12.7. What is the maximum speed established for a car at this location (except for vehicles driven by drivers with less than 2 years of experience)?
UAЯка максимальна швидкість встановлена для автомобіля в цьому місці (крім транспортних засобів, якими керують водії зі стажем до 2-х років)?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safe choice of speed and the correct "reading" of informational and directional road signs when approaching a populated area. Such situations often occur on country roads near intersections: the driver sees buildings, but the speed limit is determined not "intuitively," but by specific signs and the norms of the traffic rules. Understanding this directly affects safety, braking distance, and the risk of accidents.
The question checks section 12 "Speed of movement" (in particular, clause 12.6 (e)) and the application of sign 5.51 "Beginning of a populated area" on a blue background. This sign means that on the road where it is installed, "urban" rules (in particular, the automatic 50 km/h limit) do not apply, and the maximum speed is determined by the norms for movement outside populated areas or for a road passing through a populated area with sign 5.51. Therefore, when driving straight, a passenger car (not for a driver with less than 2 years of experience) may drive according to clause 12.6 (e) up to 90 km/h, if there are no additional restrictive signs.
Options with 50 km/h or 80 km/h "until the end of the entire populated area" do not take into account a key detail: the blue sign 5.51 does not introduce a general 50 km/h limit on this road. 80 km/h would be relevant for certain categories (for example, a passenger car with a trailer or a motorcycle), but not as a universal rule for a passenger car. Instead, the correct logic is combined: 90 km/h directly applies under clause 12.6 (e), and when turning right into a built-up area, the driver actually enters the regular streets of the populated area, where clause 12.4 applies and the speed must be reduced to 50 km/h. This distinction is often checked on the theoretical exam, as it demonstrates the ability to apply the rules, not just memorize numbers without context.
Clause 12.6 (e) (Section 12 "Speed Limits")
Outside populated areas on all roads and on roads passing through populated areas marked with sign 5.51 "Beginning of a Populated Area", the following speed limits apply: a) buses (minibuses) transporting organized groups of children, passenger cars with trailers, and motorcycles — no more than 80 km/h; b) vehicles driven by drivers with less than 2 years of experience — no more than 70 km/h; c) trucks carrying people in the cargo bed and mopeds — no more than 60 km/h; d) buses (except minibuses) — no more than 90 km/h; g) other vehicles: on a motorway marked with road sign 5.1 "Motorway" — no more than 130 km/h, on a road with separate carriageways divided by a median strip — no more than 110 km/h, on other roads — no more than 90 km/h.
This clause checks that when driving straight (on a road passing through a populated area marked with sign 5.51) for a passenger car, which belongs to "other vehicles", the maximum speed on "other roads" is 90 km/h (in the absence of other restrictions).
Clause 12.4 (Section 12 "Speed Limits")
In populated areas, vehicles are allowed to travel at a speed not exceeding 50 km/h.
This clause applies when turning right into a built-up area (entering a regular populated area), where the general "urban" speed limit of 50 km/h is already in effect.
Clause 33.5.51 — 33 "Road Signs", 5 "Informational and Directional Signs", sign 5.51 "Beginning of a Populated Area"
"Beginning of a Populated Area" is used to indicate the start of a populated area where, on the road marked with this sign, the requirements of these Rules that determine the procedure for movement in populated areas do not apply. The sign is installed at the actual boundary of the development adjacent to the road.
This is key to understanding why when driving straight, the 50 km/h limit does not apply solely due to the presence of a "populated area" — the speed regime according to clause 12.6 applies for the road passing through a populated area marked with sign 5.51.
Clause 33.5.52 — 33 "Road Signs", 5 "Informational and Directional Signs", sign 5.52 "End of a Populated Area"
"End of a Populated Area" marks the end of a populated area designated by sign 5.51 "Beginning of a Populated Area".
This sign confirms the boundaries of the road section where the special regime (not "urban") associated with sign 5.51 applies, and accordingly, the application of the speed according to clause 12.6 when driving straight.
Thus, the correct answer is "90 km/h when driving straight, in case of turning right into a built-up area — 50 km/h", taking into account that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, sign 5.51 cancels the application of the "urban" traffic regime on the road where it is installed (speed according to clause 12.6 (e) — 90 km/h), and when turning onto a regular street of a populated area, the general speed limit in the populated area according to clause 12.4 — 50 km/h applies.
In this location, the driver sees informational signs “Start of a populated area” and “End of a populated area” on a blue background. Such signs indicate a populated area where, specifically on this road, the general traffic rules for populated areas (in particular, the automatic 50 km/h limit) do not apply as long as the driver continues straight on this road.
Therefore, when driving straight, we consider this section as a road where the permitted speed is determined by clause 12.6 (e) of the Traffic Rules: for other vehicles (including a passenger car) on “other motor roads,” the maximum speed is 90 km/h, provided there are no additional restrictive signs. According to the question, the driver does not belong to the category with less than 2 years of experience, so the special 70 km/h restriction is not considered here.
However, the situation changes if the driver at the T-intersection turns right towards the built-up area. After the turn, he actually enters the streets of the populated area, where the general rule of clause 12.4 of the Traffic Rules applies: in populated areas, driving is permitted at no more than 50 km/h (in the absence of other signs establishing a different regime).
Thus, the correct answer is “90 km/h when driving straight, in case of turning right into the built-up area – 50 km/h,” since straight ahead the regime of a road through a populated area marked by sign 5.51 applies (limit of 90 km/h according to clause 12.6 (e)), and when turning right, the driver enters the built-up area of the populated area, where the general 50 km/h limit applies according to clause 12.4.