40.13. What is the maximum permitted speed for motorcycles on roads with separate carriageways outside populated areas?
UAЗ якою максимальною швидкістю дозволено рух мотоциклів на дорогах з окремими проїзними частинами поза населеними пунктами?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning the safe choice of speed outside populated areas, where mistakes most often lead to serious consequences due to higher speeds and longer braking distances. Understanding the different speed limits for categories of vehicles is fundamental for safe driving and for confidently passing the theoretical exam.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding speed limits, specifically item 12.6, which sets restrictions depending on the type of vehicle. It is important to remember that motorcycles are singled out separately in the Traffic Rules (and the term “motorcycle” is defined in item 1.10), so a special speed limit applies to them outside populated areas, regardless of whether the road has a median strip and separate carriageways.
When comparing the options, 110 km/h is often confused with the norm for “other vehicles” on roads with separate carriageways, but motorcycles do not belong to this group, as a lower limit is directly set for them in item 12.6. 90 km/h is a typical limit for many cars on “other motor roads,” but for motorcycles outside populated areas, a separate rule applies. That is why the correct limit is 80 km/h: it is directly specified in item 12.6 (sub-item a) for motorcycles and applies even on roads with a median strip.
Clause 12.6
Outside populated areas on all roads, as well as on roads passing through populated areas marked with sign 5.47 “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; e) 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.
Application: for motorcycles outside populated areas, a separate speed limit of “no more than 80 km/h” (subparagraph “a”) is established, which also applies to roads with separate carriageways.
Clause 1.10 (term “Motorcycle”)
Motorcycle — a two-wheeled motor vehicle with or without a sidecar, equipped with an engine of 50 cc or more. Motor scooters, motorized wheelchairs, tricycles, and other motor vehicles with a maximum permitted mass not exceeding 400 kg are equated to motorcycles.
Thus, the correct answer is “80 km/h”, considering that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules for motorcycles outside populated areas (regardless of whether the road has separate carriageways), clause 12.6 (a) sets a speed limit of no more than 80 km/h.
To answer the question correctly, it is first important to understand what exactly is considered a motorcycle according to the Traffic Rules. In clause 1.10, it is stated that a motorcycle is a two-wheeled motor vehicle (with or without a sidecar) with an engine capacity of 50 cc or more; some three-wheeled and similar light motor vehicles are also classified as motorcycles. Thus, the speed rule for motorcycles applies not only to classic “two-wheeled” motorcycles, but also to vehicles that the Traffic Rules equate with them.
Next, we refer to clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules, which sets speed limits outside populated areas depending on the type of vehicle. Motorcycles are listed separately there, and a specific limit is set for them: movement is allowed at no more than 80 km/h.
An important point: although on roads with separate carriageways “other vehicles” may be allowed to travel up to 110 km/h, motorcycles do not fall under this category, because the same clause sets a separate, lower limit for them. For example, if you are driving outside a populated area on a road with a median strip, a passenger car may travel faster, but a motorcyclist is still required to observe the 80 km/h limit.
Therefore, the correct answer is "80 km/h," since clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules sets a separate maximum speed limit of 80 km/h for motorcycles outside populated areas, regardless of whether the road has separate carriageways.