33.5.23. In which directions are you permitted to proceed in the situation shown?
UAУ яких напрямках Вам дозволено рух у зображеній ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the driver's attentiveness when passing intersections and the ability to correctly interpret road signs that regulate directions of movement. Such situations directly impact road safety: choosing the wrong direction when entering a one-way street often leads to head-on conflicts and accidents, especially in dense urban traffic.
The topic of the question belongs to section 33 of the Traffic Rules, informational and indicative signs, in particular sign 5.7.2 "Exit onto a one-way road." This sign informs that the intersected road is organized as a one-way street, and the arrow indicates the only permitted direction of movement on this road. Therefore, a maneuver that would force the driver to travel against the flow on a one-way street is unacceptable, while other directions that do not contradict the sign's requirements remain possible (provided there is a carriageway and no other prohibitions).
If we analyze the options, answers that exclude moving straight ahead are incomplete: sign 5.7.2 does not prohibit going straight, it only warns about one-way traffic on the intersected road. The option that allows only straight or left ignores the possibility of a U-turn, since a U-turn does not mean entering the one-way street against the flow. And the option allowing "left or in the opposite direction" mistakenly excludes moving straight, which does not contradict the meaning of the sign. That is why it is important to remember for the theoretical exam: the key meaning of sign 5.7.2 is not "to allow only one maneuver," but to prevent entry against the one-way flow.
Clause 1.3
Road users are required to know and strictly comply with the requirements of these Rules, traffic control signals, road signs and markings, as well as follow the instructions of the traffic controller.
Clause 1.10 (term “One-way road”)
One-way road — a road or carriageway on which vehicle traffic in all lanes is carried out in one direction.
Clause 33.5 — 33 “Road signs”, 5 “Informational and directional signs”, sign 5.7.2 “Exit onto a one-way road”
Indicates the direction of movement on the intersected road if one-way traffic is organized on it. Vehicle movement on this road or carriageway is allowed only in the direction of the arrow.
In this situation, sign 5.7.2 informs that one-way traffic is established on the intersected road in the direction of the arrow, so turning right would mean entering against the permitted direction of travel on such a road, while other directions (straight, left, or U-turn) are not prohibited by this sign.
Thus, the correct answer is “Straight, left, or in the opposite direction,” given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, sign 5.7.2 allows movement on the intersected road only in the direction of the arrow, and therefore a right turn would result in movement against the one-way flow.
At the intersection, sign 5.7.2 “Exit onto a one-way road” is installed. According to the meaning of this sign, the driver receives information that the road being crossed is one-way, and the arrow indicates the permitted direction of vehicle movement on this road.
This means the following: if you turn from the intersection in the direction where traffic on the intersecting road is coming towards you, you will actually be entering against the established one-way flow. That is why turning right in this situation is not allowed, as it would result in driving in the prohibited direction on the one-way road, i.e., against the main flow.
At the same time, sign 5.7.2 does not impose a ban on other directions of movement from your side, except for the warning about one-way traffic on the intersecting road. Therefore, if there is a continuation of the road ahead of you, you may go straight. Turning left is also permitted, because in this case you enter the one-way road in the correct (same) direction. In addition, making a U-turn also does not contradict the requirements of the sign, since you are not entering the one-way road against the flow, but are changing your direction on your own road and returning in the opposite direction.
Thus, the correct answer is “Straight, left, or in the opposite direction,” since sign 5.7.2 informs about one-way traffic on the intersecting road and actually only prevents turning in the direction that would lead to driving against the flow, while straight, left, and U-turn do not contradict the requirements of the sign.