Myanmar DA Part II Module II cheat sheet

Myanmar road signs follow three shape classes: circles give orders (prohibitions and mandatory instructions), triangles warn of hazards ahead, rectangles inform or guide.

A red-bordered circle with a symbol inside is a prohibition sign; a blue circle with a white symbol is a mandatory instruction sign, so colour, not the symbol alone, tells you whether it forbids or requires.

Warning triangles are placed in advance of the hazard; the distance to the hazard depends on the road class, so treat the sign as a prediction, not a location marker.

Solid continuous white centre line: no crossing or overtaking; broken white line: crossing permitted when safe; double solid lines on both sides forbid crossing from either direction.

Yellow centre lines in Myanmar mark the separation of opposing traffic flows and are used on higher-speed or higher-volume roads; treat any yellow line as a no-overtake boundary unless broken on your side.

A sign showing a red diagonal slash across a symbol ends the restriction that the symbol imposed; the restriction applies only up to that end sign.

Traffic signals: steady red means stop before the stop line; flashing amber or a flashing red means proceed only when the way is clear and give way to traffic already on the priority road.

Pedestrian crossings are marked by broad white stripes (zebra); a driver must give way to a pedestrian already on the crossing and must not stop on the stripes.

Temporary signs (roadworks, diversions) override permanent markings and signals; obey the sign holder or flagman even when it conflicts with a green light.

Myanmar drives on the right; overtaking is done on the left of the vehicle being passed, and you return to the right lane only when the manoeuvre is complete and safe.

At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle already in the intersection or approaching from the right has priority; the driver who must give way slows or stops, not merely steers around.

A vehicle turning left across oncoming traffic must yield to that traffic; a vehicle turning right must yield to pedestrians crossing the road it is entering.

Entering a roundabout, give way to traffic already circulating; do not change lane inside the roundabout without signalling and checking the blind spot.

Following distance rule: keep at least a two-second gap in dry conditions, doubled to four seconds in rain, at night, or behind large vehicles that block forward vision.

Stopping is prohibited within an intersection, on a pedestrian crossing, on a bridge, within a tunnel, and within the marked approach to a railway level crossing.

Use of horn is restricted in signposted silence zones (hospitals, schools, religious sites); outside those zones the horn is a warning device, not a way to demand priority.

Emergency vehicles with siren and flashing lights have priority; other drivers must pull to the right and stop if necessary to clear a path, not accelerate to stay ahead.

A driver must not overtake at a pedestrian crossing, at a railway crossing, on a blind curve, on a crest, or where a solid line or no-overtaking sign applies.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead in urban areas and further on open road; the hazard you react to should already be visible before it becomes urgent.

Mirror-signal-manoeuvre sequence: check mirrors, signal intention, check blind spot, then move; the blind spot check is the step most often skipped and most often causes side-swipe collisions.

Fatigue rule: after two hours of continuous driving, take a break; micro-sleeps of 3-4 seconds at 60 km/h cover 50-65 metres of unguided travel.

Alcohol impairs judgement before it impairs coordination, so a driver who feels 'fine' may already be unable to judge speed and distance accurately; the safe limit for driving is zero.

In rain, the road is most slippery in the first 15-20 minutes because oil and dust have not yet washed away; reduce speed and increase the following gap.

Aquaplaning occurs when water depth exceeds tread depth at speed; response is to ease off the accelerator, hold the steering steady, and avoid braking hard until grip returns.

At night, dip headlights when meeting oncoming traffic and when following within about 50 metres; high beam into a mirror blinds the driver ahead.

Vulnerable road users: children and cyclists are unpredictable, so reduce speed and cover the brake when passing schools, parked vehicles, and roadside stalls.

Hazard perception is a search pattern: look for brake lights two or three vehicles ahead, for pedestrians between parked cars, and for vehicles emerging from side roads, not only at the car directly in front.

ABS prevents wheel lock under braking; the correct technique is firm continuous pedal pressure with steering maintained, not pumping the pedal.

Engine braking: selecting a lower gear uses compression to slow the vehicle and reduces brake fade on long descents; brakes alone on a long downhill can overheat and fail.

Tyre tread minimum for safe wet grip is about 1.6 mm; below that, water clearance collapses and stopping distances rise sharply.

Under-inflation raises rolling resistance and heat, and is a leading cause of blowouts at speed; check pressures cold, since driving raises pressure.

