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Rules of the Road and Road Signs

General Road Rules

The most important rule of the road in South Africa is to keep to the left side of
the road as far as is safe.
You are never allowed to drive your motor vehicle on the right-hand side of a
public road with traffic moving in both directions, unless a traffic officer orders
you to do so.

Learner's License Restrictions

You may not obtain a learner’s license if:

You already have a license that authorizes the driving of the same vehicle class.
You are declared unfit to obtain a driving license for a certain period, and that
period still prevails.
Your license was suspended temporarily, and the suspension has not yet
expired.

Towing a Vehicle
A vehicle with bad brakes must be towed with a tow-bar, not a rope.
The fastest speed at which you may tow a vehicle with a rope is 30 km/h.

Following Distance
When considering following distance, you should be able to stop without
swerving if the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly.

Speed Limits

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Unless otherwise indicated by a sign, the general speed limit in a town or city is
60 km/h.
The legal speed at which you may drive is shown to you by signs next to the
road.

Vehicle Lights
The furthest that your vehicle’s dim lights may shine in front of you is 45
meters.
Vehicle headlights must be switched on:
At any time of the day when you cannot see persons and vehicles 150m in
front of you.
From sunset to sunrise.
When it rains and you cannot see vehicles 100m in front of you.

Changing Lanes
The last action you must take before moving to another lane is to check the
blind spot.
If you want to change lanes, you must give the necessary signal and after
looking for other traffic, change lanes.
When you want to change lanes, you must:
Only do it when it is safe to do so.
Switch your indicators on in time to show what you are going to do.
Use the mirror(s) of your vehicle to ensure that you know of other traffic.

Passing Other Vehicles

You may pass another vehicle on its left-hand side if:

It indicates that it is going to turn right.

It drives in a town in the right-hand lane with two lanes in the same direction.
You may not pass any vehicle on the left-hand side if it is turning right.

Conduct When Being Overtaken

If you see that someone wants to overtake you, you must:

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Keep to the left as far as is safe.

Not drive faster.

Intersections and Right of Way

At an intersection, pedestrians who are already crossing the road when the red
man signal starts showing have the right of way.
You may not drive into an intersection when there is not enough space in the
intersection to turn without blocking other traffic.
If you are driving towards the circle and there are also vehicles from the other
three sides, you must stop with all the vehicles and only drive on when it is
safe.
When the robot is red and the green arrow flashes to the right, it shows you
that if you want to turn right, you may go.
You have right of way when you are within a traffic circle.

Emergency Vehicles
If you come across an emergency vehicle on the road sounding a siren, you
must give right of way to the emergency vehicle.

Turning
If you want to turn left with your vehicle, you must give the necessary signal in
good time.
To turn, use numbers 6 & 8.

Accidents
When you are involved in an accident you must:
Immediately stop your vehicle.
See if somebody is injured.

Vehicle Condition and Operation

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The tread pattern of your vehicle’s tires may not be less than 1 mm.
You may not leave your vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
When you drive, your vision of the road and the traffic must be unobstructed.
You may allow your vehicle to move backwards only if it is safe to do so.

Parking Regulations
The maximum period of time that a vehicle may be parked in one place on a
road outside an urban area is 24 hours.

Other Prohibitions
You may not:
Have passengers in the vehicle if you only have a learner’s license.
Drive in reverse for more than 100m.
Run the engine of your vehicle unattended.
Use your vehicle without a cap on the fuel tank.
Spin the wheels of your vehicle when pulling off.
Drive your vehicle on the sidewalk.
Leave the engine of your vehicle running when you put petrol in it.

Road Signs

Warning Signs

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Sign L9 warns you about a railway crossing ahead.

Sign L10 shows you that roads cross ahead and other vehicles from the side
must stop or yield at the intersection.
Sign S1, when flashing, shows you that there is a robot ahead.
Sign R1 warns you that the road is slippery.
Sign U4 shows you that the road winds for 12 km.
Sign O9 warns you that there are possibly school kids close to or in the road.
Sign Q7 shows you that the road narrows from both sides.
Warning sign S3 shows you that there is a low water bridge ahead.
Road marking Z5 warns you that the freeway ends ahead.
Sign A6 tells you to give right of way to pedestrians who would like to cross
the street.
Sign O4 warns you that you are now entering an urban area.
Warning sign O3 shows you that a concealed entrance to the left is followed
by one to the right.
Sign S7 tells you to be on the lookout for agricultural vehicles that may be on
the road.
Warning sign Q4 shows you that potholes are to be found on the road ahead.

