33.3.5. In which of the places can you stop your vehicle for parking in the depicted situation?
UAУ якому з місць Ви можете зупинити транспортний засіб для стоянки в зображеній ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the ability to safely and legally choose a parking spot within a populated area, focusing on road signs and the boundaries of their effect. For the theoretical exam, it is important to clearly distinguish parking from stopping and to understand that violating the rules for stopping and parking creates obstacles to traffic, reduces visibility, and increases the risk of accidents.
In essence, this task relates to Section 33 of the Traffic Rules (road signs), specifically the effect of sign 3.35 "Parking prohibited" in combination with plate 7.2.2 "Zone of effect." The key logic is as follows: sign 3.35 prohibits only parking and applies only to the side of the road where it is installed, while plate 7.2.2 does not "transfer" the prohibition but only specifies the length of the section after the sign where this prohibition applies. Additionally, Section 15 of the Traffic Rules is considered: within a populated area, under the conditions of point 15.3, parking may be allowed on the left side of the road if there is no separate prohibition for that side.
When analyzing the answer options, the mistake in most of them is the inclusion of a spot located after the sign on the same side of the road within the distance indicated by the plate: parking is prohibited there, so any option with such a spot is incorrect. Instead, the correct option is only the one that leaves spots outside the sign's zone of effect (before the sign) and/or on the opposite side of the road, where the effect of 3.35 does not apply in the absence of a duplicate sign. In practice, this knowledge helps to quickly "read" a road section: determine the side where the sign is installed, find the start of the prohibition (from the sign), and understand exactly where the restriction zone ends according to plate 7.2.2.
Clause 1.10 (term "Stop")
Stop — cessation of movement of a vehicle for up to 5 minutes or more if necessary for boarding (alighting) passengers or loading (unloading) cargo, or to fulfill the requirements of these Rules.
Clause 1.10 (term "Parking")
Parking — cessation of movement of a vehicle for more than 5 minutes for reasons not related to fulfilling the requirements of these Rules, boarding (alighting) passengers, or loading (unloading) cargo.
Clause 15.1
Stopping and parking of vehicles are allowed on the right side of the road on the shoulder, and if there is no shoulder or it is impossible to pull onto it — near the right edge of the carriageway (as far to the right as possible), provided this does not create obstacles for other road users.
Clause 15.3
In populated areas, stopping and parking of vehicles are allowed on the left side of the road, which has one lane in each direction (without tram tracks in the middle) and is not divided by a continuous road marking line 1.1.
Clause 33.3 — 33 "Road signs", 3 "Prohibitory signs", sign 3.35 "Parking prohibited"
Sign 3.35 "Parking prohibited" prohibits parking for all vehicles.
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 applies only to the side of the road on which it is installed.
Clause 33.7 — 33 "Road signs", 7 "Plates to road signs", plate 7.2.2 "Zone of effect"
Plate 7.2.2 "Zone of effect" indicates the area of effect of prohibitory signs (in particular 3.35 "Parking prohibited") and specifies the length of the road section to which the sign applies.
Brief application to the situation: if 3.35 is accompanied by 7.2.2, parking is prohibited only in the specified section (beyond the sign for the distance indicated on the plate) and only on the side of the road where the sign is installed; outside this section and/or on the opposite side (if there is no sign on it), parking is allowed according to the general rules of section 15.
That is, the correct answer is "At location A, B, or D.", considering that the effect of sign 3.35 with plate 7.2.2 prohibits parking only within the defined zone and only on the side of the sign's installation, and in a populated area (under the conditions of clause 15.3) parking is also possible on the left side outside the prohibition zone.
In the situation shown in the picture, a prohibitory sign 3.35 “Parking is prohibited” is installed with plate 7.2.2 “Zone of effect.” This means that parking (i.e., leaving the car for an extended period) is prohibited not “somewhere nearby,” but on a specific section of the road, the length of which is indicated by the plate (within the specified meters after the sign).
It is important to remember two key conditions for the operation of sign 3.35. First, it applies from the place of installation in the direction of travel. Second, it applies only to the side of the road on which it is installed. Plate 7.2.2 does not transfer the prohibition to the other side, but only specifies how far after the sign the prohibited zone extends.
Now let’s check the parking spots. Spot B is located on the same side of the road as the sign and is already after the sign within the distance specified by the plate. Therefore, parking at spot B is prohibited because it is within the zone of effect of sign 3.35 with plate 7.2.2.
Spot G is located before the sign, that is, before the start of the prohibited zone. Therefore, parking at spot G is allowed.
Spots A and B are located on the opposite side of the road. Since sign 3.35 applies only to the side where it is installed, this prohibition does not apply to spots A and B. Additionally, it should be noted that in a populated area on such a road (without tram tracks in the middle and without a solid line separating traffic flows), parking on the left is generally allowed, unless there is a separate prohibition specifically for that side.
Therefore, the correct answer is “At spot A, B, or G,” since sign 3.35 with plate 7.2.2 prohibits parking only on its side of the road and only on the section after the sign, while spots A, B, and G are outside this prohibited zone.