China Driving Subject 4 (Small Car) flashcards

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

Two-second rule

In dry conditions, stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, measured from when it passes a fixed point to when you do. Double this in rain, at night, or when towing.

Blind spot check

The area beside and behind the car that mirrors do not show. Turn your head to check it before changing lanes; mirrors alone leave a gap a car can hide in.

Low beam required

Use low beam at night, in tunnels, rain and fog. Dip high beam when a vehicle approaches within about 150 metres, or when following closely, to avoid glare.

Merge on freeway

Accelerate on the ramp to match freeway speed, signal, and merge into a gap without stopping. Stopping on the acceleration lane creates a rear-end hazard for following cars.

Tyre blowout response

Grip the wheel with both hands, keep the car straight, ease off the accelerator, and brake gently once stable. Hard braking on the deflated tyre can cause a spin.

Aquaplaning response

When tyres ride on a water film and steering feels light, lift off the accelerator, hold the wheel straight, and do not brake. Grip returns as speed falls.

Warning triangle distance

Place the triangle about 50-100 metres behind the car on a normal road, and about 150 metres on a freeway. Keep hazard lights on and stand behind the barrier.

Injured person at crash

Do not move an injured person unless there is fire or traffic danger. Call 120 for medical help and 122 for police, and protect the scene from further collisions.

Drink-driving thresholds

Blood alcohol of 20-80 mg per 100 mL is drinking and driving. At 80 mg per 100 mL and above it is drunk driving, a criminal offence with licence revocation.

Twelve-point cycle

A private small-car licence carries 12 points per scoring cycle. Reaching 12 points within one cycle requires retaking the Subject 1 theory test to restore the licence.

Red light penalty

Crossing the stop line after the light turns red is recorded by camera and carries 6 points. Stopping just past the line without entering the junction is treated differently.

Probationary freeway rule

A driver in the first 12 months after licensing may not drive alone on a freeway. A driver holding a full licence for 3 or more years must sit alongside.

Triangle sign meaning

A triangular sign with a red border and black symbol is a warning sign. It tells you a hazard is ahead, such as a bend, crossing or slippery surface.

Yellow box junction

A yellow grid painted on the road may be entered only when the exit is clear. Stopping inside it is prohibited even on a green light, because it blocks cross traffic.

Solid versus broken line

A solid white line between lanes means no lane change. A broken white line permits a lane change when it is safe and signalled.

Flashing yellow signal

A flashing yellow light means proceed with caution, typically at night or at a low-traffic junction. Reduce speed and check for crossing traffic before entering.

Cold tyre pressure

Check and set tyre pressure when tyres are cold, before driving. A tyre warmed by driving reads higher, so a hot reading is not the correct fill target.

Tread depth limit

Passenger car tyres must have at least 1.6 millimetres of tread. Below this, wet grip and resistance to aquaplaning drop sharply and the tyre needs replacing.

Red warning light

A red dashboard warning means stop as soon as it is safe. Oil pressure, brake system and coolant temperature lights are red because continuing can destroy the engine or brakes.

Hot radiator cap

Never open the radiator or coolant cap while the engine is hot. The pressurised system releases scalding coolant and steam that can cause serious burns.

Cover the brake

Rest your foot over the brake pedal without pressing when a pedestrian, cyclist or parked car is near the road edge. This shortens reaction time by roughly half a second.

Twelve-second scan

Look about 12-15 seconds ahead of the car in urban traffic, and further on the freeway. Seeing hazards early turns sudden braking into smooth planning.

Truck blind spots

Large vehicles cannot see directly behind or alongside the rear quarter. Do not linger there; pass quickly on the left where the driver can see you.

Fog driving lights

In fog use low beam and fog lights, slow down and increase following distance. High beam reflects off water droplets and makes visibility worse, not better.

Night glare technique

When an oncoming car's high beam dazzles you, look toward the right edge of your lane rather than at the lights. This keeps lane position while avoiding the glare.

Pedestrian crossing duty

A pedestrian already on a marked crossing has priority, and the vehicle must stop. Yielding is a legal requirement, not a courtesy extended at the driver's discretion.

Zipper merge

At a lane closure, vehicles in the closing lane merge alternately with the through lane, one at a time. Blocking them is aggressive driving and worsens the queue.

Horn use rule

The horn is a warning device for danger, not an outlet for impatience. It is prohibited in marked no-horn zones and near hospitals and schools.

Emergency vehicle yield

When an ambulance, fire engine or police car approaches with siren and lights, pull to the right and stop. Do not follow closely behind it through traffic.

Fatigue versus alcohol

Drowsy driving slows reaction time comparably to low-level alcohol. Stop for rest rather than opening the window or raising the radio volume, which do not restore alertness.

Headlight flash meaning

At night, a flash of headlights from an oncoming car usually signals a hazard ahead or asks you to dip your high beam. Treat it as information, not provocation.

Engine braking

Downshifting to a lower gear uses compression to slow the car without the brakes. It is the correct response to brake fade or failure on a long descent.