9.33. In which of the listed cases is it necessary to switch on the hazard warning lights?
UAУ яких із перерахованих випадків потрібно ввімкнути аварійну світлову сигналізацію?
Question without image
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety and the correct use of hazard warning lights as a warning signal. The 'hazard lights' are not for convenience, but to let other road users know in advance that the vehicle has stopped in a special situation and may create an unexpected obstacle. Therefore, making a mistake here during the theoretical exam often indicates a misunderstanding of the basic principles of danger warning on the road.
This checks Section 9, "Warning Signals" of the traffic rules, specifically clause 9.9(b), which directly states the obligation to turn on the hazard warning lights in the event of a stop at the request of a police officer or as a result of the driver being dazzled by headlights. These two situations are the correct content of the answer: when stopping at the request of the police, the hazard lights are turned on after a complete stop (and the intention to pull over/stop is first indicated with the turn signal), and when dazzled by headlights, the hazard lights additionally warn other drivers that you have stopped due to loss of normal visibility.
The analysis of the options in this exam question shows typical pitfalls: the statement about the need to turn on the hazard lights "at any stop" is incorrect, because the Traffic Rules of Ukraine establish specific mandatory cases, and an ordinary stop or parking by itself is not a reason for hazard warning lights. The options describing a stop at the request of a police officer and a stop due to being dazzled correspond to clause 9.9(b); therefore, the correct option is the one that combines both of these grounds, and does not expand them to "all stops."
Clause 9.9 (Section 9 “Warning Signals” — general rule)
The hazard warning lights must be switched on in the cases explicitly listed in clause 9.9 of the Traffic Rules (mandatory, not “at the driver’s discretion”). For this exam question, the application of one of these cases is checked — subclause “b”.
Clause 9.9 b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
“in the event of stopping at the request of a police officer or as a result of the driver being dazzled by headlights.”
That is, the correct answer is “Answers 2 and 3.”, given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the hazard warning lights must be switched on specifically when stopping at the request of a police officer and when stopping as a result of being dazzled by headlights (clause 9.9 b)).
The hazard warning lights are not used “for convenience,” but as a warning signal for other road users. Therefore, they should be switched on specifically in those situations that are directly defined by the Traffic Rules as mandatory.
According to clause 9.9 (b) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, the hazard warning lights must be switched on in two cases: when you stop at the request of a police officer, and when you are forced to stop due to being dazzled by headlights. In both situations, it is necessary to clearly show other drivers that your vehicle has stopped not on your own initiative and may create an unexpected obstacle.
In practice, it looks like this: if a police officer signals you to stop, you first safely pull over and indicate your intention with the turn signal, and only switch on the hazard warning lights after coming to a complete stop. This serves as an additional warning for vehicles behind that your car is stationary and the situation is not a routine stop.
The second example: at night, you are dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, you lose normal visibility and are forced to stop. In this case, the hazard warning lights are needed so that other road users can notice your vehicle in time and react safely.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Answers 2 and 3," since according to clause 9.9 (b) of the Traffic Rules, the hazard warning lights must be switched on when stopping at the request of a police officer and when stopping due to the driver being dazzled by headlights.