Study for your K53 learner's licence

Before you ever move off, you need to know what every control in the car does and check it's set up safely.

• Mirrors — adjust all three (centre and both side mirrors) so you have a clear view behind and to the sides before moving off.
• Seatbelt — fasten it before the vehicle starts moving, every time, no exceptions.
• Handbrake (parking brake) — keeps the vehicle stationary when parked or stopped, especially on a slope. Release it fully before moving off.
• Seat and steering position — adjusted so you can reach the pedals fully and see over the steering wheel comfortably.

• Indicators — signal in good time before you turn or change lanes, and cancel them afterwards.
• Headlights — switch to dipped (low) beam well before an oncoming vehicle reaches you, so you don't dazzle the other driver.
• Hazard lights — used to warn other road users that your vehicle is a temporary obstruction or danger, such as a breakdown.
• Horn — used to warn other road users of your presence, never out of frustration or impatience.
• Brake pedal — usually the middle pedal in a manual car, used to slow down or stop.
• Windscreen wipers — keep your view clear in rain or poor visibility; check they work before you need them.

South African road signs use shape and colour to tell you, at a glance, what kind of sign you're looking at — even before you can read the words. This trips up a lot of people because our warning signs are diamond-shaped, not the triangles used in some other countries.

Regulatory signs are about rules (what you may or may not do). Warning signs are about hazards (what to watch out for). Guidance signs are about information (where things are). If you remember the shapes, you can often work out a sign's meaning before you even read it.

• 4-way stops — whoever arrives and comes to a complete stop first generally goes first; if you arrive at the same time as someone else, the vehicle on your right usually has right of way.
• The 3-second rule — pick a fixed point ahead; if the car in front passes it and you reach the same point in under 3 seconds, you're following too closely. Leave more space in rain or poor visibility.
• Pedestrian crossings — stop and give way to a pedestrian who is waiting to cross or already crossing.
• Overtaking — never cross a solid white or yellow line to overtake, and never overtake approaching a blind rise, bend, or where a no-overtaking sign applies.

• Every occupant must wear a seatbelt where one is fitted — front and rear seats, every trip.
• Keeping a safe following distance gives you time to stop if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly — it's one of the simplest ways to avoid a crash.