Comprehensive Driving Practice and Road Rules Study Guide

Booking and Administrative Requirements

• To book a learner's or driver's license test, the following items are required:
  • A valid Identity Document (ID).
  • Eyeglasses (if the candidate wears them).
  • A black pen.
  • Proof of address: An account in the candidate's name displaying a physical address (e.g., a bank statement) not older than $3$ months.
  • If no account exists in the candidate's name: An account displaying a physical address, a certified copy of the account holder's ID, and an affidavit from the account holder confirming the candidate resides there (Must be done by SAP).
• On the day of the test, requirements include:
  • A valid ID.
  • Booking confirmation.
  • Photos (taken on the day the booking was made).

General Rules and Road Procedures

• Overtaking and Lanes:
  • When changing lanes, you must ensure it is safe to do so, use mirrors to evaluate surrounding traffic, and switch on indicators (flickers) in time to signal intentions.
  • You may not overtake when nearing the top of a hill, nearing a curve, or when visibility is restricted to less than $100\,m$ (e.g., due to dust/weather).
  • You may pass another vehicle on the left-hand side only if that vehicle is indicating a right turn, or if driving on a road with at least two lanes for traffic in the same direction, or if directed by a police officer.
  • You must not pass any vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing.
  • The last action before changing lanes is checking the blind spot.
• Road Positions and Shoulder Driving:
  • Driving on the shoulder is permitted only in daytime to allow another vehicle to pass, provided it is safe and there is no obstruction.
  • You may drive on the right-hand side of a two-way road only if directed by a traffic officer.
  • Vehicle headlights must be switched on between sunset and sunrise or when visibility is less than $150\,m$.
  • The maximum distance a dim light beam may shine is $45\,m$.
  • The main beam must light objects up to at least $100\,m$ ahead.
• Speed Limits:
  • General speed limit in urban areas is $60\,KM/H$.
  • General speed limit for rural/national roads is $100\,KM/H$.
  • General speed limit on freeways is $120\,KM/H$.
  • Vehicles over $9,000\,kg$ are limited to $80\,KM/H$ on freeways.
  • Buses and minibuses carrying passengers are limited to $100\,KM/H$.
• Following Distances:
  • Safe following distance for light motor vehicles and motorcycles is $2$ seconds.
  • Safe following distance for heavy motor vehicles is $3$ seconds.
  • All following distances must increase during bad light or poor weather conditions.

Prohibitions and Legal Restrictions

• Stopping and Parking:
  • You may not stop on a pavement, facing oncoming traffic, or next to an obstruction in the road.
  • You may not stop within $6\,m$ of a tunnel, subway, bridge, or railway reserve.
  • You may not stop within $9\,m$ of a pedestrian crossing.
  • You may not stop where the road has been narrowed ($6\,m$ thereof).
  • You may not park within $5\,m$ of an intersection.
  • You may not park within $1.5\,m$ of a fire hydrant.
  • Outside an urban area, a vehicle may not be parked more than $1\,m$ from the edge of the roadway.
  • Vehicles must be parked within $450\,mm$ of the kerb.
  • A vehicle may be parked for no more than $24$ hours on a rural road and no more than $7$ days on an urban road.
• Driving Conduct:
  • You may not leave a vehicle's engine running without supervision.
  • You may not allow anyone to ride on the bumper of the vehicle.
  • You may only put your arm out of the window to give legal hand signals.
  • Hand signals are the only permissible reason for any body part to project from the vehicle.
  • You may not use a vehicle without a fuel tank cap.
  • You may not spin wheels when pulling off.
  • It is illegal to sit in the driver's seat with the engine running while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Learner's License Eligibility:
  • Minimum age for $125\,cc$ or less motorcycle: $16$ years.
  • Minimum age for light motor vehicles up to $3,500\,kg$ and motorcycles over $125\,cc$: $17$ years.
  • Minimum age for heavy motor vehicles: $18$ years.
  • A learner's license is valid for $24$ months.
  • A vehicle clearance certificate (licence disc) is valid for $12$ months.

