Suite 120-123, First Floor, Dublin House

Corner Albion Street/Mbuya Nehanda

Harare

Tel: 04752242/0777 388 989 /0774 873 379

Email:marketing@[Link]

Website: [Link]

ORAL LESSONS
HANDBOOK
 TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN ZIMBABWE

There are 5 traffic signals namely:

1) Danger warning signs

2) Regulatory or Mandatory signs

3) Informative Signs

4) Traffic Light Signals

5) Carriageway Markings

CLASS A- DANGER WARING SIGNS

These are signs characterised by a triangle, mostly a red triangle. There are three reflective
colours on a triangle namely the red colour, white colour and yellow colour. The red colour is
found at the back of a vehicle, white colour at the front and yellow reflective colour on the
sides of the vehicle.

*Should a vehicle experience a breakdown on the road a red reflective triangle should be
placed 30 – 50m on rear and front of the vehicle

*A chevron pattern has two colours which is red and yellow and are found at the back of
heavy vehicles or buses

CLASS B – REGULATORY / MANDATORY SIGNS

These are signs characterised by a circle mostly a red circle. The circle resembles the law a
driver should obey.

CLASS C – INFORMATIVE SIGNS

These are signs characterised by a rectangle shape and mostly these are painted in black and
white and they inform as the name suggest. The derestriction sign which means the previous
speed limit has been cancelled is the only informative sign that has a circle shape.

CLASS D – TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS

These are signs known by the light, for example, robots.

CLASS E – CARRIAGEWAY MARKINGS

These are markings found marked on the roads eg direction arrows, continuous white lines
and zebra crossing.

*Continuous white lines on the roads means that one may not overtake whilst double
continuos white lines means overtaking is strictly prohibited. On the other hand a continuous
white line with a broken white line on the right side of the solid white line means you may
not overtake and vice versa.

Broken White Line –you may overtake if it is safe to do so.

Lane Changing Procedure

*Check rear view mirror, show your intention or electrical signal, check blind spot and hand
signal.

*Direction lines in conjunction with continuous lines or prohibitory lines on a road surface
has a regulatory effect that a driver must obey.

*Longitudinal Lines –are also known as centre lines and they demarcate the centre of the
road.

*Transverse Lines are also known as stop or prohibition lines. A driver should stop
immediately before them.

Converging Lanes- is two lanes forming one.

Diverging Lanes – is one lane which forms two or one road which forms two.

Stop Sign –means;

Stop for traffic from all directions.

ZEBRA CROSSING POINT

– Means;

Stop and give precedence to crossing pedestrians.

Rail Level Crossing – means;

Stop and proceed if it is safe to do so

*At a rail level with a boom gate open you should slow down and proceed I it safe to do so.

Vehicle Check Ahead – means;

Slow down expect to be stopped by the following authorities

ZIMRA

ZINARA

VID

At a Narrow Bridge –

Never overtake slow moving vehicles.

Consider the width.

TRAFFIC ROBOT LIGHTS

Correct Sequence of a Robot

*The correct sequence of a robot is Red – Green – Amber or Green – Amber - Red.

*The correct sequence displayed or shown by a robot light is Green – Amber – [Link]
refers to how the robot light displays.

At a flashing or fixed amber robot proceed with caution giving way to cars approaching from
your right hand side.

Means vehicles turning in the direction pointed by the arrow may proceed regardless of the
red robot
CONCEPT OF DRIVING

A- Stands for accelerator or the right foot pedal.

B- Stand for brakes (centre pedal).
C- Stands for clutch (left pedal).

Change Down Procedure

 Release the accelerator

 Depress the clutch
 Slow down /brake
 Select suitable gear
 Accelerate as you require

The process of balancing clutch and accelerator is called friction point.

LICENCES IN ZIMBABWE & THEIR RESPECTIVE AGES

Class 1(For buses or Public Service Vehicles (PSVs)-Age limit is 25 years and
above with a defensive driver certificate (valid for 48 months) and a medical
certificate which is valid for 12 [Link] to take a bus for a VID test it must be
a 45 seater and above. The maximum speed limit for PSV is 80km per hour.

Class 2 For Lorries & Heavy Vehicles- The age limit to drive a lorry is 18 years and
above with the same requirements as class 1 driver.
*A lorry is a vehicle exceeding 2 300 kg net [Link] take a lorry for a VID test it
must have a mass of 5000kg and be 7metres long.
*A lorry towing trailers have 3 reflective colours namely red, yellow and white. A
lorry towing two trailers should have 6 reflective triangles (two for the horse, two for
the trailer and two for the second trailer. The maximum speed limit for heavy vehicles
is 80km per hour.

Class 3 (Motor cycles)

For motor cycles only. Age limit is 16 years and above. A motor cycle is not
permitted to carry more than one passenger.
 Class 4(Light Motor Vehicles)
For light motor vehicles or light passenger vehicles. A light motor vehicle is vehicle
with a seating capacity of not more than seven passengers. The age limit of the light
motor vehicle is 16 years and [Link] maximum speed limit for light motor
vehicles in highway is 120 km per hour.

Class 5(For Tractors or any Earth Moving Machines)

Vehicles such as tractors, graders, combine harvesters’ etc fall under this category.
The age limit of this class is 18 years. The maximum speed limit for class 5 vehicles
is 40 km per hour.

IMPORTANT RULES TO MASTER WHEN ANSWERING DIAGRAMS

1) Vehicles are not allowed to turn right in front of oncoming vehicles.

2) Always give the right of way to traffic approaching from your right.

3) Vehicles in the same road may move at the same time.

4) Any vehicle may move to the centre if there is nothing approaching from its right.

5) At a roundabout always give the right of way to traffic already circulating. The indicator
will only be used be used when getting out of the roundabout.

6) Any vehicle facing a giveaway or stop sign is the last to leave the intersection.
SPEED & DISTANCE

REACTION DISTANCE

This is the distance travelled between first seeing a hazard and first applying the brakes.

BREAKING DISTANCE

This is the distance travelled between first applying the brakes and where the vehicle stops.

TOTAL/OVERALL STOPPING DISTANCE

This is the distance travelled between first seeing a hazard/danger and where the vehicle
finally stops. To find the total stopping distance you say – Reaction Distance + Braking
Distance= Total Breaking Distance eg at 60km/hr = 8,3m as reaction distance + 27,7 as
breaking distance= 36m as total stopping distance.

SPEED REACTION BRAKING TOTAL

DISTANCE DISTANCE STOPPING
DISTANCE
40 km/hr 5,6m 12,4m 18m Max speed for
construction
60km/hr 8,3m 27,7m 36m Max speed in
urban areas
120km/hr 16,7m 113,3m 130m Max Speed in
Zimbabwe

Starting Procedure
Check handbrake, depress clutch, check if the gear is on neutral mode, turn key on,
check the dash board and start the engine.

Physical Barrier
This is anything which bars traffic going to the left, right or straight which we can see
in physical form.
Detour
Is any danger or hazard/ which we can find at the centre of the road. When
approaching this sign, slow down and follow the direction of arrows.

Layby (painted in blue) 400m

Means that you may stop for a short period of time.

Rest (painted in blue) 400m

Means that you can stop and take a rest whilst enjoying the comfort of the shade for a
long period of time.

Deep and Steep Ascent

Means you must engage a lower gear.

Slippery Road
Reduce speed and exercise caution.

Gravel Road

Reduce speed and drive with caution.

THE END

MAY GOD BLESS YOU