9.28. You are driving a car with malfunctioning turn indicators, but you need to turn right. What should you do?
UAВи рухаєтесь на автомобілі, у якого несправні світлові покажчики поворотів, але Вам необхідно повернути праворуч. Ваші дії:
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety and communication between drivers in the event of a technical malfunction. Even when the turn indicators are not working, the driver is obliged to timely and clearly warn other participants about the intention to perform a maneuver, in order to avoid dangerous situations at intersections, during lane changes, or when turning.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the use of warning signals, specifically the requirements of points 9.1 and 9.3. In the theoretical exam, it is important to remember that in the absence or malfunction of turn indicators, hand signals are allowed, and for a right turn, one of the prescribed options is to give a signal with the left hand: it should be extended out the left window, moved to the side, and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards. This gesture corresponds to the norm of point 9.3 and is reliably visible to drivers behind and to the side.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to correctly recognizing the gestures: a left arm extended to the left without bending means a left turn signal, so this option is not suitable for a right turn. A gesture with the right hand bent upwards is theoretically permissible as an alternative, but for a passenger car driver sitting on the left, it is usually impossible or unsafe to show it outside, so in the context of this exam question, the correct answer is the standard right turn signal with the left hand bent upwards at a right angle.
Clause 9.1
Before starting to move, changing lanes, turning, making a U-turn, or stopping, the driver is required to give the appropriate signal with the turn indicators, and in their absence or malfunction — by hand. The signal must be given in advance before the maneuver begins and must be stopped immediately after it is completed (when signaling by hand — immediately before performing the maneuver).
This clause checks the general obligation of the driver to give a maneuver signal, and also directly states that in case of malfunctioning turn indicators, the signal is given by hand.
Clause 9.3
In the absence or malfunction of turn indicators, signals for starting to move from the right edge of the carriageway, stopping on the left, turning left, making a U-turn, or changing to the left lane are given by extending the left arm to the side, or the right arm to the side and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards. Signals for starting to move from the left edge of the carriageway, stopping on the right, turning right, or changing to the right lane are given by extending the right arm to the side, or the left arm to the side and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards. In the absence or malfunction of brake signals, such a signal is given by raising the left or right arm upwards.
This clause checks the specific way of signaling in case of malfunctioning turn indicators: for turning right, it is permitted, in particular, to give a signal with the left arm extended to the side and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards (which corresponds to the situation of a car driver who can show the signal through the left window).
That is, the correct answer is "Extend your left arm out the window to the left and bend it upwards at a right angle," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, in case of malfunctioning turn indicators, the right turn signal is given by hand, in particular with the left arm — extended to the side and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards (clause 9.3), and the obligation to give a signal before the maneuver is established by clause 9.1.
When the turn signal lights are not working, the driver is still required to warn other road users in advance about their intention to change the direction of movement. In such a situation, you should follow clause 9.3 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, which allows you to use hand signals instead of turn indicators.
For a right turn, the rules provide two equivalent options for a hand signal: with the right arm extended to the side, or with the left arm extended to the side and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards. Since the driver in a passenger car sits on the left, it is convenient and reliable to give the signal with the left hand through the window, so that it is clearly visible to drivers behind and to the side.
That is, before starting the maneuver, you extend your left arm out the left window, move it to the left and bend it at the elbow so that the forearm is raised upward at a right angle. This is the hand signal for a right turn established by the Traffic Rules in the absence or malfunction of turn signal lights.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Extend your left arm out the left window and bend it upward at a right angle," since according to clause 9.3 of the Traffic Rules, when the turn indicators are not working, a right turn is allowed to be indicated by the left arm bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards.