59.6. Before each departure with a trailer, it is necessary to:
UAПеред кожним виїздом з причепом необхідно:
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning safety during the operation of a road train and the preparation of a vehicle for movement. Driving with a trailer increases risks due to additional weight, inertia, and the trailer’s dependence on the coupling device and electricity, so it is important to perform basic technical checks before starting off, as these directly affect controllability and visibility on the road. Such knowledge is regularly tested in the theoretical exam, because mistakes in this area can lead to trailer detachment, skidding, or accidents due to missing signals.
The question checks the section of the traffic rules regarding the driver’s duties before departure and the requirement to ensure technical serviceability and completeness, as well as understanding the term "trailer" as a vehicle that moves only when connected to another vehicle. Some answer options describe important but partial actions: checking tire pressure is necessary for stability and braking; checking safety cables or chains is critical in case of coupling failure; checking the trailer’s lighting ensures proper dimensions, turn signals, and brake lights for other road users. However, none of these checks replaces the others, so the correct approach in the traffic rules is to perform the entire list as a single pre-departure preparation.
Practically, this means that before each trip, the driver must simultaneously make sure of the coupling’s serviceability, the reliability of safety elements, and the operation of the lighting, and not limit themselves to just one point. This logic helps to answer similar exam questions correctly and forms a safe habit that will be useful not only during the exam but also in real trips with a trailer in any road conditions.
Clause 1.10 (term “Trailer”)
Trailer — a vehicle designed to move only in conjunction with another vehicle. This category of vehicles also includes semi-trailers and drawbar trailers.
This term is needed to clearly understand that it refers specifically to a vehicle that is operated only when coupled with a towing vehicle, and therefore, before departure, must be checked as part of the combined vehicle unit.
Clause 2.3 (subclause “b”)
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged: before departure, to check and ensure the technical serviceability and completeness of the vehicle, as well as the correct placement and securing of the load.
This requirement also covers departure with a trailer: “technical serviceability” in this case includes the serviceability and reliability of the coupling (including the absence of excessive play in the coupling assembly), the presence/reliability of safety cables or chains, as well as the proper functioning of the trailer’s lighting devices (since these are elements without which safe operation of the trailer is impossible).
Thus, the correct answer is “Perform all of the above actions,” given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, a trailer moves only when coupled with another vehicle, and the driver, before departure, is obliged to check and ensure the technical serviceability and completeness of the vehicle (including the trailer and its coupling/signaling elements).
According to the definition in the Traffic Rules (paragraph 1.10), a trailer is a vehicle that can only move when connected to another vehicle. Therefore, the safety of a trip with a trailer depends not on a single check, but on the proper functioning of the coupling unit, safety elements, and lighting equipment, since any malfunction in these components immediately creates a risk for the driver and other road users.
Before setting off, you must first make sure that the coupling device is working correctly: there should be no excessive play between the coupling unit and the coupling ball. If there is play, it should be eliminated by adjustment; otherwise, during movement, impacts, loosening of the connection, and loss of control of the road train are possible, especially on uneven surfaces or during braking.
Next, it is mandatory to check the safety cables or chains. Their purpose is to hold the trailer in case of emergency disconnection of the coupling device. If the cable is not secured or is secured unreliably, even a minor malfunction of the coupling can lead to the trailer detaching and moving uncontrollably on the road.
Separately, you should check the operation of the trailer's lighting devices: position lights, brake lights, and turn indicators. For other drivers, these signals are confirmation of your intentions on the road. For example, if the trailer's brake lights do not work, the vehicle behind may not have time to react to braking, which increases the risk of a collision.
Thus, before each trip, you need to perform the entire list of actions, as each one is responsible for a separate critically important safety element and cannot replace another.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Perform all of the above actions," since before setting off you must simultaneously check and ensure the proper functioning of the coupling connection, the reliability of the safety cables (chains), and the operation of the trailer's lighting.