Dominica Driving Test cheat sheet

Red octagon is reserved for STOP; red inverted triangle (point down) is reserved for YIELD/GIVE WAY - shape alone identifies these two signs.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds with black symbols in most Caribbean jurisdictions; regulatory signs are white rectangles with black or red symbols.

A circular sign with a red border and white centre is a prohibition (e.g. no entry, speed limit, no overtaking); a blue circle is a mandatory instruction.

A red circle with a white horizontal bar means NO ENTRY; a red circle with a white diagonal bar over a black arrow means no left/right turn as shown.

School zone and pedestrian crossing warning signs require a speed reduction and heightened scanning; the sign marks a hazard, not a legal speed by itself.

Railway crossing signs: a crossbuck (X-shape) means yield to trains; a supplementary plate below gives the number of tracks.

Chevron signs (black arrows on yellow) mark a sharp bend - reduce speed before the chevrons, not during them.

Temporary signs (orange in many systems) override permanent signs for the duration of roadworks; obey flaggers over signs when both are present.

A sign with a red border and the word STOP on a plate beneath it, or a stop line, means stop at the line, not at the sign post.

Steady red = stop behind the stop line; steady amber/yellow = stop unless stopping is unsafe; steady green = proceed if the way is clear.

A flashing red signal is treated as a STOP sign: full stop, then proceed when clear. A flashing amber means proceed with caution and yield.

A green arrow gives a protected right-of-way for that movement only; other movements still face their own signal.

Solid white line along the centre = no overtaking/no crossing; broken white line = overtaking permitted when safe and sight distance allows.

Solid double yellow centre lines mean no overtaking in either direction; a single broken yellow line on your side permits overtaking.

A solid white line at the edge of the carriageway marks the shoulder boundary; a wide solid white bar across the lane is the stop line.

Zebra/pedestrian crossing markings: pedestrians in the crossing have priority; do not stop or park on the markings.

Yellow box junction (criss-cross markings): do not enter unless your exit is clear, except when turning right and blocked only by oncoming traffic.

Lane arrows painted on the road indicate the permitted direction for that lane; obey them even when no sign is present.

Left-hand traffic: keep left, overtake on the right, and give way to traffic already on the roundabout coming from your right.

At an unmarked junction, yield to the vehicle on your right; at a T-junction, the road ending yields to the through road.

A vehicle already in the junction has right-of-way over one approaching it; do not enter until your exit is clear.

Turning right across oncoming traffic: you must yield to oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians crossing the road you enter.

Turning left: keep close to the left kerb and yield to pedestrians already in the crossing you are entering.

Emergency vehicles with sirens/lights on have priority; pull to the left and stop clear of junctions until they pass.

Pedestrians on a marked crossing have absolute priority; a pedestrian already stepping onto a crossing must be allowed to finish.

Following distance rule: at least a 2-second gap in dry conditions, 4 seconds in rain or at night, and more when loaded or towing.

Overtaking is prohibited on solid centre lines, at pedestrian crossings, at junctions, on bends, and where sight distance is insufficient.

The Smith System: Aim High, Get the Big Picture, Keep Your Eyes Moving, Leave Yourself an Out, Make Sure They See You.

IPDE cycle: Identify hazards, Predict the worst outcome, Decide an action, Execute smoothly - repeat continuously.

Scan 12–15 seconds ahead in urban areas and 20–30 seconds on open roads; check mirrors every 5–8 seconds.

Cover the brake (foot off accelerator, over brake pedal) when a hazard is developing; this cuts reaction time.

Escape route rule: always maintain at least one open path (lane or shoulder) to avoid a sudden obstacle.

Space cushion: leave room ahead, behind, and to the sides; if a tailgater closes in, increase your own front gap to slow gradually.

Hazard perception: children, animals, parked cars, and bus stops are unpredictable - reduce speed and increase lateral clearance.

Night driving: reduce speed so you can stop within the distance lit by headlights; dip beams for oncoming traffic to avoid glare.

Fatigue countermeasure: a 15–20 minute nap or stopping for the night; cold air and loud music do not reverse fatigue.

Hands at 9-and-3 or 8-and-4 on the wheel; push-pull steering keeps both hands on the wheel and prevents airbag injury.

Steering into a skid: look and steer where you want to go; ease off the accelerator and avoid hard braking.

