35.68. What is the best way to avoid colliding with other vehicles, people, or animals when entering the carriageway from the shoulder?
UAЯкий найкращий спосіб уникнути наїзду на інші транспортні засоби, людей чи тварин під час виїзду на проїзну частину з узбіччя?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safe starting and entering the roadway from the shoulder. The situation is dangerous because the main flow of traffic is approaching from behind, and there may be pedestrians, cyclists, or animals nearby. To avoid collisions, the driver should not "guess" the situation, but clearly control the space around the vehicle, especially behind and to the sides, where conflict situations most often arise.
The content of the task checks the sections of the traffic rules regarding starting to move and maneuvering: the obligation to ensure the safety of actions and not create obstacles (item 10.1), to be attentive and monitor the situation (item 2.3), as well as to correctly signal (items 9.2 and 9.4). For the theoretical exam, it is important to understand that entering the roadway from the shoulder is a maneuver, so the driver must yield to those already moving on the roadway, and assess the speed and distance of approaching vehicles.
The analysis of answer options comes down to practical effectiveness. The horn is not a universal way to prevent accidents and is used only in cases defined by the traffic rules; it does not replace observation and does not guarantee that other participants will hear or correctly understand you. Instead, checking the mirrors combined with turning your head over your shoulder allows you to see "blind spots" and timely notice a car, motorcycle, or cyclist, as well as a pedestrian near the edge of the road, that is, to actually fulfill the requirement of the traffic rules to ensure the safety of the maneuver before starting to move.
Clause 10.1
Before starting to move, changing lanes, or making any change in the direction of movement, the driver must make sure that it will be safe and will not create obstacles or danger to other road users.
Clause 9.2
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning, making a U-turn, stopping, or parking, the driver is required to give the appropriate signals with the turn indicators, and if they are absent or faulty — by hand.
Clause 9.4
Giving a signal with the turn indicators or by hand does not give the driver the right of way and does not relieve them of the obligation to take safety measures.
Clause 2.3 (subclause "b")
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged to: be attentive, monitor the road situation, respond appropriately to its changes, monitor the correct placement and securing of cargo, the technical condition of the vehicle, and not be distracted from driving this vehicle on the road.
Clause 1.10 (term "Shoulder")
Shoulder — an element of the road that adjoins the carriageway at the same level, not intended for the movement of vehicles except in cases provided for by these Rules, and is used for pedestrian movement, stopping, and parking of vehicles.
Clause 1.10 (term "Carriageway")
Carriageway — an element of the road intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.
Clause 1.10 (term "Give way (not to create obstacles)")
Give way (not to create obstacles) — a requirement for a road user not to continue or resume movement, not to perform any maneuvers if this may force other road users who have the right of way to change their direction or speed.
That is, the correct answer is "Look in your mirrors and turn your head over your shoulder before driving off the shoulder," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, before starting to move/driving off the shoulder onto the carriageway, the driver is required to signal, be attentive, and most importantly — make sure the maneuver is safe and, if necessary, give way to those already moving on the carriageway, and for this, it is necessary to monitor the situation behind (mirrors and "blind spots").
Starting to move from the shoulder is considered a maneuver. According to the Traffic Rules, before starting to move, the driver is required to make sure that it will be safe, and when entering the roadway from the shoulder, must yield to vehicles already moving on the roadway. In practice, the main danger is that traffic is approaching from behind, and the driver, standing parallel to the road with the "nose" forward, cannot see the whole situation without additional checking.
Rear-view mirrors provide the main information about vehicles approaching from behind, but they do not fully show the so-called "blind spots." In these zones, there may be a motorcyclist, cyclist, or a car approaching faster than it appears in the mirror. Therefore, just a glance in the mirror is sometimes not enough to reliably ensure there are no obstacles.
This is why before leaving the shoulder, you need not only to look in the mirrors, but also to turn your head over your shoulder in the direction of possible approaching traffic. Such a check allows you to see what is not visible in the mirrors, and to notice in time not only vehicles, but also a pedestrian or animal that may be moving along the edge of the road.
For example, you see in the mirror that the lane seems clear, you start to move, but at that moment a motorcycle overtaking the flow is in the "blind spot." Turning your head over your shoulder allows you to spot it before starting to move and avoid creating danger. In the same way, you can notice a cyclist in time who is moving on the right closer to the shoulder.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Look in your mirrors and turn your head over your shoulder before leaving the shoulder," as this is the most reliable way to check the situation behind and in the blind spots and to safely fulfill the Traffic Rules requirement to make sure the maneuver is safe and yield to those already moving on the roadway.