35.69. If you have recently obtained the right to drive a vehicle and driving at night causes you fear or uncertainty, it is best to:
UAЯкщо ви нещодавно отримали право на керування транспортним засобом і поїздки за кермом вночі викликають у Вас страх або невпевненість, найкраще:
Question without image
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about driving safety at night and in conditions of limited visibility. For a novice driver, night driving is objectively more difficult: the field of view is narrowed, it is harder to recognize road markings, pedestrians, signs, and road irregularities in time, and there is also the added factor of being blinded by the headlights of oncoming vehicles. That is why the traffic rules emphasize the driver's attentiveness and the choice of such a speed that allows constant control of the vehicle and the ability to stop within the visible road area.
The question checks understanding of the sections of the Traffic Rules regarding the definitions of "nighttime" and "limited visibility," the driver's duties concerning attentiveness and response to the situation, as well as the choice of a safe speed at night. The logic of the answer is based on the fact that prior familiarization with the route during daylight reduces uncertainty: the driver already knows where intersections, crosswalks, stops, narrowings, dangerous sections are, and which signs indicate priority and restrictions, making it easier to comply with the traffic rules during a night trip.
Analysis of the options in the theoretical exam ticket shows that "driving long distances" is not the best strategy for a beginner at night, because long routes increase fatigue and attention load, raising the risk of mistakes. "Driving mostly on unfamiliar streets" also worsens safety: you have to look for landmarks and control the traffic situation in limited visibility at the same time. Instead, a step-by-step approach, where the route is first studied during the day and then repeated at night, directly helps to comply with the traffic rules, reduces stress, and makes night driving more predictable and safer.
Clause 1.10 (term "Hours of Darkness")
Hours of darkness — the period from sunset to sunrise.
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient Visibility")
Insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Clause 1.5
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.
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 while on the road.
Explanation of application: traveling an unfamiliar route during hours of darkness increases the load on the driver's attention; prior "familiarization" with the road during the day helps realistically assess the situation at night and reduces risks.
Clause 12.1
When choosing a safe speed within established limits, the driver must take into account the road situation, as well as 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.
Explanation of application: at night, monitoring the road situation is more difficult, so prior knowledge of the route (where the turns, crossings, intersections, and irregularities are) directly helps to fulfill the requirement for safe driving.
Clause 12.2
During hours of darkness and in conditions of insufficient visibility, the speed must be such that the driver is able to stop the vehicle within the visible distance of the road in the direction of travel.
Explanation of application: when the driver does not know the road, it is harder to anticipate hazards within the area illuminated by the headlights, so it is advisable to first drive the route during the day and only then at night.
Clause 12.6 (speed limit for drivers with less than 2 years of experience)
Drivers with less than 2 years of driving experience are allowed to drive at a speed of no more than 70 km/h.
Explanation of application: The Traffic Rules directly take into account the increased risk due to lack of experience in novice drivers; gradually increasing the complexity of driving conditions (including nighttime) is consistent with the logic of this restriction.
Clause 19.1
During hours of darkness and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of road lighting, dipped (main beam) headlights or fog lights must be turned on in a moving motor vehicle.
Explanation of application: night driving has special requirements for visibility/vehicle marking; it is easier for a beginner to comply with them correctly if the route and road conditions are known in advance.
That is, the correct answer is: "First drive unfamiliar streets during the day, and then drive such streets at night," given that according to the Traffic Rules, hours of darkness and insufficient visibility worsen the perception of the road situation, and the driver is required to be attentive and choose a speed that allows for safe driving and the ability to stop within the visible distance of the road.
After obtaining a driver's license, the main risk for a beginner is not related to 'not knowing the rules,' but rather to a lack of practical experience in different conditions. At night, the situation is complicated by the fact that the driver sees the road mainly within the area illuminated by the headlights, and therefore notices pedestrians, road markings, surface irregularities, narrowings, safety islands, and other objects later. Additionally, being dazzled by the headlights of oncoming cars makes it harder to correctly judge distance and speed.
The Traffic Rules of Ukraine require the driver to choose a safe speed taking into account the road situation and visibility, in order to always be able to control the movement of the vehicle and, in case of danger, stop in time. At night, fulfilling this requirement is objectively more difficult: the 'zone of confident visibility' is smaller, and there is less time to react. Therefore, for a beginner, the smartest strategy is to reduce uncertainty: first get to know the route in simpler conditions, and then transfer those skills to more difficult ones.
When you drive unfamiliar streets during the day, you memorize key landmarks and 'potentially dangerous places' in advance: where pedestrian crossings, public transport stops, complex intersections, U-turn areas, sections with poor pavement or faded markings are located, as well as which road signs regulate priority and speed. At night, these same elements may be less visible or perceived with a delay, but if the route is already familiar, you are psychologically calmer and can focus not on 'searching for the road,' but on monitoring the situation and following the traffic rules.
Practical example: during the day you see that before the intersection there is an additional lane for turning, and after it — an irregularity or narrowing. By remembering this, at night you will take the correct lane in advance, smoothly reduce your speed, and avoid making sharp maneuvers at a moment when the markings or the edge of the roadway are hard to see in the headlights. Similarly, knowing in advance where an unregulated pedestrian crossing is located, you will approach it more cautiously, even if the pedestrian is not yet visible.
Thus, the correct answer is "First drive unfamiliar streets during the day, and then drive on such streets at night," because this way you study the signs, markings, and dangerous places of the route in advance and more easily fulfill the traffic rules requirements for safe speed and vehicle control in conditions of limited night visibility.