52.6. What is the maximum speed limit established for minibuses on a motorway?
UAЯка максимальна швидкість встановлена для руху мікроавтобусів на автомагістралі?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safe choice of speed on intercity roads and, in particular, the driving mode on a motorway. Correctly determining the maximum speed is important not only for successfully passing the theoretical exam, but also for real safety: at high speeds, the braking distance increases, as do the risk of error and the severity of the consequences of an accident.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding speed limits, specifically the requirements of paragraph 12.6 of the Rules and the understanding of how vehicle categories are applied. A motorway in the Traffic Rules is defined as a road marked with sign 5.1, and separate limits are set for it. An important nuance: the 90 km/h limit in paragraph 12.6 "g" applies to buses, but does not directly apply to minibuses, so a minibus on a motorway falls under "other vehicles" according to paragraph 12.6 "e".
Analyzing the answer options helps avoid common mistakes on the theoretical exam. 80 km/h applies to minibuses only in the special case of transporting organized groups of children (paragraph 12.6 "a"), not for regular motorway travel. 90 km/h is the limit for buses (excluding minibuses), so it is incorrect to automatically apply it to minibuses. 110 km/h applies to roads with a dividing strip, but not to motorways; for a road with sign 5.1, a different limit applies. That is why the correct choice is the maximum speed of 130 km/h according to paragraph 12.6 "e", if there are no additional speed restrictions by road signs or traffic conditions.
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 area 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.
Application: a minibus is not subject to the restriction for “buses (except minibuses)” (subclause “d”) and on a motorway is classified as “other vehicles” (subclause “e”), so the maximum permitted speed is 130 km/h.
Clause 1.10 (term “Motorway”)
Motorway — a road that: is specially constructed and intended for vehicle traffic, is not intended for entry to or exit from adjacent territory; has separate carriageways for each direction of travel, divided by a median strip; does not intersect at the same level with other roads, railway and tram tracks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, animal crossings, has barriers on the roadsides and median strip, and is also fenced; marked with road sign 5.1 “Motorway”.
Application: the question concerns a road that has the status of a “motorway” as defined by the Traffic Rules, i.e., marked with sign 5.1, for which clause 12.6 (e) sets 130 km/h.
Clause 1.10 (term “Minibus”)
Minibus — a single-deck bus with no more than seventeen seats, including the driver's seat.
Application: this definition is needed to correctly classify the vehicle into the category for which clause 12.6 sets separate speed limits (in particular, that the 90 km/h restriction in clause 12.6 “d” does not directly apply to minibuses).
Clause 33.5.1 — 33 “Road Signs”, 5 “Informational and Directional 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.
Application: the presence of sign 5.1 is a condition for applying the 130 km/h speed limit for “other vehicles” under clause 12.6 (e).
Thus, the correct answer is “130 km/h”, given that a minibus (according to the Traffic Rules) is not subject to the 90 km/h limit for buses and on a road marked with sign 5.1 “Motorway”, it is classified as “other vehicles”, for which clause 12.6 (e) sets the limit at 130 km/h.
To correctly determine the maximum speed for a minibus on a motorway, it is first important to understand that a motorway is identified by road sign 5.1 "Motorway." It is on such roads that a separate speed regime applies outside populated areas.
Next, it is necessary to distinguish a minibus from a bus. According to the definition in the Traffic Rules, a minibus is a bus with no more than 17 seats (including the driver's seat). Because of this, in practice, people often make mistakes by automatically applying bus restrictions to minibuses.
Clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules sets different maximum speeds for different categories of vehicles. For buses (but with the caveat "except minibuses"), a limit of 90 km/h is set. That is, minibuses are not subject to this restriction and the general rule for "other vehicles" applies to them.
This same clause 12.6 states: on a road marked with sign 5.1 "Motorway," for "other vehicles" the permitted speed is no more than 130 km/h. Therefore, a minibus on a motorway may travel at the maximum speed set for this general category, unless there are other restrictions (for example, speed limit signs).
Thus, the correct answer is "130 km/h," since according to clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules, minibuses are not subject to the 90 km/h limit for buses, and on a motorway (sign 5.1) the general maximum speed of 130 km/h applies to them.