56.6. What is the maximum permitted speed for a car with a trailer at this section of the road if it is driving straight ahead?
UAЗ якою максимальною швидкістю дозволено рух автомобілю з причепом в цьому місці дороги, якщо він буде їхати прямо?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine tests knowledge of speed limits and the ability to correctly read road signs, which directly affects road safety. For the theoretical exam, it is important to understand that speed limits depend not only on the type of road but also on the type of vehicle (in particular, a car with a trailer has separate limits).
The situation concerns the effect of sign 5.51 “Beginning of a populated area” from the Traffic Rules section “Road Signs” (informational and guiding signs). Its peculiarity is that on the section of the road marked with 5.51, the requirements of the Traffic Rules regarding driving specifically within populated areas do not apply, and the speed limits are the same as outside populated areas. Next, clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine from the section “Speed Limits” applies, which directly establishes: for passenger cars with a trailer, the maximum speed on such roads is 80 km/h.
Among the answer options, 80 km/h corresponds to the special limit for a passenger car with a trailer according to clause 12.6. The value of 90 km/h usually applies to other vehicles on “other motor roads” outside populated areas, but for a car with a trailer, a lower limit applies, so 90 is excessive here. 70 km/h may be relevant for drivers with less than 2 years of experience, 60 km/h applies to certain categories (for example, mopeds or trucks carrying people in the cargo bed), and 50 km/h is the typical limit in populated areas, which does not apply on a section with sign 5.51.
Clause 33.5.51 — 33 “Road Signs”, 5 “Informational and Directional Signs”, sign 5.51 “Beginning of a Populated Area”
“Sign 5.51 ‘Beginning of a Populated Area’ is used to indicate the beginning of a populated area where, on the road where this sign is installed, the requirements of these Rules that define the order of movement in populated areas do not apply. The sign is installed at the actual boundary of the development adjacent to the road.”
This means that on the section of the road marked with sign 5.51, speed limits apply as outside populated areas.
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’, it is permitted to drive 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 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.”
For a passenger car with a trailer, subparagraph “a)” applies directly — “no more than 80 km/h.”
Therefore, the correct answer is “80 km/h”, considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, on roads outside populated areas and on sections marked with sign 5.51, passenger cars with trailers are allowed to travel at a speed of no more than 80 km/h.
The sign 5.51 "Beginning of a populated area" is installed at this location. It is important to understand that this sign means: the road passes through the territory of a populated area, but the speed rules for driving within populated areas do not apply here. That is, in terms of speed regime, this section is equated to driving outside a populated area.
Next, we take into account the type of vehicle: the car is moving with a trailer. For such vehicles, the Traffic Rules set a separate speed limit. According to clause 12.6 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, outside populated areas, as well as on roads passing through populated areas and marked with sign 5.51, passenger cars with a trailer are allowed to move at a speed of no more than 80 km/h.
Since the car with a trailer is driving straight along exactly such a section of road, it must adhere to this special limit, even if other vehicles on a similar road may be allowed to drive faster.
Therefore, the correct answer is "80 km/h," because on a road with sign 5.51, for a passenger car with a trailer, clause 12.6 sets a maximum speed of no more than 80 km/h.