Bahrain Driving Practical flashcards

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

Biting point

The clutch position where the engine begins to engage the gearbox, felt as a slight drop in engine note and a lift of the bonnet. Held briefly before releasing the handbrake on a hill start.

Hill start procedure

Bring the clutch to biting point, add slight accelerator, then release the handbrake only when the car feels ready to pull forward, preventing rollback on an incline.

Emergency stop technique

Brake firmly and progressively without locking the wheels, keep both hands on the wheel, and apply the handbrake once the car has stopped.

Stall recovery

Press the clutch, apply the brake, select neutral, restart the engine, then re-select first gear and repeat the biting-point sequence to move off again.

Pre-drive cockpit drill

Adjust seat and headrest, set mirrors, fasten seatbelt, check gear is neutral or park, and confirm the handbrake is engaged before starting the engine.

Blind spot

The area beside and behind the car not visible in the mirrors. Check it with a brief shoulder glance before moving off, changing lanes, or opening a door.

Mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine

Check the centre mirror, then the relevant side mirror, signal your intention, and only then carry out the manoeuvre, checking the blind spot where needed.

Two-second rule

Pick a fixed object ahead; when the vehicle in front passes it, count two seconds. If you reach the object sooner, you are following too closely.

Reversing observation

Turn the head and body to look through the rear window, use both mirrors to check the sides, and pause if a pedestrian or vehicle enters the path.

Junction emerging rule

Traffic on the through road has priority. Emerging traffic must give way to vehicles approaching from both directions before joining or crossing the road.

Roundabout give-way rule

Give way to traffic already circulating on the roundabout, approaching from the right in Bahrain's left-hand-traffic system, before entering.

Roundabout lane choice

Use the left lane for the first and second exits and the right lane for later exits, moving to the outer lane before leaving and signalling left on exit.

Right turn positioning

Position near the centre line, signal right, give way to oncoming traffic, and complete the turn into the corresponding lane on the new road.

Stop line rule

Stop at the line rather than before it; if the line is obscured, stop where you can clearly see approaching traffic in both directions.

Keep-right rule

Drive in the rightmost lane unless overtaking, turning left soon, or traffic conditions require otherwise; do not straddle lanes or cross solid white lines.

Signal timing

Indicate at least three seconds before a manoeuvre, check mirrors and blind spot, and cancel the signal once the manoeuvre is complete.

Lane change sequence

Mirror, signal, blind-spot check, then manoeuvre. Do not change lanes across a solid white line or into a hatched area.

Overtaking return rule

Pass on the right in left-hand-traffic systems and return to the right lane only when the overtaken vehicle is visible in the interior mirror.

Urban speed default

Bahrain's urban default limit is typically 50 km/h unless signs indicate otherwise; motorway limits are higher and are posted and enforced.

Stopping distance growth

Braking distance grows roughly with the square of speed, so doubling speed approximately quadruples the distance needed to stop.

Wet-weather following gap

Double the two-second gap to four seconds in rain or at night, and increase further in heavy rain or poor visibility.

Braking before a bend

Reduce speed before entering a bend, then accelerate gently through it; braking mid-corner unsettles the car and reduces grip.

Parallel parking sequence

Pull alongside the car ahead, reverse until rear bumpers align, turn the wheel toward the kerb, and straighten as the car enters the space.

Reverse bay parking

Line up the car's centre with the bay centre, use the side mirror to keep the bay line visible, reverse slowly, and straighten once inside.

Hill parking wheel angle

Turn the front wheels toward the kerb when facing downhill and away from the kerb when facing uphill, and engage the handbrake before leaving.

Three-point turn

Signal, check mirrors and blind spots, turn the wheel fully, reverse to the opposite kerb, then move forward to complete the turn.

Smith system

A defensive driving method: aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, and make sure others see you.

Cover the brake

Rest the foot over the brake pedal without pressing when approaching an unresolved hazard, shortening reaction time if a stop becomes necessary.

Aquaplaning response

Ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady rather than braking hard; hard braking during aquaplaning can cause a loss of control.

Seatbelt law

Bahrain requires seatbelts for the driver and all passengers, and children must be restrained appropriately whenever travelling in a vehicle.

Mobile phone rule

Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Bahrain; hands-free use is permitted only where it does not distract the driver.

Road sign shapes

Red circles indicate prohibitions, blue circles give mandatory instructions, triangles warn of hazards, and rectangles provide information or direction.