Rules of the Road and Right of Way
What this domain tests
This section tests priority decisions, lane discipline, junction behaviour, pedestrian duty and how you respond to emergency vehicles. In Nigeria traffic keeps right, so a rider should normally keep right and overtake on the left only when it is safe and legal.
Core rules
- At a controlled junction, obey the signals, signs and road markings before using general priority rules.
- At a roundabout, give way to traffic already circulating; enter only when there is a safe gap.
- At a T-junction, traffic on the through road normally has priority. At an uncontrolled junction, slow down, look both ways and yield to traffic already in the junction. Do not assume priority because you are on a motorcycle.
- Give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing and to pedestrians already crossing when you turn.
- Keep a following gap of at least two seconds in dry conditions and at least four seconds in rain or poor visibility.
- When an ambulance, fire engine or police vehicle approaches with siren or lights, give it a clear path and do not follow closely behind it.
Worked example
You reach a roundabout and a car is already circulating. You intend to take the second exit, but your entry would force the car to brake. The correct action is to stop or slow at the give-way line and wait for a safe gap. Indicating your exit does not give you priority over traffic already on the roundabout.
Traps that cost marks
Believing that an indicator creates right of way; overtaking near a junction; tailgating a larger vehicle; and squeezing through a gap that leaves no escape route.