51.38. Is it allowed to carry passengers in the cargo bed of a truck that is towing during towing?
UAЧи дозволено під час буксирування перевозити пасажирів у кузові вантажного автомобіля, що буксирує?
Question without image
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safety during towing, when one vehicle pulls another and controllability becomes less predictable. In such conditions, the risks of jerks, increased braking distance, and loss of balance by people rise, especially if they are not in the protected area of the cabin. That is why the traffic rules establish specific restrictions on carrying passengers during towing.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules about towing and transporting people, in particular the requirements of clause 23.9. This clause directly prohibits carrying passengers in the cargo bed of a truck that is towing, regardless of whether a rigid or flexible coupling is used. In the theoretical exam, it is important to understand that this prohibition is not related to the "convenience" of the cargo bed, but to the increased danger during starting, braking, and driving over uneven surfaces.
The analysis of the answer options shows typical pitfalls: the statement about permission "in any case" contradicts the direct provision of 23.9; the condition about a "cargo bed adapted for carrying passengers" also does not cancel the prohibition specifically during towing; the reference to permission "only with a rigid coupling" is incorrect, because the restriction applies to both rigid and flexible couplings. The practical conclusion for learning: during towing, passengers must be only in permitted places (for example, in the cab of the towing vehicle) to comply with the traffic rules and avoid injuries.
Clause 23.9
During towing with a rigid or flexible coupling, it is prohibited to transport passengers in the towed vehicle (except for a passenger car) and in the cargo bed of the towing truck, and in the case of towing by partial loading of the vehicle onto a platform or special supporting device — in all vehicles (except for the cab of the towing vehicle).
Application to the question: this clause directly establishes a prohibition on transporting passengers in the cargo bed of the towing truck during towing.
Clause 1.10 (term "Towing")
Towing — the movement of one vehicle by another vehicle, which does not relate to the operation of road trains (vehicle combinations) using a rigid or flexible coupling or by partial loading onto a platform or special supporting device.
Application to the question: the definition clarifies that it specifically refers to the "towing" mode, to which the prohibition from clause 23.9 applies.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, it is forbidden to transport passengers in the cargo bed of the towing truck during towing.
During towing, one vehicle actually pulls another using a coupling or another prescribed method. In such a situation, movement becomes less stable: jerks are possible, sudden changes in coupling tension, increased braking distance, and unpredictable maneuvers due to the mutual influence of the two vehicles.
This is why paragraph 23.9 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine establishes restrictions on transporting people during towing. In particular, when towing with a rigid or flexible coupling, passengers may not be transported in the body of the truck that is doing the towing. The cargo bed is not a place that provides an adequate level of safety during such jerky loads and oscillations that occur during towing.
For example: if a truck is towing another vehicle with a rope, during starting, braking, or driving over a bump, the rope can suddenly tighten. People in the cargo bed at this moment may lose their balance, fall, or get injured, which is why the rules explicitly prohibit such transportation.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since paragraph 23.9 of the Traffic Rules directly forbids transporting passengers in the body of a truck that is towing during towing.