Features of traffic rules in Ukraine
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- Features of traffic rules in Ukraine
If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and are renting a
car for the first time, we recommend that you read this article. Traffic rules and driving in Ukraine have their own peculiarities that are important to take into account to make your trip easier. In order for your first experience of using a car on Ukrainian lands not to be marred by unpleasant surprises on the road, you need to take the necessary documentation with you, take into account the condition of the roads, driving culture, speed limits, etc.
Documentation
According to Ukrainian laws, drivers from other countries are required to have a small package of documents with them, which includes: an international driver's license, a medical certificate of fitness to drive, and a passport.
Roads, or rather their condition
This is a sore subject in most post-Soviet countries, especially Ukraine. The quality of the roads can vary greatly - it all depends on the location. If in cities with a population of over a million the condition is still acceptable, then in medium and small cities the situation is already ambiguous: potholes and unevenness can be found both in the center and on the outskirts. Road horizontal markings are generally visible, but in many places they are not clearly applied or are completely absent. However, driving even on imaginary lanes is prohibited, except for maneuvers for the purpose of overtaking. When planning to drive around the city outskirts or rural areas, be prepared for the fact that the condition of the roads will be, to put it mildly, unsatisfactory in places. If there are no visible markings on the asphalt, then keep close to the right edge, you can’t go wrong. In some areas, the road surface can simply be strewn with potholes and unevenness, so in such cases you need to quickly reduce speed and slowly drive through the lane. To prevent the possibility of damaging your car, we recommend not driving in the dark. Some car rental companies provide the opportunity to use navigation systems that track problem areas on the roads - this is a useful tool, you should inquire about the availability directly with the company employee.
Speed limiters
Speed limits in Ukraine may differ from foreign ones. Recently, the maximum speed limit within the city limits is 50 km/h, in a populated area or locality – 90 km/h, on highways – 110 km/h. Exceeding any of the limits by more than 20 km is considered a violation of traffic rules – fines are imposed. If your car is stopped by the police, be sure to demand a violation report. If you feel that a traffic police officer is abusing his authority or is openly soliciting a bribe – get out your camera and film the communication process: such a simple trick helps in 90% of cases of manipulation.
Etiquette and communication on the road
A very important point that requires assimilation. All drivers know and use the unwritten rules of information exchange on the road. These are fairly simple signals with more or less clear messages:
- 'winking' headlights by another driver towards you means that there is a traffic police patrol ahead on the road; or you are being politely asked to switch your headlights from high to low beam;
- if a passing car is flashing its headlights, consider this as a request to give way;
- 'winking' hazard lights means a harsh expression of gratitude or an apology.
