Burundi Driving Theory Test cheat sheet

Sign shapes carry meaning: circles give orders (prohibitions and mandatory instructions), triangles warn of hazards ahead, rectangles inform or guide, and octagons mean stop.

Red circular signs with a white bar or diagonal slash prohibit the manoeuvre shown; a red circle with a white centre and no symbol marks a road closed to all vehicles in both directions.

Blue circular signs state mandatory instructions (direction to follow, minimum speed, compulsory cycle track); blue rectangles give information such as parking, hospitals or one-way streets.

Triangular warning signs are placed in advance of the hazard; the distance between sign and hazard is longer on higher-speed roads and shorter in built-up areas.

A flashing red light at a level crossing, or a red light at any signal, means stop and remain stopped until the way is clearly safe and the signal permits movement.

Continuous (solid) white edge and centre lines may not be crossed; broken lines may be crossed when safe and when overtaking or turning requires it.

Yellow zig-zag or yellow kerb markings indicate stopping and parking prohibitions; a solid yellow line bans parking, a broken yellow line restricts parking to specified times.

Traffic light sequence is green, amber, red: amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so because you are too close to stop safely at the line.

At an uncontrolled intersection the general rule is to give way to traffic approaching from the right; a driver already committed to the junction has priority over one still approaching.

A roundabout is entered by giving way to traffic already circulating on the roundabout; vehicles on the roundabout come from the left and have priority.

Turning left across oncoming traffic requires giving way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction; turning right into a side road requires giving way to pedestrians crossing that road.

Overtaking is prohibited at pedestrian crossings, on the approach to blind crests and bends, and wherever a solid line or sign forbids it; the overtaking vehicle must be able to see clear road ahead.

A driver must keep a safe following distance measured in time, not metres: at least two seconds in dry conditions, doubled to four seconds or more on wet roads or at night.

Emergency vehicles using sirens and flashing lights have priority; other drivers must give way and, where necessary, pull over and stop to let them pass.

Pedestrians on a marked crossing have priority; a driver must slow down and stop for anyone waiting to cross or already crossing, and must not overtake a vehicle stopped at a crossing.

Speed limits apply from the sign until cancelled by another sign or by leaving the zone; in built-up areas drivers must adjust speed to pedestrians, parked vehicles and limited visibility.

Clutch operation: press to the floor before selecting or changing gear, release progressively to the bite point to move off smoothly; the clutch disconnects engine from gearbox when depressed.

Braking progressively transfers weight forward; cadence or threshold braking maximises retardation without locking wheels, and on a slippery surface braking distance increases sharply.

Steering should be with both hands on the wheel at roughly the ten-to-two or quarter-to-three position; hands should not cross over, and the wheel self-centres after a turn.

Reversing requires checking all mirrors and blind spots, moving slowly with clutch control, and steering in the direction you want the rear of the vehicle to go.

Hill starts: apply the parking brake, find the bite point with the clutch, add accelerator, then release the brake smoothly to avoid rolling back.

Gear selection should match speed and load: lower gears give more engine braking and power for hills and descents, higher gears reduce fuel use and engine wear on level roads.

The three-point turn uses forward and reverse movements across the road width; it is only safe where visibility is clear and traffic is light, and must not be attempted on a bend or crest.

Mirrors should be checked before signalling, changing direction, slowing or opening a door; the interior mirror gives the widest rear view, door mirrors cover the blind spots.

The two-second rule is the minimum dry-weather following gap; in rain, at night or when following a large vehicle, increase it to four seconds or more.

Stopping distance equals thinking distance plus braking distance; both increase with speed, and braking distance increases roughly with the square of speed.

Hazards should be scanned far ahead and to the sides, not just the vehicle in front; a driver should look for clues such as brake lights, junctions and pedestrians near the kerb.

In fog, use dipped headlights and fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced; switch fog lights off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other drivers.

When overtaking, check mirrors, signal, move out only with a clear view, pass promptly and return to the lane without cutting in on the overtaken vehicle.

On wet roads, tyres can lose contact with the surface (aquaplaning); ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden braking or steering until grip returns.

