56.20. Which of the drivers may travel at a higher speed on a motorway?
UAХто з водіїв може рухатися з більш високою швидкістю на автомагістралі?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests knowledge of speed limits and how they depend not only on the type of road but also on the category of vehicle. In the theoretical exam, situations often arise where drivers mistakenly focus on the "high limits" of highways, without considering special restrictions for motorcycles and cars with trailers. Proper understanding of these traffic rules directly affects safety: exceeding the speed limit with a trailer or on a motorcycle significantly increases the risk of losing control and the braking distance.
The question belongs to the section of the Traffic Rules about speed limits (point 12.6) and also touches on terms and road signs (the definition of "highway" in point 1.10 and sign 5.1). The logic is simple: although on a highway "other vehicles" may be allowed up to 130 km/h, for motorcycles and passenger cars with trailers there is a special rule in point 12.6 a) — no more than 80 km/h. That is, the increased highway limit does not "override" the separate restriction for these categories.
If you analyze the options, then a motorcycle traveling at 130 km/h contradicts the direct rule of 12.6 a), as does 90 km/h for a passenger car with a trailer. In practice, this means that even on a road marked with sign 5.1, the driver must assess not only the location but also their type of vehicle and its configuration (presence of a trailer). It is precisely this attention to the wording of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine that is most often tested in such exam tasks.
Clause 1.10 (term "Motorway")
Motorway — a road that: • is specially constructed and intended for the movement of vehicles, 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 crossing routes, has barriers on the roadsides and the median strip, and is also fenced with a mesh; • is marked with road sign 5.1 "Motorway".
Application: the question concerns movement specifically on a motorway, that is, on a road defined by this term and marked with sign 5.1.
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", movement is permitted 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 road 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: even on a motorway (where for "other vehicles" it may be 130 km/h), for motorcycles and passenger cars with trailers a special restriction from subparagraph "a" applies — no more than 80 km/h.
That is, the correct answer is "Both must travel at a speed not exceeding 80 km/h.", given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, on a motorway the general increased speed limits apply only to "other vehicles", but for motorcycles and passenger cars with trailers a direct restriction of 80 km/h is set (clause 12.6 a).
A motorway is defined in the Traffic Rules as a road marked with sign 5.1 “Motorway”, specifically intended for high-speed traffic. Because of this, many drivers expect that it is always possible to drive at the maximum speed on it. However, speed depends not only on the type of road, but also on the type of vehicle.
Clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules sets separate speed limits for certain categories of vehicles outside populated areas. In particular, for motorcycles and passenger cars with trailers, the permitted speed is no more than 80 km/h. This is a special rule that applies to all roads outside populated areas, including motorways.
Thus, even if on a motorway “other vehicles” may be allowed to drive up to 130 km/h, a motorcycle and a passenger car with a trailer are subject to a separate, stricter limit. For example, the driver of a passenger car without a trailer can drive faster on a motorway, but as soon as a trailer is attached to this car, the maximum permitted speed for it becomes 80 km/h. The same applies to a motorcycle: regardless of the fact that the road is a motorway, the limit for it remains 80 km/h.
Therefore, the correct answer is “Both must travel at a speed not exceeding 80 km/h,” since for a motorcycle and a passenger car with a trailer, clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules sets a maximum speed of 80 km/h outside populated areas, including on motorways.