Nepal DOTM Category B Car cheat sheet

Nepal uses a three-tier sign system: mandatory (circular, red border, white ground), warning (triangular, red border, yellow or white ground), and information (rectangular, usually blue or green).

A circular sign with a red border and a symbol inside prohibits the action shown; a red diagonal slash across the circle means the prohibition ends there or the restriction is lifted.

A red octagon is STOP: a full stop is required at the stop line whether or not other traffic is visible; a red inverted triangle is GIVE WAY (yield), requiring a stop only if the way is not clear.

Warning triangles alert to hazards ahead (bends, steep descent, narrow bridge, pedestrian crossing, school, cattle); they do not change right-of-way, they only require reduced speed and readiness to stop.

Traffic light sequence: red, then red plus amber together, then green, then amber alone; a steady amber means stop unless stopping is unsafe, and a flashing amber or flashing red at a junction means proceed only when safe.

A flashing red signal is treated as a STOP sign; a flashing amber signal means give way to traffic already on the junction or crossing.

Solid white centre line: no crossing or overtaking; broken white centre line: crossing permitted when safe; double solid yellow or white lines: strict no-crossing for both directions.

Zebra crossing markings give pedestrians absolute priority once they are on the crossing; a stop line and the word STOP painted on the road reinforce the sign's requirement.

Lane arrows and hatched areas: arrows show permitted directions at the junction; chevron or hatched areas bordered by solid lines must not be entered except in an emergency.

Nepal drives on the left; overtaking is done on the right, and you must not overtake at junctions, bends, hill crests, narrow bridges, pedestrian crossings, or where the centre line is solid.

At an uncontrolled junction the vehicle already in the junction or approaching from the right on the same road generally has priority; a vehicle on a main road has priority over one emerging from a side road or track.

Give way to emergency vehicles (ambulance, fire, police) displaying siren or flashing lights; do not follow closely behind them to use their clear path.

Pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians already crossing at a junction when you turn, have right-of-way; a vehicle turning across a footpath must yield to people on it.

Speed limits are posted; in the absence of a sign, drive at a speed from which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear, and reduce in settlements, school zones, and on narrow hill roads.

A U-turn is prohibited on a solid centre line, on a bend, near a hill crest, on a bridge, at a pedestrian crossing, and where a sign forbids it; check mirrors and signal before any turn.

Parking is prohibited on a pedestrian crossing, within a junction, on a bridge, opposite a parked vehicle on a narrow road, on a footpath, and where signs or yellow lines prohibit it.

Seat belts are compulsory for driver and front-seat passengers, and a helmet is compulsory for motorcycle riders and pillion riders; children should be restrained or seated safely, never standing.

Documents that must be carried while driving: driving licence for the correct class, vehicle registration certificate (blue book), valid road tax and insurance, and fitness or route permit where applicable.

Two-second rule: pick a fixed object, count two seconds after the vehicle ahead passes it; if you reach it earlier you are too close - double the gap in rain, gravel, or darkness.

Stopping distance = thinking (reaction) distance + braking distance; reaction distance grows with speed and fatigue, braking distance grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance.

Mirror routine: check the interior mirror, then the relevant door mirror, then signal, then move; always check the blind spot over your shoulder before changing lane.

In fog, rain, or dust use dipped headlights (not main beam, which reflects back); increase following distance and avoid overtaking unless visibility is clearly adequate.

Defensive driving assumes other road users will make mistakes: cover the brake near junctions, schools, bus stops, and parked vehicles, and expect pedestrians, animals, and cyclists to emerge without warning.

Fatigue is a major crash cause on long hill routes: stop and rest every two hours or sooner, share driving where possible, and never rely on open windows or music to stay awake.

Overtaking is a four-step decision: is it legal, is it necessary, is the road clear far enough ahead, and can I complete it before the solid line or oncoming traffic; abort if any answer is no.

Alcohol, some medicines, and mobile phone use impair reaction time; handheld phone use while driving is prohibited, and a hands-free call still distracts - pull over to talk.

Clutch pedal operation: press fully to disengage before starting in gear and before changing gear; release smoothly through the biting point to avoid stalling; the clutch is not a footrest.

Brake and accelerator are operated with the right foot only; the left foot rests on the floor or clutch, never on the brake, to prevent riding the brake.

Gear selection by speed and load: first for pulling away and steep climbs, higher gears for cruising; on long descents select a lower gear to use engine braking and avoid brake fade.

