62.15. Is the trolleybus driver required to evacuate passengers in the event of a traffic accident?
UAЧи повинен водій тролейбуса евакуювати пасажирів у разі ДТП?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (PDR) concerning the safety of passenger transportation and the actions of public transport drivers during emergency situations. In the context of traffic rules, a traffic accident always means a potential threat to people inside and around the vehicle: there may be repeated collisions, smoke, fire, injuries due to panic or crowding. Therefore, the main priority for the trolleybus driver after an incident is not only to record the fact of the accident, but also to immediately ensure the safety of all passengers.
The question tests knowledge of the PDR section on the driver's duties in the event of involvement in a traffic accident, in particular the requirements of clause 2.10, as well as the general principle of clause 1.5, which prohibits creating danger to the life and health of citizens. Since, by definition of the PDR, a passenger does not operate the vehicle and is completely dependent on the driver's actions, it is the driver who must organize the evacuation of people to a safe place. Additionally, this is consistent with professional requirements (work instructions), which provide for knowledge and implementation of emergency evacuation procedures.
The analysis of answer options in the theoretical exam boils down to the fact that the unconditional duty to act in favor of passenger safety is not limited only to the presence of obvious injuries. The option about evacuation only in the presence of victims is incorrect, because danger can arise suddenly and without visible wounds (risk of a repeated accident, fire, electric shock, or people entering the roadway). The answers "not required" and "at the driver's discretion" are also incorrect, since the Traffic Rules of Ukraine oblige the driver to take possible measures to protect people in the event of an accident, and not to leave passengers in a risk zone due to waiting or subjective assessment of the situation.
Clause 1.10 (term “Road Traffic Accident”)
Road traffic accident — an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured, or material damage was caused.
Clause 1.10 (term “Passenger”)
Passenger — a person who is in a vehicle but is not involved in driving it.
Clause 1.5
The actions or inaction of road users and other persons must not create danger or obstacles to traffic, threaten the life or health of citizens, or cause material damage.
Clause 2.10
In the event of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, call an ambulance and the police, and, if necessary, send the victims to a healthcare facility.
Brief application: passengers of a trolleybus in an accident are potentially “victims” or may be at risk (including due to danger on the roadway or other consequences of the incident), therefore the driver must take all possible measures to preserve their life and health; evacuation is a direct such measure.
That is, the correct answer is “Must in any case,” given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver’s actions must not threaten the life or health of people (clause 1.5), and a driver involved in an accident is obliged to take possible measures to assist victims and protect people (clause 2.10), which in practice means the necessity of evacuating passengers for their safety.
In the event of a road traffic accident, the trolleybus driver is responsible not only for operating the vehicle but also for the safety of the passengers. An accident always creates a potential danger for people inside the cabin: there may be a secondary collision, fire, smoke, or passengers may be injured due to panic or a stampede. Therefore, the priority is to evacuate people to a safe place as quickly as possible.
The Traffic Rules of Ukraine stipulate that a driver involved in an accident is obliged to take measures to provide first aid to the victims and call emergency services. For a route vehicle driver, this also means organizing passenger safety: not waiting for the situation to worsen, but acting so that people do not remain in the danger zone.
Additionally, professional requirements for passenger transport drivers include knowledge of and compliance with the procedure for emergency evacuation of passengers in the event of an accident. This is not "optional depending on the circumstances," but a duty, since passengers depend on the driver's actions: he opens the doors, gives clear commands, organizes the exit without pushing, and directs people away from the roadway and dangerous areas.
For example, even if the collision is minor and the trolleybus can remain in place, passengers may find themselves in a traffic lane next to other vehicles, and the driver must immediately lead them to a safe area. If there is smoke, a burning smell, damaged doors, or a risk of a secondary accident, evacuation becomes mandatory and must be carried out without delay.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Must in any case," since in the event of an accident, the trolleybus driver is obliged to ensure the safety of passengers and carry out the established procedure for their emergency evacuation regardless of the circumstances.