Accidents and Emergencies

• Accident Procedures:
  • You must stop immediately and determine the extent of damage or injury.
  • You must report an accident to the police within $24$ hours if no one is injured; if someone is killed or injured, the scene must be marked before vehicles are moved.
  • You may not refuse to give your name and address to anyone at the scene.
• Emergency Vehicles:
  • Right of way must always be given to emergency vehicles sounding a siren.
• Breakdowns:
  • A warning triangle must be placed at least $45\,m$ behind a broken-down vehicle.
• Alcohol Limits:
  • Ordinary drivers: Maximum blood alcohol limit is $\frac{0.05\,g}{100\,ml}$; breath limit is $\frac{0.24\,mg}{1,000\,ml}$.
  • Professional drivers: Maximum blood alcohol limit is $\frac{0.02\,g}{100\,ml}$; breath limit is $\frac{0.10\,mg}{1,000\,ml}$.

Road Signs and Traffic Markings

• Sign Categories:
  • Yellow background: Indicates temporary significance (roadworks or hazards), though they carry the same legal weight as permanent signs.
  • Circular signs: Usually regulatory (orders or prohibitions).
  • Triangular signs: Usually warning signs.
• Specific Signs:
  • Yield (RTM1): Vehicles must reduce speed and only proceed if safe.
  • Stop (R1): Requires a complete stop. At a 4-way stop, vehicles proceed in the order they arrived.
  • Mini-circles: Yield to the vehicle coming from the right.
  • Speed Limits: Red circles indicate the maximum speed; blue circles indicate the minimum speed.
  • Prohibitory Signs: Red circle with a diagonal slash (e.g., No U-turn, No Hooting, No Entry).
  • One-way roads: Arrows indicates one-way traffic in the direction of the arrow.
  • Bridges and Tunnels: Prohibition on stopping or parking within $6\,m$.
  • Arrestor Bed: An area for vehicles to enter if their brakes fail on a steep decline.
  • Mass Loads: Signs limit the axle mass (e.g., $10\,tonnes$).
• Road Markings:
  • Single continuous lines: You may not pass other vehicles.
  • Double continuous lines: You may not cross or pass over them to turn into yards or elsewhere.
  • Painted Islands: Driving or stopping on these is strictly prohibited.
  • Zig-zag lines (RTM3): Pedestrian crossing zones where stopping is prohibited.
  • Bus Lanes: Marked for exclusive use by buses or minibuses.
  • Fire Hydrants: You must not park within $1.5\,m$ on either side.

Vehicle-Specific Controls and Regulations

• Code 1 (Motorcycles):
  • Handlebars: Maximum height of $600\,mm$ above the seat.
  • Projections: Goods may not extend more than $600\,mm$ in front of the front axle or $900\,mm$ behind the rear axle.
  • Sidecar: A learner's license holder may not ride a motorcycle with a sidecar without supervision if seating is available.
  • Number plates: Only one number plate is required at the rear.
  • Tires: Tread depth must be at least $80\%$ of the original; retreaded tires are prohibited.
  • Controls: Includes clutch (1), front brake (2), rear brake (4), gear lever (5), indicator switch (6), throttle/accelerator (7), and steering (handle bars).
• Code 2 (Light Motor Vehicles):
  • Towing: Distance between vehicles must not exceed $3.5\,m$. If a rope is used, maximum speed is $30\,KM/H$. If the distance exceeds $1.8\,m$, a red flag must be attached.
  • Seatbelts: Must be worn by all passengers. A driver is not required to wear a seatbelt while reversing.
  • Tires: Tread depth must be at least $1\,mm$.
  • Controls: Includes steering wheel (5), gear lever (6), handbrake (7), footbrake (8), clutch (9), and accelerator (10).
• Code 3 (Heavy motor Vehicles):
  • Projections: Goods may not extend more than $300\,mm$ in front of the vehicle or $1.8\,m$ to the rear.
  • Width: Maximum width allowed is $2.5\,m$ (up to $2.6\,m$ for vehicles over $12,000\,kg$).
  • Reversing: You may not reverse further than is safe to do so, with a guideline limit often cited at $100\,m$.
  • Controls: Similar to Code 2 with the addition of indicator controls (11).

Practical Illustrations and Measurements

• No Parking Rules Summary:
  • No parking on a pavement (unless opening a gate to property).
  • No parking in front of an entrance.
  • Within $9\,m$ of a pedestrian crossing.
  • Within $1.5\,m$ of a fire hydrant.
  • Within $5\,m$ of an intersection.
  • Where the road is less than $5.5\,m$ wide.
  • In loading zones or bus stops.
• Signs and Visuals:
  • A robot with a flashing red light functions as a stop sign.
  • A green arrow flashing to the right at a red robot indicates right-turning traffic may proceed.
  • A yellow arrow indicates that the lane is changing direction or closing.
  • Flags to indicate projections must be red and at least $300\,mm \times 300\,mm$.