Skid control: look and steer where you want to go, ease off the accelerator, and avoid sudden braking; braking hard during a skid transfers weight and worsens it.

The clutch connects and disconnects engine and gearbox; riding the clutch or resting a foot on the pedal causes slip and premature wear.

Coolant temperature gauge rising into the red means stop safely and let the engine cool before opening the radiator cap; opening it hot releases scalding pressurised coolant.

Brake warning light, oil pressure light, or battery light illuminated while driving means stop as soon as it is safe; continuing risks destroying the engine or losing braking.

Load and balance: heavy loads shift the centre of gravity upward and rearward, lengthening braking distance and increasing rollover risk in cornering.

Driving without a valid licence, or outside the class the licence covers, is an offence regardless of skill or experience.

A licence carries a class and endorsements; driving a vehicle class not endorsed (for example a heavy vehicle on a light-vehicle licence) is treated as unlicensed driving for that vehicle.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a punishable offence and typically carries licence suspension or cancellation in addition to fines.

Failing to stop after a collision involving injury or damage is a serious offence; the duty to stop, identify yourself, and report applies even when the other party leaves.

Documents a driver must be able to produce on demand: driving licence, vehicle registration, and valid insurance or road tax as required by the vehicle type.

Vehicle registration and fitness certification must be current; an expired certificate makes the vehicle unlawful to use on a public road.

Penalties escalate for repeat offences; demerit or suspension schemes mean accumulated violations can lead to loss of licence even without a single serious offence.

A police officer in uniform may require a driver to stop, produce documents, and submit to a breath test; refusing a lawful test is itself an offence.

Seat belts are mandatory for driver and front-seat passenger, and helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists and pillion riders; the obligation rests on the rider and driver, not only the passenger.

Stop, secure the scene, and switch on hazard lights; place a warning triangle or other signal behind the vehicle, further back on fast roads or blind bends.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire or oncoming traffic; suspected spinal injury can be made permanent by careless movement.

Check responsiveness and breathing; if absent and you are trained, begin chest compressions at 100-120 per minute, pressing about 5-6 cm deep in the centre of the chest.

Control severe bleeding with direct pressure on the wound using a clean cloth; elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected, and do not remove an object embedded in the wound.

For suspected fractures, immobilise the limb in the position found and support it; do not attempt to straighten a deformity.

Recovery position: an unconscious but breathing casualty is placed on the side to keep the airway clear and prevent choking on vomit or the tongue.

Report the accident to police promptly and exchange names, addresses, licence and insurance details with the other party; note vehicle numbers, time, location, and witnesses.

Do not give food or drink to an injured person, and do not leave a casualty alone; keep them warm and reassure them until help arrives.

Emergency call information to have ready: exact location with landmarks, number of casualties, whether anyone is trapped, and any fire or fuel spill.

Speed is the single largest contributor to road deaths; the survival chance of a struck pedestrian falls steeply above about 50 km/h, so speed choice is a life-and-death decision.

A driver is responsible for the vehicle's roadworthiness, load security, and the conduct of the journey, even when someone else owns the vehicle.

Distraction rule: a phone conversation, even hands-free, delays reaction; texting while driving removes the eyes from the road for several seconds at a time.

Vulnerable road users have less protection, so the larger vehicle carries the greater duty of care; a bus or truck driver must allow for cyclists and motorcyclists in blind spots.

Courtesy and predictability reduce crashes more than individual skill; signalling early and avoiding sudden lane changes lets others plan around you.

Environmental responsibility: avoid unnecessary idling, keep the engine tuned, and do not dump oil or batteries; these are part of the driver's public duty.

Passengers, especially children, must be restrained appropriately; an unrestrained child becomes a projectile in a collision at even modest speed.

Fatigue, alcohol, and speed interact: each raises risk, and combining them multiplies rather than adds the danger, so a single lapse in any one is enough to remove the safety margin.

Report or warn about hazards you encounter, such as a broken signal, debris on the road, or an unlit parked truck, so the next driver is not the first to find out.

Hand signals: right arm straight out means turning right; right arm bent upward at the elbow means turning left; right arm bent downward with palm back means slowing or stopping.

Signal before you brake or turn, not during it; a signal given after the manoeuvre has begun gives following traffic no time to react.

