Licensing and Penalties: The Paper Trail of Driving
Licensing and penalties test whether you understand the privilege of driving and the consequences of losing it. In Ethiopia, licences are issued by the Federal Transport Authority and are graded: learner, provisional, and full. Each grade carries conditions - for example, a learner must display L-plates and be accompanied by a qualified driver; a provisional licence may restrict night driving or passenger numbers.
Penalties range from fines and penalty points to disqualification and imprisonment for serious offences. Common offences: speeding, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, drink-driving, and using a phone while driving. Penalty points accumulate; enough points lead to disqualification. Disqualification can be imposed by a court for serious or repeat offences.
Traps: questions that ask what happens when you accumulate too many points (disqualification); questions about driving while disqualified (a serious offence, often with imprisonment); and questions about licence renewal (licences expire and must be renewed).
Rule of thumb: points are a warning, disqualification is the consequence. Treat every penalty as a step toward losing your licence, and drive accordingly.
First Aid and Emergency Response: The First Five Minutes
At a crash scene, your first duty is safety: protect yourself, the casualty, and other road users. Switch off engines, warn traffic, and call the emergency services. Then follow the DRABC sequence: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Check for danger, see if the casualty responds, open the airway, check breathing, and check circulation.
Key skills: recovery position for an unconscious but breathing casualty; CPR (30 compressions to 2 breaths) for a casualty not breathing; controlling bleeding with direct pressure; and treating shock by keeping the casualty warm and still. Do not move a casualty with a suspected spinal injury unless there is immediate danger. Do not give food or drink to an unconscious casualty.
Traps: questions that ask what to do first at a scene (make it safe, then call for help); questions about moving a casualty (only if there is danger); and questions about CPR ratios (30:2).
Rule of thumb: Danger first, then DRABC. You cannot help anyone if you become a casualty yourself.
Environmental Awareness and Fuel Efficiency: Drive Smart, Drive Green
Fuel efficiency and emissions are increasingly tested. The biggest gains come from smooth driving: accelerate gently, anticipate stops, and avoid harsh braking. Speed is the enemy of efficiency - fuel consumption rises steeply above about 90 km/h. Idling wastes fuel; switch off if you expect to wait. Tyre pressure and regular servicing keep the engine efficient. Air conditioning and roof racks increase drag and fuel use.
Environmental concepts: emissions (CO₂, NOx, particulates), catalytic converters, electric and hybrid vehicles, and recycling of oil and batteries. Route planning and carpooling reduce fuel use. Eco-driving techniques include early gear changes, maintaining momentum, and using engine braking.
Traps: questions about the most fuel-efficient speed (usually around 60–80 km/h in top gear); questions about idling (switch off); and questions about cold engines (they use more fuel - avoid short trips).
Rule of thumb: the smoothest driver is the most efficient driver. Every harsh acceleration or brake is fuel burned for nothing.