Greece Category C Theory key terms

The Greek national traffic law that sets the binding rules for all road users, including speed limits, priority, overtaking, stopping and parking, and the penalties imposed for violations.

Any act or omission by a driver that breaches a rule of the traffic code, classified by severity and punished with administrative fines, licence points or referral to court depending on the harm caused.

A temporary or permanent withdrawal of the driving licence ordered for serious or repeated offences, such as driving under the influence, excessive speed or causing a serious accident.

A vertical sign placed beside or above the carriageway that warns, regulates or informs road users through shape, colour and symbol, and whose instruction overrides a conflicting general rule.

Road markings painted on the surface, such as continuous and broken lines, arrows and pedestrian crossings, which guide lanes and show where overtaking, stopping or parking is forbidden.

An unbroken painted line along the centre or edge of the road that drivers must not cross or straddle, marking a stretch where overtaking and lane changes are prohibited.

The right of a road user to proceed first at a junction or narrow passage, determined by signs, markings, the general rule of yielding from the right, or the direction of travel.

A marked section of carriageway reserved for people crossing on foot, where drivers must slow down and give way to pedestrians already on it or clearly about to step onto it.

The manoeuvre of moving past a slower road user travelling in the same direction, permitted only when visibility, road markings and traffic conditions make it safe and no prohibition applies.

The gap a driver keeps from the vehicle ahead so as to stop in time if it brakes suddenly, growing with speed and reduced further on wet or slippery surfaces.

The interval between a driver noticing a hazard and actually applying the brake, typically about one second and longer when tired, distracted or under the influence of alcohol.

The total distance a vehicle travels from the moment a hazard appears until it comes to a complete stop, being the sum of the reaction distance and the braking distance.

The area around a lorry that the driver cannot see in the mirrors, especially along the right side and directly in front, where cyclists and pedestrians may be hidden.

A driving style that anticipates the mistakes of others, keeps escape space and scans far ahead, so that hazards are recognised early and avoided rather than reacted to at the last moment.

Driving while sleepy or physically exhausted, which lengthens reaction time and can cause brief involuntary lapses of attention, so regular breaks are required by law and by common sense.

The concentration of alcohol in the blood, expressed in grams per litre, above which driving a lorry is a criminal offence and the licence is withdrawn.

The highest total mass a lorry is legally permitted to have when fully loaded, fixed by its type approval and stated on the registration document and manufacturer's plate.

The weight of cargo a lorry may legally carry, obtained by subtracting the unladen mass of the vehicle from its maximum permitted gross mass.

The point at which the whole weight of the loaded vehicle acts; if it is too high or too far back, stability, steering and braking deteriorate and the vehicle may overturn.

The use of straps, chains or lashing points to secure cargo so that it cannot shift, slide or fall off during braking, cornering or sudden manoeuvres on the road.

Loading a vehicle beyond its permitted gross mass or axle loads, which damages the road, lengthens braking distance and brings fines and immobilisation of the vehicle.

A transverse shaft carrying a pair of wheels; each axle has its own maximum permitted load, and overloading one axle is an offence even if the total mass is legal.

The hours a professional driver spends at the wheel, counted under EU rules with a daily maximum and a weekly maximum, interrupted by mandatory breaks and rest periods.

A compulsory pause in driving after a set period at the wheel, during which the driver may do light work but must not drive, so as to restore attention.

The uninterrupted rest a driver must take within each 24-hour period, normally eleven hours, which may in limited cases be reduced but never split below the legal minimum.

The recording device fitted to a lorry that automatically logs speed, distance, driving time and rest periods, and whose data must be produced for inspection.

A personalised smart card inserted into the digital tachograph that identifies the driver and stores their activity records, and which must never be used by another person.

The transport document accompanying a consignment that identifies the goods, their quantity and origin, and which the driver must carry and show to inspectors on request.

The official registration certificate of the vehicle, listing its owner, technical characteristics, masses and permitted seats, which must be kept on board at all times.

The routine inspection a driver performs before setting off, checking tyres, brakes, lights, fluids, load security and warning equipment so that defects are found while still stationary.

The air pressure inside a tyre, which must match the manufacturer's figure when cold; too low a pressure overheats the tyre and worsens handling and fuel consumption.

The grooved tread pattern on the tyre surface that channels water away; when its depth falls below the legal minimum, grip on wet roads drops sharply and the tyre must be replaced.

The braking installation of the lorry, including the service brake, the parking brake and, on heavy vehicles, the auxiliary retarder, all of which must be in working order before a journey.

The loss of tyre contact with the road when a layer of water builds up between them, causing the steering and brakes to feel unresponsive until speed is reduced.

A reflective warning triangle carried in the vehicle and placed on the road behind a broken-down lorry to alert approaching traffic, especially on motorways and at night.

The obligatory first-aid kit kept in the vehicle, containing sterile dressings, bandages, adhesive plaster, gloves and scissors, checked regularly and replenished after use.

Escape of blood from a wound; it is controlled by pressing firmly on the wound with a clean dressing, raising the limb and calling emergency services without removing the soaked dressing.

The stable side position in which an unconscious but breathing casualty is placed to keep the airway open and prevent choking, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

The call to the emergency number giving the exact location, number of casualties and hazards, made before other help is attempted at the scene of a road accident.

A driving technique using early gear changes, steady speed, anticipation and avoidance of unnecessary idling to cut fuel consumption, emissions and wear on the vehicle.

The state in which the engine runs while the vehicle is stationary; prolonged idling wastes fuel and pollutes, so the engine should be switched off during long waits.