Fiji Road Code – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarising key terms, signs, rules and safety concepts from the Fiji Road Code lecture.

Land Transport Authority (LTA)

The government agency that administers driver licensing, vehicle standards and road safety in Fiji.

Fiji Road Code

The official guide to Fiji’s traffic laws, safe-driving practices and driver-licensing system.

Learner’s Permit

A licence issued to novice drivers (minimum age 16½) that allows supervised driving while learning.

Provisional Licence

A two-year licence (classes 1, 2 & 8) issued after passing the practical test; drivers must display red ‘P’ plates.

Full Licence

The unrestricted driver licence granted after completing the provisional-licence period without serious offences.

Class 1 Licence

Licence category for motorcycles, tricycles and quadro-cycles; minimum age 17.

Class 2 Licence

Licence category for private cars (≤7 passengers) and light goods vehicles up to 3.5 t unladen; minimum age 17.

Give Way Sign

A triangular sign that requires drivers to slow, yield to traffic on the intersecting road and proceed only when safe.

Stop Sign

An octagonal red sign requiring a complete stop and giving way to all traffic before proceeding.

Compulsory Sign

A regulatory traffic sign that tells road users what they must or must not do, e.g., ‘Keep Left’, ‘No U-turn’.

Warning Sign

A diamond-shaped (yellow) or orange sign that alerts drivers to a hazard ahead, such as bends or road works.

Informatory Sign

A rectangular sign providing useful information, e.g., distances, parking zones, hospital location.

Permanent Warning Sign

A yellow warning sign indicating a fixed hazard such as ‘Slippery Road’ or ‘Narrow Bridge’.

Temporary Warning Sign

An orange warning sign used around road works or short-term hazards, e.g., ‘Road Works Ahead’.

Flush Median

A painted area with diagonal white lines in the centre of the road used for right-turn storage and safer merging.

No-Passing Line

A solid yellow or solid white line that prohibits overtaking when it lies closest to your lane.

Double Unbroken Lines

Two solid centre lines indicating no crossing or overtaking from either direction.

Two-Second Rule

A method for setting safe following distance in normal conditions: stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead.

Four-Second Rule

The increased following distance recommended in wet, icy or towing situations—four seconds behind the vehicle ahead.

System of Vehicle Control

Planned sequence for negotiating hazards: Course, Mirrors, Signals, Slow, Brakes, Gear, Mirrors, Evasive action, Acceleration.

Blind Spot

The area beside and slightly behind a vehicle that cannot be seen in mirrors; must be checked with a shoulder glance.

Blocking Rule

Legal requirement not to enter an intersection, pedestrian or railway crossing unless space is clear on the far side.

Railway Level Crossing

Where a road and railway intersect at the same level; drivers must look for trains and obey cross-buck signs or lights.

Pedestrian Crossing

Zebra-marked area where drivers must give way to pedestrians stepping onto or on the crossing.

School Patrol

Authorised students using ‘STOP – SCHOOL PATROL’ signs to halt traffic and allow children to cross safely.

Roundabout

A circular intersection where entering traffic must give way to vehicles already on the roundabout coming from the right.

Laned Road

A road with marked lane lines or raised studs (‘cats-eyes’) defining traffic paths.

Unlaned Road

A road without marked lanes; drivers keep as near as practicable to the left edge.

Sharp Bend

A near right-angle curve requiring reduction of speed before entering.

Blind Bend

A curve where oncoming traffic is hidden from view; overtaking is prohibited.

Speed Limit

The maximum lawful speed for a section of road, indicated by a circular red-bordered sign.

Safe Speed Guidelines

Principle of driving at or below the limit, adjusting for traffic, road and weather conditions to stop within visible distance.

Following Distance

The gap maintained behind the vehicle ahead, measured by the two- or four-second rule to allow safe stopping.

Skid

Loss of tyre grip causing uncontrolled sliding; often due to heavy braking, acceleration or steering on slippery surfaces.