Cancel the indicator after the turn; an indicator left on tells other drivers you intend to turn again and is a common cause of junction collisions.

A signal does not give you priority; it announces an intention that must still be executed only when the way is clear.

Hazard warning lights mean the vehicle is a temporary obstruction or is in difficulty; do not use them as a parking permit or as a substitute for indicators.

At night, flash the headlights only to warn of your presence; flashing to demand passage is a common source of misunderstanding and should be avoided.

When a police officer or authorised flagman is directing traffic, their signals override traffic lights and road markings; obey the person, not the light.

In a breakdown, hazard lights plus a warning triangle are the standard warning combination; on a motorway or expressway, get occupants behind the barrier and away from the carriageway.

Park in the direction of traffic flow on the correct side of the road; parking against the flow forces other drivers to cross the centre line to pass you.

Do not park within 5 metres of a junction, on a bend, at a bus stop, in front of a fire hydrant, or where you block a driveway or pedestrian crossing.

On a hill, turn the front wheels toward the kerb when facing downhill and away from the kerb when facing uphill, and apply the parking brake before releasing the foot brake.

Before opening a door, check the mirror and look over the shoulder; a door opened into the path of a cyclist or motorcyclist causes severe injury.

Stopping means halting temporarily; parking means leaving the vehicle. Different restrictions apply, and a no-stopping zone forbids even a brief halt.

Keep left of the centre line except when overtaking, turning right, or passing a stationary obstruction, and return to the correct side as soon as it is safe.

Lane discipline: choose the lane for your intended direction early, do not straddle two lanes, and do not change lanes inside a junction.

When a bus or school vehicle is stopped with lights or children nearby, slow down and be ready to stop; passing at speed is a common cause of child pedestrian casualties.

Pre-journey check: tyres and pressures, lights, brakes, fluid levels, mirrors, and fuel; a fault found at the roadside is a fault that could have been found at home.

The vehicle registration book identifies the owner and vehicle; the driver must ensure the vehicle matches the class and use permitted by the registration.

Insurance must cover the vehicle and the driver; driving outside the policy's terms can leave the driver personally liable for all damage and injury caused.

Plan the route before moving; knowing the junction and exit in advance prevents last-second lane changes, which are a frequent crash cause.

In the rainy season, check wiper blades, tyre tread, and brake condition more often, and allow extra journey time rather than extra speed.

A first-aid kit, warning triangle, jack, wheel brace, and spare or repair kit belong in every vehicle; know where they are before you need them.

Log long journeys with rest stops; a planned break every two hours is a journey-planning decision, not a reaction to feeling tired.

If the vehicle is unfit to drive, the lawful and safe choice is not to drive it; a defective vehicle on the road endangers the driver and everyone else.

A helmet must be the correct size and fastened; an unfastened or loose helmet comes off in a collision and gives almost no protection.

Motorcyclists are exposed: a fall at 50 km/h without protection causes injuries equivalent to jumping from a third-floor window, so protective clothing matters.

Ride in a position where you can be seen in other drivers' mirrors; avoid riding in a vehicle's blind spot alongside it, and never in the gap between lanes at speed.

Front brake provides most stopping power; apply both brakes progressively rather than grabbing the front lever, which locks the wheel on wet roads.

In rain, painted road markings, metal drain covers, and tram rails become extremely slippery; cross them upright and without braking or accelerating.

Carry a pillion only if the machine and licence permit it, and adjust tyre pressure and suspension for the extra load; the rider remains responsible for the pillion's helmet.

Be visible: use low beam in daylight rain and at dusk, and wear bright or reflective clothing; a small frontal area makes a motorcycle easy to overlook.

Countersteering at speed: push the bar on the side you want to turn toward; understanding this prevents the instinctive wrong input in an emergency swerve.

The Smith System: aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, and make sure others see you.

Assume other drivers will make mistakes; the defensive driver plans an escape route (space to the side or a gap ahead) before the hazard develops.

The two-second rule is a minimum, not a target; add one second for rain, one for darkness, and one for a heavy vehicle ahead that blocks your view.

If a vehicle is following too closely, increase your own following distance rather than braking sharply; a longer gap ahead gives you gentler options.

At junctions, make eye contact with the other driver where possible, but treat the absence of a signal as a sign the other driver has not seen you.

