8.1.45. Is the driver of the car allowed to proceed in this situation?
UAЧи дозволено в даній ситуації рух водієві автомобіля?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety of crossing intersections when traffic is regulated not by a traffic light or signs, but by a person in uniform. Such situations occur on the road during traffic jams, accidents, roadworks, or temporary traffic light outages, so for the theoretical exam it is important to clearly understand how the traffic rules work when the regulator's commands take priority.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the signals of a traffic controller and their precedence over other means of traffic organization. According to clause 8.3 of the Traffic Rules, the signals of a traffic controller have higher priority than traffic light signals, sign requirements, and road markings. And clause 8.8 (a) states that when the controller's arms are extended to the sides/lowered or the right arm is bent in front of the chest, from the chest and back sides, movement of all vehicles is prohibited. Therefore, any maneuver under such conditions is not allowed, regardless of whether the driver intends to go straight or turn.
That is why the options suggesting movement only to the right or to the right or left are incorrect: they are only possible for vehicles that are on the left or right side of the controller, and not from the chest or back side. This exam question teaches you to "read" the controller correctly: if you are "not allowed" by the position of the body (you are on the chest side) or the controller is not controlling you (you are on the back side), then to successfully pass the theoretical exam, you need to remember the main rule — movement in such a position is prohibited.
Clause 8.3
The signals of the traffic controller take precedence over traffic light signals, road signs, and road markings.
In this situation, movement at the intersection is determined primarily by the gesture of the traffic controller, so the driver is obliged to follow exactly his signal, even if other means of regulation (traffic lights/signs) would allow movement.
Clause 8.8 a)
The signals of the traffic controller are the position of his body, as well as hand gestures, including with a baton or a disc with a red reflector, which are used in the following sense: a) arms extended to the sides, lowered, or the right arm bent in front of the chest: • from the left and right sides — trams are allowed to go straight, non-rail vehicles — straight and to the right; pedestrians are allowed to cross the roadway behind the controller's back; • from the chest and back sides — movement of all vehicles and pedestrians is prohibited.
Application to the question: if the car is on the chest or back side of the traffic controller with this signal, then movement straight ahead is prohibited for it.
That is, the correct answer is "Prohibited.", given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, with the controller's signal "arms extended to the sides/lowered or right arm bent in front of the chest," movement of all vehicles is prohibited from the chest and back sides, and the signals of the traffic controller take precedence over other means of regulation.
In this situation, the order of movement at the intersection is determined not by road signs or traffic light signals, but by the signals of the traffic controller. This directly follows from clause 8.3 of the Traffic Rules: the driver is obliged to obey the signals of the controller if the movement is regulated by him.
Next, it is necessary to correctly "read" the gesture of the controller. According to clause 8.8 (a) of the Traffic Rules, when the controller stands with arms extended to the sides (or lowered), or when his right arm is bent in front of his chest, then from the side of his chest and from the back, movement of all vehicles is prohibited. That is, drivers who see the controller from the front or back are not allowed to proceed, regardless of their intended direction.
A practical rule to remember is simple: the controller cannot "permit" movement to those whom he does not control with his gaze, so from the back, movement is always prohibited. And from the chest side, in this arm position, he seems to "hold back" the flow — movement is also prohibited.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibited," since according to the controller's signal in the position specified in clause 8.8 (a) of the Traffic Rules, movement of vehicles from the chest or back side is prohibited, and the requirement to obey his signals is established by clause 8.3 of the Traffic Rules.