DRTS Light-Vehicle Theory key terms

A solid white line painted across a lane that shows exactly where a vehicle must halt at a stop sign, red light, or crosswalk before proceeding.

A row of white triangles or a broken line marking where drivers must slow or stop to let conflicting traffic pass before entering or merging into a roadway.

The part of a roadway set aside for pedestrians to cross, marked by painted lines or by the physical joining of two curbs at an intersection.

A dashed yellow centerline that separates traffic moving in opposite directions and may be crossed to pass when the maneuver can be completed safely and legally.

A continuous yellow centerline that forbids crossing into the opposing lane, used where sight distance or traffic conditions make passing unsafe.

A white line along the right side of a lane, or a yellow line along the left edge of divided highways, marking the outer limit of the travel lane.

A red light that flashes rather than stays steady, requiring drivers to come to a complete stop and then proceed only when the way is clear, like a stop sign.

A solid yellow light warning that the green phase is ending; drivers should stop if they can do so safely rather than accelerate through the intersection.

A solid red light requiring a full stop behind the stop line or crosswalk; movement is allowed only when a turn on red is permitted and the way is clear.

A permitted right turn, or left turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street, made after a complete stop at a red light when no sign forbids it and traffic is clear.

The legal priority to move through a given space or maneuver first; it is something a driver may yield but never simply take from another road user.

An intersection where all approaches have stop signs; vehicles proceed in the order they arrived, and simultaneous arrivals resolve by yielding to the vehicle on the right.

A junction with no signs or signals, where drivers must slow down, look for cross traffic, and yield to vehicles already in the intersection or approaching from the right.

The requirement that a driver turning left across oncoming traffic wait until a safe gap appears, giving way to vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians in the path.

A left turn made on a green arrow, during which opposing traffic is held by a red light so the turning driver has priority within the intersection.

A circular intersection with no traffic signals where entering drivers yield to traffic already circulating counterclockwise and then exit at the chosen road.

The maximum lawful speed shown on a sign for a road under normal conditions; it is not a target, and drivers must go slower when hazards or weather require.

The rule that a driver must never travel faster than is reasonable and prudent for current conditions, regardless of what the posted limit allows.

The gap in seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead, commonly kept at three or more seconds and increased in rain, darkness, or heavy traffic.

A simple method of checking following distance by counting the seconds between the car ahead passing a fixed object and your own vehicle reaching it.

The total distance a vehicle travels from the moment a hazard is seen until it comes to rest, combining perception, reaction, and braking distance.

The distance covered from the instant the brakes are applied until the vehicle stops; it grows with speed and is much longer on wet, icy, or gravel surfaces.

A yellow sign showing a recommended speed for a curve, ramp, or hazard that is often lower than the posted limit and reflects safe conditions for that feature.

The rule that by driving on public roads a person agrees to submit to a chemical test of breath or blood when lawfully requested by an officer.

The percentage of alcohol in a person's bloodstream, used as the legal measure of impairment; the adult limit in most places is 0.08 percent.

Operating a vehicle with enough alcohol, drugs, or medication in the body to reduce the mental or physical skills needed to drive safely.

Reduced alertness and slower reactions caused by tiredness, which can mimic alcohol effects and is best handled by stopping to rest rather than pushing on.

Any activity that pulls attention from the road, such as texting, eating, or adjusting controls, sharply raising the risk of a crash.

The skill of scanning far ahead and to the sides to spot developing dangers early enough to adjust speed or position calmly.

The safety margin of empty space kept around a vehicle on all sides so there is room to steer or brake if another road user makes a sudden move.

A planned path or gap a driver identifies in advance as a way out if traffic ahead stops suddenly or an obstacle appears.

A person traveling without the protection of a vehicle shell, such as a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist, who deserves extra space and caution.

A road marking showing two chevrons above a bicycle symbol, indicating that bicycles and motor vehicles share the lane rather than a separate bike lane.

The minimum sideways gap a driver must give when overtaking a cyclist, pedestrian, or motorcyclist, often set by law at about three feet or one metre.

A stretch of road marked with a solid centerline or signs where overtaking is prohibited because sight distance or traffic patterns make it unsafe.

The depth of the grooves on a tire, which channels water away from the contact patch; worn tread greatly increases the risk of skidding on wet roads.

The grip between tires and the road surface that allows steering, accelerating, and braking; it drops sharply on ice, rain, oil, or loose gravel.

Choosing where within a lane to drive, such as staying centered in normal traffic or shifting away from parked cars and oncoming large vehicles.