INTRODUCTION TO DRIVING

Traffic act
➢ It is a set of rules and regulations that govern the use of roads and the expected
conduct of road users in Kenya.

Highway code
➢ It is a set of information, advice or guidelines in a booklet checked and passed by
parliament for all road users in East Africa.

Rule of the road in Kenya

➢ We always keep left unless overtaking

DRIVING
➢ This is the act of moving a stationary vehicle from one point to another without
causing obstruction

Driver
➢ This is a person who is capable of moving a stationary vehicle from one point to
another without causing obstruction

Competent driver
➢ This is a person who is equipped with knowledge and skills to move a stationary
vehicle from one point to another without causing obstruction

Types of vehicles
❖ Manual [with clutch]
❖ Automatic [ without a clutch]

1. MODEL TOWN BOARD

➢ It is a representation of road networks on a board. It shows how different roads

networks connect.

Features of a model town board

❖ Roundabout
❖ Parkings
❖ Pedestrian crossing
 ❖ Green field
❖ Yellow kerbs
❖ Central reserve
❖ One way traffic road [dual carriage way]
❖ Two-way traffic road [ single carriage way]
❖ Stop sign [ hold, halt]
❖ Give way sign [ yield]

TYPES OF ROADS
❖ One way traffic road [dual carriage way]
❖ Two-way traffic road [ single carriage way]

EXAMPLES OF ROADS
❖ Minor road
❖ Major road

ROUNDABOUT

➢ It is a meeting point of more than two roads [ an intersection where road traffic is
permitted to flow smoothly without causing obstruction.]
➢ It facilitates the movement of vehicles into different directions without causing
obstruction.

Parts of a roundabout

Traffic island – it is the central part of the roundabout

It helps the driver on counting of the degrees when going into different directions

Space [lane 1,2,3] – on these lanes, a driver is not allowed to complete a full circle, he or she
only follows the options given on each particular lane

Innermost lane- this is the only lane that allows a driver to go to any direction or complete a
full circle since we have the access of the traffic island.
Rules of the roundabout

❖ No parking
❖ No waiting
❖ No stopping
❖ No changing of lanes
❖ No overtaking
❖ No overseeding

Common mistakes made on the roundabout

❖ Approaching the roundabout using the wrong lane

❖ Changing of lanes on the roundabout
❖ Incorrect observation of the traffic rules [ traffic light signals]
❖ Leaving or exiting the roundabout using the wrong lane

PARKINGS

We have two types of parkings

➢ Controlled/ ample/ angle parking zone
➢ Flush/uncontrolled/parallel parking zone

Controlled/ ample/ angle parking zone

Controlled – the parking has enough security

Angle - a driver parks at an angle of 450
Ample- the parking has enough space

Rules of angle parking zone

❖ Park at an angle of 450

❖ Park by a forward gear and leave by a reverse gear
❖ It is only for salon cars [ small cars]
❖ Use the entrance and the exit
❖ Park from the furthest end

NB: The furthest end is determined by the entrance

Flush / uncontrolled parking zone

➢ This kind of parking is found on the left side of the road.

Flush- a driver parks at a very short period of time
Uncontrolled – the parking has no security [ park at your own risk]

Rules of flush parking zone

❖ Park from the furthest end

❖ Park by reverse gear and leave by a forward gear
❖ Park all types of vehicles except the tractors and the trailers

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

➢ This is a path set aside on a two - way traffic road with white markings for pedestrians
to cross safely.

GREEN FIELD

➢ It is a space set aside mostly on the left side of the road

➢ It is used for road expansion in future by the government

YELLOW KERBS

➢ They are used to protect the green field [ minor function]

➢ They mean no parking, no waiting and no stopping [ major function]

CENTRAL RESERVE

➢ It is a pavement that separates a one-way traffic road

➢ In between the central reserves we have the u- turns.

ONE WAY TRAFFIC ROAD [ DUAL CARRIAGE WAY]

➢ This is road where all vehicles move into the same direction.
➢ It is separated by white lines
➢ Lanes- these are paths that the driver uses the pass the vehicle
➢ Lines- these separates the lanes
➢ White continuous lines mean a driver cannot overtake or change lanes
 ➢ A dotted white line means a driver can overtake or change the lanes if the road is
clear.

