9.14. Which warning signal must be switched on in a vehicle when driving in a tunnel?
UAЯкий попереджувальний сигнал повинен бути ввімкнений на транспортному засобі під час руху в тунелі?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns safety in special road conditions where lighting changes sharply and visibility decreases. A tunnel, as an engineering structure, creates a “tunnel effect”: eyes need time to adapt, and sound and space are perceived differently, so it is important for drivers to mark their vehicle in advance for other road users.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the traffic rules regarding the use of external lighting devices, specifically the requirements of clause 9.8 (f) on marking a vehicle while driving in tunnels during daylight hours. The key idea of the rule is that the requirement applies regardless of the presence or absence of artificial lighting in the tunnel, and the warning (marking) signal must be unambiguous and clear to all drivers both during the theoretical exam and in real traffic.
The analysis of answer options comes down to a simple rule: daytime running lights are not the correct choice specifically for tunnels, since for this situation the traffic rules require the mandatory use of low beam headlights as a more noticeable signal. Fog lights without low beam also do not meet the requirements: they do not replace low beam as the main means of marking a car in a tunnel and may only be used under conditions defined by the rules together with proper lighting. Instead, low beam headlights provide stable visibility of the vehicle for other road users against the background of different lighting zones inside the tunnel, which is why this option is checked as correct in the “exam question” format for preparation for the theoretical exam.
Clause 9.8 (f) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
While driving motor vehicles during daylight hours for the purpose of indicating a moving vehicle, daytime running lights must be switched on, and if they are absent — low beam headlights: (f) in tunnels.
Brief application: while driving in a tunnel, low beam headlights must be switched on as a warning (identification) signal (regardless of the presence/absence of artificial lighting in the tunnel).
Clause 19.1 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the degree of road illumination, low or high beam headlights must be switched on on a moving vehicle, and on a motorcycle — the low beam headlight.
Brief application: if it is nighttime or there is insufficient visibility while driving in a tunnel, the requirement to switch on headlights (specifically low beams) also directly follows from the rules for using external lighting devices.
Clause 33.1 — 33 "Road Signs", 1 "Warning Signs", sign 1.9 "Tunnel"
Sign 1.9 "Tunnel" — warns of approaching a tunnel.
Brief application: the sign informs the driver in advance about the road section (tunnel), while driving through which, according to clause 9.8 (f), it is necessary to switch on the low beam headlights.
That is, the correct answer is "Low beam headlights," considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, while driving a motor vehicle in a tunnel (clause 9.8 (f)), the low beam headlights must be switched on to indicate the vehicle.
When entering a tunnel, the driver encounters a sudden change in lighting conditions: from an open section of the road to a confined space, where it may be darker or, conversely, the light from lamps may be distributed unevenly. In such a situation, it is important that the vehicle is clearly visible to other road users from a sufficient distance.
That is why the Traffic Rules in clause 9.8 (f) establish a direct requirement: when driving in tunnels, low beam headlights must be turned on on a motor vehicle. The key point is that this requirement applies regardless of whether there is artificial lighting in the tunnel or not. That is, even if the tunnel is well lit, the low beam headlights still need to be turned on.
In practice, this means the following: when approaching a tunnel, the driver turns on the low beam headlights in advance so that the vehicle is more visible in the semi-darkness and against the background of light or dark areas inside the tunnel. This reduces the risk of other drivers noticing the car too late and helps avoid dangerous situations.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Low beam headlights," since clause 9.8 (f) of the Traffic Rules requires turning on the low beam headlights when driving in a tunnel regardless of whether it is lit or not.