35.38. At night and in cloudy weather, the speed of an oncoming vehicle appears:
UAУ темну пору доби та в похмуру погоду швидкість зустрічного автомобіля видається:
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests safe driving in conditions of limited visibility: at night and during cloudy weather. In such situations, the driver receives less visual information about the road environment, sees the outlines of vehicles and landmarks worse, and the headlights remain the most noticeable. Because of this, the risk of mistakes increases during oncoming passing, bypassing obstacles, and especially during maneuvers in the oncoming lane.
In terms of content, this question belongs to the sections of the Traffic Rules related to terms and concepts (paragraph 1.10: "nighttime," "insufficient visibility," "overtaking") and the choice of safe speed (paragraph 12.1), as well as the conditions for safe overtaking (paragraph 14.1). In the theoretical exam, it is important to understand not only the wording of the rules but also typical psychological illusions: in the dark and in poor visibility, oncoming traffic often appears farther away than it actually is, and when an object is perceived as farther, its approach is subconsciously assessed as slower.
That is why the correct option in this exam question is related to the underestimated perception of the speed of an oncoming car: this explains why a driver may mistakenly "give themselves more time" for overtaking or entering the oncoming lane. The option about overestimated speed in such conditions contradicts the typical effect of nighttime perception, and the statement that perception does not change ignores real visual limitations and fatigue, which directly affect the assessment of distance and closing time. From a practical point of view, this knowledge helps to choose a safe driving mode and not rely solely on "visual" assessment when performing maneuvers in the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility.
Clause 1.10 (term "Dark time of day")
Dark time of day — the part of the day from sunset to sunrise.
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient visibility")
Insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel of less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Clause 12.1
The driver must operate the vehicle at a speed not exceeding the established limits, taking into account the road situation, the characteristics of the cargo being transported, and the condition of the vehicle, in order to be able to constantly control its movement and drive it safely.
Brief application: at night and/or in conditions of insufficient visibility, the driver is obliged to choose a safe speed, taking into account the deterioration of perception conditions (not relying on a "visual" assessment of the speed of an oncoming vehicle).
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking — passing one or more vehicles, involving entering the oncoming traffic lane.
Clause 14.1
Overtaking is permitted if the oncoming lane the driver enters is clear for a sufficient distance for overtaking and his actions do not create danger or obstacles for other road users.
Brief application: at night/in cloudy weather, an error in assessing the speed of an oncoming vehicle directly affects the fulfillment of the requirement for a "sufficient distance" for overtaking and safe passing.
That is, the correct answer is "Lower than it actually is," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, dark time of day and insufficient visibility are conditions of impaired perception of the road situation, and clauses 12.1 and 14.1 require choosing a safe driving mode and performing maneuvers (in particular, overtaking) only if safety is guaranteed, without relying on the underestimated visual assessment of the speed of the oncoming vehicle in such conditions.
In the Traffic Rules, the term "dark time of day" is defined in point 1.10 as the period from sunset to sunrise. It is during this period, as well as in cloudy weather, that the driver receives less visual information: the outlines of the car, the road, and landmarks are less visible, and the most noticeable are mainly sources of light (headlights).
Due to insufficient visibility and reduced accuracy in judging distance and movement, a typical psychological error occurs: the oncoming car appears farther away than it actually is. When an object is perceived as "farther away," its movement is often subconsciously judged as slower, so the speed of the oncoming vehicle seems lower than it really is.
This is most dangerous during maneuvers that require precise assessment of time and distance, particularly during overtaking. In point 1.10 of the Traffic Rules, "overtaking" is defined as passing that involves entering the oncoming traffic lane. If at night or in cloudy weather the driver mistakenly believes that the oncoming car is "moving slowly and still far away," they may overestimate the available time gap for the maneuver, although in reality the oncoming vehicle is approaching faster than it seems.
For example: on a straight section of road, you see only the headlights of the oncoming car, and it feels as if it is "drifting" toward you slowly. But in a few seconds, it is next to you much sooner than you expected. This is a consequence of underestimating its speed in conditions of poor visibility.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Lower than in reality," because in the dark time of day and in cloudy weather, due to reduced visibility, the driver judges distance and closing speed worse, so the speed of the oncoming car is perceived as lower.