When overtaking, ensure you can see the overtaken vehicle's headlights in your mirror before pulling back in, and never overtake with a solid line or on a blind crest.

Speed should match the conditions, not the limit: the posted limit is a maximum for ideal conditions, and rain, fog, or darkness require less.

A hazard is any situation requiring a change of speed or direction; naming it early (child at kerb, car edging out) shortens your reaction time when it moves.

Stop sign: a red octagon requires a complete stop at the line and a check both ways before proceeding, even when the road appears clear.

Give way sign: a downward-pointing triangle means slow down and yield; stop only if necessary, but be ready to stop for traffic on the priority road.

No entry is a red circle with a white horizontal bar; a one-way street is shown by a blue rectangle with a white arrow.

Speed limit signs give the maximum permitted speed in kilometres per hour; a sign with a red circle and a number is a prohibition, not a target.

Warning signs for bends often carry a speed plate showing a safe approach speed; the plate is advisory and lower than the general limit.

School and pedestrian warning signs require an immediate reduction in speed, not merely a glance; children may be in the road beyond the sign.

Level crossing signs warn of rails ahead; a St Andrew's cross marks a crossing without barriers, where you must stop, look, and listen before crossing.

Regulatory signs with a red border are enforceable; ignoring them is a traffic offence, while advisory signs give guidance that a court may still treat as evidence of fault.

Emergency stop: brake firmly and progressively, keep both hands on the wheel, and steer around the hazard only after speed is reduced.

Threshold braking is the maximum braking just short of wheel lock; with ABS, press hard and let the system modulate, and steer as needed.

If the vehicle skids, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go; do not stamp on the brakes.

On a wet or gravel surface, braking distance can double or more compared with dry tarmac; the two-second gap must grow accordingly.

Tyre blowout: hold the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow before braking gently; braking hard on the blown tyre causes a spin.

Brake fade from overheating reduces stopping power; use a lower gear on long descents and let the brakes cool rather than pumping them harder.

If the accelerator sticks, shift to neutral, brake firmly, and steer to a safe stop; switching off the engine while moving can lock the steering.

After any emergency stop or skid, check mirrors and warn following traffic with hazard lights before moving off again.

At a zebra crossing, a driver must give way to a pedestrian on the crossing; approaching drivers should slow and be ready to stop, not accelerate to beat them.

When turning at a junction, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are entering; the turn does not give the vehicle priority over the footway.

Cyclists need about a metre of clearance when overtaken in urban areas and more at higher speed; passing close forces them into the kerb.

When passing a parked vehicle, allow for a door opening and for a pedestrian stepping out between vehicles; reduce speed rather than swerve late.

Children and elderly pedestrians judge speed poorly; treat a pedestrian at the kerb as likely to step out until you have passed.

Motorcyclists are entitled to their lane position; do not move into the space beside them at a junction, where they may be invisible to you.

At a bus stop, give way to passengers who have just alighted and may cross in front of the bus, where you cannot see them.

Shared-space responsibility: the driver of the larger, faster vehicle carries the greater duty to anticipate and to yield.

A learner must hold a valid learner permit and drive only under the conditions it sets, including supervision and vehicle marking where required.

The driving test assesses vehicle control, observation, and knowledge of signs and rules; a serious fault or repeated minor faults results in failure.

A licence is issued for a class of vehicle; upgrading to a heavier class requires the corresponding test and eligibility conditions such as age and prior licence period.

Medical fitness matters: a condition affecting vision, epilepsy, or reaction time must be declared, and a licence may be refused or restricted.

Licence renewal before expiry keeps driving lawful; driving on an expired licence is treated as driving without a valid licence.

A licence may be suspended or cancelled for serious offences, accumulation of violations, or medical grounds; driving while disqualified is a serious offence.

Foreign licence holders may drive only under the conditions set for their permit; converting to a Myanmar licence requires the prescribed application and test.

Keep the licence and vehicle documents current and carry them; a photocopy is not a substitute where the original is required.

A stop line is a solid white line across your lane at a junction; stop before it, not on it, and never beyond it into the pedestrian area.

Box junctions marked with a yellow criss-cross mean do not enter unless your exit is clear; stopping inside blocks crossing traffic.

Chevron or hatched areas bordered by solid lines are off-limits to traffic; those bordered by broken lines may be entered only if necessary and safe.

