52.18. Is the driver of a bus operating on a designated route allowed to turn left in the situation shown?
UAЧи дозволено водієві автобуса, що рухається за встановленим маршрутом, повернути ліворуч у зображеній ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns traffic safety at intersections and the correct understanding of road signs, particularly mandatory and priority signs. In practice, such situations often occur in cities where route vehicles perform maneuvers according to the route scheme, so it is important for the driver not only to see the sign but also to know the exceptions provided by the traffic rules.
The question tests knowledge of Section 33 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine "Road Signs," specifically the mandatory sign 4.2 "Right Turn Only," as well as understanding of the term from point 1.10 regarding route vehicles. The key nuance is that sign 4.2 limits the direction of movement to the right at a specific intersection for most drivers, but its effect does not apply to vehicles operating on established routes. At the same time, sign 2.1 "Yield" does not prohibit the maneuver, but only requires giving way to vehicles on the intersecting road.
Therefore, the option that allows the maneuver for a route bus complies with the Traffic Rules: the exception for route vehicles allows the restriction of sign 4.2 not to be applied, but the obligation to fulfill the "Yield" requirement remains. On the other hand, the statement about prohibition is a typical mistake in the theoretical exam, when special rules for public transport operating on a route are not taken into account.
Clause 1.10 (term “Route vehicles”)
Route vehicles (public transport vehicles) are buses, minibuses, trolleybuses, trams, and taxis that operate on established routes and have designated places on the road for passenger boarding (alighting).
Clause 33.4 — 33 “Road signs”, 4 “Mandatory signs”, sign 4.2 “Right turn only”
Allows movement only to the right. The sign does not apply to vehicles operating on established routes. The sign applies to the intersection of carriageways before which it is installed.
Brief application: since a bus is a route vehicle (according to the definition in the Traffic Rules), the requirement of sign 4.2 to move only to the right does not apply to it — therefore, a left turn for such a bus is allowed (provided other requirements, such as yielding, are met).
Clause 33.2 — 33 “Road signs”, 2 “Priority signs”, sign 2.1 “Yield”
The driver must yield to vehicles moving on the intersecting road.
Brief application: sign 2.1 does not prohibit a left turn, but obliges the bus driver, when making the turn, to yield to vehicles on the intersecting road.
That is, the correct answer is “Allowed.”, considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, a bus is a route vehicle, and the effect of sign 4.2 “Right turn only” does not apply to such vehicles (while the requirement of sign 2.1 “Yield” to give way remains mandatory).
In the depicted situation, a mandatory sign 4.2 "Right turn only" is installed before the intersection. For most vehicles, this means they are required to turn only right at this intersection, and accordingly, turning left would be prohibited.
However, it is important to consider that the bus in the question is a route vehicle, meaning it is operating on an established route. For such vehicles, the Rules provide an exception: the effect of sign 4.2 does not apply to vehicles operating on a regular route.
Therefore, even if the sign allows only a right turn for other drivers, the bus driver on the route may perform the required maneuver according to the route, including turning left, provided that general safety requirements and intersection crossing rules are observed.
Thus, the correct answer is "Allowed," since the effect of sign 4.2 "Right turn only" does not apply to route vehicles, and a bus operating on an established route may turn left.