AUTO SCHOOL CESMI–fSjp–UCAd

◊♦♦◊♦♦◊

General Introduction to the Highway Code

driving is a very delicate activity. The driver must have a good

L behavior on the road. In traffic, drivers

are required to travel safely. For this, they must possess
a driving license and comply with traffic regulations (traffic code of the
route

A- The driver's license: license B (light vehicle)

It is the permit reserved for the driving of private vehicles or to

vans with a permissible total weight of less than or equal to 3.5 tons and designated for

transport of goods or passengers with a maximum of 9 seats

understood the driver.

PTAC = total authorized weight in charge

To obtain the B driving license, you must be at least 18 years old.

B- The other categories of driving licenses

Permit A1: it is for two-wheeled motor vehicles with an engine capacity.

(VC) is less than or equal to 125 cm3. It is included in the B license.

Permit A: it is for 2-wheelers whose engine displacement is greater than 125cc. So the fact

Having a B license does not allow you to drive all kinds of motorcycles;

License C: it is for heavy goods vehicles with a GVWR greater than 3.5 tons and
assigned to the transport of goods;

C1 license: it is for super-heavy vehicles with a GVW of over 18 tons and assigned
for the transport of hazardous products (e.g., flammable products);

1
License D: it is for vehicles used for the transport of passengers. The weight
is not important but the assignment;

License E: it is a set of vehicles whose trailer weight exceeds

750 kg;

Permit F: it is a driving license intended for people living with a

handicap

Chapter I - The Highway Code

To drive safely, one must obey the traffic laws. The license

P a driver's license issued in Senegal may have an international character after

authentication (cf. Vienna Convention of 1968).

I- Definition of the highway code

It is the set of signals and regulatory provisions that govern

road traffic.

The highway code deserves special attention, which is based on

the Vienna Convention of 1968. In Senegal, the highway code has been implemented
by law 2002-30 of December 24, 2002, implemented by Decree 2004-13 of
19 Janv. 2004

II- The general rules of the highway code

In general, the highway code is divided into 4 parts: the signaling

vertical, the horizontal signage, the light signage and the rules of
driving.

A- Vertical signage

2
 It is the set of signaling panels installed along the

C route to help drivers. According to their shape, we distinguish three

categories of signs: triangles, circles, and squares or the
rectangles.

On a one-way street, the signs can be installed at

left and right. On a two-way street, the signs are always
installed on the right shoulder.

1- The triangular shaped panels

These are warning signals about 50m in urban areas (city) and
150m outside built-up areas (countryside) before the start of the danger zone.

Exception: unlike the other dangers raised, the sign indicating a

circulation in both directions is always placed in position (position signals)
That is to say, traffic begins or applies from the sign. All the
danger panels are advanced signals except the traffic sign at
two meanings.

The nature of the reported danger will be represented by a sign or a symbol included
on the panel.

Warning signals can be permanent (triangle with white background) or temporary

(triangle with a yellow background).

Note: When approaching a danger, the driver must always slow down.

2- The round-shaped panels

3
 It distinguishes two types of circles: red circles and blue circles.

O The red circles (circle with red outline)

These are prohibition signals. The prohibition starts from

from the panel and applies until the next intersection or to a
end of prohibition sign. The end of prohibition signs
are indicated by white circles crossed out in black. The nature of
the prohibition will be represented by a sign or a symbol included in the panel

The blue circles (circle with blue background)

These are mandatory signals. The obligation begins from the sign and
applies until the next intersection or a sign of end of obligation.
End of obligation signs are indicated by blue circles crossed out by
red.

The nature of the obligation will be represented by a sign, a symbol or a

included in the panel.

Note: the driver must always obey the prohibition signals and
of obligation in order to reduce the risks of traffic accidents.

♦ Square or rectangular panels

These are signals of simple indication, localization, advice or

Information. The reported element applies from the sign and extends
up to a termination sign represented by a square or a rectangle
barred in red. The nature of the indicated element will be represented by a sign, a
symbol or a mention included in the panel.

