The lines on the road, and the controls in the car

Getting Your Learner Licence5 min readText and drawings only

Two things get left to the last minute and both are examined. The lines painted on the road are signs in their own right, and vehicle controls is the small section that people skip and then fail on. Neither takes long to learn.

Lines painted on the road are signs too Broken line Cross when it is safe Solid line Do not cross Double solid Nobody may cross Yellow line Edge of the roadway If a broken line is next to a solid one, the rule follows YOUR side.
Road markings are signs too.

A broken line means you may cross when it is safe. A solid line means you may not. A double solid line means neither direction may cross. Yellow marks the edge of the roadway.

There is a broken line on my side and a solid line on the other side. May I overtake?

Yes. The rule follows your own side of the road. A broken line on your side means you may cross when it is safe, even though oncoming traffic may not cross towards you. If the solid line is on your side, you may not cross it.

Pedals, always in this order, left to right C Clutch left foot, to change gear B Brake the biggest pedal A Accelerator smallest, on the rightYour right foot does the brake and the accelerator. Never both pedals at once. An automatic has no clutch. Two pedals only: brake and accelerator.Other controls the test asks about Handbrake holds the car still when it is parked Indicators tell others what you are about to do Hazards only when you are stopped and a danger to others
Vehicle controls: the eight marks people throw away.

In a manual car the pedals run clutch, brake, accelerator from left to right, and that order never changes. An automatic simply has no clutch.

Beyond the pedals, know what the handbrake, the indicators and the hazard lights are for. Hazards are for when you are stopped and a danger to other people, not for driving in the rain.

Before you move on

  • Learn the four line types, because painted markings are examined too
  • When the lines differ, follow the one on your own side
  • Learn the pedal order left to right and say it out loud
  • Know when hazard lights are and are not appropriate

Check what you know

3 questions. Have a look at what this lesson asks.

1. What does a solid white line down the middle of the road mean?

2. In a manual car, what is the order of the pedals from left to right?

3. When should hazard lights be used?

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