ABS braking: press firmly and hold, do not pump; the pedal may vibrate - that is normal operation.

Manual gearbox: brake before downshifting; use engine braking on long descents to prevent brake fade.

Hill starts: use the handbrake or clutch bite point to hold the vehicle, then release as the clutch engages.

Mirror setup: the interior mirror frames the rear window; side mirrors show a sliver of your own vehicle for reference.

Wet-road braking distance roughly doubles; standing water risks aquaplaning - ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden steering.

Cornering: brake before the bend, hold a steady speed through it, accelerate gently on exit; never brake hard mid-corner.

Headlight use: dipped beams in rain, fog, and at night; main beam only when no oncoming traffic and no vehicle ahead.

Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all passengers; children must use an appropriate child restraint, not an adult belt alone.

Helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists and pillion passengers; a properly fastened helmet must meet an approved standard.

In a collision: stop, switch on hazard lights, check for injuries, call emergency services, and exchange names, addresses, registration and insurance details.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic); moving them can worsen spinal injury.

Reportable collisions must be reported to the police within the legally prescribed period; failing to stop and report is an offence.

Hazard lights are for a stationary breakdown or emergency, not for parking or for driving in rain.

Mobile phone use while driving is prohibited; even hands-free use raises crash risk by distracting attention.

Breakdown procedure: pull off the road, hazard lights on, warning triangle placed behind the vehicle where safe, occupants wait clear of traffic.

POWDERY pre-trip check: Petrol/oil, Oil, Water, Damage, Electrics, Rubber (tyres), Yourself.

Tyre tread minimum is typically 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread; check pressure when tyres are cold.

Tyre pressure too low causes overheating and blowouts; too high reduces grip and causes uneven wear.

Check engine oil with the engine off and cold, on level ground; level should sit between MIN and MAX on the dipstick.

Coolant must be checked when the engine is cold - never open a hot radiator cap; it can cause severe burns.

Brake fluid level drops as pads wear; a persistent drop indicates a leak and requires inspection before driving.

Lights check: headlights (dip and main), indicators, brake lights, reverse lights, and hazard lights, plus reflectors.

Windscreen washer fluid and wiper blades: cracked or streaking blades reduce visibility in rain and must be replaced.

Dashboard warning lights: red = stop and investigate; amber = caution, inspect soon; a lit oil-pressure or temperature light means stop the engine.

Alcohol slows reaction time, reduces peripheral vision, impairs judgement of speed and distance, and increases confidence - a dangerous combination.

The safest legal limit is zero: any alcohol before driving impairs performance, and effects persist after the last drink.

Body eliminates alcohol at roughly one standard drink per hour; coffee, cold showers, and food do not speed this up.

Driving under the influence of cannabis, cocaine, or prescription drugs that cause drowsiness is an offence; prescriptions do not exempt you.

Refusing a lawful breath or blood test is itself an offence in most jurisdictions and carries penalties similar to a positive result.

Medication: read the label for drowsiness warnings; if affected, do not drive until effects wear off.

Medical fitness: notify the licensing authority of conditions affecting consciousness or vision (epilepsy, severe diabetes, blackouts).

Fatigue, illness, and emotional stress impair driving as much as low-level alcohol - do not drive when unfit.

Penalties for drink-driving typically include licence disqualification, fines, and imprisonment for repeat or high-level offences.

Dominica drives on the left; vehicles are right-hand drive, and the legal driving age for a private car licence is 17.

A learner must hold a learner's permit and drive only with a qualified licensed driver supervising, displaying L plates.

A provisional/learner period applies before the full test; the practical driving test covers vehicle control, signs, and road rules.

A full licence is issued after passing the theory and practical tests; licences are renewed periodically and require a medical certificate for some categories.

Third-party insurance is the minimum legal cover required to drive on public roads; driving uninsured is an offence.

Documents to carry: valid driving licence, vehicle registration, and certificate of insurance; police may request them at any time.

Vehicle roadworthiness (fitness) inspections are required at intervals set by the licensing authority; an expired certificate makes driving illegal.

Seat belt use, helmet use, and prohibition of handheld phone use are enforceable traffic offences with fixed penalties.

Traffic offences such as speeding, careless driving, and driving without due care are prosecuted under the island's traffic legislation; penalties escalate for repeat offences.