Oral Driving School Lessons

Road Users
 Pedestrians
 Cyclists
 Motor Cyclists
 Motorists

Pedestrians
 Travel in a single file.
 Have right of way at pedestrian crossing or at the robots.
 Should wear white clothes at the night.
 Travels on the right side of the road facing oncoming traffic.

Cyclist
 Should use a cycle track. [carry maximum weight of 40 kgs]
 Travel in a single file not too abreast. [not allowed to carry passenger under the age of 16]
 Should have a red reflector at the back.
 Put on white clothes during the night.

Motor Cyclists
 Drives on the left side of the road and is entitled to a full lane. [does not have reverse gear]
 Should be registered, insured, and licensed. [carry one passenger]
 It should be fitted with a proper pillion seat and foot rests. [doesn’t need a fire extinguisher]
 Should have red reflectors at the back and white at the front.
 The driver should put on a crush helmet.

Motorists
 Drives on the left side of the road and overtake on the right except when overtaking cars
turning to the right.
 Should be registered, insured, and licensed.
 Should have reflectors (white at the front and red at the back)

Classes of Motor Vehicles

 Light Motor Vehicles
 Heavy Motor Vehicles
Light Motor Vehicles
 It is one with a net mass not exceeding 2300kgs
 White at front and red at the back reflectors.

Heavy Motor Vehicles

 One with a net mass exceeding 2300kgs
 White at front, yellow at the sides and chevron at the back.
Driver
 Anyone who has attained the age of 16 can learn to drive.

 Class 3- Motorcycle -16yrs

 Class 4- Light Motor Vehicle -16yrs
 Class 2- Heavy Motor Vehicle -18yrs
 Class 1- Buses -25yrs
-Medical Certificate (Expires after 12months)
-Defensive Driving Certificate (Expires after 48moths)
 Class 5- Agricultural Machinery and Earth Moving Machinery -18yrs
-Tractors Drives Permit
-Tractors only -18yrs

PSV (Public Service Vehicle)

1. Taxis
2. Buses
3. Kombis
4. Haulage Trucks
Red on white number plates
 25years
 Medical Certificate (12 months to expire)
 Defensive Driving Certificate (4years/48 months to expire)

Rules of the road

i. Drive on the left, overtake on the right except when there is a car turning to the right.
ii. Give way to cars coming from the road on your right (In urban areas)
iii. Give way to traffic that has already entered the intersection first (In rural areas)
iv. Give way to traffic already circulating/in circulation (Roundabout/Traffic circle)
v. Never turn right in front of oncoming.

Following Distances
 For every 15km/hr u are travelling at, leave a gap of 1 car length.
Shortest Stopping Distances
Speed Reaction Distance Breaking Distance Stopping Distance

40km/hr 5,6m 12,4m 18m

60km/hr 8,3m 27,7m 36m

120km/hr 16,7m 113,3m 130m

Reaction Distance + Breaking Distance =Stopping Distance

Junctions/ Intersections
a. Controlled Intersections
b. Uncontrolled Intersections
c. Roundabout
An Intersection is where two or more roads meet.

Night Driving
 When u drive with your headlights on.
 Headlights are put on at 5.30pm to 6.30am.
 Headlights have two positions:
i. High Beam/Flash
ii. Low Beam/Dip
 WE drive with headlights on low beam when:
i. Meeting other traffic at night.
 It is not when giving way to oncoming traffic.
ii. Following behind other traffic.
iii. Driving in a well-lighted area.
iv. Approaching police directing traffic.

Stopping or Parking a Car/Motor Vehicle

 You are allowed to stop or park your vehicle 7,5m from a corner.
 7.4m and below you are forbidden.
 You park your vehicle at the extreme left of the road or at authorised parking space.

Lorries and Buses

1. They should be fitted with strong safety chains when towing an independent trailer.

Reflectors on a Lorry or Bus

  White at the front, yellow on the sides and chevron at the back.
 A bus does not have yellow reflectors because it has side lights.
 A lorry towing two trailers should carry 6 breakdown triangles.
 A breakdown triangle should be put 30-50m behind a broken down vehicle.
 A lorry should not tow more than 3 trailers.

Speed Limits
60km/hr – Urban Areas (for both heavy and light motor vehicle)
80km/hr – Heavy Vehicle in Highway (main road, wide tars)
120km/hr – Light Motor Vehicle in Highway (main road, wide tars)
 If you are tired when driving you stay off the road.
 Restriction sign does not allow you to exceed the given speed.
 A derestriction sign cancels the previously imposed speed limit but the driver should not
exceed 120km/hr.
Stop Sign
 Stop and give way to all crossing traffic.
 Stop and proceed when the road is clear.

Give Way Sign

 Reduce Speed and give way to all crossing traffic.
 Reduce speed and proceed when the road is clear.
 I don’t necessarily have to stop.

Sequence of a Robot
1. Red – Green – Amber (RGA)
2. Green – Amber – Red (GAR)
3. Amber – Red – Green (ARG)
 At a fixed amber flashing robot, you give way to cars coming from your right side.
 At an amber sequence you must stop unless if it not safe to do so.

Stirring Wheel
 A faulty stirring wheel has more than 45o of free play.

Animal and Animal Drawn Wagons

 An animal drawn wagon can be overtaken from whichever side is safe to do so.
When animals are crossing the road stop until they have crossed.
 Turning Procedure
1 Check mirror
2 Show desired intension
3 Slow down signal follows
4 Select a suitable gear

Lane Changing Procedure

1 Check the mirror
2 Signal intention
3 Check blind spot (it is portion not covered by your mirrors)
4 Manueve

Pull off to stop

1 Check mirror
2 Reduce speed
3 Pull off and stop

Traffic signs and Signals

 They are five classes of traffic signs in Zimbabwe which are

I. Danger Warning
II. Regulatory
III. Informative
IV. Traffic Lights
V. Carriageway Markings

Danger Warning Signs

- The characteristics of a Danger Warning sign is Triangle.

Regulatory Sign

- The characteristic of a Regulatory sign is a Circle.