8.1.17. Is the movement of the tram allowed in this situation?
UAЧи дозволено рух трамвая в цій ситуації?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the ability to safely navigate intersections where the movement of different participants may be regulated by different traffic lights. Such situations are important for practice, as mistakes in interpreting signals lead to traffic rule violations and trajectory conflicts, especially involving trams, which move on rails and have limited maneuverability.
The topic of the question belongs to the section of the Traffic Rules concerning traffic light signals, specifically paragraph 8.7.5, which describes T-shaped tram traffic lights with white-moon signals. Unlike the regular traffic light for non-rail vehicles (where a red signal prohibits movement), for trams, the decisive factor is the special tram traffic light: movement is allowed only when the lower signal and one or more upper signals are illuminated simultaneously, and the direction is indicated by the upper sections.
That is why the option "prohibited" is incorrect: if the lower signal is illuminated together with the upper ones, movement for the tram is not prohibited. The option "allowed straight, right, or left" is also incorrect, because turning right is only possible when the right upper white-moon signal is lit. The correct conclusion is that movement is allowed in two directions, which are confirmed by the illuminated upper signals together with the lower one: this is the logic tested by the theoretical exam.
Clause 8.7.5 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
To regulate tram traffic, traffic lights with four lunar-white signals arranged in the shape of the letter "T" may be used. Movement is permitted only when the lower signal and one or more of the upper signals are illuminated simultaneously, where the left one allows movement to the left, the middle one — straight ahead, and the right one — to the right. If only the three upper signals are illuminated, movement is prohibited. In case of deactivation or malfunction of tram traffic lights, tram drivers must follow the requirements of traffic lights with red, yellow, and green light signals.
In this task, the tram traffic light has the lower and (at least) the left and middle upper signals illuminated, so the tram is allowed to move straight or to the left.
Clause 8.7.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
Traffic light signals have the following meanings: a red signal, including a flashing one, or two flashing red signals prohibit movement.
This clause explains that the "red" signal on a standard traffic light prohibits movement for non-rail vehicles, and for the tram in this situation, the determining factor is the tram traffic light (according to clause 8.7.5).
Thus, the correct answer is "Permitted straight or to the left," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a T-shaped tram traffic light with the lower and upper (left and/or middle) signals illuminated simultaneously allows movement in the directions corresponding to the illuminated upper signals.
At the intersection, there are two separate traffic lights: a regular one for non-rail vehicles and a special tram traffic light with white lunar signals in the shape of the letter 'T'. Therefore, in this situation, the tram is governed specifically by the tram traffic light, not by the red signal of the regular traffic light for cars.
According to clause 8.7.5 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, tram movement is allowed only when the lower white lunar signal and one or more upper signals are illuminated simultaneously. The direction is determined by the upper signals: the left one means permission to turn left, the middle one — permission to go straight, the right one — permission to turn right.
In the given situation, the tram traffic light has the lower signal illuminated together with the left and middle upper signals. This directly indicates that the tram is allowed to continue in two directions: straight or turn left. There is no permission to turn right, because the right upper signal is not illuminated.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Allowed straight or left," since the tram traffic light simultaneously displays the lower, left, and middle white lunar signals, which according to clause 8.7.5 allow movement straight or left.