52.51. What is the maximum permitted speed for buses (except minibuses) on all roads outside populated areas?
UAЗ якою максимальною швидкістю дозволено рух автобусів (за винятком мікроавтобусів) на всіх дорогах за межами населених пунктів?
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This is a driving exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning the safe choice of speed and compliance with speed limits outside populated areas. Correctly determining the maximum speed for a specific type of vehicle directly affects braking distance, controllability, and accident risk, which is why such standards are regularly checked in the theoretical exam.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding speed limits, specifically clause 12.6, which sets separate limits for different categories of vehicles. Here, it is important to distinguish buses (as defined in clause 1.10) from minibuses and to consider that the 'out-of-town' speed limits apply to all roads outside populated areas, as well as to sections passing through populated areas marked with sign 5.51 'Beginning of a populated area.'
Among the answer options, values of 50 and 60 km/h are too low for this case and are typical for other conditions or categories, while 70 and 80 km/h in clause 12.6 apply to other groups (for example, drivers with less than 2 years of experience or for buses/minibuses transporting organized groups of children). For buses (excluding minibuses), clause 12.6, subparagraph g, sets a different, higher limit, which corresponds to the correct answer.
Practically, this knowledge helps not to confuse the general limits for 'other vehicles' with the special restrictions for buses and to avoid fines for speeding outside the city. In the exam, such wording often tests attentiveness: the key words here are precisely 'bus,' 'not minibus,' and 'outside populated areas,' which directly refers to clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine.
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) carrying 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 motorways marked with road sign 5.1 "Motorway" — no more than 130 km/h, on roads with separate carriageways divided by a median strip — no more than 110 km/h, on other roads — no more than 90 km/h.
Application to the question: it is specifically subclause "d" of clause 12.6 that sets the maximum speed for buses (except minibuses) outside populated areas on all roads.
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.
Application to the question: provides the definition of the vehicle for which a special speed limit is set in clause 12.6.
Clause 33.5.1 — 33 "Road Signs", 5 "Informational and Directional Signs", sign 5.51 "Beginning of a Populated Area"
5.51 "Beginning of a Populated Area" — indicates the beginning of a populated area where the requirements of these Rules that determine the procedure for movement in populated areas do not apply on this road.
Application to the question: clause 12.6 explicitly states that "non-populated area" speeds also apply to roads passing through populated areas marked with sign 5.51.
That is, the correct answer is "90 km/h", considering that according to clause 12.6 (d) of the Traffic Rules, buses (except minibuses) outside populated areas on all roads are allowed to travel at a speed not exceeding 90 km/h.
In this question, it is important to correctly identify which type of vehicle and which driving conditions are being discussed. The question refers to buses (not minibuses) and driving outside populated areas, that is, on roads outside the city.
According to the definition in the Traffic Rules, a bus is considered a vehicle that has more than nine seats including the driver’s seat and is intended for passenger transportation. Therefore, regular route and tourist buses fall precisely into this category.
Next, we refer to paragraph 12.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, which sets the maximum permitted speeds outside populated areas for different categories of vehicles. In this paragraph, there is a separate provision specifically for buses, and it is clearly stated: for buses, except for minibuses, the permitted speed must not exceed 90 km/h.
Thus, the correct answer is "90 km/h," since paragraph 12.6 of the Traffic Rules sets the maximum speed for buses (except minibuses) outside populated areas at no more than 90 km/h.