Group 4 · Road signs: classes, zones of effect and exceptions

What this topic covers on the exam

Almost every question in Group 4 · Road signs has a picture: "which of these signs means…" or a photo asking what is allowed. For each sign, know what it requires, where its effect ends and whom it doesn't apply to. Signs are part of the Rules of the Road (Rules), and 15 of the 20 knowledge-test questions are on the Rules (Decision No. 385-N, Annex 1, point 17). "Law" means the Law "On Ensuring Road Traffic Safety".

Classes and which requirement wins

• There are 8 classes: warning, priority, prohibitory, mandatory, special regulation, information, service, and additional information signs (plates) (Rules, point 167).
• A traffic controller's signals must be obeyed even when they contradict traffic lights, signs or markings (Rules, point 20).
• If traffic lights contradict priority signs, drivers follow the lights (Rules, point 173).
• Temporary signs on portable stands override permanent signs and markings (Rules, points 172, 174).

Warning signs

Rules, Form No. 1, section 1:

• 1.1, 1.2 and 1.5–1.33 are placed 150–300 m before the dangerous section outside built-up areas and 50–100 m inside them. Any other distance is shown on plate 8.1.1 "Distance to object".
• 1.35 "Intersection area" stands at the edge of the intersection or, at complex intersections where that isn't possible, no more than 30 m from it. Don't enter an area marked with 1.26 if a jam ahead would force you to stop and block crossing traffic, except when turning right or left as the Rules allow (Rules, point 88).

Priority signs

Rules, Form No. 1, section 2:

• 2.4 "Give way": give way to vehicles on the crossing road or, with plate 8.13 "Direction of the main road", on the main road. 2.5 "No driving without stopping" requires the same after stopping before the stop line or, if there is none, before the edge of the crossed roadway.
• 2.6 "Priority for oncoming traffic": give way to oncoming vehicles at a narrow section. 2.7 gives you priority over them.

Prohibitory signs

Rules, Form No. 1, section 3:

• 3.4 "No trucks" bans trucks and vehicle combinations with a maximum permissible mass over 3.5 t (or over the mass shown), as well as tractors and self-propelled machines.
• 3.20 "No overtaking" still allows overtaking slow-moving vehicles, animal-drawn carts, two-wheeled motorcycles without a sidecar, mopeds and bicycles. 3.22 "No overtaking by trucks" bans overtaking for everyone except motorcycles, cars, buses and trucks up to 3.5 t.
• 3.26 "No horn": the horn may be used only to prevent an accident.
• 3.27 "No stopping" bans stopping and parking; 3.28 "No parking" bans parking only. When 3.29 and 3.30 (odd/even days) are used together, vehicles move to the other side between 19:00 and 21:00.
• Boarding, alighting, loading and unloading count as stopping, not parking (Law, Article 2), so 3.28 doesn't ban them.
• 3.31 "End of all restrictions" ends the zones of 3.16, 3.20, 3.22, 3.24 and 3.26–3.30.

Where the effect ends:

• 3.16, 3.20, 3.22, 3.24 and 3.26–3.30 act up to the nearest intersection after the sign; in a built-up area with no intersection, to the end of the built-up area. Exits from adjacent areas and unsigned junctions with field, forest and other secondary roads don't interrupt the zone.
• 3.10 and 3.27–3.30 apply only to the side of the road where they stand.
• A zone can be shortened with plate 8.2.1 or end signs 3.21, 3.23, 3.25; for 3.27–3.30, with plate 8.2.2 or a repeat sign with plate 8.2.3.

Who is exempt:

• 3.1–3.3, 3.18.1, 3.18.2 and 3.19 don't apply to public transport vehicles (trams, trolleybuses and buses on routes with stops; Law, Article 2).
• 3.2–3.8 don't apply to taxis, vehicles doing road and certain other work, postal vehicles with a color scheme, or vehicles serving facilities in the zone or belonging to people who live or work there.
• 3.2, 3.3 and 3.28–3.30 don't apply to vehicles driven by, or carrying, persons with group I or II disability or a deep or severe functional limitation, or a child with disability status.
• 3.28–3.30 also don't apply to postal vehicles with a color scheme or taxis with the meter on.

Mandatory signs

Rules, Form No. 1, section 4:

• 4.1.1–4.1.6: drive only in the directions of the arrows; a sign that allows a left turn also allows a U-turn. They don't apply to public transport vehicles.
• 4.1.1 "Straight ahead" at the start of a road section acts up to the nearest intersection and doesn't ban right turns into yards and other adjacent areas.
• 4.9.1 "Driving with snow chains" (added by Decision No. 559-N, in force since October 1, 2025): on snow or ice, trucks and buses over 3.5 t may drive only with chains on at least two driving wheels, up to sign 4.9.2.

Special regulation and information signs

• 5.14 "Lane for public transport vehicles": other vehicles may not drive or stop in it. If a broken line separates it, you may enter it to pick up or drop off passengers or to turn off the road (Rules, point 124).
• 5.15.1 and 5.15.2 "Lane directions": if they allow a left turn from the leftmost lane, they also allow a U-turn from it (Rules, Form No. 1, section 5).
• Built-up-area rules start at the white 5.23.1/5.23.2 "Start of built-up area". The blue 5.25 names a built-up area where those rules don't apply on this road (Rules, Form No. 1, section 5, figure 6).
• 6.3.1 "U-turn place" and 6.3.2 "U-turn zone" prohibit left turns (Rules, Form No. 1, section 6).

Plates

Rules, Form No. 1, section 8:

• 8.4.1 (truck): the sign applies only to trucks over 3.5 t, including with a trailer. 8.4.3 (car): to cars and trucks up to 3.5 t.
• 8.16 "Wet surface": the sign applies only while the surface is wet.
• 8.17 "Persons with disabilities": the 6.4 "Parking" sign applies only to motorized wheelchairs and cars with the "Person with disability" identification sign.

Identification signs

All identification signs are mandatory when the circumstance applies, except "Doctor" and "Person with disability", fitted at the driver's wish (Rules, point 175, as amended by Decision No. 559-N). "Transport of children" and "Deaf driver" go on the front and rear, "Studs" on the rear (Rules, Form No. 3).

Typical exam traps

1. A sign with the truck plate 8.4.1 doesn't apply to a car or a truck up to 3.5 t.
2. A bus may overtake under 3.22; a motorcycle without a sidecar may be overtaken under 3.20.
3. Unloading under "No parking" is allowed.
4. Signs 3.27–3.30 on the opposite side of the road don't apply to your side.
5. A yard exit doesn't end the zone of signs such as 3.20 or 3.27; the next intersection does.

Checklist

• Which class is the sign, and is there a plate?
• Where does its zone end, and on which side of the road does it apply?
• Which vehicles are exempt?
• Does a controller, traffic light or temporary sign take precedence?