Ghana DVLA Theory Test cheat sheet

Shape tells the purpose: triangle = warning, circle = prohibition or mandatory order, rectangle = information or direction, octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = GIVE WAY.

Colour reinforces meaning: red ring or triangle = prohibition or danger, blue circle = mandatory instruction, green or blue rectangle = information and direction.

A red circle with a white horizontal bar means NO ENTRY; you must not proceed past that sign.

A red ring containing a black number is a maximum speed limit in km/h; it applies from the sign until a different limit or an end-of-limit sign.

STOP sign: come to a complete stop at the stop line every time, then move off only when the road is clear. A STOP sign is not a give-way sign.

GIVE WAY: slow down, be ready to stop, and yield to traffic on the road you are joining or crossing.

Traffic light sequence: red = stop; green = go only if the junction is clear; amber = stop unless you are too close to stop safely; then red again.

Signals given by a police officer or an authorised traffic warden override all fixed signs, road markings and traffic lights.

A supplementary plate below a sign gives its distance, the times it applies, or the class of vehicle it applies to.

Solid centre line: do not cross or straddle it, so overtaking is prohibited; it is used on bends, hill crests and narrow sections.

Broken centre line: you may cross it to overtake, turn or change lane, provided the road ahead is clear and the manoeuvre is safe.

Double solid lines: neither direction of traffic may cross them.

Stop line (solid white line across your lane): stop behind it at red or amber lights and at STOP signs.

Broken give-way line at a junction or roundabout entry: yield to traffic on the road you are joining and stop if necessary.

Zebra crossing: broad white stripes give pedestrians priority once they are on the crossing; no parking and no overtaking on the approach.

Hatched or chevron areas bordered by solid lines must not be driven on or parked on except in an emergency.

Yellow kerb/edge lines and yellow box junctions mark no-parking or keep-clear areas; enter a yellow box only when your exit is clear.

Lane lines and direction arrows show which lane to use and which way you may travel from it; follow the arrow for your lane.

Ghana drives on the right-hand side of the road; overtaking is therefore done on the left.

At an uncontrolled junction where the roads are of equal status, give way to traffic approaching from your right.

At a roundabout, give way to traffic already circulating, which approaches from your left, and travel anticlockwise around the island.

A vehicle turning left across the path of oncoming traffic must give way to vehicles going straight ahead or turning right.

Pedestrians on a zebra crossing have right of way; stop and wait until they have finished crossing.

Give way to ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles showing a siren or flashing blue light, and never follow closely behind them.

Never overtake where there is a solid line, on bends, at hill crests, at junctions or on pedestrian crossings.

Do not enter a junction or a yellow box unless your exit is clear; blocking cross-traffic is an offence.

U-turns are allowed only where they are safe and not prohibited: never on bends, hill crests or where signs forbid them.

Keep valid and produce on demand: driving licence, vehicle registration, insurance certificate, roadworthy certificate and vehicle (road) licence.

Third-party insurance is the minimum legal cover; it pays for injury or damage caused to others, not for damage to your own vehicle.

The roadworthy certificate is issued and renewed through the DVLA and confirms that the vehicle is mechanically fit.

Minimum tyre tread is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread around the whole tyre; check pressures when the tyres are cold.

Pre-journey check: brakes, tyres and pressures, lights, steering, horn, wipers, mirrors, fluid levels and fuel.

Seat belts must be worn by the driver and by passengers, and children must use a suitable child restraint.

Loads must be secure and must not obscure lights, number plates or mirrors, or exceed the vehicle's permitted weight.

A learner driver must display L plates and be accompanied by a fully licensed driver seated beside them.

Carry a spare wheel, jack, wheel spanner and warning triangle, plus a fire extinguisher and first aid kit where required.

Two-second rule: keep at least a two-second gap in dry conditions; double it to four seconds in rain, at night, or behind a large vehicle.

Total stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance; braking distance rises with the square of speed and is far longer on wet roads.

Wet roads: reduce speed, switch on headlights, increase the gap, brake and steer gently, and watch for standing water and aquaplaning.