TWO WAY TRAFFIC ROAD [SINGLE CARRIAGE WAY]

➢ This is a road where vehicles move into the opposite direction

➢ It is separated by a yellow line
➢ A continuous yellow line means a driver cannot overtake
➢ A dotted yellow line means a driver can overtake or change direction if the road is
clear.
➢ A doubled yellow line separates the minor road [ entrance and exit on the roundabout]

STOP SIGN [ HOLD, HALT]

➢ It is a major road sign in Kenya

➢ The reason as to why we refer it as a major road sign, a driver cannot travel a long
distance without using it
➢ It is a eight sided figure with white letters[octagon] meaning a driver must check on
all directions before proceeding]

GIVE WAY SIGN [ YIELD]

❖ It is a major road sign in Kenya

❖ It is a tringle in shape with the apex facing downward
❖ It has a white boarder with nothing inside where as the white boarders of the warning
sign have a black image inside

MINOR ROAD
It has three lanes

Lane 1- two options

-go straight
-turn left
Lane 2- has only one option
-go straight
Lane 3 – it has five options
-go straight
-turn right
-turn 900
-turn 1800
 -turn 2700

MAJOR ROAD
It has four lanes

Lane 1- two options

-go straight
-turn left
Lane 2- has only one option
-go straight

Lane 3 – it has two options

-go straight
-turn right
Lane 4- it has four options
-turn 900
-turn 1800
-turn 2700
- turn 3600

NB: From major road to a minor road we usually minus 1.

RULES OF A MODEL TOWN BOARD

❖ Use the shortest and the most correct route without using parking
❖ Use the longest and the most correct route without using parking
❖ Use parking as the last option

2. TRAFFIC SIGNS AND SIGNALS

Traffic signs

❖ Warning signs
❖ Regulatory signs
-priority signs [stop sign and give way sign]
-mandatory signs [blue in color]
-prohibitory signs
❖ Informatory signs
Trunk roads – these are roads that connect a country to a country or a city to a city [ capital
city] represented by letter A
Non trunk roads – these are roads that connect internally [ inside the country]

A- Country or a City
B- County
C- District
D- Division
E- Locations

Traffic Signals

❖ Hand signals
❖ Traffic light signals
❖ Mechanical signals

Examples of mechanical signals

1. Brake lights
2. Hazard lights
3. Indicator lights
4. Flash lights

Types of lights in a vehicle

❖ full lights 11:00pm

❖ dim lights 6:45pm
❖ parking lights
❖ Brake lights
❖ Hazard lights
❖ Indicator lights
❖ Flash lights
❖ Reversing lights
❖ Interior lights
❖ Number plate lights 6:45pm

➢ The red color in all road signs means warning

➢ The blue color in all road signs means compulsory/ mandatory
➢ The green color means information
 2.ORAL LEARNING
Types of vehicles which are given the right of way on the road

1. An ambulance with a siren

2. A police car with a siren
3. A presidential escort
4. Fire engine with a siren
5. When you are instructed by a traffic police officer with a uniform[circumstance]

Situations under which a driver is required to overtake from the left

❖ When the car in front of you is turning right

❖ On a one-way traffic road
❖ When instructed by a traffic police officer with a uniform
❖ When the car in front of you has had an accident and then there is a space on the left
side

Reverse gear- it is the strongest gear because it has no alternative

Gear 2- we use it to start the heavy commercial vehicle

Terms in driving
M.S – Mechanical Signal
M.S.M – Mirror signal maneuver
E.A.K- East Africa of Kenya
N.T.S.A – National Transport and Safety Authority.
K.E.N.H.A – Kenya National Highways Authority
P.D.L- Provisional Driving Licence
I.D.L- Interim Driving Licence

When to use the side mirrors while driving

1. When overtaking
2. When changing lanes
3. When reversing
4. When changing direction

Street – this is where buildings are to be found along

Avenue- this is where vegetations are to be found along
Chevrons- these are reflective plates found at the back of heavy commercial vehicle
Caravan – it is a mobile vehicle without an engine pulled by a vehicle with an engine and
can be used for accommodation]

