What speed limits apply within and outside populated areas in Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
In Ukraine, speed limits range from 20 to 130 km/h depending on the road section. For violations, drivers face fines ranging from 340 to 1,700 hryvnias and higher.
Speeding remains one of the most common causes of road accidents, which can cost a driver more than just a fine. To avoid financial penalties and dangerous situations on the road, drivers should know what speed limits apply in populated areas, on highways, and motorways in Ukraine. UNN explains the speeds at which you can travel on the roads and what fines drivers may face for exceeding the limit.
What speed limits apply in Ukraine
According to paragraph 12 of the Traffic Rules, the following speed limits are established in Ukraine:
- in populated areas, the movement of vehicles is permitted at a speed of no more than 50 km/h;
- in residential and pedestrian zones, the speed of movement must not exceed 20 km/h.
Outside of populated areas on all roads and on roads passing through populated areas marked with sign 5.51, movement is permitted at a speed of:
- buses (minibuses) carrying organized groups of children, passenger cars with a trailer, and motorcycles - no more than 80 km/h;
- vehicles driven by drivers with less than 2 years of experience - no more than 70 km/h;
- trucks carrying people in the back, and mopeds - no more than 60 km/h;
- buses (except for minibuses) - no more than 90 km/h;
- other vehicles: on a motorway - no more than 130 km/h; on a road with separate carriageways separated from each other by a dividing strip - no more than 110 km/h; on other roads - no more than 90 km/h.
During towing, the speed must not exceed 50 km/h.
Sign 5.51 - beginning of a populated area
What is the permitted speed in a populated area
At the beginning of a populated area where there is no development, sign 5.51 (white on a blue background) is installed at the administrative border.
After this sign, restrictions for movement in cities do not apply.
White signs are also used to designate a populated area.
Sign 5.49
In simple terms, a white sign means you are entering a territory of immediate development (houses are close to the road, there is a high probability of pedestrians, cyclists, or local transport appearing).
After such a sign, a speed limit of 50 km/h and the rest of the rules for populated areas apply. For example, driving in the far left lane is allowed (if there are two or more lanes in one direction), rules for stopping/parking change, and the horn can be used exclusively to prevent an accident.
The blue sign is purely an information sign. It shows that you are transiting past a populated area or the highway itself goes through its outskirts, but it is isolated from residential development (for example, there are guardrails, underpasses, etc.).
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At what speed can you drive in the city
In populated areas, the movement of vehicles is permitted at a speed of no more than 50 km/h, however, there may be exceptions regarding the maximum speed in cities.
For example, in Kyiv, a speed limit of no more than 80 km/h was established on some road sections. However, this year the local authorities refused to introduce the seasonal speed increase due to the condition of the roads and accident statistics.
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What speed is allowed outside of populated areas
As already mentioned, outside of populated areas, movement is permitted at speeds from 70 km/h to 130 km/h, but there are exceptions.
For example, if a minibus is traveling on a motorway where the permitted speed is 130 km/h, but at the same time it is carrying children, its maximum speed must not exceed 80 km/h.
Also, vehicles driven by drivers with less than 2 years of experience are allowed to move at a speed of no more than 70 km/h outside of populated areas.
Trucks carrying people in the back and mopeds can travel at no more than 60 km/h on roads where the permitted speed is up to 130 km/h.
Buses are subject to a restriction according to which their speed must not exceed 90 km/h, even if such transport is traveling on a road for automobiles where the maximum permitted speed is 110 km/h.
Other vehicles: on a road marked with traffic sign 5.1 (motorway) - no more than 130 km/h.
In addition, on a road with separate carriageways separated from each other by a dividing strip - no more than 110 km/h; on other roads - no more than 90 km/h.
The road shown has a dividing strip. The maximum permitted speed on such a road is 110 km/h.
Fines for speeding in Ukraine
According to Article 122 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, fines for speeding are:
- for more than 20 km/h - 340 hryvnias;
- for more than 50 km/h - 1700 hryvnias;
- creating an emergency situation due to speeding - 1445 hryvnias or deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle for a period of up to 1 year.
Note that a 50% discount is provided when paying within 10 banking days from the moment of receiving the resolution.
Important! The discount only applies if the speeding was recorded in automatic mode by automatic photo/video recording cameras. If you were stopped by police officers for speeding, there will be no discount, and you will have to pay the full amount of the fine.