4.11. How should pedestrians act when crossing a road with a median strip at a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing, if, while crossing the carriageway in one direction (before reaching the median strip), the traffic signal prohibiting movement is activated?
UAЯк повинні вчинити пішоходи, що переходять дорогу з розділювальною смугою на регульованому пішохідному переході, яким при переході проїзної частини одного напрямку (коли вони ще не дійшли до розділювальної смуги) загорівся сигнал світлофора, що забороняє рух?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about pedestrian safety at regulated pedestrian crossings, particularly on roads with a median strip (safety island). Such situations often occur in real traffic when a person begins to cross at a permissive signal, but while crossing, the traffic light changes to a prohibitive signal. Knowledge of this rule directly affects road safety and is a commonly tested topic on the theoretical exam.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding the duties of pedestrians and compliance with traffic light signals, primarily paragraph 4.9 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, as well as understanding the meaning of prohibitive signals (p. 8.7.3) and the role of the median strip/safety island (definition in p. 1.10). The logic is as follows: if a pedestrian does not manage to complete crossing the entire road before the signal changes, they must proceed to the median strip as a safe stopping place and wait for the next permissive signal, after which they may continue, ensuring it is safe to do so.
Analysis of the answer options in this exam question shows a common mistake: the statement that one may finish crossing "at any traffic light signal" contradicts the requirement to obey the traffic light at a regulated crossing. The correct logic from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine is different: it is only allowed to complete the current stage to the safety island/median strip, and to cross the next carriageway only on a permissive signal. This is how the student demonstrates understanding of the practical application of the rules and will be able to act safely in a complex phase of traffic light regulation.
Clause 4.9
Pedestrians must cross the carriageway at pedestrian crossings according to the signals of the pedestrian traffic light, and if there is none — according to the signals of the vehicle traffic light that permits movement in the relevant direction. Pedestrians who have not managed to complete crossing the carriageway must stop on the safety island or on the dividing strip (or on the line separating traffic flows of opposite directions) and continue crossing only after the permissive signal of the traffic light is activated.
(Application to the question: if, while crossing the first carriageway, a prohibitive signal lights up, the pedestrian completes the crossing to the dividing strip/safety island and waits there for the next permissive signal to continue moving.)
Clause 8.7.3
Traffic light signals have the following meanings: green signal — permits movement; yellow (including after green) — prohibits movement and warns of the upcoming change of signals; red signal (including in combination with yellow) — prohibits movement.
(Application to the question: “signal that prohibits movement” means that the pedestrian cannot continue to the next phase until a permissive signal appears.)
Clause 1.10 (term “Dividing strip”)
Dividing strip — an element of the road that separates adjacent carriageways and is not intended for the movement or stopping of vehicles (it may be structurally designated or marked by solid road markings).
Clause 1.10 (term “Safety island”)
Safety island — an element of the road within the carriageway (in particular at a pedestrian crossing), intended for pedestrians to stop while crossing the carriageway and to wait for the opportunity to continue moving.
That is, the correct answer is “They must wait on the dividing strip and may continue crossing only when permitted by the appropriate traffic light signal,” considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a pedestrian who has not managed to complete the crossing when the signal changes to prohibitive is obliged to stop on the dividing strip/safety island and continue moving only on a permissive traffic light signal.
When the road has a median strip, crossing for a pedestrian actually consists of two stages: first, they cross the carriageway in one direction, reach the median strip (safety island), and then cross the carriageway in the opposite direction.
At a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing, the pedestrian must obey the traffic light signals. This directly follows from clause 4.9 of the Traffic Rules: pedestrian movement at such crossings is determined by the traffic light signals (and if there are no separate pedestrian traffic lights, the pedestrian should follow the vehicle traffic light for the corresponding direction).
Let’s imagine the situation: a pedestrian started crossing on a permitted signal, but while moving, a prohibiting signal appeared. This means that continuing to cross "further across the entire road" is no longer allowed, because the permission for the next part of the crossing has been lost. At the same time, a pedestrian who is already on the carriageway must complete the current stage of the crossing to a safe place, that is, reach the median strip, which is specifically intended as a waiting area between traffic flows.
Next, the pedestrian is required to stop on the median strip and wait until the appropriate traffic light signal allows movement again. Only after this can they continue crossing the second carriageway, having first made sure it is safe.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "They must wait on the median strip and may continue crossing only when permitted by the appropriate traffic light signal," since according to clause 4.9 of the Traffic Rules, a pedestrian at a signal-controlled crossing must obey the traffic light signals, and the median strip serves as a safe waiting area until the permissive signal appears.
