52.53. What length must a route vehicle have to be required to follow special rules?
UAЯкої довжини маршрутний транспортний засіб повинен рухатися за спеціальними правилами?
Question without image
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about the safety of large-sized vehicles and dimensional restrictions. Such regulations are necessary so that long vehicles do not create dangerous situations on narrow streets, intersections, and in areas with limited visibility, and also to ensure their movement only where the road infrastructure allows it.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules concerning the movement of vehicles that exceed size and weight limits, specifically clause 22.5 of the Traffic Rules. This clause sets thresholds after which movement is subject to special rules; for length, the general limit is 22 m, but for route vehicles, an exception is made: the special procedure applies only when their length exceeds 25 m. It is also important to understand the term "route vehicles" from clause 1.10: these are buses, trolleybuses, trams, and other public transport vehicles that operate on established routes.
During the theoretical exam, the values 22 m and 25 m are often confused, so options of 21–24 m are typical "traps": they do not correspond to the standard of clause 22.5 specifically for route vehicles. Threshold values over 21, 22, 23, or 24 m are not correct, because the Traffic Rules of Ukraine directly define a different limit for route vehicles; only exceeding 25 m means that such a long bus or articulated trolleybus must move according to special rules (in particular, under agreed conditions and routes).
Clause 22.5
Special rules apply to the road transport of dangerous goods, the movement of vehicles and their combinations if at least one of their dimensions exceeds: width — 2.6 m (for agricultural machinery moving outside populated areas, village, settlement, and district-level city roads — 3.75 m), height from the road surface — 4 m (for container carriers on routes established by Ukravtodor and the National Police — 4.35 m), length — 22 m (for route vehicles — 25 m), actual weight over 40 t (for container carriers — over 44 t, on routes established for them by Ukravtodor and the National Police — up to 46 t), axle load — 11 t (for buses, trolleybuses — 11.5 t), double axles — 16 t, triple axles — 22 t (for container carriers: axle load — 11 t, double axles — 18 t, triple axles — 24 t), or if the cargo protrudes more than 2 m beyond the rear dimension of the vehicle. Axles should be considered double or triple if the distance between them (adjacent) does not exceed 2.5 m. The movement of vehicles and their combinations with an axle load over 11 t, double axles — over 16 t, triple axles — over 22 t or an actual weight over 40 t (for container carriers: axle load — over 11 t, double axles — over 18 t, triple axles — over 24 t or an actual weight over 44 t, and on routes established for them by Ukravtodor and the National Police — over 46 t) is prohibited on public roads when transporting divisible goods. The movement of vehicles with an axle load over 7 t or an actual weight over 24 t on local public roads is prohibited.
(Application to the question: this clause directly establishes the length threshold after which the movement of route vehicles is subject to special rules — over 25 m.)
Clause 1.10 (term "Route vehicles (public transport vehicles)")
Route vehicles (public transport vehicles) — buses, minibuses, trolleybuses, trams, and taxis that operate on established routes and have designated places on the road for passenger boarding (alighting).
(Application to the question: defines exactly which vehicles are considered route vehicles, for which clause 22.5 sets a separate maximum length of 25 m.)
Thus, the correct answer is "Over 25 m.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, special rules apply when the length of a route vehicle exceeds 25 m (clause 22.5).
Route vehicles are public transport vehicles that operate on a set route and pick up and drop off passengers at designated locations (for example, buses, trolleybuses, trams). Usually, they operate under the general traffic rules, but in certain cases, the law establishes a special procedure.
Clause 22.5 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine states that vehicles must follow special rules when their dimensions exceed the established limits. For length, the general limit is 22 meters, but for route vehicles, there is a separate clarification: for them, the maximum length is greater — 25 meters.
This primarily concerns long route vehicles, such as articulated buses or trolleybuses. If such a vehicle exceeds 25 meters in length, it is considered to exceed the permissible dimensions for regular movement and therefore must operate under special rules (in particular, only on routes and under conditions where safe passage is ensured).
Thus, the correct answer is "Over 25 m," because for route vehicles, clause 22.5 of the Traffic Rules sets the maximum length without special rules at 25 m, and exceeding this limit requires operation under a special procedure.