At night, dip headlights for oncoming traffic and when following another vehicle; glare from full beam can blind other drivers and cause collisions.

Defensive driving assumes other road users may make mistakes; maintain space, avoid confrontation and be prepared to stop for unpredictable behaviour from pedestrians, cyclists and animals.

Engine oil lubricates and cools moving parts; check the level on a level surface with a cold engine, and keep it between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick.

Coolant prevents overheating and freezing; check the level only when the engine is cold, never open a hot radiator cap because pressurised steam can cause severe burns.

Brake fluid level drops as pads wear; a low level or a spongy pedal indicates a fault that must be checked before driving, and brake fluid absorbs moisture over time.

Tyre tread must be adequate for grip and water dispersal; check tread depth and pressure when tyres are cold, and look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear.

Battery terminals should be clean and tight; a battery that turns the engine slowly or dims the lights indicates a weak charge or a charging-system fault.

Lights, indicators, brake lights and horn are legal safety equipment; a driver should test them regularly and replace failed bulbs promptly.

Warning lights on the dashboard signal faults: red lights (oil pressure, brakes, battery) mean stop as soon as safe; amber lights mean check the system soon.

Windscreen washer fluid and wiper blades must be in working order; worn blades smear the glass and reduce visibility in rain and spray.

A valid driving licence must be carried and produced on demand by a police officer or other authorised official; driving without the appropriate licence category is an offence.

The vehicle must have valid insurance covering third-party liability; driving uninsured is illegal and the driver is personally liable for damage caused.

Vehicle registration documents and a valid roadworthiness (technical inspection) certificate must be kept current; an expired inspection makes the vehicle illegal to use on public roads.

Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all passengers where fitted, and children must be restrained in an appropriate child seat or booster according to their size and age.

The driver is responsible for the vehicle's condition and load; an insecure or overloaded vehicle is an offence and affects braking and stability.

After a change of address or ownership, the relevant authority must be notified within the period set by law; failure to update records can invalidate documents.

Driving licence categories restrict which vehicles may be driven; driving a vehicle outside the licensed category is treated as driving without a licence.

A driver involved in a collision must stop, give identity and vehicle details, and report the incident to the police where required by law.

Alcohol slows reaction time, reduces coordination and impairs judgement of speed and distance; the effects begin with the first drink and are not offset by coffee or fresh air.

Driving with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit is an offence; penalties include fines, licence suspension and imprisonment, and refusal to be tested is itself an offence.

Illegal drugs and many medicines (sedatives, antihistamines, some painkillers) impair driving; drivers must check medicine warnings and not drive if affected.

Prescription medicines that cause drowsiness should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist; combining them with alcohol multiplies impairment.

Fatigue signs include yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting in the lane and missing signs; the safe response is to stop in a safe place and rest, not to push on.

Long drives should include a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours; fatigue impairs performance in a way similar to alcohol.

Illness, injury, poor eyesight and emotional stress all affect fitness to drive; a driver who feels unwell should not drive until fit.

Alcohol is eliminated slowly by the liver; a person may still be over the limit the morning after heavy drinking, so time is the only reliable remedy.

At an accident scene: stop, switch off engines, warn other traffic, call emergency services, and do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire.

The primary survey follows ABC: Airway, Breathing, Circulation; check responsiveness, clear the airway, and begin rescue breathing or CPR if breathing has stopped.

Severe bleeding is controlled by direct pressure on the wound with a clean cloth, raising the limb if possible, and keeping pressure on until help arrives.

Do not remove a motorcycle or bicycle helmet from an injured rider unless the airway is obstructed; removal can worsen spinal injury.

For burns, cool the area with clean running water for at least ten minutes and do not apply creams or burst blisters.

A person in shock is pale, cold, clammy and confused; keep them warm, lying down, and do not give food or drink.

In an emergency, the driver should place a warning triangle or hazard lights to alert traffic, and give way to ambulances and police vehicles responding to the scene.

Report the accident to police where required, exchange names, addresses, insurance and registration details, and record the position of vehicles and any witnesses.