Rules of the road

Speed limits

Area	Default limit
Public road in an urban area	60 km/h
Public road outside an urban area (rural)	100 km/h
Freeway	120 km/h
Minibus / bus / goods vehicle over 9 000 kg	100 km/h (max)

Following distance

Keep at least a two-second gap from the vehicle in front in good conditions — pick a fixed point, and you should pass it no sooner than two seconds after the vehicle ahead. Increase the gap in rain, fog or at night.

Key rules to remember

Situation	Rule
Headlights	On from sunset to sunrise, and whenever you cannot see persons/vehicles 150 m ahead.
Seatbelts	Driver and all passengers must wear a seatbelt where fitted.
Right of way	No one automatically “has” right of way — you must yield it to avoid danger.
Stopping	Never stop on a freeway, in a tunnel, on a bridge, or where a sign/road marking prohibits it.
Overtaking	Overtake on the right, only when it is safe and legal to do so.
Cellphone	You may not hold a phone while driving — hands-free only.
Alcohol	Legal limit: below 0.05 g per 100 ml blood (0.02 for professional drivers).

Hand signals

Know the hand signals for slowing/stopping, turning right and turning left — you may be asked to identify them in the test.

Road signs

There is an unguarded level crossing ahead

A side-road junction ahead

Come to a complete stop before this sign

A slippery road when wet

There is a robot up ahead

The road is a one-way in the direction of the arrow

There are pedestrians ahead

A marked pedestrian crossing is ahead

A and B above

Parking is only allowed during the specified times

You may not turn left

No entry

No parking

Road works for the next 300m

Only turn left ahead

The road narrows from both sides ahead

A and C above

There is a gentle curve to the left ahead

Expect concealed driveways ahead from the left

Expect the current road to be a dead end

Decrease speed and give right of way to vehicles on you right

Trucks with a mass exceeding 3 tons may not turn left

Two-way traffic ahead on the one-way road you are travelling on

Decrease speed, give way to traffic on the road that you are approaching and proceed when safe to do so

Yield at the single rail crossing ahead

A sharp left turn

Tour buses

Taxis

There is a sharp junction ahead, to the right

A dead end ahead

Be aware of loose stones ahead

A tunnel ahead no overtaking

They must be aware of slow-moving vehicles ahead

There is a height and weight and width restriction for vehicles ahead

A hairpin bend ahead

Pedestrians are not allowed ahead

There is a crossroad on a non-primary road ahead, you may have to stop or yield at the intersection

Motorcycles of under 125cc are not allowed

There is a crossroad on a priority road ahead, you may have to stop or yield at the intersection

The maximum speed in the right lane is 60km per hour

A uneven roadway ahead

Immediate danger pass to the left or right

A gravel road ends ahead

A dual roadway ends ahead from left

Vehicles transporting disabled persons

Animal-drawn structures/vehicles are not allowed

Hazardous substances

They may not overtake each other

Only goods vehicles are allowed

The slowest speed they may drive

Only vehicles with an axle mass less than 2 tons may drive here

Only park here if you drive a motorcycle

A low water bridge ahead

The current road narrows from the left ahead

Only cyclists are not permitted ahead

The road turning to the left ends ahead

There is danger in the road ahead

You must be on the lookout for agricultural vehicles that may be on the road

The road ends because of water ahead

There are speed bumps on the road up ahead

There is a motor gate to the right hand side of the road up ahead

Coming up is a concealed entrance to the left followed by one to the right

Minibuses - to drive past

You must turn left at the next street

You must turn right at the next street

Stop but if you want to turn left, you can use it as a yield sign

You may not drive here between 06:00 09:00

Vehicles with a mass of 10 ton and less may not drive there

Stop and drive on when it is safe to do so in the sequence the vehicles stopped at stop line

You may use this part of the road if you are driving a motor vehicle

Directs you to the nearest male/female toilets

Drive slowly and be cautious while driving

Trucks weighing in excess of 3 tons may not drive in the right lane

Traffic control stop ahead

You may not turn right ahead

Motorcycles only are permitted

Motorists are not permitted to stop here between the specified times

Sharp curve to the left ahead

Motor vehicles are not permitted to drive here

Drive cautiously and slowly as there are concealed roads ahead

All buses are not permitted

There is a T-junction ahead

Motorcycles may not drive slower than 50km per hour

You have the right of way

All goods vehicles are not allowed

Vehicles in excess of 10 tons are not allowed

The left lane is coming to an end in 150m

Police station coming up

A and B

They may have their vehicle towed-away if they park here

They should stop immediately and not turn right

Speed bumps ahead travel at no more than 40km per hour

A sharp right turn

Winding road ahead, first right, then left

The left lane ends here

Keep right

Yield at the double rail crossing ahead

Children ahead

They may park here for a time not exceeding 2 hours

They may not make a U-turn here

They may not stop here

The maximum speed is 60km/h and may be photographed if exceeding this limit

The maximum speed for the current road is 50km per hour

That heavy vehicles should engage in a lower gear

Sharp junction ahead from left drive cautiously

A sharp curve chevron to the left

Immediate danger pass to the left

Be aware of cyclists in the area of this sign

You may only drive there if you have special permission/authorization

They may not exceed 60km per hour

Falling rocks ahead be careful particularly during or after heavy rainfalls

You may not turn left ahead

The fact that they will have their wheels clamped if they choose to park here

Hairpin bends ahead do not exceed a driving speed of 30km per hour

Motor vehicles may drive here

Only one vehicle at a time may pass through the obstacle ahead

There is a arrestor bed 500m to the left ahead

You must be ready to stop and turn right or left

Do not drive or park on this painted island

Hooting is Prohibited

Give pedestrians who would like to cross the road, right of way

There is a railway crossing ahead

Potholes on the road ahead

Pedestrians may only use the opposite sidewalk

Main roads to Sea Point and the city

Trucks crossing, proceed carefully

B and C

The right lane is coming to an end in 200m

Winding road for 1.5km all vehicles drive cautiously. Heavy vehicles engage lower gear