Lane arrows show the direction each lane serves; once in an arrow lane you must follow that direction, so choose early.

A broken line on your side of the centre permits overtaking; a solid line on your side forbids it even if the opposite side is broken.

Edge lines mark the carriageway boundary; crossing a solid edge line onto a shoulder is permitted only for a stop or emergency.

At roundabouts, lane markings and arrows indicate the exit each lane serves; a vehicle in the wrong lane may cut across others at the exit.

Double yellow lines along the kerb mean no parking at any time; a single yellow line restricts parking during the posted times.

In fog, use low beam or fog lights, not high beam; high beam reflects off the water droplets and reduces visibility.

Reduce speed in fog so that you can stop within the distance you can see; if you cannot see the road ahead, you are driving too fast.

In heavy rain, switch on headlights so other drivers can see you; daytime running lights alone may leave the rear of the vehicle unlit.

At night, reduce speed and increase the following gap; your headlights illuminate only a limited distance, so the visible stopping zone is shorter.

After driving through deep water, test the brakes gently while moving; wet brakes pull to one side and need drying before normal use.

In rain, avoid sudden steering and braking on painted lines, metal covers, and bridge joints, which lose grip first.

If visibility becomes too poor to continue safely, leave the road at a safe place, stop well off the carriageway, and use hazard lights.

At dawn and dusk, contrast is low and silhouettes are hard to judge; treat speed and gap as if driving at night.

Do not exceed the vehicle's permitted payload or seating capacity; overloaded vehicles brake worse, steer less predictably, and fail sooner.

Secure every load so it cannot shift or fall; a load falling from a vehicle is the driver's responsibility and a serious hazard to following traffic.

Distribute weight low and evenly; a heavy load high or to one side raises rollover risk and changes handling.

Passengers must not ride in a position not designed for them, such as the open back of a truck without proper restraint, and must not obstruct the driver's view.

Roof loads change the centre of gravity and increase height; check clearance before passing under bridges or low structures.

Towing reduces acceleration and braking performance and lengthens the vehicle; allow for the extra length when overtaking or turning.

Children must be restrained in a suitable seat or belt; an adult belt on a small child can cause injury in a crash.

Before a long or heavy journey, check tyre pressures and brake condition for the load; the standard pressures may not be enough.

Alcohol slows reaction time, narrows attention, and impairs distance judgement; the only reliable way to be under the limit is not to drink before driving.

Coffee, cold air, and loud music do not sober a driver; only time removes alcohol from the body.

Fatigue signs: yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting within the lane, and missing exits; these mean stop and rest, not push on.

A short nap of 15-20 minutes restores alertness briefly; it is not a substitute for sleep, and driving on after it without rest repeats the risk.

Medicines for colds, allergies, and pain can cause drowsiness; check the label and do not drive if warned.

Long shifts and night driving disrupt the body clock; the early hours of the morning are a high-risk period for falling asleep at the wheel.

If you feel unwell or emotionally distressed, your judgement and reaction are affected; delaying the journey is the safe choice.

A driver who is unfit through drink, drugs, or illness commits an offence and endangers others; the responsibility cannot be delegated to a passenger.

After a collision, stop, switch on hazard lights, and check for injuries before moving any vehicle; moving an injured person can worsen spinal injury.

Exchange name, address, licence number, vehicle registration, and insurance details with the other party, and record witness contacts.

Report a collision involving injury, death, or significant damage to the police without delay; leaving the scene is a serious offence.

Do not admit fault or negotiate compensation at the roadside; report the facts accurately and let the lawful process decide liability.

Photograph the scene, vehicle positions, and damage if it is safe to do so; evidence fades quickly once vehicles are moved.

Inform your insurer promptly; late notification can affect a claim, and the policy may require a report even where no claim is made.

If a collision involves a parked vehicle or property and the owner is absent, leave your details and report it; failing to do so is an offence.

Cooperate with police investigation and any breath or drug test; refusing a lawful test is itself an offence.

Severe bleeding: apply firm direct pressure with a clean cloth, keep pressing, and do not lift the cloth to check; add another layer if it soaks through.

Do not remove an object embedded in a wound; press around it and stabilise it until help arrives.

Burns: cool with clean running water for at least 10 minutes, remove jewellery and clothing not stuck to the burn, and do not apply ointments or ice.

