DRIVING NOTES
We have 5 classes of motor vehicles
Class Vehicles Age
Class 1 Bus 25
Class 2 Heavy vehicle 18
Class 3 Motor cycles 16
Class 4 Light motor vehicle 16
Class 5 Agriculture, construction ,tractors 18
1. CLASS 1
These re public service vehicles
They carry passengers and goods
REQUIREMENTS
Defensive driving certificates which is valid for 48 months
Retest which is valid for 56 months (5 years)
Medical certificates which is valid for 12 months (1 year)
Must be 25 years and above
Valid learners licence
CLASS 2: HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES
Net mass that exceed 2300kg
These learner must use any vehicle which weighs 5000kg or more which is 7m long
Must be 18 years and above
Heavy vehicles must not tow or pull more than 3 trailers
Maximum speed is 80km /h
3 types of reflectors must be white in front red back and yellow siedeways
Class 3: Motor cycles
Carries one passenger
The cycle must have proper pillion seat and foot rest firmly fixed , crush helmet must be
provided to the passenger
It is the only vehicle without a fire extinguisher as well as reverse gear
Legal age is 16 and above
CLASS 4:LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLES
Net mass less than 2300kgs
Maximum speed 120km/h
Legal age 16 and above
Vehicle in class 4 have 2 types of reflectors red at the back white at front
Class 5 :Tractors, Caterpillars Combined Harvesters, Construction Machinery
Must be 18 years and above
Tractor are not allowed to carry passengers
If you are to be tested in driving tractors you go alone
Vehicles in class 5 can be operated using driver’s permit
1
A holder of a drivers permit is allowed to drive vehicles driven by class 5 drivers licence
holders
PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENCE
Valid for 12 months
The holder of a PDL should not carry passengers however he should drive under the
supervision of a certified driver
The holder of a PDL normally drives vehicles with an L plate
A leaner is exempted from putting on a seat belt when reversing
B) CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE
Also known as blue copy licence
C) DEFENSIVE DRIVER CERTIFICATE
Valid for 48 months
Its purpose is to equip drivers with skills to prevent accidents
D) MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Valid for 12 months
VEHICLES DOCUMENTS
Before using a vehicle on a public roads it should have the following documents
1. Registration book
2. Insurance
3. Vehicle licence
CONTROLS
The collective name for the clutch, accelerator and brake is PEDALS
a. Clutch
It is operated by the left foot
Its use to avoid noise when changing gears
Assists in engaging and disengaging gears
Assist in reaching the friction point –this is balance between the clutch and accelerator when
the vehicle starts moving
BRAKES
This pedal is at the centre and its operated by the right foot.
It is used to slowing down and stopping
In emergence a driver should use brakes
ACCELERATOR
Is on the right and operated by the right foot .
It is used to create and increase speed
2
HAND BRAKE
It used to keep the vehicle stationery
When parked at a lay bye sign one should put off the headlights and put on park lights
A driver is forbidden to park a vehicle in less than 7,5 from the corner
SPEED
Maximum speed limit in Zimbabwe highways is 80km/hr for heavy vehicles and 120km/hr
for light motor vehicles
In urban areas the speed limit is 60km/hr
The higher the speed ,the longer it takes before you stop
speed gap
15km/hr 1 car
30km/hr 2 cars
45km/hr 3 cars
75km/hr 5 cars
CLASS OF ROAD SIGNS
A. DANGER WARNING SIGNS
characterised by triangle except for a robot ahead sign
at a steep descent /ascent one should engage a lower gear
at a vehicle check ahead sign one should slow down and expect to be stopped
b. REGULATORY SIGN
also a mandatory signs
characterised with a circle except for railroad level crossing which does not have a circle
at a give way sign – slow down and proceed when the road is clear from both sides
at a stop sign – stop and proceed when the road is clear on both sides
at rail road level crossing –stop and proceed if it clear on both sides
c. INFORMATIVE SIGN
characterised by rectangles except a DE restrictive sign
a DE restrictive sign signifies that the previously imposed speed limit has been cancelled
the colour of a one way sign is green
lay-bye sign is coloured blue
d. TRAFFIC LIGHTS
the sequence of a robot is
Correct sequence: RED – GREEN –AMBER)
Sequence of a robot: GREEN –AMBER –RED (GAR )
Sequence of lights shown by a robot (amber sequenceAMBER –RED GREEN
Amber means stop unless it is safe to do so
Fixed or flashing amber : give way to traffic approaching from the right
Can pass through a red robot when it is in conjunction with a green arrow pointing
to the direction of my travel
When turning left of right at a robot controlled intersection motorist must give way
to pedestrian
When there is a red robot in conjunction with a green arrow pointing up[ wards you
can proceed straight ahead
3
e. CARRIAGEWAY MARKINGS
Direction arrows in conjunction with prohibition lines drawn on the surface of the
road have a REGULATORY EFFECT.
Continuous line/ double continuous lines on the right side means that you may not
overtake or straddle at all
A broke white line on the side means that you may overtake if it is safe to do so
You can straddle a broken yellow line on the left side of the road when you overtake
traffic about to turn right or when you want to pull off the road
LANE CHANGING PROCEDURE
N.B same applies to the procedure for stopping /turning right or left though the final action may
differ.
Check mirror –electrical signal –blind spot-hand signal –slow down manoeuvre (i.e turn
left /right/pull off and stop)
Blind spot is the portion not covered by the mirrors
CHANGE DOWN PROCEDURE
Release accelerator –depress clutch –change gear – release clutch –accelerator as
required
RULES OF DRIVING
In Zimbabwe it is a general rule that we always keep left when driving
One should therefore understand the following rules for the better understand of the
sequence of movement on various intersection /diagrams
1. Do not turn right in front of oncoming traffic#
2. Give way to traffic approaching from the right (this applies in urban areas only)
3. In rural areas give way to traffic that enters the junction first
4. At round about ,give way to traffic that is already circulating
5. Any car can move to the intersection if it has nothing approaching from its right
6. Traffic sharing the same road at the same tome (this rule applies if none of the cars is
turning right )
7. Any car facing a stop /giveway sig moves last at the intersection
SHORTEST STOPPING DISTANCE
Speed Reaction distance Braking distance Total stopping
distance
40km/hr 5,6m 12,4m 18m
60km/hr 8,3m 27,7m 36m
120km/hr 16,7m 113,3m 130m
Disclaimer : this document does not exhaust all the information on driving but a mere guideline to
readers /applicants for provisional drivers licences. The author shall not be liable for any misuse and
/misquote of this document by the user
WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ………………………IT ALL START WITH A PROVISIONAL DRIVER LICENCE