9.30. You are the driver of a car and have decided to stop on the right side of the road:
UAВи водій автомобіля вирішили зупинитися з правої сторони дороги:
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safety and predictability of a driver's actions when performing the maneuver of stopping near the right edge of the roadway. In driving practice, stopping almost always involves a change in speed and position on the road, so other road users must receive a clear signal about your intentions in advance. That is why the traffic rules require the mandatory use of warning signals.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding warning signals, specifically the requirements of clause 9.2 (as well as the related clause 9.1). According to clause 9.2, the driver must signal with the direction indicators in the appropriate direction before starting to move and before stopping, meaning this obligation does not depend on whether you are in a populated area or on a country road, or whether there are other vehicles nearby. For stopping to the right, the appropriate signal is the right turn indicator, which should be activated in advance of the maneuver.
When analyzing the options, the statement about the necessity of signaling only in populated areas is incorrect, as the Traffic Rules of Ukraine do not establish such a distinction. The option "first look in the mirror and only signal if there are other road users" is also incorrect: checking the situation is necessary, but the signal must always be given, regardless of traffic intensity. Therefore, in the theoretical exam, the correct approach is that when stopping to the right, a warning signal must be given in any case, so that other drivers and pedestrians can safely anticipate your actions.
Clause 9.2 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
The driver must give signals with the direction indicators of the corresponding direction: a) before starting to move and stopping; b) before changing lanes, turning, or making a U-turn.
This clause directly obliges the driver to give a signal before stopping; if the stop is made near the right edge of the carriageway — a right direction signal (right turn indicator) must be given, regardless of the place and conditions of movement.
Clause 9.1 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
Warning signals are given by the direction indicators of the corresponding direction, and in their absence or malfunction — by hand.
This clause clarifies the method of giving a warning signal and the principle of the “corresponding direction” (for stopping to the right — the right turn indicator).
Thus, the correct answer is "In any case, turn on the right turn indicator," considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to give a warning signal of the corresponding direction before stopping, and for stopping on the right side, such a signal is the right turn indicator.
When you plan to stop on the right side of the road, for other road users this appears as a change in your further actions: you reduce speed, approach the right edge of the carriageway, and actually complete your movement. In order for other drivers to understand your intention in advance and be able to react safely, you must give the appropriate signal.
Clause 9.2 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine establishes the driver's obligation to signal with the direction indicators of the corresponding direction before starting to move and before stopping. That is, giving a signal does not depend on where exactly you are driving (in a populated area or outside it), whether there are other vehicles nearby, or what the traffic intensity is. The rule always applies, because its purpose is the same in any conditions: to make your actions predictable for others.
In practice, it looks like this: you turn on the right turn indicator in advance, smoothly reduce speed and take a position closer to the right edge, after which you stop. It is the right signal that corresponds to stopping on the right and warns other drivers that you are not just braking, but preparing to move to the right side to stop.
Therefore, the correct answer is "In any case, turn on the right turn indicator," since clause 9.2 of the Traffic Rules obliges you to give a signal in the appropriate direction before stopping, regardless of traffic conditions.