Vehicle Safety, Maintenance and Documents
Daily and weekly checks
Before driving, walk around the vehicle to check tyres, lights, mirrors and obstructions. Weekly, check tyre pressures when cold, including the spare; look for cuts, bulges and tread depth below the legal minimum. Check engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and screen wash, and test lights, indicators, brake lights and horn. Wipers and washer fluid matter in Brunei's heavy rain.
Tyres and brakes
Tread depth must be at least the legal minimum (commonly 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre); replace earlier for wet grip. Uneven wear suggests alignment or pressure problems. Brakes should feel firm and pull straight; any sponginess, grinding or pulling needs immediate attention.
Documents to carry
You must hold a valid driving licence for the class of vehicle, valid road tax, and insurance covering third-party risks at minimum. Keep the vehicle registration document and inspection certificate where required. Driving without valid insurance or road tax is an offence regardless of how carefully you drive.
Loads and passengers
Secure loads so they cannot shift or fall. Do not overload beyond the vehicle's rated capacity; excess weight lengthens braking distance and strains tyres. Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear occupants where fitted, and children need appropriate restraints.
Traps in questions
Questions confuse insurance with road tax - both are separate legal requirements. Another trap is checking tyre pressure when tyres are hot, which gives a falsely high reading. A third is assuming a warning light can wait; red warning lights, especially oil pressure and brakes, mean stop safely and investigate.
Worked example
A red oil-can light appears while driving. The safe sequence is: find a safe place to stop, switch off the engine, check the oil level when cool, and do not continue if the level is low or the light persists - continuing risks destroying the engine.