DR Congo Driving Theory Test key terms
DR Congo Driving Theory Test · Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
- Panneau de stop
- Related: Cédez le passage, Ligne d'arrêt
Octagonal red sign with white lettering that requires a complete halt at the line or intersection edge, followed by yielding to all cross traffic before moving off.
- Cédez le passage
- Related: Panneau de stop, Priorité à droite
Inverted triangle sign warning that the driver must slow down and give way to traffic on the intersecting road, stopping only if necessary.
- Priorité à droite
- Related: Cédez le passage, Carrefour à sens giratoire
Default rule at unmarked intersections requiring a driver to yield to vehicles approaching from the right; it does not apply where signs or signals state otherwise.
- Carrefour à sens giratoire
- Related: Priorité à droite, Rond-point
Circular junction where entering traffic yields to vehicles already circulating; the roundabout itself is normally marked by a blue circular sign with white arrows.
- Ligne continue
- Related: Ligne discontinue, Dépassement
Solid white or yellow line that must not be crossed or straddled, typically marking the centre of the road or the edge where overtaking is prohibited.
- Ligne discontinue
- Related: Ligne continue, Dépassement
Broken line that may be crossed when it is safe and legal, for example to overtake or change lane, provided the manoeuvre does not endanger other road users.
- Ligne d'arrêt
- Related: Panneau de stop, Feu rouge
Transverse white line at a stop sign or traffic light where the vehicle's front must halt; stopping beyond it can obstruct pedestrians or cross traffic.
- Feu rouge
- Related: Ligne d'arrêt, Agent de circulation
Red traffic signal requiring a complete stop before the stop line; proceeding while red is an offence unless a police officer directs otherwise.
- Feu orange
- Related: Feu rouge, Feu vert
Amber signal warning that the light is about to turn red; a driver should stop unless doing so would be unsafe because of close following traffic.
- Feu vert
- Related: Feu orange, Passage piéton
Signal authorising movement, but only if the junction beyond is clear; a green light does not remove the duty to yield to pedestrians already crossing.
- Agent de circulation
- Related: Feu rouge, Feu vert
Police officer or authorised official whose hand signals override traffic lights and road signs; drivers must obey the officer's directions immediately.
- Passage piéton
- Related: Feu vert, Modérateur de vitesse
Marked zebra or striped crossing where pedestrians have priority once they have stepped onto it; drivers must slow and stop to let them cross.
- Dépassement
- Related: Ligne continue, Ligne discontinue
Overtaking manoeuvre that must be carried out only when visibility is clear, the line markings permit it, and no oncoming or following vehicle is endangered.
- Distance de sécurité
- Related: Distance d'arrêt, Aquaplanage
Gap kept behind the vehicle ahead, commonly at least two seconds in good conditions and more in rain, dust or poor visibility, to allow safe braking.
- Distance d'arrêt
- Related: Distance de sécurité, Temps de réaction
Total distance a vehicle travels before stopping, made up of the reaction distance during the driver's thinking time plus the braking distance itself.
- Temps de réaction
- Related: Distance d'arrêt, Fatigue au volant
Delay between a hazard appearing and the driver applying the brakes, typically around one second but longer when tired, distracted or impaired.
- Aquaplanage
- Related: Distance de sécurité, Pression des pneus
Loss of tyre contact with the road caused by a film of water, producing heavy steering and reduced braking; the driver should ease off the accelerator without braking sharply.
- Pression des pneus
- Related: Profondeur des sculptures, Aquaplanage
Air pressure inside each tyre, checked cold against the manufacturer's figures; incorrect pressure harms grip, fuel use and tyre life and raises blowout risk.
- Profondeur des sculptures
- Related: Pression des pneus, Aquaplanage
Depth of the tread grooves on a tyre; worn tread below the legal minimum reduces grip on wet roads and must be replaced before it becomes dangerous.
- Niveau d'huile moteur
- Related: Liquide de refroidissement, Liquide de frein
Engine oil level read on the dipstick with the vehicle level and engine off; too little oil risks seizure, so it should be checked regularly and topped up as needed.
- Liquide de frein
- Related: Niveau d'huile moteur, Frein à main
Hydraulic fluid in the braking system that transmits pedal force to the brakes; a low level or spongy pedal signals a fault requiring immediate attention.
- Liquide de refroidissement
- Related: Niveau d'huile moteur, Feux de détresse
Coolant mixture circulating through the engine to control temperature; low level or overheating warns of a leak and the engine should not be run hot.
- Frein à main
- Related: Liquide de frein, Triangle de présignalisation
Parking brake that holds the vehicle stationary when parked; it must be fully released before driving or the rear brakes will overheat and lose effectiveness.
- Feux de détresse
- Related: Triangle de présignalisation, Gilet de haute visibilité
Hazard warning lights flashing on all four corners, used to signal a breakdown, accident or sudden slowing so other drivers are warned of the danger.
- Triangle de présignalisation
- Related: Feux de détresse, Gilet de haute visibilité
Reflective warning triangle placed behind a broken-down vehicle on the road to alert approaching traffic, at a distance suited to the road and visibility.
- Gilet de haute visibilité
- Related: Triangle de présignalisation, Feux de détresse
Reflective vest worn by anyone outside a broken-down vehicle at night or in poor visibility so approaching drivers can see them in time.
- Fatigue au volant
- Related: Temps de réaction, Alcoolémie
Drowsiness from long driving, night driving or illness that slows reactions and causes micro-sleeps; the only remedy is to stop and rest, not to push on.
- Alcoolémie
- Related: Fatigue au volant, Permis de conduire
Concentration of alcohol in the blood, measured in grams per litre; driving above the legal limit is an offence and impairs judgement, vision and reaction time.
- Permis de conduire
- Related: Carte grise, Assurance automobile
Driving licence of the appropriate category that must be carried or produced on demand; driving without one, or outside its category, is a punishable offence.
- Carte grise
- Related: Permis de conduire, Assurance automobile
Vehicle registration document naming the owner and vehicle details; it must be kept valid and produced during checks or when ownership changes.
- Assurance automobile
- Related: Carte grise, Constat amiable
Compulsory third-party insurance covering injury or damage caused to others; driving uninsured is illegal and the certificate must be shown on request.
- Contrôle technique
- Related: Carte grise, Pression des pneus
Periodic official inspection of a vehicle's roadworthiness, covering brakes, lights, tyres and emissions; a valid certificate is required to keep the vehicle on the road.
- Constat amiable
- Related: Assurance automobile, Délit de fuite
Joint accident report form completed and signed by both drivers after a collision, recording circumstances and damage for the insurers to settle the claim.
- Délit de fuite
- Related: Constat amiable, Protection de la victime
Offence of leaving the scene of an accident without stopping, identifying oneself or helping the injured; it carries serious penalties.
- Protection de la victime
- Related: Numéro d'urgence, Position latérale de sécurité
First actions at a crash scene: secure the area, switch off engines, warn traffic and avoid moving an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire.
- Position latérale de sécurité
- Related: Protection de la victime, Numéro d'urgence
Recovery position used for an unconscious but breathing casualty, lying on the side with the airway clear, to prevent the tongue or vomit blocking breathing.
- Numéro d'urgence
- Related: Protection de la victime, Position latérale de sécurité
Emergency telephone number used to call police, fire or ambulance, giving the exact location, number of casualties and nature of the incident clearly.