Burkina Faso Permis D (Transport) cheat sheet

Burkina Faso drives on the right; overtaking is normally done on the left, and a vehicle must keep to the right edge of the carriageway.

Speed limits on ordinary roads are set by decree; in built-up areas the general limit is 50 km/h unless a sign states otherwise, and limits are lower when towing or carrying dangerous goods.

Third-party liability insurance (assurance responsabilité civile) is compulsory for every motor vehicle in circulation; driving uninsured is an offence.

Required documents carried on board: driving licence of the correct category, vehicle registration card (carte grise), valid insurance certificate, and technical inspection certificate (contrôle technique).

A category D licence authorises driving motor vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver; a D licence also covers category B vehicles.

The driver must stop and give assistance after any bodily injury accident (délit de fuite is a serious offence); exchange identity and insurance details with the other party.

Traffic offences are recorded by fixed or mobile enforcement; fines, licence points and possible licence suspension apply, and serious offences (alcohol, hit-and-run, gross speeding) carry custodial sentences.

Regulatory signs are mandatory (round with red border = prohibition, blue circle = obligation); warning signs are triangular with red border and are placed in advance of the hazard.

Priority order of signals: a police officer's directions override traffic lights, which override road signs, which override road markings.

A STOP sign requires a complete halt at the stop line, even when the road appears clear; a give-way (cédez le passage) sign requires yielding without necessarily stopping.

At an unmarked intersection the default rule is priority to the right (priorité à droite), unless a priority road sign or marking indicates otherwise.

Solid white centre line: no crossing and no overtaking. Broken white line: overtaking permitted when safe and visibility allows.

A yellow continuous line along the kerb means no stopping or parking; a broken yellow line means parking prohibited but stopping allowed.

Traffic light sequence: red, then red+amber (prepare to move, do not proceed), then green, then amber (stop unless stopping is unsafe).

A flashing red light at a level crossing or a lowered barrier means absolute stop; never attempt to cross while the barrier is moving.

Direction indicators must be given before any change of direction, lane or overtaking manoeuvre, and cancelled immediately afterwards.

Air-brake systems operate at roughly 8-10 bar working pressure; a low-pressure warning buzzer or gauge drop below about 4.5-5 bar means stop and diagnose before driving.

The parking brake on heavy vehicles is usually a spring brake (frein à ressort): air pressure releases it, so loss of air pressure applies the brake automatically.

Diesel engines rely on compression ignition; a runaway engine (uncontrolled acceleration from oil ingestion) is stopped by cutting the air supply, not by turning the key alone.

Drum or disc brakes on a bus lose efficiency when overheated (fading); use engine braking and a lower gear on long descents rather than continuous service braking.

Tyre load index and speed rating must meet or exceed the axle load; dual tyres must be matched in size and wear to avoid overload on one tyre.

The retarder or exhaust brake is an auxiliary braking device only; it does not replace the service brake and is deactivated on slippery surfaces on some models.

Coolant temperature, oil pressure, air pressure and battery charge are the four gauges to monitor continuously while driving.

A bus with air suspension has a kneeling function for boarding; the vehicle must not be moved until the suspension has returned to ride height.

Daily walk-around check: tyres and pressures, wheel nut indicators, lights and indicators, mirrors, wipers, washer fluid, bodywork and doors, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, warning triangle.

Check engine oil, coolant and power-steering fluid with the engine cold and the vehicle level; low coolant on a hot engine is topped up only after cooling to avoid cracking the head.

Air-brake leak test: build pressure to governor cut-out, stop the engine, and confirm pressure loss stays within the manufacturer's limit (typically under 1 bar in 1 minute with brakes released).

Drain water from air tanks daily; water in the air system corrodes valves and can freeze, disabling the brakes.

Check tyre tread depth and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear; a blowout on a steered axle of a bus is a critical loss-of-control risk.

Test all doors, the emergency exit and the emergency hammer positions before departure; passengers must be able to evacuate from both sides.

Record every defect in the vehicle log; defects affecting safety (brakes, steering, tyres, lights) ground the vehicle until repaired.

Respect the technical inspection (contrôle technique) schedule; a bus carrying passengers must hold a valid inspection certificate at all times.

Stopping distance grows with the square of speed: doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance, and a loaded bus needs far more distance than a car.

Maintain at least a 2-second gap in good conditions and 4 seconds or more in rain, at night or when fully loaded; on gravel, increase further.

