33.3.19. Which of the cars is parked in a populated area in violation of the Traffic Rules in the depicted situation?
UAЯкий з автомобілів поставлено на стоянку в населеному пункті з порушенням Правил дорожнього руху в зображеній ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the driver's attentiveness to the rules of stopping and parking in a populated area, since improper parking directly affects road safety, visibility, and the road's capacity. In the theoretical exam, such tasks often "catch" students who remember the general permissions for parking but overlook the effect of prohibitory road signs and plates.
In content, this question belongs to section 33 of the Traffic Rules (road signs) and section 15 (stopping and parking). The key is sign 3.34 "Stopping prohibited," which forbids not only stopping but also parking on the corresponding side of the road, while plate 7.2.2 "Zone of effect" clarifies that the prohibition applies for a specific distance from the sign's location. At the same time, clause 15.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine is taken into account: in a populated area, under certain conditions, parking is allowed on both the left and right sides, but this general permission does not override the requirements of the prohibitory sign if the vehicle is within the designated zone.
When analyzing the answer options, it is important to distinguish cars that are parked before the sign (outside the zone of effect) from those that are located after the sign within the distance indicated by plate 7.2.2. That is why combinations where the yellow or black car are added to the violators are incorrect: these cars are located outside the sign's zone of effect on their respective sides of the road. Likewise, options without the "red" or without the "gray" car are incorrect, because both are precisely in the prohibited zone where sign 3.34 forbids any stopping/parking.
The practical value of this topic is simple: in real traffic, you need not only to know that in a populated area parking is sometimes allowed on both sides, but also to be able to instantly determine whether a prohibition zone, limited by the "Zone of effect" plate, begins ahead. This reduces the risk of fines, vehicle towing, and creating dangerous situations for other road users.
Clause 33.3.34 — 33 “Road Signs”, 3 “Prohibitory Signs”, sign 3.34 “No stopping”
Sign 3.34 “No stopping” prohibits stopping and parking of vehicles (exceptions provided by the Traffic Rules apply only if the relevant conditions/plates are present). The area of effect of the sign is from the place of installation to the nearest intersection beyond it, and in populated areas where there are no intersections — to the end of the populated area. The effect of the sign is not interrupted at exits from adjacent territories. The sign applies only to the side of the road on which it is installed.
In this task, the requirement of sign 3.34 is decisive: vehicles parked within its area of effect on the corresponding side of the road violate the Traffic Rules, regardless of the fact that parking in a populated area may generally be allowed on both the left and right sides under the conditions of section 15.
Clause 33.7.2.2 — 33 “Road Signs”, 7 “Plates to Road Signs”, plate 7.2.2 “Area of Effect”
Plate 7.2.2 “Area of Effect” indicates the area (distance) of effect of prohibitory signs, in particular 3.34 “No stopping” and 3.35 “No parking”, and shows the distance over which the relevant sign applies.
In the depicted situation, plate 7.2.2 clarifies that the prohibition of stopping/parking by sign 3.34 applies not “up to the intersection”, but for the specific distance indicated on the plate; it is within this area that the “problematic” vehicles are located.
Clause 15.2
If there are no specially designated places or shoulders, or if stopping or parking there is impossible, they are allowed near the right edge of the carriageway (as far to the right as possible so as not to obstruct other road users).
This clause is background in the task: it explains the basic principle of vehicle placement for stopping/parking, but within the area of effect of sign 3.34, stopping and parking are still prohibited.
Clause 15.3
In populated areas, stopping and parking of vehicles are allowed on the left side of the road that has one lane in each direction (without tram tracks in the middle) and is not divided by marking 1.1, as well as on the left side of a one-way road. If the road has a boulevard or median strip, stopping and parking near them are prohibited.
In this task, clause 15.3 is needed to confirm that, in the absence of other prohibitions, parking in a populated area is possible on the left side (if the conditions of the clause are met). But on the section marked by sign 3.34 with plate 7.2.2, parking is prohibited on the relevant side, so the sign “overrides” the general permission of clause 15.3.
Clause 1.10 (terms “Stopping”, “Parking”)
Stopping — cessation of movement of a vehicle for up to 5 minutes or more if necessary for boarding (alighting) passengers or loading (unloading) cargo, fulfilling the requirements of these Rules, or at the request of a police officer.
Parking — cessation of movement of a vehicle for more than 5 minutes for reasons not related to the need to fulfill the requirements of these Rules, boarding (alighting) passengers, or loading (unloading) cargo.
These definitions explain why sign 3.34 is critical in the task: it prohibits both stopping and parking, i.e., any “cessation of movement” within its area of effect (in the absence of exceptions).
Thus, the correct answer is “Grey and red.”, considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the effect of sign 3.34 “No stopping”, clarified by plate 7.2.2 “Area of Effect”, prohibits both stopping and parking within the specified area on the relevant side of the road, and it is within this area that the grey and red cars are located.
In this situation, we are in a populated area. According to the general rule, stopping and parking are performed near the right edge of the carriageway, and under the conditions of clause 15.3 of the Traffic Rules, in a populated area, it is allowed to park vehicles on the left side of the road as well, if there is one lane in each direction and there are no prohibitive conditions such as a solid line in the middle or tram tracks. That is, parking on either the right or left side is possible here.
Next, it is necessary to assess not "which side is correct," but whether there is a prohibition at this location. On both sides of the road, sign 3.34 "No stopping" is installed. It is important to remember that this sign prohibits not only stopping but also parking, meaning you cannot leave a car parked in the area of its effect.
Under each sign, there is a plate 7.2.2 "Zone of effect," which clarifies that the prohibition applies not up to the intersection, but for a specific distance from the place where the sign is installed (for as many meters as indicated on the plate). Also, the sign applies only to the side of the road on which it is installed. Therefore, you need to look at which cars are parked after the sign on their side and within the specified distance.
In the diagram, the black car (on the left) and the yellow car (on the right) are located before the signs, that is, outside their area of effect. Therefore, they are parked without violation.
Meanwhile, the gray car on the left side and the red car on the right side are already located within the area of effect of sign 3.34 on their respective sides of the road (within the distance specified by plate 7.2.2). That is why they violate the prohibition on stopping/parking.
Thus, the correct answer is "Gray and red," since both cars are parked within the area of effect of sign 3.34 with plate 7.2.2, which prohibits both stopping and parking on the respective side of the road.