malfunction under which normal driving is not allowed. Simply "stopping" is also not a complete or correct option: the Traffic Rules require not only stopping, but also attempting to fix the malfunction and, if necessary, allow you to drive the shortest route to repair/parking with proper warning to other road users using hazard lights or an emergency stop sign.
Clause 31.4.7 (d) — 31 "Technical condition of vehicles and their equipment", 31.4 "Technical malfunctions and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited"
"Operation of vehicles is prohibited, according to the legislation, in the presence of the following technical malfunctions and non-compliance with such requirements: 31.4.7. Other structural elements: (g) the following do not work as provided by the design: body or cab door locks, cargo platform side locks, tank and fuel tank neck locks, driver's seat adjustment mechanism, emergency exits, devices for their activation, door control drive, speedometer, odometer, tachograph, device for heating and blowing the glass."
This clause checks the knowledge that a faulty speedometer is a technical malfunction under which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited (in normal driving/use mode).
Clause 31.5 — 31 "Technical condition of vehicles and their equipment"
"In case of malfunctions specified in clause 31.4 of these Rules occurring on the road, the driver must take measures to eliminate them, and if this is impossible — drive by the shortest route to the place of parking or repair, observing precautions in accordance with the requirements of clauses 9.9 and 9.11 of these Rules. In case of malfunctions specified in clause 31.4.7 ("i"; "d" — as part of a road train), further movement is prohibited until they are eliminated. The driver of a faulty vehicle must take measures to remove it from the carriageway."
This clause directly sets the algorithm of actions in case of speedometer failure on the road: (1) try to eliminate it, (2) if impossible — drive the shortest route to parking/repair, (3) take precautions according to 9.9 and 9.11.
Clause 9.9 — 9 "Warning signals"
"The hazard warning lights must be switched on: a) in case of a forced stop on the road; b) in case of a stop at the request of a police officer or due to the driver being dazzled by headlights; c) on a motor vehicle moving with technical malfunctions, if such movement is not prohibited by these Rules; d) on a motor vehicle being towed; e) on a motor vehicle marked with the 'Children' identification sign, transporting an organized group of children, during their boarding or alighting; f) on all motor vehicles of a convoy during their stop on the road; g) in the event of a road traffic accident (RTA)."
For the situation with a speedometer failure, subclause "c" applies: while driving with a technical malfunction (when driving is not completely prohibited), the hazard warning lights must be switched on.
Clause 9.11 — 9 "Warning signals"
"If the vehicle is not equipped with hazard warning lights or they are faulty, a warning triangle or a flashing red lantern must be installed: a) behind the vehicle specified in clause 9.9 ("c", "d", "e") of these Rules; b) on the side with worse visibility for other road users in the case specified in subclause "b" of clause 9.10 of these Rules."
This clause supplements 9.9: if the hazard warning lights are absent or faulty, a warning triangle (or flashing red lantern) must be placed behind the vehicle moving with a technical malfunction (case 9.9 "c").
Thus, the correct answer is: "Try to eliminate the malfunction on the spot, and if this is impossible, proceed to the place of parking or repair, switching on the hazard warning lights or placing a warning triangle behind the vehicle," given that according to the Traffic Rules, a faulty speedometer is a malfunction under which operation is prohibited (31.4.7 d), but if such a malfunction occurs on the road, it is allowed to drive the shortest route to the place of parking/repair with precautions (31.5), with mandatory switching on of the hazard warning lights (9.9) or placing a warning triangle in case of their absence/failure (9.11).
While driving, the speedometer is needed not "for convenience," but for safe and legal driving: without it, the driver cannot accurately control the speed and risks exceeding the established limits or creating danger for other road users.
The Traffic Rules classify a non-working speedometer as a technical malfunction, in the presence of which the operation of the vehicle is not allowed. That is, you cannot continue your trip "as if nothing happened": the problem must be resolved immediately as soon as it is detected.
Therefore, your actions should be as follows. First, you must make a forced stop in a permitted and safe place and try to fix the malfunction on the spot, if possible (for example, check obvious causes that can be quickly corrected without risk and without disassembly while on the road).
If it is not possible to restore the speedometer on the spot, the Traffic Rules allow you to proceed only by the shortest route to a parking or repair location. But such movement must be marked with a warning: you need to turn on the hazard warning lights. If the hazard warning lights are absent or also faulty, then a warning triangle (or a flashing red light) must be placed behind the vehicle so that other drivers can see in advance that the car is moving/stopping with a technical malfunction.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Try to fix the malfunction on the spot, and if this is not possible, proceed to the parking or repair location, turning on the hazard warning lights or placing a warning triangle behind the vehicle," since a faulty speedometer belongs to prohibited technical malfunctions, and the Traffic Rules require either to fix it immediately or to drive only to repair/parking with mandatory safety measures and marking of the vehicle.