Shock signs: pale clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, confusion, and thirst; lay the casualty down, keep them warm, and do not give food or drink.

Do not burst blisters or apply traditional remedies to burns; these increase infection risk and complicate medical treatment.

For a suspected fracture, support the limb in the position found and immobilise it; do not try to straighten it.

Keep the casualty warm and reassured; talk to them calmly and monitor breathing until the ambulance arrives.

If the casualty becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally, start CPR and send someone to call emergency services and find a defibrillator.

Turning across oncoming traffic: the vehicle turning left in right-hand-drive flow must yield to vehicles going straight ahead.

Emerging from a private driveway, car park, or petrol station: yield to all traffic on the road, including cyclists and pedestrians on the footway.

At a T-junction, traffic on the through road has priority over traffic emerging from the stem of the T.

On a narrow road or bridge where only one vehicle can pass, the vehicle with the obstruction on its side gives way; a descending vehicle generally yields to one ascending on a hill.

At an unmarked junction, a vehicle approaching from the right has priority; slow down and be ready to stop rather than assume you are seen.

Emergency vehicles with lights and siren: pull over to the right and stop; do not stop in the middle of the road or block the junction.

Buses leaving a stop may be given priority by local rule; where marked, allow them to pull out rather than accelerating past.

Pedestrians on a crossing, and pedestrians already crossing when you turn, have priority over the turning vehicle.

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance; thinking distance grows linearly with speed, braking distance grows with the square of speed.

At 60 km/h, a typical dry-road stopping distance is around 45 metres including reaction time; doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance.

The two-second rule: pick a fixed point, and ensure at least two seconds pass between the vehicle ahead reaching it and you reaching it.

In rain, double the gap to four seconds; on ice or gravel, allow up to ten times the dry braking distance.

Speed limits are maximums for ideal conditions; in rain, fog, darkness, or near schools, the safe speed is lower than the posted limit.

A heavy vehicle ahead blocks your view of hazards and needs a longer stopping distance itself; increase the gap so you can see past it.

When being overtaken, maintain speed and position; accelerating forces the overtaking driver to stay out longer and increases risk.

At junctions and crossings, approach at a speed from which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

Headlights must be used at night and in conditions of poor visibility such as rain, fog, or dusk; they are for seeing and for being seen.

Dip headlights for oncoming traffic and when following within about 50 metres; high beam in a mirror blinds the driver ahead.

Fog lights are for fog, heavy rain, or falling snow; using rear fog lights in clear conditions dazzles following drivers and is an offence in many jurisdictions.

Hazard lights warn of a stationary obstruction; they must not be used while driving normally, as they mask your indicators.

Check all lights before a journey: headlights, brake lights, indicators, and rear lights; a failed brake light removes a key warning to following traffic.

Dirty windscreen, wipers, and mirrors reduce visibility more than many drivers realise; clean them and top up washer fluid regularly.

At night, look toward the left edge of the road when an oncoming vehicle's lights dazzle you, and reduce speed until you can see again.

Daytime running lights do not always illuminate the rear; switch on full headlights in rain so following traffic sees you.

Approaching a roundabout: decide the exit, choose the lane, and give way to traffic already circulating from the right.

Signal left before your exit and check the left mirror and blind spot before leaving the roundabout; do not cut across the outer lane.

At a signal-controlled junction, do not enter on amber if you can stop safely; amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so.

A green light does not guarantee a clear path; check that the junction is clear before proceeding, especially where traffic queues across it.

Filter lanes separate turning traffic; enter them early and do not cross the solid line separating them from the through lane.

When turning right at a junction, watch for vehicles overtaking you on the left as you wait; check the mirror before turning.

At a slip road, match your speed to the traffic on the main road and give way; do not force your way in.

A yellow box junction must not be entered unless your exit is clear; waiting inside it blocks crossing traffic.

Speeding, red-light running, driving without a licence, and driving under the influence are endorsable or punishable offences, not mere warnings.

Repeat offences escalate: fines rise and licence suspension or cancellation becomes more likely with each violation.

A police officer may stop a vehicle, require documents, and direct traffic; failing to comply is an offence.

Driving while disqualified or suspended is treated more seriously than driving without ever having held a licence.

Using a mobile phone while driving is an offence; hands-free use may still be prosecuted where it causes distraction or loss of control.

