9.42. What signals must the driver give in the absence or malfunction of brake signals?
UAЯкі сигнали повинен подавати водій у разі відсутності або несправності сигналів гальмування?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about road safety and warning signals in case of technical malfunction. When brake lights do not work, the driver behind receives information about deceleration with a delay, which sharply reduces the distance and increases the risk of a collision. Therefore, the traffic rules provide a universally understood backup way to signal braking by gesture.
The question tests Section 9 "Warning Signals," specifically clause 9.3, which establishes how to give signals by hand if light devices are absent or faulty. For the braking signal in such a situation, a simple and noticeable gesture is used: the left or right hand raised up, so that road users behind can timely see the intention to slow down or stop—this is often checked on the theoretical exam as a basic rule of safe communication on the road.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to the fact that a circular motion of the hand is not an established way to signal braking according to the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, so options with "circular motion" do not meet the requirements of clause 9.3. The only correct approach in this topic of the traffic rules is to clearly raise the left or right hand up (the choice of hand depends on convenience and control, for example, on a motorcycle it is more often done with the left hand). In practice, it is important to do this in advance, when possible, so that other drivers have time to react and maintain a safe distance.
Clause 9.3 (Section 9 “Warning signals” — giving hand signals in case of malfunction of light signals)
In the absence or malfunction of turn indicators, signals for starting 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 with the left arm extended to the side, or the right arm extended to the side and bent at the elbow at a right angle upwards. Signals for starting from the left edge of the carriageway, stopping on the right, turning right, or changing to the right lane are given with the right arm extended to the side, or the left arm extended 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 with the left or right arm raised upwards.
This clause directly establishes the method of giving a brake signal (instead of brake lights) — the left or right arm raised upwards.
That is, the correct answer is “The signal is given with the left or right arm raised upwards,” considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, in the absence or malfunction of brake signals, such a signal is given with an arm raised upwards.
While driving, drivers behind rely on brake lights to timely understand that the vehicle ahead is starting to slow down or stop. If the brake lights are absent or malfunctioning, other road users may notice the braking with a delay, which increases the risk of sudden closing in and collision.
That is why the Traffic Rules provide for an alternative, universally understood way to warn about braking — a hand signal. According to clause 9.3, when the brake lights are not working, the driver is required to give a hand signal in such a way that it is clearly visible to those moving behind.
In practice, this looks as follows: before starting to brake (when it is possible to do so in advance), the driver raises either the left or right hand upward. The choice of hand is not crucial — the main thing is that the gesture is clear, noticeable, and given in advance, before reducing speed.
Therefore, the correct answer is "The signal is given with the left or right hand raised upward," since clause 9.3 of the Traffic Rules requires exactly this way of signaling braking in case of absence or malfunction of the brake lights.