Note: the driver must always comply with the indication signals to avoid
to make a mistake in road traffic.

3- The signs and the markers

4
 These panels are often supplemented or accompanied by signboards.

L and tags.

The signs

These are small panels placed below the main panel, they
complement or specify the information provided by the main panel.
Several are distinguished. For example, distance signs, extent signs, of
category, various information etc.

The tags

These are markers placed in certain dangerous spots on the road. We

distinguishes several types of tags. For example, intersection tags,
bend, narrowing, or deviation of the roadway, etc.

B- Horizontal signaling

It is the set of ground markings allowing the driver to

C guide in road traffic. It is generally represented by 5

couleurs : les couleurs blanche, jaune, bleue, rouge et verte

1- The white markings

["continuous lines","discontinuous lines","diversion arrows","pedestrian crossing"]

etc.

2- The yellow markings

Are they permanent or temporary?

Continuous yellow line

painted on the edge of the sidewalk to signal a prohibition against stopping or

to park

Temporary yellow

5
Continuous or discontinuous line, painted on the roadway to signal construction work
on the road

3- The blue marking

blue-painted location to indicate a limited-duration parking

4- The red marking

red and white checkered painted to the right of the roadway to signal a lane of
distress.

5 - The green marking

green band painted on the right side of the road to signal a lane reserved for
circulation of bicycle lanes (track or bike lane)

Note: horizontal signage replaces or complements vertical signage.

C- The light signaling

It is the set of traffic lights encountered in traffic.

C road. They organize the order of passage for users at the places where the
circulation occurs alternately. Several categories can be distinguished.
of fires:

the traffic light

It is a three-colored traffic light installed at intersections to organize the order of

road user passage. It can be in the shape of a circle, an arrow, or
symbol. The three lights turn on alternately in the order green, yellow, red.

Green represents a permission to go, while yellow and red indicate a stop.
obligation to stop.

Ex 2: the blinking yellow light

6
It is a fire placed at dangerous spots on the road to alert users.
of the presence of an unidentified danger. It can be in the shape of a circle, an arrow
or symbol. In front of the flashing yellow light, the driver proceeds with caution.
slow speed while yielding to the right.

Note: the driver must always respect traffic lights and their order.
functioning.

D- The rules of conduct or traffic on the roadway

It is the set of factors related to the behavior of the driver on the road.

C They concern the rules of priority of passage, stopping and the

parking, overtaking and crossing, speed, use of lights
of the vehicle tec.

Chapter II: The priorities of passage

to drive is also to know how to apply the rules of priority

S
passage.

Section 1: Definition of right of way

It is the order of passage at the places where traffic flows in a manner

alternating notably at the intersections.

Section 2: The right of way at intersections

I- Types of intersection

7
 distinguishes 4 types of intersections: cross-shaped intersections,

O in T, Y and star (roundabout). Intersections are places

dangerous, that is why the order of passage will be organized to avoid
accidents: here the question is how to approach a
intersection ?

To approach an intersection safely, the driver must always

Slow down and apply the rules of right of way.

II- The order of passage

D
In the event of an intersection, four (4) scenarios may apply.
to the driver. The order is that it is an intersection without
signaling, priority is always to the right.

1- The case where the driver has priority over the

users of the right and the left

The driver has priority over the road users on the right and left.
in front of the following signals or situations:

in front of the priority road sign or with priority character (priority

absolute. Priority at all road intersections. diamond on a yellow background
in front of the priority road sign at the next intersection (priority
punctual; the priority only applies at the next intersection.
in front of a traffic light that turns green
in front of a traffic officer who allows me to pass (officer seen in profile)
2- The case where the driver must yield to the right

This is called the priority to the right. The driver must yield the right of way to
right in front of the signals or the following situations:

in front of the secondary road intersection sign

in front of the mandatory roundabout

8
 in front of an intersection marked by the intersection sign without
signaling
in front of the flashing yellow light
in front of an intersection without signage

Note: if 4 vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time, there is no rule.

of priority (each having another to their right). However, the rule of courtesy
applies if the vehicles are of the same category (e.g.: light). If there is a vehicle
of greater weight than others (e.g.: heavy weight), it must go last.

