54.14. What is the minimum number of wheel chocks that must be provided for a bus with a permitted maximum mass of over 3.5 t?
UAЯкою мінімальною кількістю противідкатних упорів має бути укомплектовано автобус із дозволеною максимальною масою понад 3,5 т?
Question without image
This is a driving exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning parking safety and the prevention of unintentional movement of large vehicles. Wheel chocks are a mandatory piece of equipment that help keep a bus stationary on a slope or uneven surface, especially when the risk of rolling increases due to the vehicle's large mass and inertia. For the driver, this is not just a formality, but a practical tool for the safety of passengers and the surrounding environment.
The question checks knowledge of Section 31 of the Traffic Rules, specifically the requirements for the technical condition and equipment of vehicles (clause 31.4.7), as well as understanding of terms from clause 1.10, in particular what "permitted maximum mass" and "bus" mean. In the context of the theoretical exam, it is important to remember: for certain categories of vehicles, the regulation directly sets the minimum number of wheel chocks required — at least two, and operation without such equipment is prohibited.
The analysis of answer options in this theoretical exam question is straightforward: the correct answer is the option with two chocks, because this is the minimum number stipulated by the Traffic Rules. Options with four or six may seem "safer," but they do not correspond to the rule's wording about the minimum required equipment: the Traffic Rules of Ukraine require not more, but at least two, so higher numbers are unnecessary for the correct answer on the exam.
In practice, knowing this rule helps avoid fines and risks during stops on slopes, when boarding or disembarking passengers, or during technical stops. Two chocks allow the bus to be more reliably secured in the direction of possible rolling and provide an additional safety margin when the surface is slippery or the parking brake is not working perfectly.
Clause 31.4.7 (Section 31 "Technical condition of vehicles and their equipment" — other structural elements and equipment)
The operation of vehicles is prohibited under the law if: trucks with a permitted maximum mass of more than 3.5 t, buses with a permitted maximum mass of more than 5 t, and vehicles transporting dangerous goods are not equipped with wheel chocks (at least two).
Brief application: this clause directly establishes the minimum number of wheel chocks — "at least two" — for the specified categories of vehicles (in particular, buses with a large permitted maximum mass according to the Traffic Rules criteria).
Clause 1.10 (term "Permitted maximum mass")
Permitted maximum mass — the mass of an equipped vehicle with cargo, driver, and passengers, established by the technical specification of the vehicle as the maximum allowable.
Brief application: it is precisely by the "permitted maximum mass" that the Traffic Rules determine whether the requirement for equipping with wheel chocks applies.
Clause 1.10 (term "Bus")
Bus — a motor vehicle which, by its design and equipment, is intended for the carriage of passengers and has more than nine seats including the driver's seat.
Brief application: the question concerns specifically the vehicle category "bus", for which (according to the permitted maximum mass criterion) the Traffic Rules establish the requirement for wheel chocks.
That is, the correct answer is "Two.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the operation of such vehicles is prohibited if they are not equipped with at least two wheel chocks.
During the operation of a bus, it is important not only to follow the traffic rules but also to ensure its safe parking. For this purpose, the mandatory equipment includes wheel chocks, which prevent the vehicle from rolling unintentionally, especially when stopping on a slope or during boarding and alighting of passengers on uneven ground.
For heavy buses, the requirements for equipment are stricter than for passenger cars, since greater weight means more inertia and a higher risk of uncontrolled movement even with slight release of the brakes or malfunction of the parking brake system. That is why the regulations for buses with a significant permitted maximum mass require not one, but two chocks.
From a practical point of view, two chocks allow the bus to be secured more reliably: they can be placed under the wheels on different sides, depending on the possible direction of rolling. For example, when parking on a descent, one chock may be insufficient if the wheel shifts or the surface is uneven, whereas two chocks provide an additional margin of safety.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Two.", since a bus with a permitted maximum mass of more than 3.5 tons must be equipped with two wheel chocks for reliable securing while parked.