35.131. When opening the door of a vehicle from the side of the carriageway, what should you pay attention to?
UAВідкриваючи двері транспортного засобу зі сторони проїжджої частини, на що слід звернути увагу?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety during stopping or parking, when a driver or passenger opens a door on the side of the roadway. This action may seem minor, but it often provokes collisions with motorcyclists, cyclists, or cars moving nearby, and also creates a sudden obstacle for other road users. The theoretical exam checks whether you understand that “opening a door” is also a potentially dangerous maneuver, which should only be performed after assessing the situation.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding stopping and parking, specifically the requirements of paragraph 15.13 of the Traffic Rules. The regulation directly prohibits opening doors, leaving them open, and exiting the vehicle if it endangers safety or creates obstacles for others. Therefore, the key principle here is: before opening the door, you must make sure that it does not pose a danger to vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians who may be approaching from behind or moving alongside your car.
The analysis of the answer options in this exam question is logical: the advice to do this abruptly is dangerous, because abrupt opening increases the risk of collision and forces others to brake sharply or swerve. The statement that you need to make sure that drivers behind “understood your intentions” is not sufficient and does not meet the requirements of the traffic rules, since intentions may be unclear or ignored. The correct approach is based on actual safety: checking the mirror, checking the “blind spot” over your shoulder, carefully opening the door slightly, and minimizing the time the door remains open so as not to create an obstacle.
Clause 15.13
It is prohibited to open the doors of a vehicle, leave them open, or exit the vehicle if this endangers safety or creates obstacles for other road users.
Application: before opening the door on the side of the roadway, the driver or passenger must make sure that this will not create danger or obstacles (for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.).
That is, the correct answer is "Open the door only when you are sure that it does not endanger other road users," given that, by definition, Clause 15.13 of the Traffic Rules directly prohibits opening (and leaving open) the doors and exiting the vehicle if this endangers safety or creates obstacles for other road users.
When you have stopped or parked near the edge of the roadway, opening the door toward the road becomes a potentially dangerous maneuver. The door can suddenly create an obstacle in the traffic lane or in an area where other road users are moving, and this often leads to collisions.
Clause 15.13 of the Traffic Rules directly requires not to open the doors, not to leave them open, and not to exit the vehicle if this may create danger or an obstacle for others. That is, the mere fact of stopping does not mean you can immediately open the door: you must first assess whether someone is approaching from behind or from the side.
In practice, this means that before opening the door, you should check the surroundings: look in the side mirror and additionally check the "blind spot" over your shoulder. It is especially important to watch out for cyclists and motorcyclists, who may be moving closer to the edge of the roadway and could get hit by the door, as well as pedestrians who may be walking near the car.
It is advisable to open the door gently at first, not abruptly, making sure that this does not force others to brake or swerve. It is also helpful to use the method where the driver opens the door with their right hand: the body automatically turns, and you better control the situation behind you. After exiting, do not leave the door open longer than necessary, so as not to create an obstacle.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Open the door only when you are sure that it does not endanger other road users," since clause 15.13 of the Traffic Rules prohibits opening the door and exiting the car if this creates danger or an obstacle for other road users.