63.11. What must a trolleybus driver check before departure?
UAЩо потрібно перевірити водієві тролейбуса перед виїздом?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the basic duties of a driver before starting to drive and preparing the vehicle for safe operation on the route. The topic directly concerns road safety and the transportation of passengers in urban conditions: any technical malfunction or lack of safety equipment can lead to a traffic accident, complicate evacuation, or hinder assistance during an incident.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the driver's duties and the technical condition and equipment of vehicles. In the context of the theoretical exam, it is important to remember the requirements of point 2.3 (subpoint "a") regarding checking technical serviceability and completeness before departure, as well as point 31.4.7, which establishes the mandatory presence of a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency stop sign (or a flashing red lantern), and wheel chocks for the relevant categories of transport.
The analysis of the options is straightforward: checking only the technical condition is necessary but does not cover the requirement for completeness and the presence of mandatory equipment; checking only the first aid kit, fire extinguisher, wheel chocks, and emergency stop sign is also insufficient, because without serviceable braking systems, steering, and other critical equipment, departure on the route is dangerous and unlawful. That is why the correct approach is a comprehensive one, which combines both control of technical serviceability and checking for the completeness of safety equipment, which meets the requirements of the traffic rules and the practice of driver preparation before departure.
Clause 2.3 (subclause "a")
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 cargo.
Brief application: this very obligation "before departure" covers the inspection of the technical condition of the trolleybus and its equipment with the required safety items.
Clause 31.4.7
Mechanical vehicles must have: a medical first aid kit; an emergency stop sign or a flashing red lamp; a functioning fire extinguisher; for trucks with a maximum permitted mass over 3.5 tons and buses — at least two wheel chocks.
Brief application: this clause directly establishes the mandatory presence in the vehicle of a medical first aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency stop sign (or flashing red lamp), and wheel chocks (for buses).
Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above.", considering that according to the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged before departure to check the technical serviceability and completeness of the vehicle and the presence of the required equipment (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency stop sign/red lamp, wheel chocks).
Before starting the route, the trolleybus driver must make sure that the vehicle is technically sound and fully ready for safe operation with passengers. The logic here is simple: the trolleybus operates in dense city traffic, carries people, and has specific operational features, so any malfunction or lack of mandatory equipment can immediately create danger or make it impossible to act correctly in an emergency situation.
First of all, the technical condition is checked. This means inspecting and controlling that the components and systems on which traffic safety depends are working properly, and the trolleybus can go on the line without violating the requirements for vehicle serviceability. If there is any suspicion of a malfunction before starting the movement, the driver has no right to ignore it, as this directly affects controllability and the safe transportation of passengers.
Separately, the driver is obliged to check the presence of means necessary to respond to typical emergency situations. A first aid kit is needed to provide first aid in case a passenger or another road user is injured. A fire extinguisher is required for quickly extinguishing a fire before rescuers arrive. An emergency stop sign is needed to mark the trolleybus during a forced stop so that other drivers can see the obstacle in advance and safely drive around it. Wheel chocks are needed to secure the trolleybus and prevent it from moving unintentionally, for example, on a slope during a stop due to a malfunction or during work near the vehicle.
Therefore, the correct answer covers all these actions, because before departure it is important not to selectively check just one thing, but to ensure the complete readiness of the trolleybus: both its serviceability and the presence of mandatory equipment for safety and emergency cases.
Thus, the correct answer is "All of the above.", since before departure the trolleybus driver must check both the technical condition and the presence of a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, wheel chocks, and emergency stop sign for safe operation on the route.