Road Safety and Traffic Regulations
Road Safety and Traffic Regulations
This domain tests the rules of the road, driver responsibility, and police action after a collision. The Land Transport Act and Land Transport Authority rules govern licensing, vehicle standards, and traffic enforcement; the Maldives Police Service enforces road traffic law.
Core rules and concepts
- The Maldives drives on the left. At a roundabout, traffic circulates clockwise and you give way to traffic already on the roundabout approaching from your right.
- Sign-posted limits and LTA rules apply. Speed must be safe for the road, weather, and pedestrian activity, not merely below a number.
- Seat belts, child restraints, and helmets are safety requirements, not optional.
- Using a hand-held phone while driving is a distraction and is prohibited.
- After a collision: stop, warn other traffic, help the injured, exchange details, and report to police where required. Do not leave the scene to avoid liability.
Worked example
A car enters a roundabout and collides with a car already circulating. In left-hand traffic, the circulating car approaches from the entering driver's right. The entering driver must give way, so that driver is primarily at fault. The correct police response is to secure the scene, check injuries, record positions and damage, obtain witness accounts, and note the give-way rule. The reasoning is that fault follows the duty to give way, not simply which vehicle struck which.
Traps
- Applying right-hand-drive habits from another country.
- Assuming the larger vehicle is always at fault.
- Moving an injured person without danger or medical need.
- Accepting a roadside settlement without recording the required report.