Belgium CPC Code 95 flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Reaction distance formula

Reaction distance equals speed in metres per second multiplied by reaction time in seconds. At 90 km/h, one second of reaction covers 25 metres before braking begins.

Two-second rule

A driver should stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, measured from a fixed roadside point. Rain, darkness or a heavy load require doubling that gap.

Aerodynamic drag and speed

Drag force increases with the square of speed, so fuel needed to overcome it rises sharply. Keeping motorway speed moderate is the single largest fuel saving.

Engine braking

Deceleration produced by the engine's compression resistance with the throttle closed. It saves service brakes on descents but is limited on long or steep gradients.

Brake fade

Loss of braking efficiency caused by overheating friction material during prolonged or repeated braking. Recovery requires cooling and lower gear use, not harder pedal pressure.

Daily driving limit

Under EU rules a driver may drive nine hours per day, extendable to ten hours at most twice in a week. The weekly limit is 56 hours.

Fortnightly driving limit

Total driving time in any two consecutive weeks must not exceed 120 hours. It is checked together with the 56-hour weekly maximum.

Break after 4.5 hours

After four and a half hours of driving a driver must take 45 minutes of break, or 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes, in that order.

Reduced daily rest

The normal daily rest of 11 hours may be reduced to 9 hours at most three times between two weekly rests. The reduction is not compensated.

Split daily rest

A daily rest may be split into a period of at least three hours plus a period of at least nine hours, totalling twelve hours within the 24-hour day.

Weekly rest reduction

A weekly rest of 45 hours may be reduced to 24 hours. The missing 21 hours must be compensated before the end of the third following week.

Driver card

A personal, non-transferable smart card recording a driver's activity on a digital tachograph. Using another person's card or driving without one is an infringement.

Manual tachograph entry

A record entered by the driver for time not captured automatically, such as a ferry crossing or rest outside the vehicle, made at the next opportunity.

Alcohol elimination rate

The body clears alcohol at roughly 0.1 to 0.15 grams per litre of blood per hour. Coffee, cold air and exercise do not speed this up.

Fatigue countermeasure

Only sleep restores alertness effectively. Caffeine, fresh air and loud music mask symptoms temporarily and cannot substitute for rest.

SIPDE cycle

A defensive driving sequence: scan the environment, identify hazards, predict what may happen, decide on an action, then execute it smoothly.

Eco-driving basics

Anticipate traffic, accelerate smoothly, shift up early, avoid idling and keep tyres correctly inflated. These habits cut fuel use and emissions measurably.

Load centre of gravity

The point where the load's weight acts. Keeping it low and centred improves cornering stability and reduces rollover risk on heavy vehicles.

Tractive force limit

The maximum force a driven wheel can transmit equals the friction coefficient times the normal force on that wheel. Excess torque causes wheelspin.

Understeer

A handling condition where the front tyres lose grip first and the vehicle runs wide of the intended path. The remedy is to reduce speed.

Oversteer

A handling condition where the rear tyres lose grip first and the vehicle rotates around its vertical axis. Counter-steering and gentle throttle help recovery.

Retarder function

An auxiliary braking system that slows the vehicle without using the service brakes, typically by engine or transmission resistance, reducing brake overheating on descents.

Tyre under-inflation effects

Low pressure increases rolling resistance and fuel use, raises tyre temperature and distorts the contact patch, raising the risk of blowout and poor handling.

Load securing purpose

Cargo must be restrained against sliding, tipping and rolling under braking and cornering forces. Lashings and friction together must resist the load's mass times acceleration.

Friction coefficient examples

Roughly 0.6 for wood on wood and 0.3 for steel on steel. Low-friction pairings need more lashings or anti-slip mats to secure the load.

Axle load limit

The maximum mass permitted on each axle, set by the manufacturer and the vehicle plate. Exceeding it overloads tyres and brakes and is an offence.

Re-tensioning lashings

Straps and tensioners are checked after the first few kilometres and at intervals during the journey, because loads settle and lashings can loosen.

Recovery position

An unconscious but breathing casualty is placed on their side with the airway open. It prevents the tongue or vomit from blocking breathing while help arrives.

CPR compression rate

For an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally, chest compressions are given at 100 to 120 per minute, about five to six centimetres deep in adults.

Emergency number 112

The single European emergency number reaching police, fire and ambulance services. The caller states location, casualties, hazards and a callback number.

Warning triangle placement

On a motorway the triangle is placed well behind the vehicle, generally around 100 metres, to warn approaching traffic. A high-visibility vest is worn first.

Accident report contents

A written record of date, time, place, weather, vehicles involved, injuries, damage and witnesses, signed by the parties and forwarded to the operator.

Blind spot check

Before changing lane a driver checks mirrors, glances over the shoulder and watches for cyclists or vehicles hidden alongside the cab.