3- The case where the driver must yield to the left

It is the rule of priority to the left. The driver must yield to the left.
in front of the following signal: roundabout or circular intersection (roundabout)
with markings on the ground).

Roundabout mandatory signaled by a red triangular sign while the

The roundabout is indicated by a blue circular sign.

Note: at the roundabout, priority is to the right. However, the roundabout

At the roundabout, priority is to the left.

4- The case where the driver must yield to the left and right

The driver must yield to the left and right at signals or the
the following situations:

in front of the STOP sign or the white line painted at the limit of the
roadway approached
in front of the priority loss sign (give way) or the dashed lines
painted at the edge of the approached roadway.
in front of a traffic light that turns yellow or red
at the exit of a stop, parking, of a parking lot and dirt road

9
 in front of a traffic officer who forces me to stop (officer seen from the front)
or from behind.

5- Other cases of right of way

a- The AFP rule

At an intersection, in the presence of a traffic officer, of a light

tricolor and a panel, the driver must apply the AFP rule (Agent-Fire-
Panel).

The AFP rule means:

The agent takes precedence over the fire and the sign.
In the absence of the agent, the fire takes priority over the panel.
In the absence of the agent and the fire, the panel applies
In the absence of signage (neither agent, nor light, nor sign, nor marking at
we apply the priority rule to the right.
b- The case of certain places on the road

It is important to note that the right of way rules apply.

also at other places along the road such as in the following situations:

Outgoing users from a dirt road, from a parking area

(parking), from a private path or wanting to turn to the other side of the road
must always yield the right of way to users traveling on the road
addressed.
The driver must also give way to pedestrians who are entering the road.
road as well as the buses (public transport) that resume the
circulation after a regular stop
Users must also respect the orders of the agents of the
circulation and priority for emergency response vehicles (e.g.:
ambulance.
c-Emergency intervention vehicles

10
The case of emergency intervention vehicles is classified as priority vehicles.
and not a priority. They must activate their lights.

Priority emergency response vehicles are those of the Police,

Gendarmerie, firefighters, and SAMU. They are responsible for intervening.
in case of emergency. They have priority at all intersections and they are not
force them to obey the signage. The driver must always give way to them.
passage.

Ambulances must respect traffic rules but we must allow them

facilitate traffic.

A public transport that leaves its stop has priority.

Non-priority emergency response vehicles do not benefit from a

right of way but the driver must facilitate their passage.

Section 3: Stopping and Parking

to drive is also to know how to stop and how

S to park

I- Definition
At the stop

It is the immobilization of a vehicle on the roadway, on the sidewalk or

shoulder that consists of leaving the engine running regardless of the
duration.

B- Parking

It is the immobilization of a vehicle on the roadway, on the sidewalk, or on the shoulder.

which involves cutting the engine regardless of the duration.

II-The regulations of the parking stoppage

11
 Stopping and parking are well regulated; either authorities or

L
prohibited.

Stopping and parking allowed

Stopping and parking are allowed in urban areas and in

campaign and depend on double-sided or one-way streets.

In urban areas on two-way streets

In two-way streets without signage, stopping and parking are

authorized on the right side along the sidewalk (straddling the roadway and the sidewalk)
in the direction of travel.

2- In urban areas on one-way streets

In one-way streets, stopping and parking are generally authorized.

on the right side along the sidewalk. However, it is allowed to use the side
left if the roadway is wide (roadway with more than 2 lanes) provided that it does not
cut a solid line to go to the left side.

