38.8. While driving on a road outside a populated area, you intend to overtake a truck. After you switch on your left turn indicator, the truck driver switches the left turn indicator on and off. What could this mean?
UAПід час руху по дорозі поза населеним пунктом Ви зібралися зробити обгін вантажного автомобіля. Після ввімкнення Вами лівого покажчика повороту водій вантажного автомобіля ввімкнув та вимкнув сигнал лівого повороту. Що це може означати?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safety of overtaking outside populated areas and "road communication" using turn signals. Overtaking involves entering the oncoming lane, making it one of the riskiest maneuvers: mistakes in judging distance, visibility, or the intentions of other drivers often lead to head-on collisions. In the theoretical exam, such situations test the ability to recognize warning signals and to abandon the maneuver in time if there is even the slightest doubt about safety.
The question checks sections of the Traffic Rules regarding signaling (points 9.1–9.4) and overtaking rules (section 14, particularly 14.2 and 14.3). Brief activation and deactivation of the left turn signal by the truck after your intention to overtake is usually perceived as a warning about a danger ahead, which the driver of the passenger car may not see due to the truck's size, terrain (hill), curve, oncoming traffic, or an obstacle. Additionally, this aligns with the requirement not to start overtaking if the vehicle ahead has signaled an intention to turn or change lanes to the left (p. 14.2(b)), as well as with the general principle: a given signal is information that others must take into account for safety (p. 9.2, 9.4).
The analysis of answer options comes down to correctly interpreting the truck driver's intention. The statement about "hindering overtaking" is not suitable, as hindering is prohibited (p. 14.3) and usually manifests as acceleration or active actions, whereas a brief signal is more often of a warning nature. The version that the truck itself was going to overtake and "changed its mind" is theoretically possible, but is not the main meaning of such a brief signal in the context of training tasks: for the student, the key rule is simple — if you see a left turn signal ahead, do not start overtaking and reassess the situation. The practical conclusion for the theoretical exam: after such a signal, it is advisable to stay behind at a safe distance and continue driving until it is clearly safe.
Clause 1.10 (term "Overtaking")
Overtaking is the passing of one or more vehicles, involving entering the oncoming traffic lane.
Clause 9.1
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning or making a U-turn, stopping or parking, the driver must give signals using the direction indicators of the corresponding direction, and if they are absent or faulty — by hand.
Clause 9.2
With turn signals, the driver warns other road users about the intention to perform the corresponding maneuver.
Clause 9.4
Giving a signal does not give the driver priority in traffic and does not release them from taking safety measures.
Clause 14.2
Before starting to overtake, the driver must make sure that:
a) the oncoming lane, onto which they will move out, is clear for a sufficient distance for overtaking and this maneuver will not create danger or obstacles for oncoming vehicles;
b) the driver of the vehicle moving ahead in the same lane has not signaled an intention to turn (change lanes) to the left;
c) the driver of the vehicle moving behind has not started overtaking;
d) after overtaking, they will be able to return to their lane without creating danger or obstacles.
Clause 14.3
The driver of the vehicle being overtaken is prohibited from obstructing overtaking by increasing speed or by other actions.
That is, the correct answer is: "The driver of the truck is warning you about a danger during overtaking that you are unable to detect," considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver who begins overtaking is obliged to check the safety conditions for overtaking, in particular the absence of a left turn/change lane signal from the vehicle ahead (clause 14.2), and the signals given are a warning about a possible maneuver and require other road users to act with safety in mind (clauses 9.1, 9.2, 9.4).
Outside of populated areas, overtaking is almost always associated with moving into the oncoming traffic lane, making it one of the riskiest maneuvers. Before starting an overtaking maneuver, the driver must make sure that the maneuver will be safe and that the vehicle ahead is not signaling an intention to turn or change lanes to the left. This is directly stated in clause 14.2(b) of the Traffic Rules: overtaking must not be started if the driver of the vehicle ahead has activated the left turn (lane change) signal.
In your situation, you activated the left turn signal, indicating your intention to overtake. In response, the truck driver briefly turned the left signal on and off. In real road communication, such an action usually does not mean that the truck is about to turn left (since the signal was only brief), but rather serves as a warning: “Do not overtake, it is dangerous ahead.” The reason is simple: due to the size of the truck and your position behind it, you may not see what is happening ahead (for example, an oncoming car after a hill or curve, an obstacle, a narrowing, or another participant starting a maneuver). The truck driver, having a higher seating position and better visibility, is able to notice this earlier and gives you a signal so that you refrain from overtaking.
In practice, it should look like this: upon seeing such a warning, you do not start moving into the oncoming lane, you stay behind at a safe distance, and reassess the situation. If the truck actually intends to move left or to overtake itself, then according to clause 14.2(b), you also do not have the right to start overtaking until this intention becomes clear and the maneuver of the vehicle ahead is completed.
Therefore, the correct answer is: “The truck driver is warning you about a danger during overtaking that you are unable to detect,” since a brief left signal from the vehicle ahead is a warning not to begin overtaking and is consistent with the Traffic Rules requirement not to start overtaking when the vehicle ahead is signaling left or when the safety of the maneuver is not confirmed.