Fog: use dipped headlights or fog lamps and slow down; full beam reflects off the fog and reduces what you can see.

At night, dip your headlights for oncoming traffic and never drive faster than you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

If the vehicle skids, ease off the accelerator, avoid harsh braking, and steer smoothly in the direction you want the front of the car to go.

If a tyre bursts, grip the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking and steer gradually to a safe stopping place.

When you break down, switch on hazard lights, get the vehicle off the carriageway, place a warning triangle behind it and stand clear of traffic.

Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs that cause drowsiness; if you feel tired, stop in a safe place and rest.

Sign shapes are standardised so they can be read at a glance: triangle warns, circle commands or forbids, rectangle informs.

Warning signs use red borders on a white or yellow background and are placed in advance of the hazard they describe.

School and pedestrian warning signs mean reduce speed and be ready to stop for children or crossing pedestrians.

A blue circle with a white arrow is a mandatory direction sign, such as turn left ahead or keep left.

Traffic lights that are out of order should be treated as an unmarked junction: slow down and apply the right-of-way rules.

Flashing amber lights at a crossing or junction mean proceed with caution and give way as directed by signs.

Edge lines mark the boundary of the carriageway, helping you keep position at night and in rain.

Markings are read together with signs and signals; if a marking and an officer's signal conflict, the officer's signal applies.

Pedestrian crossing approach markings (zig-zags or hatched strips) mean no parking and no overtaking near the crossing.

Centre lines that change from broken to solid warn that overtaking must be completed before the solid section begins.

A stop line without a working signal still requires a stop when a STOP sign is present.

Chevron markings on the approach to a bend reinforce the direction of the curve and should not be driven over.

Overtake only when you have a clear view, enough space and time, and can return to your lane without forcing others to change speed.

Before changing lanes or turning, mirror, signal and check blind spots; signal intends, it does not grant priority.

Keep left of the centre line except when overtaking or turning right.

Give way to traffic already on the main road when emerging from a side road, driveway, petrol station or private property.

At a T-junction the vehicle on the through road has priority over the vehicle emerging from the terminating road.

Do not follow an emergency vehicle closely through traffic; give it space and resume normal driving only when clear.

A vehicle without valid insurance, roadworthy certificate or vehicle licence may be seized and the driver prosecuted.

Brake, steering and suspension faults are safety defects: they must be fixed before the vehicle is used on a public road.

Lights must be clean and working: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights and number-plate lamp.

Under-inflated tyres overheat and increase fuel use and stopping distance; uneven wear points to wheel alignment problems.

Carry a warning triangle, spare wheel and tools, and check them each time before a long journey.

Excessive exhaust smoke is an emission offence and also indicates an engine or servicing fault.

Scan well ahead and check mirrors regularly; identify hazards early so you have time to react smoothly.

At the scene of a crash: stop, warn other traffic, call the emergency services, and give first aid only within your training.

If your brakes fail, pump the pedal, change down through the gears and use the handbrake gradually to slow the vehicle.

If you feel drowsy, open a window only as a short-term measure; stop somewhere safe and rest.

Reduce speed in residential areas, near schools, markets and bus stops, where pedestrians may step out unexpectedly.

In a flooded road, do not drive into water of unknown depth; if you must cross, go slowly in a low gear and dry the brakes afterwards.

Temporary signs (roadworks) are usually yellow and take priority over permanent signs in the same location.

A sign with a red diagonal line through a symbol means the activity shown is prohibited, such as no parking or no overtaking.

Direction signs at junctions indicate the layout of the road ahead, including lane allocation and destinations.

If you miss a turning, continue and find a safe place to turn; never reverse on a main road or from a junction.

Leave extra space behind cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, and check blind spots before turning across their path.

When overtaking parked cars, watch for doors opening, pedestrians stepping out and children between vehicles.

Use the horn only as a warning of danger, not to express annoyance, and never where signs prohibit it.

After driving through deep water, test the brakes gently at low speed to dry them.