3- Stopping and parking outside urban areas (countryside)

Outside built-up areas, stopping and parking are permitted on the shoulder of the road.
right in the direction of travel. It is permitted to use the shoulder of
left if the one on the right is impracticable provided not to cut a line
continue to go towards the left shoulder.

Note: Stopping and parking are also allowed in the spaces.

delimited and secured (parking or garage) and will always be indicated by a
panel or a development.

We distinguish several types of parking: public parking, public parking with duration.
limited and paid parking.

12
In parking lots or garages, vehicles can park in three ways.
different; either edging (obliquely to the sidewalk), or battle (of
perpendicular to the sidewalk), or parallel parking (parallel to the sidewalk).

Note: at night, to stop or park on the roadway of unlit streets,

the driver is required to signal the presence of their vehicle to secure it
through its parking lights (position light or red light).

Outside of the roadway in parking lots or garages, the driver is not

obliged to signal their vehicle, even in the absence of lighting.

B-No stopping and parking prohibited

Stopping and parking are often prohibited in certain areas of the road.
and can be considered annoying, dangerous, or abusive.

1- Stopping and obstructive parking

Stopping and parking that occurs in certain places is considered problematic.

following:

On the locations or lanes reserved for other categories of users.

pedestrian crossing, lane reserved for a bus;
Between the right edge of the roadway and a continuous line, if we obstruct
circulation
Near or in front of the traffic signs
2-The stop and dangerous parking

Stopping and parking that occur are considered dangerous.

following places:

Nearby an intersection;
In a bend;
Near a level crossing (a meeting between the road and the track)
ferrous) ;

13
 From the top of a slope (top of a hill)
On a bridge
In a tunnel
3- Abusive parking

Parking that occurs in the same manner is considered abusive.

location of the public road or in a prohibited area for a duration of
more than 7 days.

Abusive parking is punished by towing accompanied by

of a fine.

Note: the prohibition of stopping and parking is often signaled by

panels.

Note: Stopping and parking are often tolerated in certain areas of the
emergency and force majeure route (breakdown; accident; illness etc.).

Stopping is allowed but parking remains prohibited in front of garages.

property entries or exits, to the right in double file to let rise or
disembark a passenger.
- Stopping and parking are allowed, even on the roadway, in case
emergency and force majeure. However, the driver must report the
presence of his vehicle for his security.

in case of breakdown

In case of a breakdown on the roadway, the driver can stop or park the vehicle.
time to repair but he must report the presence of his vehicle in
turning on its hazard lights and placing a warning triangle
upstream and downstream at 30m from the vehicle to be seen at 100m.

In case of accident

14
 In case of an accident, the first driver to arrive at the scene must
stop and do the PAS (Protect, Alert and Rescue) under penalty of being
pursued for the offense of failure to assist a person in danger

♦ Protect: it is to secure the accident sites,

♦ Alert: it is to call for help (fire department 18; police 17;

gendarmerie 800 20 20

♦ To rescue: it is to assist victims without performing maneuvers.

dangerous.

Section 4: Overtaking and Crossing

to know how to drive is also to know how to overtake and how to cross.

S I- Overtaking
A - Definition

Overtaking is the maneuver of passing a vehicle. It is

very delicate. It thus obeys very specific rules. It is sometimes allowed
or prohibited in certain situations or places.

B- The regulation of overtaking

1- The general rules of overtaking

The principle is that overtaking a vehicle is done on the left. But this
principle suffers from 3 exceptions. Indeed, one can overtake a vehicle by the
right in the following 3 cases:

♦ If the user ahead of me indicated their intention to turn left;

♦ In a double line, overtaking is done on the right or the left, without

change lane

15
♦ You can overtake a tram on the left or on the right except at the stop on the side of
the boarding or alighting of passengers.

2- The steps of overcoming

The overtaking maneuver is done in three (3) stages: before, during, and after.

