Group 8 · Speed limits, towing, and carrying people and cargo

What this topic covers on the exam

Group 8 · Speed, towing, carrying people and cargo is mostly text questions on speed figures, towing bans and carrying people and cargo. The answers come from the Rules of the Road ("Rules": Annex 1 to RA Government Decision No. 955-N of June 28, 2007).

Of the 20 knowledge-test questions, 15 are on the Rules of the Road (Decision No. 385-N, Annex 1, point 17). Since September 1, 2026, category B exams use only the A/B/C question set (point 17.1); that list isn't published yet, so bibip still uses the full published bank.

Maximum speed

Where and what	Maximum	Reference
In built-up areas, all vehicles	60 km/h	Rules, point 68
In residential zones (signs 5.21–5.22) and yards	20 km/h	Rules, point 68
Outside built-up areas: cars, and trucks with a maximum authorized mass of not more than 3.5 t	90, on motorways 110 km/h	Rules, point 69(1)
Outside built-up areas: suburban, interregional and intercity buses, minibuses and motorcycles	90 km/h on all roads	Rules, point 69(2)
Outside built-up areas: all other buses, cars with a trailer, trucks over 3.5 t	70, on motorways 90 km/h	Rules, point 69(3)
Trucks carrying people in an equipped body; vehicles carrying organized groups of children	60 km/h	Rules, point 71(1)
Towing	50 km/h	Rules, point 71(2)

Sign 3.24 "Maximum speed limit" can set a lower or a higher speed, but a raised limit may not exceed 80 km/h in a built-up area or 110 km/h outside one (Rules, point 70).

Built-up area rules start at sign 5.23.1 or 5.23.2 "Beginning of built-up area". Sign 5.25 also shows a settlement's name and beginning, but on that road the requirements for built-up areas, including 60 km/h, don't apply (Rules, Form No. 1, signs 5.23.1–5.26).

Choosing your speed

• Drivers consider traffic density, the vehicle and its load, road and weather conditions, the road surface and visibility (Rules, point 65), and choose a speed that keeps the vehicle fully under control (point 66). On spotting an obstacle or hazard, they slow down, even to a stop (point 67).
• It is prohibited to exceed the vehicle's maximum design speed or the speed on its "Speed limit" identification sign, to drive needlessly slowly and obstruct others, or to brake sharply when that isn't needed to prevent an accident (point 72).
• A driver being overtaken must not obstruct the overtaking by speeding up (point 75).
• When approaching a vehicle with the "Transporting children" identification sign while children get on or off, slow down and stop if necessary (point 156).

Towing

• Distance: 4–6 m with a flexible coupling, no more than 4 m with a rigid one (Rules, point 140).
• The towed vehicle has its hazard warning lights on (point 22); if they are missing or faulty, the "Emergency stop" sign goes on the rear of the towed vehicle (point 24). In daylight, the towing vehicle has its low beam on (point 133).
• With a rigid or flexible coupling, people may not ride in a towed bus, trolleybus or truck body. When towing by partial loading, nobody may be in the towed vehicle's cab or body or in the towing vehicle's body (point 139).

Towing is prohibited (point 143):

1. of two or more motor vehicles;
2. with motorcycles without a sidecar, or of such motorcycles;
3. with a flexible coupling in icy conditions;
4. if the towed vehicle's wipers don't work and a driver is steering it;
5. if the steering doesn't work (except by partial loading);
6. if the brakes don't work and the towed vehicle's actual mass is more than half the towing vehicle's actual mass; if it is less than half, only with a rigid coupling or by partial loading.

Carrying people and children

• A category C truck may carry up to 8 passengers; for more, the driver also needs a category D or DE or subcategory D1 or D1E license (Rules, point 150).
• In a flatbed body with sides, benches must be fixed at least 0.3 m below the top of the side and 0.3–0.5 m above the floor (point 153). In a body not equipped for people, only persons accompanying the cargo or going to collect it may ride, on the same kind of seats (point 154).
• Carrying people is prohibited outside the cabs of cars, tractors and other self-propelled machines (except in the body of a flatbed truck with sides or a van body), in a cargo trailer or caravan trailer, in the body of a cargo motorcycle, outside a motorcycle's seats, and beyond the number set by the vehicle's specification (point 158).
• Children under 7 in a car or truck cab ride in a child restraint system suited to their weight and height (point 159). Children aged 7 to 12 ride in a restraint or with seat belts, but in a car's front seat only in a restraint (point 159.1).
• Children under 12 may not ride on a motorcycle's rear seat or in a truck body (except a van body) (point 159.3).

Carrying cargo

• A load that sticks out more than 1 m beyond the front or rear of the vehicle, or more than 0.4 m sideways beyond the outer edge of the side light, is marked with the "Oversize load" identification sign; in the dark and in poor visibility it also needs a white lamp or reflector at the front and a red one at the rear (Rules, point 162).
• A load may not be carried if it blocks the driver's view, makes the vehicle harder to control or less stable, covers lights, plates or identification signs, obscures hand signals, or makes significant noise, raises dust or pollutes the road (point 164). The driver must then fix the problem or stop driving (point 165).

Common exam traps

• Intercity bus. 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside them on all roads including motorways, not 70 or 110 (points 68, 69).
• Car with a trailer. 90 km/h on a motorway, not 110 (point 69).
• Icy road. Only towing with a flexible coupling is banned (point 143).
• Passengers while towing. The ban covers a towed bus, not a towing one; people may ride in a towed car or truck cab, and with partial loading only in the towing vehicle's cab (point 139).
• Protruding load. 0.5 m sideways needs the sign, 0.3 m doesn't; 0.6 m at the rear doesn't, 2 m does (point 162).
• Front seat. Without a child restraint only from age 12 (point 159.1).

Checklist

• I know 60, 20, 90, 110, 70 and 50 km/h and who each applies to (points 68–71).
• I remember the 4–6 m and 4 m towing distances (point 140) and the point 143 bans.
• I know who may ride where (points 139, 150–159.3).
• I know the 1 m and 0.4 m load thresholds (point 162).