Steering: hold the wheel at roughly nine and three o'clock; use pull-push steering, keep both hands on the wheel, and never let the wheel spin back through your hands.

Pre-trip checks: tyres (pressure, tread depth, cuts), engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, windscreen washer, lights and indicators, horn, wipers, mirrors, seat and head restraint, fuel level.

Tyre tread below about 1.6 mm and visible cord or bulges mean the tyre must be replaced; uneven wear indicates wheel alignment or suspension problems.

Dashboard warning lights: red oil-pressure or temperature light means stop the engine safely and investigate; red brake light means check the handbrake and brake system before driving.

Hydraulic brakes feel spongy or travel too far when air or fluid is lost; do not drive - a brake system fault is a defect that must be repaired before the vehicle is used.

Battery, alternator, and starter: slow cranking or dim lights suggest a weak battery or charging fault; a battery emits explosive hydrogen, so never jump-start with smoking or sparks nearby.

On steep descents use a low gear and engine braking; do not ride the brakes continuously, which overheats them and causes brake fade, and do not coast in neutral.

Mountain roads: keep to your side on blind bends, sound the horn on blind hairpins where visibility is short, and expect oncoming vehicles to cut the corner.

Landslide and flood risk rises during and after heavy monsoon rain; do not cross a flooded causeway or a slide deposit, and stop where the road edge may be undercut.

On gravel or loose surfaces reduce speed, brake gently and early, avoid sudden steering, and increase following distance because grip and braking are reduced.

Night driving: use dipped headlights when meeting or following traffic, main beam only on clear open road, and reduce speed so you can stop within the lit distance.

Glare management: look toward the left edge of the road when an oncoming vehicle's lights dazzle you, keep the windscreen clean inside and out, and slow down rather than staring at the lights.

In fog or heavy rain, use dipped headlights and fog lamps if fitted, keep a larger gap, and be ready for a sudden stop; if visibility is too poor, pull off safely and wait.

Cold and altitude: ice can form on shaded bridges and high passes; at altitude engine power falls and brakes and tyres behave differently, so descend in low gear and test brakes gently.

Snow, ice, and mud reduce traction: drive smoothly, avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and fit chains where required; if the vehicle skids, ease off the accelerator and steer where you want to go.

At the scene: stop, switch off the engine, switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle or reflective object well behind the vehicle, and send someone for help.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire or traffic; suspected spinal injury can be made worse by moving the casualty.

Check the ABCs: Airway (clear and open), Breathing (look, listen, feel), Circulation (severe bleeding); control bleeding with direct pressure from a clean cloth or dressing.

Recovery position for an unconscious but breathing casualty: lie on the side with the head tilted back slightly, so the airway stays open and vomit can drain.

Do not give food or drink to an injured or unconscious person; keep them warm, reassure them, and monitor breathing until help arrives.

Do not remove a motorcycle helmet unless the airway is obstructed; if you must, support the head and neck and keep them in line with the spine.

Burns: cool with clean running water for about ten to twenty minutes, do not apply oil, toothpaste, or ice, and do not burst blisters; cover loosely with a clean cloth.

Report a crash involving injury, death, or damage to property to the nearest police station as required by law; exchange name, address, licence, and insurance details with the other party.

Fire: stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, get everyone out and upwind, and use the extinguisher only on a small fire; never open the bonnet fully if the engine is burning.

The driving licence must be of the correct class for the vehicle; driving a class you are not licensed for is an offence, and a learner must be accompanied by a qualified driver and display learner plates.

The vehicle registration certificate (blue book) must be current and carried in the vehicle; it records the owner, chassis and engine numbers, and must be updated on transfer of ownership.

Road tax and third-party insurance are mandatory; driving without valid insurance or tax is an offence and can lead to a fine, and the vehicle may be held.

Vehicle fitness certification is required at the intervals set by the transport authority; an expired fitness certificate means the vehicle is not legally roadworthy.

The driver is legally responsible for the vehicle's condition and for the consequences of driving a defective vehicle; a fault known but not repaired is the driver's liability.

Hit-and-run is a serious offence: after any crash you must stop, give assistance, and report to the police; failing to do so carries heavier penalties than the crash itself.

Penalties for drink-driving, dangerous driving, and driving without a licence include fines, licence suspension or cancellation, and imprisonment in serious cases.

The licence carries points or endorsements for offences; repeat offences escalate penalties, and a licence may be cancelled for serious or repeated violations.

Change of address or loss of a licence must be reported and the licence replaced; driving with an expired or altered licence is treated as driving without a valid licence.