Regulatory Signs

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Sign B6 shows you that you must only drive straight on.
Sign E1 prohibits you from using your hooter.
Sign P2 shows you that you must be on the lookout for cyclists.
Sign E4 shows you that you may not turn left there.
Sign A3 indicates that you must stop and drive on when it is safe to do so in
the sequence that the vehicles stopped at the stop lines.
Sign B1 shows you that you may not drive faster than 50km/h.
Sign E9 shows you that no motor vehicles may pass each other.
Sign A8 shows you that the road ends.
Sign L4 prohibits you from parking there between 9am and 4pm.
Sign F5 shows you that you may not park your motorcar there.
Sign K3 shows you that you may not park there for more than 3 hours.
Sign C3 shows you that you must drive there.
Sign G9 shows you that you can use that part of the road if you wish.
Sign B8 shows you that you will get a one-way road to the right.
Sign BB4 shows you that only goods vehicles that load or unload may park
there.
When you see sign A6 you must give the right of way to pedestrians who
would like to cross the street.
If you see sign B2 you know that vehicles with a mass of more than 10 tonne
may not drive there.
Sign DD7 shows you that there is a T-junction to the right.
Sign Y1 shows you that you must yield to all users of the road and possibly also
trains.

Combination Signs
Sign CC9 is found at a sharp curve to the right.
Sign Q7 shows you that there is a narrow bridge ahead.
Sign R1 warns you that the road has many curves.
Sign N3 shows you that there is a obstruction left of the road.
Sign J8 shows you the distance to the next town.

Road Markings

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Road marking Z5 warns you that there is a level crossing with one railway line
ahead
Road marking RTM 1 shows you that if you are driving in car A, you must stop
before this line.
Road marking AA4 show you that you are not allowed to pass another vehicle
there.
Road marking AA6 shows you that you may pass other vehicles while Y3 as
well shows you that you may not drive over it to turn into a yard or anything
else.
Road markings RTM3 shows you that you may not stop further than the front
one of the two.
When you see road marking (a), you may not park there at all.
Road marking Y3 shows you that traffic may not overtake or cross it on either
side.
Road marking GM1 shows the lanes for road users.

Vehicle Controls
Number Control

7 To stop your vehicle

6 To accelerate your vehicle
8 To select a gear
10 To turn
9 To ensure a parked vehicle doesn't move

South African Learner's Licence Test Study

Guide
General Rules and Regulations

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The most important rule of the road in South Africa is to always be courteous
and considerate towards fellow road users.
You must keep to the left side of the road as far as is safe.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to drive your motor vehicle on the
right-hand side of a public road with traffic moving in both directions, unless a
traffic officer orders you to do so.
It is illegal when you drive and a passenger rides on the bumper of your
vehicle.
You may not spin the wheels of your vehicle when pulling off.
You may not use your vehicle without a cap on the fuel tank.
You may not leave your vehicle's engine running unattended.
You may put your arm out the window only to give legal hand signals.

Learner's Licence Requirements ‍

You may not obtain a learner’s licence if:

You already have a licence that authorizes the driving of the same vehicle class
You are declared unfit to obtain a driving licence for a certain period, and that
period still prevails
Your licence was suspended temporarily, and the suspension has not yet
expired

Road Signs

Warning Signs
Sign L9 warns you about a railway crossing ahead.

Sign CC9 is found at a sharp curve to the right.

Sign M1 shows you that roads cross ahead, and you may have to stop or yield at the
intersection.

Sign N8 shows you that there is two-way traffic ahead on the one-way road you are
traveling on.

Sign B7 shows you that you can expect a sharp bend to the left.

Sign Q10 warns you that there are potholes in the road.

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Sign P6 means that there is a dual track railway line in front.

Sign Q6 shows you that the road temporarily narrows from both sides.

Sign U3 shows you that potholes are to be found on the road ahead.

Sign O3 shows you that a number of sharp curves is ahead.

Sign B2 you know that vehicles with a mass of more than 10 tonne may not drive
there.