Before the overtaking

The driver must check and alert.

-check: ensure that the signage does not prohibit overtaking (see
vertical, horizontal, luminous signage) and have good visibility (
position, weather conditions etc.)

alert: warn other users of your intention to overtake by turning on the

left turn signal and honk (during the day) or flash headlights (at night).

During the overtaking

The driver must change lanes, that is to say, take the left lane while leaving
a sufficient lateral interval to overtake motor vehicles, 1m in
urban area and 1.5m in the countryside to overtake pedestrians, the 2 reds,
animals etc.

During overtaking, the driver must accelerate without slowing down.

After the overtaking

The driver must gradually merge without slowing down, that is to say return to
his legal position by signaling right when the overtaken vehicle
begins to appear in his rearview mirror.

3- The allowed exceedance

Certain situations or places on the road are dangerous, but overtaking

can still be allowed. These are the following cases:

16
 At the level of priority intersections
At the level crossings with barriers
At the height of the two-way turns with 3 lanes and if we are protected in the sense
inverse by a continuous line.

Note: on a one-way street and in a straight line, it is permitted to overtake a

file or a double file of vehicles in a single maneuver.

II- The intersection

A- Definition

the crossing is the maneuver that involves driving in the opposite direction in

L passing on the right. In normal traffic conditions, the

crossing can be done without any difficulty. However, there are cases where,
the state of the road or the presence of an obstacle can make crossing difficult
difficult.

B- The regulation of difficult crossing

L
the difficult crossing can take place at three levels: on a narrow road,
on a road in the presence of an obstacle and on a sloped road (or
of mountain.

1- The crossing on a narrow road

The entrance of a narrow road is indicated by a reduced lane sign.

the right or the left).

The order of passage will be regulated by the following signs:

If the roadway is narrowed on my side:

A red round sign with a red arrow and a black arrow, placed in
The sign indicates to yield to users coming from the opposite direction.

-If the roadway has narrowed on the other side of the road:

17
A square blue sign with a red and white arrow indicates that I have the
right of way.

Note: regardless of the situation, I must take into account the position of the arrow.
Red. If this one is on my side, I must yield the passage.

In the absence of signage, the largest vehicle (+7m long and

A width of more than 2m must park to facilitate the passage of the smallest vehicle.
the least cumbersome vehicle therefore has the order of passage. However, if the two
vehicles are of the same category, the rule of courtesy will apply.

2-The intersection on a road in the presence of an obstacle

The obstacles are: a poorly parked or broken down vehicle, construction work.

The order of passage will be organized by the following rule: In the presence of an obstacle,
the vehicle encountering an obstacle in its path must stop and yield the right of way
to users coming from the opposite direction.

The crossing on a narrow mountain road is done as follows:

For vehicles of the same category, the descending vehicle must stop.
and yield the right of way to an ascending vehicle;

A light vehicle must stop and yield to the heavy vehicle;

A truck (freight transport) must stop and give way to
a bus (public transport);
A lone vehicle (unique) must stop and yield to a group.
of vehicle (articulated vehicles: trailer or semi-trailer).

Note: The driver must always stop to allow vehicles to pass.

emergency intervention.

Note: Overtaking is done on the left and crossing is done on the right.

III-The use of lights at night

18
A normal vehicle is equipped with a lighting and signaling system that we
commonly referred to as fires. The use of fires depends on the position and the
driver's situation.

In principle, the driver must turn on the lights under normal [Link] of
intersection to light up at night in urban areas.

It is forbidden to light thehigh beams (or headlights) in urban areas for

crossing or pursuing a user. The use of high beams is often allowed in
urban area and in the countryside, in an unlit area if we do not cross either
does not pursue a user.

Note: the fog lights are turned on to supplement the lighting of the headlights.
crossing or road in bad weather (rain, snow, fog). But it
It is forbidden to turn on the fog lights in the rain.

