33.5.22. Are you allowed to make a U-turn in the situation shown?
UAЧи дозволено Вам виконати розворот у зображеній ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine checks the understanding of safe maneuvering at intersections and the correct interpretation of road signs. In real traffic, confusion between an “informational sign” and a “prohibition” often leads to mistakes: a driver either hesitates without reason or, conversely, incorrectly assesses where the one-way traffic begins. Therefore, this topic is important both for daily safety and for successfully passing the theoretical exam.
The question relates to section 33 of the Traffic Rules, specifically sign 5.7.1 “Exit onto a one-way road.” This sign informs that one-way traffic is organized on the intersecting road, and movement on it is allowed only in the direction indicated by the arrow. The key nuance is that sign 5.7.1 is not a prohibition for making a U-turn at the intersection itself: the U-turn is performed within the intersection (as defined in the Traffic Rules), and not as “movement on a one-way road” against the arrow.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to a simple criterion: is there a direct prohibition on making a U-turn at this point. The “allowed” option is correct because clause 10.7 does not prohibit a U-turn at the intersection as such, and sign 5.7.1 only sets the permitted direction of movement after entering the one-way road. The “prohibited” option would be correct only if there were a separate prohibition (for example, appropriate signs/markings or conditions from clause 10.7), or if the maneuver would actually force movement on the one-way road against the established direction, which does not happen with a proper U-turn at the intersection.
Clause 33.5 — 33 "Road signs", 5 "Information and direction signs", signs 5.7.1 and 5.7.2 "Exit onto a one-way road"
5.7.1 and 5.7.2 "Exit onto a one-way road". Indicate the direction of movement on the intersecting road if one-way traffic is organized on it. The movement of vehicles on this road or carriageway is allowed only in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Explanation of application: sign 5.7.1 informs that one-way traffic is in effect on the intersecting road and sets the permitted direction of movement on it; by itself, it does not establish a prohibition on making a U-turn at the intersection, provided that after the U-turn the vehicle does not move on this road "against the arrow".
Clause 10.1
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning, or making a U-turn, the driver must make sure that it will be safe and will not create obstacles or danger to other road users.
Explanation of application: even when a U-turn is allowed, it is permitted only if the maneuver can be performed safely at the intersection.
Clause 10.7
U-turns are prohibited: at pedestrian crossings; in tunnels; on bridges, overpasses, flyovers and under them; at railway crossings; in places where road visibility is less than 100 m in at least one direction; at stops of route vehicles.
Explanation of application: in the given situation, there are no signs of any of the prohibitions listed in clause 10.7, therefore there is no special prohibition on making a U-turn.
Clause 1.10 (term "Intersection")
Intersection — a place where roads cross, adjoin, or branch at the same level, the boundary of which is the imaginary lines between the beginnings of the rounding of the edges of the carriageways of each road.
Explanation of application: the U-turn is performed precisely within the intersection (the place where roads cross/adjoin), and not by "moving along the intersecting one-way road".
Clause 1.10 (term "One-way road")
One-way road — a road on which vehicle movement across the entire width of the carriageway is carried out in one direction.
Explanation of application: sign 5.7.1 only indicates that the intersecting road is a one-way road and that movement on it is allowed only in the direction of the arrow; when making a U-turn at the intersection, the driver is not required to move along this road in the prohibited direction.
Thus, the correct answer is "Allowed.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, sign 5.7.1 only indicates the permitted direction of movement on the intersecting one-way road, and the prohibition of a U-turn at this point is not established by the Traffic Rules (in particular, clause 10.7).
In this situation, sign 5.7.1 "Entry onto a one-way road" is installed before the intersection. Its purpose is to inform the driver that the road they are entering is one-way and to indicate the permitted direction of travel on this road.
It is important to understand that sign 5.7.1 is not a prohibitory sign and does not establish a mandatory direction of movement for your vehicle at the intersection itself. It only informs about the traffic organization on the intersecting road: after entering it, vehicles must move only in the direction of the arrow.
In this case, the U-turn is performed precisely within the intersection (that is, at the place where the carriageways intersect), and not as further movement along the one-way road "against the arrow." When performing the U-turn correctly, you do not enter the intersecting road and do not continue moving along it in the prohibited direction, therefore you do not violate the requirement of sign 5.7.1 regarding movement on a one-way road.
For comparison: if you were making a left turn with entry onto this one-way road "against the direction of the arrow," then this would be a direct violation, since after completing the maneuver you would find yourself on a one-way road in the prohibited direction. A U-turn, however, ends with returning to your own road in the opposite direction, without entering the one-way road.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Permitted," since sign 5.7.1 only informs about the one-way traffic on the intersecting road and prohibits movement along it against the arrow, while the U-turn is performed at the intersection without entering this road in the prohibited direction.