48.25. What is the maximum speed limit established for trucks with a permitted maximum mass of over 3.5 t on a motorway?
UAЯка максимальна швидкість встановлена для руху вантажних автомобілів з дозволеною максимальною масою понад 3,5 т на автомагістралі?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safe selection of speed and compliance with speed limits on roads outside populated areas. For the theoretical exam, it is important not to "guess" the numbers, but to correctly determine the type of road (specifically, a motorway) and the category of vehicle, as the maximum permitted speed and, accordingly, the level of traffic safety depend on this.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding speed limits, namely paragraph 12.6, which sets restrictions depending on the type of vehicle and driving conditions. The key feature of a motorway in the Traffic Rules is its designation by sign 5.1 "Motorway." A truck with a permitted maximum mass of over 3.5 tons, if it does not fall under special restrictions (for example, not carrying people in the cargo area), is considered under paragraph 12.6 as "another vehicle," for which the highest speed limit is set on the motorway.
Analyzing the answer options helps to avoid typical mistakes in the theoretical exam. 80 km/h under paragraph 12.6 applies to certain categories, such as passenger cars with trailers and motorcycles, but not to regular trucks over 3.5 tons. 90 km/h is a typical limit for buses (except minibuses) or for "other vehicles" on regular roads outside populated areas, but not for the motorway. 110 km/h corresponds to roads with a dividing strip and separate carriageways, but the motorway has a separate, higher limit in paragraph 12.6, so the correct option remains the one with the maximum speed for the motorway.
Clause 12.6
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; 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.
Clause 1.10 (term "Truck")
Truck — a motor vehicle that, by its design and equipment, is intended for the carriage of goods.
Clause 1.10 (term "Permissible maximum mass")
Permissible maximum mass — the mass of a fully equipped vehicle with cargo, driver, and passengers, as specified by the vehicle's technical characteristics as the maximum allowable. The permissible maximum mass of a road train is the sum of the permissible maximum masses of each vehicle in the road train.
Clause 1.10 (term "Motorway")
Motorway — a road that: • is specially constructed and intended for the movement of vehicles, not intended for entry to or exit from adjacent areas; • has separate carriageways for each direction of travel, divided by a median strip; • does not intersect at the same level with other roads, railways, 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".
Clause 33.5.1 — 33 "Road signs", 5 "Information and guidance signs", sign 5.1 "Motorway"
Sign 5.1 "Motorway" is used to designate roads where the relevant traffic regimes are established in accordance with Section 27 of these Rules. The sign is installed at the beginning of the motorway.
Therefore, the correct answer is "130 km/h", considering that according to clause 12.6 (subclause e), on a road marked with sign 5.1 "Motorway", for "other vehicles" (which include trucks with a permissible maximum mass of more than 3.5 t, if they are not subject to special restrictions of other subclauses), the maximum speed is set at 130 km/h.
To correctly answer the question about the maximum speed for a truck with a permitted maximum weight of over 3.5 t on a motorway, it is first important to determine which type of road is being referred to. A motorway in the Traffic Rules is a road marked with sign 5.1 “Motorway”, for which a special traffic regime is established.
Next, we refer to clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, which defines the permitted speeds outside populated areas depending on the type of vehicle and type of road. This clause separately lists categories for which lower limits apply (for example, buses, mopeds, vehicles driven by drivers with less than 2 years of experience, etc.).
A truck with a permitted maximum weight of over 3.5 t, if it does not fall under special exceptions (for example, not transporting people in the cargo area), belongs to the category of “other vehicles” as defined in clause 12.6. For such vehicles on a road marked with sign 5.1 “Motorway”, the maximum speed is set at 130 km/h.
Therefore, the correct answer is “130 km/h”, since for “other vehicles”, which includes a truck over 3.5 t (without special exceptions), on a motorway according to clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules, it is allowed to drive no faster than 130 km/h.