Lebanon Driving Theory Test cheat sheet

Sign shapes carry meaning independent of text: octagon = STOP (full stop required), inverted triangle = YIELD (give way), circle = prohibition or mandatory instruction, rectangle = information or regulation.

Colour code: red = prohibition/stop/danger, blue = mandatory instruction or information, yellow = warning or temporary works, green = direction/permission, brown = tourism/heritage, white-black = regulation.

Solid white centre line: no crossing or overtaking; broken white line: crossing allowed when safe; double solid: absolute no-overtaking for both directions.

Solid yellow line at the kerb edge means no parking at any time; broken yellow means no parking during stated hours; yellow zig-zag or hatch marks mean no stopping.

A flashing red traffic light is treated as a STOP sign: stop fully, then proceed when clear; a flashing amber means proceed with caution and yield to pedestrians already crossing.

Traffic officer hand signals override all lights and signs; a raised arm with palm forward means stop for traffic approaching from that side.

Directional arrows painted in a lane bind the driver: entering a left-turn lane commits the vehicle to turning left and prohibits straight-through movement.

Warning triangles (red border, white field, black symbol) are placed 50-150 m before the hazard outside built-up areas and closer inside them; they never impose a legal duty to stop.

At uncontrolled intersections the default rule is yield to traffic approaching from the right; this applies only where no sign, marking or signal assigns priority.

At a T-junction without signs, traffic on the terminating road yields to traffic on the continuous through road.

A vehicle already inside the intersection has priority to clear it; entering traffic must not block the box even on a green light.

Left-turning vehicles yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right; the turn is completed only when the path is clear.

At roundabouts in right-hand-traffic countries such as Lebanon, circulating traffic comes from the left and has priority; entering drivers yield and give way to the left.

Pedestrians on a marked crossing have priority once they have stepped onto it; drivers must stop before the crossing line, not on it.

Emergency vehicles with siren and flashing lights have priority; other drivers must pull to the right and stop if necessary to clear the path.

A driver emerging from a private driveway, garage, petrol station or unpaved track yields to all traffic on the public road, including pedestrians.

General limits in Lebanon: 50 km/h in built-up urban areas unless signed otherwise, and 100 km/h on motorways/highways for light vehicles; posted signs always override the default.

Minimum speed on motorways is generally 60 km/h in the left/high-speed lane; driving far below the flow obstructs traffic and is an offence.

Two-second rule: pick a fixed point; the gap to the vehicle ahead should be at least two seconds in dry conditions at any speed.

Multiply by conditions: 4 seconds on wet roads, 6 seconds or more on ice, fog or gravel; towing a trailer also doubles the base gap.

Stopping distance = thinking distance (speed x reaction time) + braking distance; braking distance rises with the square of speed, so doubling speed quadruples braking distance.

Approximate dry braking distance: speed in km/h divided by 10, squared, gives metres (e.g. 100 km/h -> 100 m); add about 30 m thinking distance at 1 second reaction.

Reduced limits apply near schools, hospitals, roadworks and sharp bends; temporary yellow signs and works speed plates are legally binding.

In heavy rain, fog or when visibility is under about 50 m, reduce speed so the vehicle can stop within the visible distance.

Overtake on the left by default; passing on the right is only lawful when the vehicle ahead is signalling and positioned for a left turn, or in slow queuing traffic in separate lanes.

Overtaking is prohibited on solid lines, at pedestrian crossings, on bends, hill crests, at junctions and anywhere visibility is insufficient to complete the manoeuvre.

Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre: check mirrors, signal in good time, check the blind spot, then move out; return to the right lane only when the overtaken vehicle is visible in the interior mirror.

Keep right except when overtaking; the left lane on a multi-lane motorway is for passing and for faster traffic, not for cruising.

Before turning, position correctly: right turn close to the right kerb, left turn close to the centre line; signal at least 30 m before the turn in built-up areas.

A U-turn is prohibited on motorways, at junctions with traffic lights, on bends, on bridges and wherever a sign forbids it.

Reversing must be done at walking pace with all-round observation; reversing from a side road onto a main road is prohibited.

Lane changes must be signalled and completed one lane at a time; weaving across lanes and straddling lane markings are offences.

Lebanon's legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers is 0.00 g/dL in practice for professional and novice drivers; any alcohol impairs and is penalised, so the safe rule is zero.

Alcohol slows reaction time, narrows peripheral vision and increases risk-taking; impairment begins below the legal threshold and rises steeply with each drink.

The body clears alcohol at roughly one standard drink per hour; coffee, cold showers and food do not speed elimination, they only mask symptoms.

Prescription and recreational drugs, including cannabis and sedatives, are treated like alcohol; driving under their influence is an offence and insurance may be voided.

Fatigue signs: yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting between lanes, missing signs; the only effective remedy is to stop in a safe place and sleep, not to open a window or turn up music.

Microsleeps of 2-5 seconds at 100 km/h cover 55-140 m of road with no control; plan a 15-minute break every two hours on long journeys.

