Comprehensive South African Learner's License Computer Practice Test and National Road Rules of Study Guide

Administrative Requirements for License Booking and Testing

• Booking Requirements: To book a test, candidates must present their Identification Document (ID) and provide proof of address. If the candidate wears glasses, they must bring them. A black pen is required for documentation.
• Proof of Address Standards: The document must be an account in the candidate's name displaying a physical address (e.g., a bank statement) and must not be older than $3$ months.
• Alternative Proof of Address: If a candidate does not have an account in their name, they must provide:
  • An account displaying the physical address of the household.
  • A certified copy of the account holder’s ID.
  • An affidavit from the account holder confirming the candidate resides there. This affidavit must be completed by the South African Police Service (SAP).
• Test Day Requirements: On the actual day of the test, the candidate must bring their ID, the booking confirmation, and the photos taken on the original booking day.

General Rules of the Road and Motorist Duties

• Entering Public Roads: A driver may not cross or enter a public road unless the road is clear of traffic for a long distance and the maneuver can be completed without obstructing traffic.
• Moving from a Stationary Position: When moving off from the side of the road, the driver is responsible for ensuring it is safe and will not interfere with approaching traffic from any direction. The driver must indicate intentions before moving.
• Safe Following Distances:
  • Light Motor Vehicles: Minimum distance is determined by the $2$ second rule.
  • Motorcycles: Minimum distance is determined by the $2$ second rule.
  • Heavy Motor Vehicles: Minimum distance is determined by the $3$ second rule.
  • Adverse Conditions: These distances must increase during bad light or poor weather.
• Engine and Fueling:
  • It is prohibited to leave a vehicle engine idling while refilling with petrol.
  • The driver may not allow the engine to run while flammable fuel is being transferred to the fuel tank.
  • Engines must not be run unattended or without supervision.
  • Vehicles must be fitted with an effective, closed fuel cap.
• Noise and Obstructions:
  • No person shall operate a vehicle that causes excessive noise on a public road.
  • Silencers must be fitted to restrict engine noise to a suitable level; silencers with holes are unacceptable.
  • Only the driver is permitted to allow a portion of their body to project beyond the vehicle, and only for the purpose of giving legal hand signals.
• Reversing: Reversing is only permitted if it is safe to do so. It is prohibited to reverse the vehicle for more than $100\,m$.

Vehicle Lighting and Visibility

• Headlight Activation Requirements: Headlights must be switched on:
  • From sunset to sunrise.
  • At any time of day when visibility of persons or vehicles is reduced to less than $150\,m$.
  • During rain when visibility is less than $100\,m$.
• Specific Lighting Standards:
  • Dim Lights: The furthest a vehicle's dim light may shine is $45\,m$.
  • Main Beam: Must light up objects at least $100\,m$ ahead.
  • Parking Lights: These must be used if a vehicle is parked on a public road between sunset and sunrise, unless it is $12\,m$ from an illuminated street lamp or in a demarcated parking area.
  • Prohibited Lighting: Vehicles may not be used if fitted with a spot lamp that can emit a beam of light deflected in any direction, except for breakdown vehicles at collision scenes.

Parking and Stopping Regulations

• Prohibited Stopping Areas: Stopping is illegal in the following locations:
  • Inside a tunnel, subway, or bridge, or within $6\,m$ thereof.
  • Within a railway reserve or within $6\,m$ of a railway line.
  • Within $5\,m$ of a pedestrian crossing.
  • In a location where the roadway has been narrowed, or within $6\,m$ of such a constriction.
  • Next to or opposite another vehicle where the road width is less than $9\,m$.
  • Opposite any road excavation or obstruction.
  • With the front of the vehicle facing oncoming traffic.
• Prohibited Parking Areas: Parking is illegal in all no-stopping areas, plus:
  • In an urban area where the road width is less than $5.5\,m$ (except in one-way streets).
  • Within $5\,m$ of an intersection.
  • Within $1.5\,m$ of a fire hydrant.
  • Away from the left edge of the roadway (outside urban areas, the limit is $1\,m$).
  • In a manner where the outer edges of the kerbside wheels are more than $450\,mm$ into the road.
  • In front of private or public entrances.
  • On a sidewalk or pavement.
• Temporal Limits: Outside urban areas, a vehicle may not be parked in one place for more than $24$ hours. In urban areas, the limit for a motor vehicle is $7$ days.

Lane Discipline and Overtaking

• General Rule: Drivers must keep to the left side of the roadway.
• Overtaking on the Left: Overtaking on the left is permitted only if:
  • The vehicle in front is turning right and the road is wide enough to pass without driving on the shoulder.
  • The road has two or more lanes for traffic in the same direction.
  • A traffic officer directs the driver to do so.
• Prohibited Overtaking: Drivers may not overtake when:
  • Nearing the top of a hill or a curve.
  • Visibility is reduced to $100\,m$ (e.g., due to dust, fog, or rain).
  • Approaching a place where passing causes a hazard to oncoming traffic.
  • A vehicle has stopped at a pedestrian crossing.
• Lane Changes: Before changing lanes, a driver must:
  1. Switch on indicators in good time.
  2. Check mirrors to assess surrounding traffic.
  3. Check the blind spot as the final action before moving.
• Shoulder Driving: Driving on the shoulder is only permitted during the day to allow another vehicle to pass, provided it is safe and has at least two lanes in the direction of travel (or on a freeway if the vehicle has a flat tire).