Seat belt and helmet offences place the duty on the driver or rider; passengers not wearing them do not excuse the driver.

Vehicle defects such as bald tyres, faulty brakes, or broken lights are offences regardless of whether a collision occurred.

Insurance and registration offences can leave the driver personally liable for injury and damage, in addition to any penalty.

On narrow rural roads, slow down for blind bends and crests; livestock, pedestrians, and slow vehicles may be just beyond the limit of your view.

Expect soft edges and potholes; keep well within the sealed surface and avoid braking hard on the shoulder.

When meeting an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road, reduce speed early and move to your side; do not force the other driver onto the verge.

At unmarked rural junctions, apply the give-way-to-the-right rule and slow down; sight lines are often blocked by crops or walls.

Livestock and animals are unpredictable; slow almost to a stop and pass quietly, without sounding the horn.

Dust from unpaved roads reduces visibility; increase the gap and use low beam so the dust does not reflect light back at you.

Long rural journeys need planned fuel and rest stops; services may be far apart, so do not pass the last station on a low tank.

At night on unlit rural roads, reduce speed so you can stop within the distance lit by your headlights.

Every occupant must wear a seat belt where fitted; the driver is responsible for ensuring passengers are restrained.

A rear-facing child seat must never be placed in front of an active airbag; deployment can cause fatal injury to the child.

Children under about 12 years or 135 cm tall should use a suitable child restraint or booster so the belt crosses the shoulder, not the neck.

An unrestrained passenger becomes a projectile in a crash and can injure or kill others in the vehicle.

Do not allow passengers to distract the driver or obstruct mirrors and windows; the driver must keep a clear view.

Pillion motorcycle passengers must wear a fastened helmet and sit astride, with feet on the footrests.

Pregnant passengers should wear the lap belt low across the hips and the shoulder belt across the chest, not across the bump.

Before moving off, check that doors are closed and passengers are settled; a door opening in motion is a serious hazard.

Weekly check: tyre pressures and tread, engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, and all lights.

Tyre pressure should be checked when cold; driving heats the air and raises pressure, so a hot reading is misleading.

Tread depth of about 1.6 mm is the legal minimum in many jurisdictions; replace tyres before they reach it, especially for wet-season driving.

Look for uneven tyre wear, which indicates misalignment or incorrect pressure and predicts poor handling.

Brake pedal feel matters: a spongy or long pedal suggests air or fluid loss and should be checked before driving.

Check the spare wheel, jack, and wheel brace; a spare that is flat or missing is useless when needed.

Wipers and washer fluid are safety equipment in the rainy season; streaking wipers reduce visibility exactly when it matters most.

After any warning light stays on, have the fault checked; ignoring an oil or brake warning can destroy the engine or cause brake failure.

At night, drive at a speed from which you can stop within the distance your headlights show to be clear.

Do not look directly at oncoming headlights; look toward the left edge of your lane until the vehicle has passed.

Keep the windscreen and mirrors clean inside and out; smears scatter light and worsen glare at night.

Dip headlights early when meeting traffic and when following; a delayed dip blinds the other driver for several seconds.

At night, pedestrians and cyclists in dark clothing are visible only at short range; reduce speed near villages, stalls, and bus stops.

Use the road markings and the tail lights of vehicles ahead as guides, but do not follow so closely that their lights dominate your view.

If you are dazzled, slow down and, if necessary, stop until your vision recovers; do not continue at speed while blinded.

Fatigue is worse at night; plan rest stops and avoid driving through the early hours when alertness is naturally lowest.

Road deaths are preventable; the main causes are speed, drink-driving, non-use of helmets and belts, and distraction, all of which are driver choices.

A driver's duty extends beyond their own vehicle to pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users who have less protection.

Report unsafe road conditions, broken signals, and debris to the authorities so the hazard is removed for others.

Do not drive when unfit through drink, drugs, illness, or fatigue; the decision not to drive is itself a safety action.

Set an example for young road users; children copy the behaviour they see in adults, including phone use and speeding.

Keep the vehicle roadworthy and the load secure; a mechanical failure or falling load endangers people who never chose to travel with you.

Courtesy reduces crashes: signalling, giving way, and leaving space cost seconds and prevent collisions.

Community awareness campaigns work best when combined with enforcement and road design; individual responsibility remains the final safeguard.