Causes of road accidents in Kenya

❖ Ignorance of traffic rules and regulations

❖ Driving under the influence of drugs
❖ Driving while under medication
❖ Bad weather conditions
❖ Unroad worthy vehicles
❖ Unroad worthy conditions
❖ Overloading
❖ Over speeding
❖ Overtaking recklessly
❖ Corruption between the drivers and the traffic police officers

Essential parts to be maintained in a vehicle

❖ Brakes
❖ Engine
❖ Steering Wheel
❖ Tyres

Important things a driver should carry when going for a long journey

❖ Car jerk
❖ Spare tyre
❖ Spot light
❖ First aid kit
❖ Life savors

Dont’s of holding a steering wheel

❖ Don’t hold the steering wheel with one hand

❖ Don’t hold the steering wheel firmly
❖ Don’t crisscross hands while driving
❖ Don’t hold the steering wheel with the elbow

The procedure that should be followed when an accident occurs

❖ Switch off the vehicle

 ❖ Put the life savors 50m ahead and 50m behind
❖ Give first aid to the casualties[injured]
❖ Call the ambulance [ if the ambulance delays take another vehicle and to get the
casualties to the hospital
❖ Call the police for the recording of a statement

Things a driver should have before driving any vehicle

A valid driving license

A valid insurance certificate
A valid inspection certificate [ for the P.S.V & the trailers]

NB: we normally press down the clutch peddle while engaging the gears to disconnect
the gear box from the engine.

Three - point turn

➢ It is driving a vehicle facing into the opposite direction with the use of a forward and
a reverse gear

Hotel – this is where a customer gets full accommodation [ food, drinks somewhere to sleep
for days]
Motel – customer gets only food and drinks but no accommodation
School Warden – this is a name given to a person carrying the sign “STOP CHILDREN
CROSSING’

Places where a driver cannot stop his vehicle

1. At the roundabout
2. At a pedestrian crossing
3. Where there is a yellow kerb
4. Where there is no a stop sign
5. At the middle of a highway
6. At a junction

Speed limits in towns

❖ 50km/hr

Speed limits in highways

❖ Saloon car – 110km/hr

 ❖ Lorries – 80km/hr
❖ Trailers – 65km/hr

Globe Cinema Roundabout

➢ It is the biggest roundabout in eastern Africa

How to hold a steering wheel

❖ 10 to 2 position
❖ ¼ to 3 position
What you should do when approaching a railway crossing

❖ At night- stop, dim lights then listen if there is no sound proceed

❖ Day time – stop, look left and right, listen if there is no sound proceed

Why you should look right twice when approaching a road junction

➢ Right side is where the danger mostly may occur from since oncoming vehicles are
from the right side

Places where you are not allowed to hoot

1. Near a hospital
2. Near a school
3. Near a law court
4. Where there is no a hooting sign

Procedure of overtaking a vehicle

➢ Indicate right
➢ If it’s clear you overtake
➢ After overtaking, indicate to the lest, and keep your side

Places where you are not allowed to park your vehicle

❖ At a junction
❖ At the roundabout
❖ At a bus stop
❖ At a pedestrian crossing
❖ At a yellow kerb
❖ At the middle of a road
Examples of a caravan

➢ Side car
➢ Mobile toilet/clinic

Meanings of hooting

➢ Hooting once- warning

➢ Hooting twice- greetings
➢ Hooting more than twice or continuous- insults

Differentiate between:

Heavy commercial vehicle – these are vehicles that have a weight exceeding 3.05 tonnes of
a tyre
Light commercial vehicle – these are vehicles which have weight of less than 3.05 tonnes of
a tyre.

Hazard demarcation

These are reflective plates attached at the edge of a bridge to show the width of the bridge

Green color on the traffic light signals means you proceed except

1. When there is an oncoming vehicle from the right side

2. When stopped by a traffic police officer with a uniform

Places where you are not allowed to overtake

❖ At a junction
❖ At the roundabout
❖ At a pedestrian crossing

When to put the lights on during the day

❖ When its foggy

❖ During a heavy rainfall
❖ When its misty
❖ During an emergency
Circumstances under which a driver is required to use the M.S.M while
driving

1. When overtaking
2. When changing lanes
3. When reversing
4. When changing direction