Hand-held phone use while driving is prohibited; texting takes eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, equivalent to driving blind for the length of a football pitch at 90 km/h.

Distractions include eating, smoking, adjusting navigation, and interacting with passengers; set navigation and music before moving off.

Tyre legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread; check with a gauge and replace tyres before reaching it, and check pressures cold monthly.

Tyre pressure affects grip, fuel use and blowout risk; under-inflation causes sidewall flexing and overheating, over-inflation reduces contact patch.

Lights: low beam (dipped) is required at night and in rain/fog; high beam must be dipped for oncoming traffic, when following, and in built-up lit areas.

Front fog lights only in fog, heavy rain or snow; rear fog light only when visibility is under about 50 m, to avoid dazzling following drivers.

Brake lights, indicators and hazard lights must all function; hazard lights are for breakdowns or emergencies, not for parking illegally.

Dashboard warning lights: red means stop safely and investigate (oil pressure, coolant, brakes, battery); amber means service soon; green/blue means a system is active.

Before a journey check the 'POWDERY' items: Petrol, Oil, Water, Damage, Electrics, Rubber (tyres), Yourself (fit to drive).

A tyre blowout: hold the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, let the car slow, then steer to the hard shoulder.

At any crash: stop, switch on hazard lights, protect the scene with a warning triangle about 50 m behind (further on fast roads), and call the emergency number 112 or the police.

Do not move an injured person unless there is fire or traffic danger; suspected spinal injury can be made worse by movement.

DR ABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation; check breathing for up to 10 seconds before starting CPR.

CPR for an adult: 30 chest compressions at 100-120 per minute, depth 5-6 cm, then 2 rescue breaths; continue until help arrives.

Severe bleeding: press firmly on the wound with a clean pad, elevate the limb if possible and add layers without removing soaked pads.

Do not give food or drink to an injured person; it risks choking and complicates surgery.

Legal duties: stop, give identity and vehicle details, report to police within the required period if anyone is injured, and exchange insurance information.

If you hit a parked car or property with no owner present, leave your name and contact details and report the incident; leaving without doing so is a hit-and-run offence.

Driving licence categories follow the international pattern: A = motorcycles, B = cars up to 3,500 kg with up to 8 passenger seats, C = goods vehicles over 3,500 kg, D = buses, E = trailers.

A learner must hold a valid learner permit, display L plates, be accompanied by a qualified driver, and not drive on motorways; minimum age is generally 18 for category B.

The licence carries a points system; accumulating penalty points leads to suspension, and serious offences (drunk driving, hit-and-run, excessive speeding) can lead to immediate licence withdrawal and prosecution.

Mandatory documents in the vehicle: valid driving licence, vehicle registration (mecanique), valid insurance certificate and, where required, a roadworthiness test certificate.

Seat belts are mandatory for front and rear occupants; children under about 12 or under 1.5 m must use an appropriate child restraint in the rear.

Helmets are mandatory for all motorcycle and moped riders and passengers.

Penalties escalate for repeat offences; unpaid fines can block vehicle registration renewal and licence renewal.

Police may request documents at any time; refusing a breath test or failing to produce documents carries separate penalties.

Scan far ahead (12-15 seconds of travel) and use the mirror-scan-signal-manoeuvre routine; identify hazards early to gain time to react.

A developing hazard is one where the situation is changing and may require action; a static hazard is present but not yet changing.

The two-second rule plus a space cushion on all sides is the core defensive technique; always leave an escape route.

Anticipate vulnerable road users: children near schools and parked cars, cyclists at junctions, pedestrians stepping out between buses, motorcyclists filtering in traffic.

In rain, the road is most slippery in the first 10-15 minutes as oil and dust lift; reduce speed and increase following distance.

Aquaplaning: ease off the accelerator, hold the wheel steady, do not brake sharply; grip returns as speed drops.

At night, drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance lit by your headlights; dip lights for oncoming traffic to avoid dazzling.

If a vehicle tailgates, increase the gap ahead rather than braking sharply, and let them pass when it is safe.

Third-party liability insurance is compulsory; it covers damage or injury to others but not your own vehicle, which requires comprehensive cover.

The insurance certificate and green card (international motor insurance card) must be carried; the green card proves cover across participating countries.

Vehicle registration (mecanique) must be renewed annually and kept in the vehicle; driving with expired registration is an offence and invalidates insurance.

The roadworthiness test (controle technique) is required periodically for vehicles above a certain age; a valid sticker or certificate must be displayed or carried.

Insurance is void if the driver is unlicensed, intoxicated, or driving a vehicle outside the insured category; the insurer may still pay third parties and then reclaim from the driver.

After an accident, exchange name, address, licence number, plate number and insurer details with the other driver, and notify your insurer promptly.

Report theft to the police immediately and inform the insurer; delay can jeopardise the claim.

Selling a vehicle requires transferring the registration and notifying the insurer; the buyer must obtain new insurance before driving.