35.83. Checking your blind spots is especially important:
UAПеревірка Ваших «сліпих зон» особливо важлива:
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about maneuvering safety and monitoring the traffic situation around the vehicle. Its essence is that “blind spots” are one of the most common causes of road accidents: a motorcyclist, cyclist, or another car may end up in them, and they are not visible in the mirrors. Therefore, for real safety, it is not enough for the driver to just look in the mirrors and turn on the turn signal — an additional check of the space nearby with a quick turn of the head before changing trajectory is necessary.
The question tests knowledge of Section 10 “Maneuvering” (points 10.1 and 10.3) and the general duties of the driver from Section 2 (point 2.3), as well as the logic of the requirement to “make sure it is safe” before any action. In the context of the theoretical traffic rules exam, it is important to understand: checking “blind spots” is necessary every time you might cross the path of another road user or move the car sideways or backwards, including when changing lanes, pulling onto the shoulder, or re-entering the roadway from the shoulder.
Each of the proposed options describes a high-risk situation. Before changing lanes, this helps fulfill the requirement to “yield” to those already moving in the lane you plan to enter and to see vehicles in the “blind spot.” Before pulling onto the shoulder and before returning from it, checking “blind spots” is just as critical, because there may be cyclists, mopeds, or pedestrians nearby, as well as vehicles approaching from behind. That is why the correct logic of this exam question is to consider checking “blind spots” as a mandatory action in all the listed cases, not just as an option for a particular maneuver.
Clause 10.1 (Section 10 “Maneuvering”)
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.
Application: the requirement to “make sure” in practice includes checking the situation not only in the mirrors, but also in the “blind spots” before any maneuver (lane change, turn, entering/exiting during parking, etc.).
Clause 10.3 (Section 10 “Maneuvering”)
When changing lanes, the driver must give way to vehicles moving in the same direction in the lane into which he intends to move.
Application: in order to “give way” to those already moving in this lane (including motorcycles), the driver must detect them in advance, in particular by checking the “blind spot” before changing lanes.
Clause 14.2 (Section 14 “Overtaking”)
Before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that: the lane he intends to enter is free for a sufficient distance for overtaking; the vehicle moving behind in this lane has not started overtaking; the driver of the vehicle ahead has not signaled a left turn (lane change) for overtaking or bypassing an obstacle.
Application: checking “blind spots” is critical before overtaking, because a vehicle behind (especially a motorcycle) may not be visible in the mirrors but may have already started overtaking.
Clause 10.5 (Section 10 “Maneuvering”)
Reversing is allowed provided that this maneuver will be safe and will not create obstacles or danger to other road users. If necessary, the driver must seek the assistance of other persons.
Application: when leaving a parking space/maneuvering in a confined area, “blind spots” (behind and to the sides) directly affect the ability to “make sure it is safe.”
Clause 2.3 (Section 2 “Duties and Rights of Drivers of Motor Vehicles”)
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged to: be attentive, monitor the traffic 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.
Application: “monitor the traffic situation” means also controlling those areas not covered by mirrors (i.e., “blind spots”), especially before any actions that change the trajectory or position of the car.
Thus, the correct answer is “In all of the above situations.”, considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, before any maneuver (lane/direction change, overtaking, reversing, starting to move after stopping), the driver is obliged to make sure it is safe and to give way to those who have the right of way, and for this it is necessary to check the “blind spots.”
The "blind spot" is an area around the vehicle that the driver cannot see in the rearview or side mirrors. Most often, it is located slightly behind and to the side of the car, but it can also be caused by body pillars, passengers, or cargo. That is why a single glance in the mirrors is sometimes not enough, and an additional check by quickly turning your head toward the possible obstruction is necessary.
The Traffic Rules require that before starting to move, changing lanes, turning, making a U-turn, stopping, or making any other changes in direction, the driver must make sure the maneuver is safe and will not create danger or obstacles for other road users. It is impossible to truly fulfill this requirement without checking the "blind spots," because another car, motorcycle, or cyclist may be nearby but not visible in the mirror.
The most obvious situation is changing lanes or avoiding an obstacle. For example, you turn on your turn signal, look in the mirror and see that it is "clear," but a motorcyclist could be moving parallel to you in the adjacent lane in your "blind spot." Without an additional check, you start to change lanes and create a collision hazard, even though you "looked in the mirrors."
It is equally important to check "blind spots" during overtaking or when returning to your lane afterward. There may be a vehicle in the mirror's blind spot that has already started to overtake you or is quickly approaching from behind. Checking the "blind spot" helps ensure that your maneuver will not interfere with another vehicle or cause a dangerous close encounter.
A separate group of risks involves driving onto or off the shoulder, approaching a stopping or parking place. In such situations, there may be cyclists, mopeds, or pedestrians nearby who are not visible in the mirrors due to the angle of view. Therefore, before any movement to the right or backward, you need not only to assess the situation in the mirrors but also to make sure that there is no one in the "blind spot."
Thus, the correct answer is "In all of the above situations," because checking the "blind spots" is a necessary part of ensuring the safety of any maneuver and helps to avoid creating danger or obstacles for other road users.