Accidents and Emergency Situations

• Immediate Duties: In the event of an accident, a driver must stop immediately, determine the damage, and check for injuries.
• Reporting Requirements: If no one is injured, the accident must be reported to the police within $24$ hours. If someone is killed or injured, the position of vehicles must be marked before they are moved.
• Emergency Warning Signs: If a vehicle breaks down, a safety triangle must be displayed to the rear of the vehicle at least $45\,m$ away. For goods vehicles stationary on a roadway, at least one emergency warning sign must be displayed at the back.
• Alcohol Prohibitions:
  • Ordinary Drivers: Maximum blood alcohol limit is $0.05\,g$ per $100\,ml$; maximum breath alcohol is $0.24\,mg$ per $1000\,ml$.
  • Professional Drivers: Maximum blood alcohol limit is $0.02\,g$ per $100\,ml$; maximum breath alcohol is $0.10\,mg$ per $1000\,ml$.
  • Consuming alcohol for "shock" after an accident is strictly prohibited.
• Emergency Vehicles: Drivers must yield the right of way to any emergency vehicle sounding a siren.

Vehicle Specifications and Speed Limits

• General Speed Limits:
  • Urban Areas (Towns/Cities): $60\,km/h$.
  • Rural and National Roads: $100\,km/h$.
  • Freeways: $120\,km/h$.
  • Heavy Combinations (> $9,000\,kg$): $80\,km/h$.
• Load Projections:
  • Front: Goods may not extend more than $300\,mm$ in front of a car/truck ($600\,mm$ for motorcycles).
  • Rear: Goods may not extend more than $1.8\,m$ behind a car/truck ($900\,mm$ for motorcycles).
  • Width: Standard limit is $2.5\,m$ ($2.6\,m$ for vehicles exceeding $12,000\,kg$).
  • Flags: Projections must be marked with red flags at least $300\,mm \times 300\,mm$ in size.
• Tyre Tread: The tread pattern depth must be at least $1\,mm$ for motor vehicles and at least $80\%$ of the original surface for motorcycles.
• Hooters: The hooter must be audible from at least $90\,m$. Its tone and pitch must not change.

Traffic Signs and Road Markings

• Temporary Signs: Recognized by a yellow background. They have the same legal significance as permanent signs and indicate that the road situation is not normal.
• Stop Signs: Drivers must stop behind the stop line and proceed only when safe, following the sequence in which vehicles stopped.
• Yield signs: Drivers must slow down and give right of way to other traffic and pedestrians.
• Robots (Traffic Lights):
  • Flashing Red: Stop and go only if safe.
  • Flashing Green Arrow: Right turn permitted while other traffic is stopped.
  • Red Light with Flashing Left Arrow: Stop, then proceed left if safe.
• Reserved Lanes: Marked lanes (e.g., "BUS") are for exclusive use. Emergency lanes are reserved for vehicles like ambulances.
• Painted Islands: Areas where driving or stopping is prohibited.

Motorcycle Specifics (Code 1)

• Licensing Age: $16$ years for $125\,cc$ or less; $17$ years for engines exceeding $125\,cc$.
• General Prohibitions:
  • Motorcycles may not tow another vehicle.
  • Maximum handlebar height is $600\,mm$ above the seat.
  • Only one number plate is required, at the rear.
• Controls:
  • Accelerator: Number $7$.
  • Front Brake: Number $4$.
  • Rear Brake: Number $2$.
  • Clutch: Number $1$.
  • Gear Lever: Number $5$.
  • Handlebars (Steering): Number $8$.

Light and Heavy Motor Vehicle Controls (Codes 2 & 3)

• Accelerator: Number $10$.
• Service Brake (Foot Brake): Number $9$.
• Clutch: Number $8$ (not found in automatic vehicles).
• Handbrake: Number $7$.
• Steering Wheel: Number $5$.
• Gear Lever: Number $6$.
• Direction Indicator (Flicker): Number $3$ (for heavy vehicles) or Number $4$ (for light vehicles).
• Rear View Mirror: Number $1$.
• Windscreen Wiper: Number $2$.

Towing Regulations

• Maximum Distance: The distance between the towing and towed vehicle must not exceed $3.5\,m$.
• Rope vs. Tow-bar: If a rope is used, the maximum speed is $30\,km/h$. If a distance exceeding $1.8\,m$ is between the vehicles, the rope must be marked with a red flag.
• Brake Failure: If the towed vehicle's brakes are defective, it must be towed using a tow-bar, not a rope.
• Passengers: Passengers may only be carried in a towed vehicle if it is a semi-trailer or if the towing vehicle is a tractor travelling at $35\,km/h$ or less.