40.6. What is the maximum permitted speed for mopeds on motorways?
UAЗ якою максимальною швидкістю дозволено рух мопедів на автомагістралях?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safe choice of speed and adherence to special restrictions for certain categories of vehicles. On high-speed roads, a mistake in the permitted speed is especially dangerous, so the traffic rules establish not only general limits but also separate norms for mopeds, which have lower technical capabilities and a different level of driver protection.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding speed limits, in particular paragraph 12.6, where maximum speeds outside populated areas are separately defined for different vehicles. It is important to understand the difference between a motorway (a road marked with sign 5.1) and general speed limits: for mopeds, a special rule from p. 12.6(c) applies, which limits the speed to 60 km/h on all roads outside populated areas, including motorways. That is why the option of 60 km/h corresponds to the direct requirement of the Traffic Rules, while 80 and 90 km/h apply to other categories (for example, motorcycles or buses), whereas 110 and 130 km/h relate to "other vehicles" on roads with a dividing strip and on motorways, but not mopeds.
For the theoretical exam, it is important to remember the logic: the presence of sign 5.1 does not mean that everyone can drive at the "motorway" speed of 130 km/h — first, you must check whether there is a special limit for your type of vehicle. In real conditions, this knowledge helps avoid fines and reduces risks on high-speed sections, where the difference in traffic flow speed especially affects safety.
Clause 12.6
Outside populated areas on all roads and on roads passing through populated areas marked with sign 5.47 "Beginning of a populated area", movement is allowed at the following speeds: 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 transporting 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 road 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.
Brief application: subclause 12.6(c) directly establishes the maximum speed for mopeds outside populated areas (including on motorways) — 60 km/h.
Clause 1.10 (term "Motorway")
Motorway — a road that: • is specially constructed and intended for vehicle traffic, not intended for entry to or exit from adjacent territory; • has separate carriageways for each direction of travel, divided by a median strip; • does not intersect at the same level with other roads, railways and tram tracks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, animal crossings, has barriers on the roadsides and median strip, and is also fenced with mesh; • is marked with road sign 5.1 "Motorway".
Brief application: defines what is considered a motorway, for which specific regimes and speed limits apply under the Traffic Rules.
Clause 1.10 (term "Moped")
Moped — a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine capacity up to 50 cc or an electric motor with a power up to 4 kW.
Brief application: allows classifying a vehicle as a "moped", for which a separate speed limit is set in clause 12.6(c).
Clause 33.5.1 — 33 "Road Signs", 5 "Informational and Directional Signs", sign 5.1 "Motorway"
Sign 5.1 "Motorway" is used to designate roads where the corresponding traffic regimes are established in accordance with section 27 of these Rules. The sign is installed at the beginning of the motorway.
Brief application: allows identification that the road is a motorway (and therefore, the question concerns movement on a road marked with sign 5.1).
Therefore, the correct answer is "60 km/h", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules for mopeds outside populated areas (including on motorways), clause 12.6(c) sets a maximum speed limit of no more than 60 km/h.
A motorway is defined in the Traffic Rules as a road marked with sign 5.1 "Motorway," with a special traffic regime. A moped, in turn, belongs to a separate category of vehicles for which the rules set reduced speed limits compared to passenger cars.
When determining the maximum permitted speed, it is important not to confuse the general limit for "other vehicles" on a motorway (which can be up to 130 km/h) with the separate limits for specifically named categories. Clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules specifically highlights mopeds in a separate subclause and sets a speed limit for them outside populated areas on all roads.
This means that regardless of whether a moped is traveling on a regular country road or has entered a motorway, the special rule from clause 12.6 applies: mopeds are allowed to travel no faster than 60 km/h. For example, if a moped is moving on a motorway marked with sign 5.1, it cannot follow the 110 or 130 km/h limits, because these values apply to other vehicles, not mopeds.
Therefore, the correct answer is "60 km/h," since for mopeds, clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules sets a maximum speed of 60 km/h outside populated areas on all roads, including motorways.