Total vehicle height, width and length must be known before departure; height is critical for bridges, tunnels and low branches on rural routes.

Load must be distributed so no axle exceeds its permitted load; heavy items go low and over the axles, and the load must be secured against shifting.

On long descents select a low gear before the slope, use engine braking, and brake in short firm applications rather than riding the pedal.

Blind spots on a bus extend along both sides and directly behind; use mirrors systematically and never rely on a single glance before changing lanes.

In rain or on laterite roads, reduce speed, avoid sudden steering and braking, and be aware that mud greatly reduces tyre grip.

Passengers must remain seated or hold handrails while the bus is moving; boarding and alighting happen only when the vehicle is fully stopped.

A passenger transport operator must hold an operating authorisation and the vehicle a valid transport permit for the route or service performed.

The driver must hold the licence category matching the vehicle and, for professional passenger transport, meet the minimum age and medical fitness requirements.

A waybill or passenger manifest should list passengers or goods, origin and destination; it is produced on demand to enforcement officers.

Overloading passengers beyond the registered seating or standing capacity is prohibited and voids insurance cover in case of accident.

Dangerous goods require special marking, documentation and driver training; a category D passenger vehicle may not carry dangerous goods with passengers.

Driving and rest time rules apply to professional drivers: continuous driving is limited and a break is mandatory after a set period, recorded in the log.

The professional driver is responsible for the vehicle and its load; the employer cannot require a driver to commit an offence such as speeding or overloading.

Goods must be covered or secured so nothing falls onto the road; an unsecured or projecting load must be marked and may need an escort.

Protect, alert, rescue (protéger, alerter, secourir): switch on hazard lights, place the warning triangle, evacuate passengers to a safe place away from traffic, then call emergency services.

The warning triangle is placed about 30 metres behind the vehicle on a straight road and further back before a bend or on a motorway.

Never move an injured person unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic); suspected spinal injury can be worsened by movement.

To control severe bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth and keep the limb raised; do not remove an object embedded in a wound.

For an unconscious but breathing casualty, place them in the recovery position and monitor breathing continuously until help arrives.

Do not give food or drink to an injured person; it complicates surgery and may cause choking in a semi-conscious casualty.

Fire on board: stop, switch off the engine, evacuate passengers upwind, and attack the fire only if it is small and the extinguisher is adequate.

Emergency numbers and the operator's dispatch number must be known and posted in the vehicle; give location, number of casualties and vehicle type.

Alcohol impairs reaction time, night vision and judgement of speed and distance; even below the legal limit, a professional driver's fitness is compromised.

Alcohol is eliminated slowly, about 0.1-0.15 g/L of blood per hour; coffee, cold showers and sleep do not accelerate elimination.

Fatigue signs: yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting in lane, missing signs; the only effective remedy is stopping for a rest, ideally a short sleep of 15-20 minutes.

Peak drowsiness periods are roughly 02:00-06:00 and 14:00-16:00; plan long trips to avoid driving through them.

Medicines such as antihistamines, sedatives and some cough syrups cause drowsiness; check the label and ask a pharmacist before driving.

Illicit drugs and cannabis impair coordination and reaction time and are detected by roadside tests; driving under their influence is a serious offence.

Professional conduct: courtesy, no aggressive driving, no horn abuse in towns, respect for pedestrians and cyclists, and a clean, presentable appearance.

Report any medical condition or treatment that could affect driving to the employer and the licensing authority; the medical certificate must be renewed on schedule.

Fuel consumption rises steeply above about 80-90 km/h because aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed; moderating speed is the single biggest saving.

Anticipate traffic and lift off the accelerator early rather than braking late; smooth acceleration and steady cruising cut consumption by up to 10-15 percent.

Keep tyres correctly inflated; under-inflation increases rolling resistance, raises fuel use and accelerates tyre wear.

Avoid unnecessary idling: a modern diesel uses less fuel to restart than to idle for more than about 30 seconds.

Remove unnecessary weight and roof racks; every extra kilogram and every source of drag increases consumption.

Black smoke from the exhaust signals incomplete combustion; it points to a clogged air filter, faulty injectors or over-fuelling and must be repaired.

Regular servicing (air filter, injectors, oil) keeps emissions within limits and is checked during the technical inspection.

Plan routes to avoid congestion and steep detours; a well-planned route reduces distance, fuel and emissions.