54.5. Is the driver of a bus allowed to sell tickets to passengers while the bus is in motion?
UAЧи дозволено водієві автобуса продавати пасажирам квитки під час руху автобуса?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety during passenger transportation and the general principle that the driver must operate the vehicle without distractions. For a bus, this is especially important, as the driver is responsible not only for movement in traffic but also for the safety of passengers during maneuvers, braking, approaching stops, and passing intersections.
The theoretical exam often includes tasks on the driver's duties and the requirements of the traffic rules regarding attentiveness. This question checks the section of the Traffic Rules on the driver's responsibilities, specifically point 2.3 (subpoint "b"), which directly states that the driver is obliged to be attentive and not be distracted from driving on the road. Additionally, the rules for providing passenger automobile transport services prohibit the driver from selling tickets while driving, as such an action inevitably diverts attention and gaze from the road.
Among the answer options, those that allow ticket sales always or only within populated areas are incorrect: the location of movement does not change the essence of the risk, because distraction is equally dangerous both in the city and outside it. The correct option is the one that establishes a complete ban during movement, since accepting money, issuing a ticket, and interacting with passengers create additional workload for the driver and reduce control over the traffic situation. In practice, tickets must be sold without violating the requirements of safe driving: before starting movement, at stops, or by authorized persons or systems depending on the organization of transportation.
Clause 2.3 (subclause "b")
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 this vehicle while on the road."
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver is required not to be distracted from driving the vehicle while in motion, and selling tickets while driving is an action that distracts from driving and reduces traffic safety.
While the bus is in motion, the driver must be fully focused on driving, monitoring the traffic situation, and ensuring the safe transportation of passengers. Any extraneous actions that distract attention or require the driver to perform additional tasks increase the risk of mistakes and traffic accidents.
Selling tickets while driving is precisely such an action: the driver needs to accept money, issue tickets, divert their gaze and attention from the road, and interact with passengers. Even a brief loss of concentration on driving in urban conditions can lead to a dangerous situation, especially during maneuvering, braking, passing intersections, or stopping.
That is why the rules for providing passenger road transport services include restrictions: the bus driver is not allowed to sell tickets to passengers while the bus is moving. Ticket sales must be carried out in a way that does not interfere with safe driving (for example, before the start of the trip or by other authorized persons/systems, depending on the organization of transportation).
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since the driver is not allowed to be distracted by ticket sales while driving, and the relevant passenger transportation rules explicitly prohibit such actions for safety reasons.