Front-Wheel Skid (Understeer)

Condition where the vehicle continues straight despite steering input; remedy—ease off accelerator, declutch, reduce steering lock.

Rear-Wheel Skid (Oversteer)

Condition where the back of the car swings out; remedy—steer into the skid, ease off accelerator, declutch.

Four-Wheel Skid

All wheels locked during heavy braking; driver should release brakes lightly (‘pump’) to regain traction.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Electronic system that prevents wheels locking under heavy braking, allowing steering control during hard stops.

Fatigue

Driver drowsiness that impairs reaction and increases crash risk; avoid by resting every 2 h or 100 km.

Zero Alcohol Limit

Legal requirement that learner, provisional, heavy-goods and public-service drivers have no alcohol in their blood while driving.

Demerit Points

Penalty points recorded for traffic offences; accumulating nine points within three years leads to six-month suspension.

Hand-Held Phone Ban

Illegal use of a hand-held mobile device while driving; drivers must pull over safely before calling or texting.

Parallel Parking

Parking manoeuvre where the vehicle backs into a space parallel to the kerb within 600 mm of it.

Two-Way Communication Device

Any hand-held radio or phone; must not be used while driving unless vehicle is safely stopped.

Emergency Vehicle

Police, fire or ambulance displaying flashing lights or siren; other drivers must move left and allow it to pass.

Flush-Median Turn Bay

Segment of flush median with right-turn arrow where drivers wait before completing a right turn.

Merge

Where two lanes reduce to one; driver in ending lane must indicate for three seconds, match speed and enter a gap safely.

Headlight Dipping

Requirement to switch from high to low beam when following or meeting vehicles, at intersections or when stopped.

ABS Braking Technique

‘Stomp–Stay–Steer’: apply firm, constant pressure to brake pedal and maintain steering control while ABS pulses.

Safe Posture (10-to-2)

Driver seated deep in seat with hands at ten-to-two position, elbows slightly bent, left foot braced and mirrors set.

Traffic Merge Sign

Yellow diamond warning that indicates two streams of traffic will combine into one lane ahead.

Give Way Rule (Uncontrolled)

At crossroads without signs, driver must give way to vehicles approaching from the right and all traffic not turning.

No-Stopping Zone

Area marked by yellow edge line or sign where vehicles must not stop or park at any time.

Hazard Lights

All-direction indicators used to warn others of breakdowns, towing operations or temporary hazards.

School-Bus Rule

Drivers must slow to 16 km/h when passing a stopped school bus loading or unloading children.

Two-Lane One-Way Street

A one-direction carriageway where drivers keep left except when overtaking or turning right from the right-hand lane.

Turning Bay

Section of roadway marked with white diagonal lines and arrow allowing vehicles to wait while turning right without blocking traffic.

Hill-Start

Technique for moving off on an incline using handbrake or brake-clutch coordination to prevent rolling backward.

Pull-Out System (‘4 S’)

Mirror, Signal, Shoulder-check, Safety-check sequence used before changing lanes, overtaking or leaving kerb.

Emergency Triangle

Reflective red triangle placed on roadway to warn approaching drivers of breakdown or crash ahead.

T-Junction Rule

Drivers on the terminating road must give way to all traffic on the through road unless controlled by signs.

Tyre Blowout

Sudden tyre failure; hold steering firmly, ease off accelerator, allow vehicle to slow, and steer to the roadside.

ABS Warning Lamp

Dashboard light indicating the anti-lock braking system status; if illuminated while driving, system may be faulty.

Brake Failure Procedure

Shift to lower gear, pump brake pedal, apply handbrake gradually, use hazard lights and steer to a safe stop.

Bonnet Fly-Up

When the hood unlatches while driving; look through gap under hinge or side window, slow smoothly, and stop safely.

Courtesy

Respectful driving behaviour that shares the road safely, reducing conflict and ‘road rage’ incidents.