The position lights and the red lights are always on at night too.
As the low beam or road lights, they are used to see the position of the
vehicle at 150m.

The turn signals are on in case of a change of direction.

The hazard lights are on in case of emergency or force majeure (breakdown,

accident).

The brake lights are on if the vehicle stops suddenly.

Note: In Senegal, fog lights are mandatory unlike in the

France where they are optional.

IV- The speed

L
Most traffic accidents are caused by an excess of
speed. That is why the driver must respect the speed limit.
speed. In general, the speed limit depends on the types of roads,

19
their positions, the time and the driver's level.

A- Type of road

There are three types of roads. However, we must distinguish the types of roads with the
categories of roads (national road, departmental road, etc.).

1-The highway

It is a one-way expressway. Access is prohibited to any vehicle whose

the speed does not reach 40 km/h. Maximum speed: 130 km/h. Slow vehicles (≤
Vehicles traveling at 60 km/h can access the highway but must stay in the right lane.
To access the left lane, you must drive at least 80 km/h.
On the highway, there are no intersections, no pedestrian crossings, nor speed bumps.
of donkey instead of the road with lanes separated by a central reservation.

2- Road with separated lanes by central median

It is not a highway but it consists of two lanes separated by a

central reservation (e.g., the VDN). On each lane, traffic is one-way.
The maximum speed on this road is 100 km/h under normal conditions.

3- Road with a single lane

It is a road consisting of a single lane that can be one-way or

double meaning. We call it a road for cars. It is indicated by a
square sign with a blue background featuring a vehicle symbol. The maximum speed on
this road is 90km/h under normal conditions.

B- Position and time

In urban areas, it is prohibited to drive faster than 50km/h, to honk the horn except in
In case of immediate danger, turn on the headlights and we lose priority.

It is prohibited to drive +50km/h if visibility is less than 50m regardless.

the driver's position.

20
The driver must also slow down in the face of danger, especially when approaching
following places: intersections, curves, level crossings, pedestrian crossings
pedestrian, peaks of hills and at the entrance of urban areas.

C - The level of the driver

This question only arises in France. We distinguish experienced driver.

(with a driver's license that is more than 2 years old).

Questionnaires:

Q abusive parking
vehicle part;
right of way priorities;
vertical signage;
horizontal signaling;
signs and markers;
difference between stopping and parking;
In case of a breakdown of your vehicle, what to do?
Stop double-parked to let a passenger get on or off?
in case of emergency or force majeure?
the exceptions of exceeding?
When does the debadging and folding take place?
The equipment of the vehicle (technical and safety)?

A few concepts

Adherence is the contact between the vehicle's wheels and the roadway.

A vehicle has 3 brakes: pedal brake (feet), handbrake (hand), and engine brake.
(ignition key).

21
On a road, the signs are always placed on the right.

At a roundabout, the priority is to the left, however, in a traffic circle

Mandatory priority is to the right.

In a one-way street, all the traffic signs (on the right)

as of the left) do not concern.

A regulated access is prohibited for certain users but permitted

for others. See length and width panels, indicating a GVW, etc.

On a lane, the right arrow on the far left of the roadway is unworthy of
one-way street.

A level crossing is the meeting of the roadway and the railway track. It is
marked by a triangle with a red outline. If this triangle contains a symbol of
train, this means: level crossing without barriers. However, if the triangle
The sign indicates a level crossing with a barrier.
a barrier is a half-barrier if there is an indication sign (barrage)
automatic). It is manual if it is a complete dam.

Yield: you must stop and let the users pass.

coming from the right. It is indicated by the STOP sign.

The triangle with a red outline indicates a danger except for the sign indicating a
two-way traffic. This sign is in position contrary to the others which
are advanced.

Restrictions in urban areas: speed limit (50km/h) unless otherwise indicated

opposite), use of high beams (headlights), use of horns (except in emergency situations
imminent danger), loss of priority.

End of the course

22