48.34. What is the maximum permitted speed for trucks with a maximum authorized mass of less than 3.5 t on roads with separate carriageways?
UAЗ якою максимальною швидкістю допускається рух вантажних автомобілів з дозволеною максимальною масою менш ніж 3,5 т на дорогах з окремими проїзними частинами?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests the driver's ability to choose a safe and permitted speed depending on the type of vehicle and the category of road. Proper understanding of speed limits is key to road safety outside populated areas, as exceeding the speed limit on high-speed roads with a median strip significantly increases the risk of accidents and the severity of their consequences.
In terms of content, this question belongs to the section of the Traffic Rules concerning speed (clause 12.6 e) and relates to "other vehicles" on a road with separate carriageways divided by a median strip. A truck with a permitted maximum mass of less than 3.5 tons in this situation is not subject to special lower limits (such as for mopeds, buses, transporting people in the cargo area, or drivers with less than 2 years of experience), so the general rule for such roads applies: the permitted speed is higher than on "other roads," but lower than on a motorway.
If we compare the answer options, 80 km/h corresponds to other categories (for example, passenger cars with trailers or motorcycles) and is therefore too low for this case. 90 km/h is typical for "other roads" outside populated areas or for buses (except minibuses), so this is also not the regime that applies on a road with a median strip. 130 km/h is allowed on motorways with the appropriate road status (sign 5.1), so for an ordinary road with separate carriageways, this is an excessive value. That is why, in the theoretical exam, it is important to clearly distinguish the type of road and apply the correct speed limit from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine.
Clause 12.6 (e) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine
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 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.
This clause checks the knowledge of the maximum permitted speed for the category "other vehicles" on a road with separate carriageways (with a median strip) outside a populated area.
Clause 1.10 (term "Truck")
Truck — a vehicle designed and equipped for the carriage of goods.
This definition is needed to correctly classify the vehicle in the question as a truck.
Clause 1.10 (term "Permitted maximum mass")
Permitted maximum mass — the mass of a fully equipped vehicle with cargo, driver, and passengers, as specified in the technical characteristics of the vehicle as the maximum permissible.
This definition is needed to correctly apply the condition "less than 3.5 t" (according to the vehicle's technical characteristics).
Clause 1.10 (term "Carriageway")
Carriageway — the part of the road intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles.
This definition is needed to understand the phrase "road with separate carriageways" in clause 12.6 (e).
Clause 1.10 (term "Median strip")
Median strip — a part of the road that separates adjacent carriageways.
This definition is needed because clause 12.6 (e) directly links the speed of 110 km/h to roads where the carriageways are "separated from each other by a median strip".
Thus, the correct answer is "110 km/h", given that a truck with a permitted maximum mass of less than 3.5 t falls under the category of "other vehicles" (clause 12.6 (e)), for which on a road with separate carriageways divided by a median strip, the speed limit is no more than 110 km/h.
This question concerns a cargo vehicle, but with a permitted maximum mass of less than 3.5 tons. This is important because in the Traffic Rules, speed limits depend not only on the type of vehicle, but also on road conditions and exceptions established for certain categories.
Next, it is necessary to correctly identify the type of road: “roads with separate carriageways” means that oncoming traffic flows are divided by a median strip. This is not necessarily a motorway (where a different limit applies), but it is a higher-category road for which the Traffic Rules provide for an increased permitted speed.
According to clause 12.6 (e) of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, for “other vehicles” outside populated areas, the maximum speed on a road with separate carriageways divided by a median is 110 km/h. The cargo vehicle up to 3.5 tons in this question does not fall into special groups with lower limits (such as transporting people in the cargo bed, mopeds, buses, or drivers with less than 2 years of experience), so the general rule from subclause (g) for such roads applies.
Therefore, the correct answer is "110 km/h," since a cargo vehicle with a permitted maximum mass of less than 3.5 tons on a road with separate carriageways falls under the general rule of clause 12.6 (e) and may not travel faster than 110 km/h.