8.1.58. What is the meaning of the simultaneous illumination of the red and yellow signals of a traffic light?
UAЯке значення мають одночасно ввімкнені червоний і жовтий сигнали світлофора?
This exam question tests the understanding of traffic light signals as one of the key elements of road safety. Correct interpretation of signal combinations is necessary to avoid conflicts at intersections, prevent pedestrian collisions, and false starts, which often cause accidents during changes in traffic light phases.
According to the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, this situation refers to Section 8 "Traffic Regulation," subsection 8.7 "Traffic Lights," specifically clause 8.7.3 (e). The combination of red and yellow is a separate mode of the traffic light: it prohibits movement and at the same time warns that green will be next. This is exactly what is tested in the theoretical exam, as many drivers mistakenly perceive this signal as permission to "already go," although the traffic rules do not allow this.
The analysis of options in the test boils down to a simple principle: any prohibitive signal or its combination does not give the right to start moving, even if it seems that the intersection is clear. Therefore, the statement about the possibility to continue driving if the "intersection is clear" is incorrect: the driver must stand at the stop line or in front of the traffic light and only prepare to start, carefully monitoring pedestrians and vehicles completing their maneuvers. In practice, this means "get ready, but do not move" until the permissive signal appears.
Clause 8.7.3 e) (Section 8 "Traffic Regulation", Subsection 8.7 "Traffic Lights")
"Traffic light signals have the following meanings: ... e) the combination of red and yellow signals prohibits movement and informs about the upcoming activation of the green signal."
This clause directly establishes that the simultaneous activation of the red and yellow signals is a prohibitive signal (movement cannot be started), and also warns about the imminent activation of the green signal.
That is, the correct answer is "Prohibit movement," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the combination of red and yellow signals directly "prohibits movement" (while simultaneously only informing about the upcoming activation of the green signal).
When the red and yellow signals are illuminated simultaneously on the traffic light, this is not “almost green” and does not give the right to start moving. Such a combination of signals is considered a separate mode, which has a clearly defined meaning in the Traffic Rules.
In clause 8.7.3 e) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, it is stated that the simultaneous activation of the red and yellow signals prohibits movement and at the same time warns that the green signal will be activated next. That is, these two signals work as a warning: “get ready, but do not start yet.”
In practice, this means that the driver should stop before the stop line or before the traffic light (if there is no stop line) and wait for the permissive signal. You can prepare to start: assess the situation, pay attention to pedestrians and vehicles at the intersection, but you are allowed to start moving only after the green light comes on.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Prohibit movement," since the combination of red and yellow signals according to the Traffic Rules means a prohibition of movement and only informs about the imminent activation of the green light.