35.45. Is it safe for the driver of the vehicle to proceed in this situation?
UAЧи безпечно рухатись водієві автомобіля в даному випадку?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about road safety in winter conditions and the driver’s obligation not to create danger or obstacles for other road users. It reminds that before driving, it is important to assess not only the condition of the vehicle’s components, but also the bodywork and elements that affect the visibility and conspicuity of the car on the road.
In the theoretical exam, this question tests knowledge of the general duties of the driver and the principles of safe vehicle operation: compliance with clause 1.5 of the Traffic Rules (not to create danger/obstacles), clause 2.3 (to check and ensure safe condition before starting to drive, to be attentive and control the situation), as well as the logic of the section on technical condition and operation (in particular, requirements for compliance with safe driving conditions). Snow on the roof or hood after warming up can melt and, during braking, slide onto the windshield, suddenly blocking the view; it can also cover headlights and turn signals, making the vehicle less visible to others.
The option that allows continuing to drive is incorrect: even if the windshield and mirrors are cleaned, the risk of sudden loss of visibility and danger to others remains. The correct choice in this exam question is based on the fact that safety is determined by the consequences of the driver’s actions: snow or ice can fall off the car at speed, creating an obstacle for vehicles behind, and the driver may not have time to react, effectively becoming “blind” at a critical moment.
The practical conclusion for the student is simple: before a winter trip, the car must be completely cleared of snow and ice (roof, hood, headlights, signals) in order not to violate traffic rules and not to create dangerous situations. This knowledge directly helps to pass the theoretical exam and, most importantly, reduces the risk of accidents in real conditions.
Clause 1.5
Road users are required to know and strictly comply with the requirements of these Rules. The actions or inaction of road users and other persons must not create danger or obstacles to traffic, threaten the life or health of citizens, or cause material damage.
Explanation: driving with a roof/hood not cleared of snow may cause sudden loss of visibility (snow slides onto the windshield) or create an obstacle/danger to others (snow/ice breaks off and flies backward).
Clause 2.3 (subclause "a")
To ensure road safety, the driver is required to: before departure, check and ensure the technical serviceability and completeness of the vehicle.
Explanation: to "ensure" a safe condition before starting to drive includes eliminating factors that may lead to loss of visibility or danger to others (including snow/ice on body elements that may shift/fall off while driving or braking).
Clause 2.3 (subclause "b")
To ensure road safety, the driver is required to: be attentive, monitor the road situation, respond appropriately to its changes, monitor the technical condition of the vehicle, and not be distracted from driving while on the road.
Explanation: the driver must take into account changes in road/weather conditions in winter; snow on the roof/hood creates a risk of sudden loss of visibility and dangerous situations that the driver may not have time to react to.
Clause 31.1
The technical condition of vehicles and their equipment must comply with the requirements of standards related to road safety and environmental protection, as well as the rules of their technical operation and the instructions of manufacturers.
Explanation: safe operation involves the proper condition of equipment that ensures visibility and the recognizability of the vehicle by others; left snow/ice can effectively deprive the driver of visibility or worsen the visibility/recognizability of the car for other road users.
Thus, the correct answer is "No.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver is required before starting to drive to act in a way that does not create danger or obstacles, and to ensure the safe condition of the vehicle; snow on the roof/hood can suddenly block the view and/or create danger for other road users.
Before starting to drive, the driver is required to make sure that the vehicle is in good working order and its condition does not pose a danger to road safety. This follows from the general obligation of the driver to check the car before departure and ensure safe driving (in particular, the requirements of paragraph 2.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine regarding the control of the technical condition and taking measures for safety).
In the given situation, a significant layer of snow remains on the roof of the car (and often on the hood as well). While driving, the interior and body warm up, the snow melts and becomes "slippery." At the moment of braking or even a sharper deceleration, this mass can suddenly slide forward and block the view through the windshield. This is critically dangerous because the driver essentially loses the ability to control the traffic situation, and the wipers may not cope with the heavy layer of wet snow.
In addition to loss of visibility, snow from the hood can slide onto the headlights and turn indicators, making your signals less visible to other road users and the car less noticeable. Also, while driving, especially at speed, snow or pieces of ice can fall off the roof and hit vehicles behind, creating an obstacle and a sudden restriction of visibility for them. This contradicts the driver's obligation not to create danger or obstacles for other road users (paragraph 2.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine).
Therefore, the correct answer is "No," since driving with an uncleared roof (and possibly blocked headlights) can suddenly block the driver's view and create danger and obstacles for other road users.