Sign S5 shows you that there is a low water bridge ahead.

Sign T1 shows you that there is a/an curve to the right ahead

Regulatory Signs
Sign A2 shows you that you must stop and then turn left or drive straight on.

Sign DD5 shows you that there’s a T-junction to the left.

Sign T2 shows you that there is a temporary obstruction left of the road.

Sign F6 forbids all motor vehicles to drive past this sign.

Sign K3 shows you that you may not drive there between 06:00 and 09:00.

Sign G9 shows you that you must use that part of the road.

Sign F5 shows you that no motor cars may drive there.

Sign C3 shows you that you must drive there.

Sign T8 you must be ready to stop and turn left or right.

Sign J8 shows you dangerous conditions for the next 100 km

Sign B1 shows you the slowest speed that you may dirve

Information Signs

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Sign E3 shows that no vehicles may drive there because only pedestrians may
walk there

Sign C3 shows you that the area is for motor car taxi’s only

Road Markings
Road marking Y3 shows you that traffic may not pass or cross it on either side.

Road marking RTM1 in the sketch booklet, sketch 4 shows you that if you are driving
in car A, must stop before this line

Marking BB8 shows you that only municipal buses pay park there

Road marking Y4 is a painted island where you are not allowed to drive on or stop.

Sketch 6, marking (a) shows you that you may not park there at all

Right of Way at Intersections

At an intersection, you must yield to oncoming traffic if you want to turn right.

If you are driving towards the circle in Z4 and there are also vehicles from the other
three sides, you must stop with all the vehicles and only drive on when it is safe.

Sign T8, you must when you want to drive on straight, ignore it because traffic
from the sides must stop

You have right of way when:

When you are within a traffic circle

Vehicle Operation

Vehicle Controls
To stop your vehicle, you must use number 7.

To accelerate your vehicle, you must use number 10.

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To turn, number 5 is used.

Number 6 is not found is an automatic vehicle

To select a gear, you must use numbers 6 & 8

To ensure that your parked vehicle does not move, use number 9

When you are going to turn sharp, you must use controls 1,3,4,5,6,8,9, and 10

Overtaking
When may you not pass another vehicle?

When you are nearing the top of a hill When you are nearing a curve
When you can only see 100m in front of you because of smoke over the
road

Changing Lanes
When you want to change lanes and drive from L1 to L2 (sketch booklet 8) you must:

Only do it when it is safe to do so

Switch your indicators on in time to show what you are going to do
Use the mirror(s) of your vehicle to ensure that you know of other traffic

The last action that you must take before moving to another lane is to check the
blind spot.

Vehicle Condition and Equipment

The tread pattern of your vehicle’s tires may not be less than 1 mm.

With regard to the hooter of your vehicle, someone must hear it from a distance of
at least 45m.

The license for your vehicle (clearance certificate) is valid for 12 months.

Driving Conditions and Practices

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Your vehicle’s headlights must be switched on:

At any time of the day when you cannot see persons and vehicles 150m in front
of you
From sunset to sunrise
When it rains and you cannot see vehicles 100m in front of you

The lights of your vehicle parked on a public road between sunset and sunrise need
not kept lighted when the vehicle is parked:

10 m from a lighted street lamp

in a demarcated parking area

The distance it takes the driver of a motor vehicle to stop is:

Longer on a wet road than on a dry road

Longer if the vehicle is traveling at a higher speed
Longer if the vehicle is loaded

When you drive:

Your vision of the road and the traffic must be unobstructed

Parking Regulations
You are not allowed to stop:

Where you are also not allowed to park

On the pavement
With the front of your vehicle facing oncoming traffic
Next to any obstructions in the road

You are not allowed to stop 5m from a bridge

The only instance where you may stop on a freeway is to obey a road traffic sign.

The maximum period of time that a vehicle may be parked in one place on a road
outside urban areas is 48 hours.

Accidents
When you are involved in an accident you must:

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Immediately stop your vehicle Determine the damage to the vehicle

Towing
The maximum distance between two vehicles which are being towed is 3,5 m.

Traffic Lights
When the robot is red and the green arrow flashes to the left as indicated in X6, it
shows you that if you want to turn left, you may go.

If you come to the traffic light and the red light flashes, you must stop and go only if
it is safe to do so.

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