52.3. What is the maximum permitted speed for the blue bus?
UAЗ якою максимальною швидкістю дозволено рух синього автобуса?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests knowledge of speed limits and their impact on road safety. Choosing the correct speed reduces the risk of accidents, especially for passenger transport, where braking distance, vehicle mass, and the responsibility for carrying people are higher. The theoretical exam often includes scenarios where you need to distinguish between general speed limits and special restrictions for certain categories of vehicles.
In terms of content, this task belongs to the section of the Traffic Rules concerning speed, specifically to point 12.6, which sets maximum speeds outside populated areas. It is important to correctly identify the vehicle as a bus (the definition is provided in point 1.10) and to understand that the movement is taking place outside a populated area (after sign 5.46 "End of Populated Area"), so the rules of point 12.6 apply. For buses (except minibuses), subpoint 12.6 "g" directly sets a special limit, which is decisive in this situation.
The options 70 km/h and 80 km/h relate to other conditions and categories: 70 km/h applies to drivers with less than 2 years of experience, and 80 km/h — for buses/minibuses transporting organized groups of children, as well as for passenger cars with trailers and motorcycles (point 12.6). Higher values of 100 km/h and 110 km/h are limits for other vehicles on certain types of roads, but for a bus, the special limit from point 12.6 "g" applies, so it cannot be exceeded regardless of the fact that higher speeds may be allowed for passenger cars on such roads.
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”, driving 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 that for a bus (not a minibus) outside a populated area, the maximum allowed speed is 90 km/h (clause 12.6, subclause “d”).
Clause 1.10 (term “Bus”)
Bus — a motor vehicle with more than nine seats, including the driver’s seat, which by its design and equipment is intended for the carriage of passengers and their luggage, providing the necessary comfort and safety.
This term is needed to correctly classify the “blue bus” as a category of vehicles for which separate speed limits are set in clause 12.6.
Clause 33.5.46 — 33 “Road signs”, 5 “Informational and guide signs”, sign 5.46 “End of populated area”
Sign 5.46 “End of populated area” indicates the place from which the requirements of these Rules determining the order of movement in populated areas cease to apply on this road. The sign is installed at the actual boundary of the built-up area adjacent to the road.
This provision is needed to determine that movement is taking place outside a populated area, and therefore the norms of clause 12.6 apply.
Thus, the correct answer is “90 km/h”, considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, a bus (not a minibus) outside populated areas is allowed to travel at a speed not exceeding 90 km/h (clause 12.6, subclause “d”).
In the image, the blue vehicle is a bus, that is, a motor vehicle structurally designed for carrying passengers and having more than 9 seats including the driver's seat. Specifically for buses, the Traffic Rules establish separate speed limits outside populated areas.
It is also important that the movement is taking place outside a populated area: after the "End of Populated Area" sign, the speed regulations characteristic of populated areas no longer apply, and the norms for movement outside them come into effect.
Next, we refer to paragraph 12.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, which defines the maximum speeds outside populated areas for different categories of vehicles. For buses (except minibuses), a limit of no more than 90 km/h is set. This restriction is special and applies regardless of the fact that for other vehicles, higher speeds may be allowed on some roads.
Therefore, the correct answer is "90 km/h," since according to paragraph 12.6 of the Traffic Rules, outside populated areas, buses (except minibuses) are allowed to travel at a speed not exceeding 90 km/h.