The beginning of a Single-Carriageway

The beginning of a Dual-Carriageway

You should slow down if you plan to turn off the freeway

People ahead vehicles travel at 40km/h for 15km

This area is reserved for taxis with meters only

Tow away zone for all vehicles except when permit is visible

No parking and a vehicle tow away zone

Diversion and addition of lanes in 120m

Combined curves ahead first to the left

Motorcycles are not permitted

Staggered junction ahead

Sharp right turn ahead

Access allowed for all goods vehicles between the specified times

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You may not travel over the speed of 60 km/h at night

No hitch-hiking

There is a yield sign ahead

Only tour buses may drive there

Construction vehicles only

The road narrows when crossing the bridge

Only abnormal vehicles are allowed here

Must switch headlamps on

Pay toll

(i), (ii) and (iii)

Drive in a clockwise direction at the junction

You may park your vehicle here

There may be wild animals on the road or crossing the road

Only proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow in your lane

Animal-drawn vehicles only

(ii) and (iii)

Vehicles with a GVM exceeding the mass indicated on the sign

This part of the road is for buses only

Temporary construction or maintenance works ahead

That the traffic may be approaching you from the left hand side

Located in any road but especially in rural area near schools

Only taxis may drive there

Midi buses

There may be free ranging animals such as cattle on the road

You may not cross to the right hand side of the line

Stop your vehicle behind the stop line

Hawkers are not allowed

Construction vehicles not allowed

Give right of way to pedestrians crossing the road or wanting to cross the road

Rickshaws

Follow the traffic signs when you want to join the more important route

Indicates an exit about 300m ahead

Minibuses only

Points out the direction of a transport terminus from a route

This area is reserved for cyclists only or disabled person’s vehicle only or road that leads to an airport

Indicates early that there is an exit from the freeway on certain destinations ahead

Informs you of an information office or notice board

Slow down there’s a school or stop sign ahead

Informs you that there is a transport modal point or terminus nearby

To give right of way to pedestrians

Indicates exactly where this exit will be

At a railway crossing or roadway ahead

No overtaking

Look out for other vehicles and yield to vehicles already in the carriageway

Between the right hand side of an off-ramp and the continuing freeway

An alternative route

A service station

On any ordinary road with more than one traffic lane

The exit sequence and distances in km to such exits

Usually on the left hand side of an ordinary road, opposite an on-ramp to a freeway

Must drive here

Authorized vehicles – diplomatic corps

Do not drive faster than 30km/h and yield right of way to all pedestrians

All of the above

To indicate a parking area reserved for bicycles

It indicates a bus stop reservation where buses from a specific organization or company may stop to drop off and pick up passengers

Below a regulatory sign

It warns that the road winds for the next 8km and the maximum speed that you may drive is 60km/h

A seaside or beach resort

On the left hand side of the road about 750m after entering a freeway and after that every 5 to 10km

Stopping where you see this sign during these two time periods

Only pedal cycles may ride here

Be on the lookout for stop/go traffic controllers

None of the above

The maximum speed limit

You may not stop or park within these areas and pedestrians have complete right of way

There is no overtaking or no crossing lines ahead

Control the minimum speed limit in this lane

Heavy motor vehicles are not allowed to drive in the right hand lane

On one-way roads such as dual-carriageways or freeways to indicate the right edge line

Stop as for a steady red light and only move off when the green light is displayed

All of the above are correct

Potential hazard ahead. Proceed slowly and be alert

Drive in such a way that you do not stop, park or drive over the painted island

It shows a parking area reserved for ambulances or emergency vehicles

Keep right

Proceed straight only

This part of the road is for pedestrians only

Cyclists and pedestrians only

Only delivery vehicles are allowed here

There is a gentle curve ahead to the right

Yield to other traffic

Two way road ahead

Giving warning that traffic lanes are reduced from the right, left or both sides

Vehicles of more than 12 tons may not drive there

Speed humps ahead, slow down

Light motor vehicles are prohibited from parking in that area.

Light motor vehicles are not allowed to stop or park for longer than the times and periods indicated.

For the next 5 km, light motor vehicles are prohibited on that road.

A minibus rank in the vicinity.

The minimum speed a light motor vehicle should travel in km/h.

Vehicles transporting dangerous substances.

Should never turn left at the intersection.

Goods vehicles are prohibited from parking in that area.

You should never stop unless to obey a traffic light or a traffic officer or to avoid a collision.

Applies only to motorcycles.

A bike trail.

You are not allowed to stop or park for longer than the times and periods indicated.

Motorcycles are prohibited from parking in that area during any time of the day or night.

Motorcycles should proceed right only.

You should not ride there during the times indicated on the sign.

Rickshaws.

Goods vehicles are not allowed to drive in the right hand lane.

Pass to the right-hand side of the sign.

To prohibit drivers from stopping in the demarcated area because this could prevent other traffic from turning or driving further forward.

At the beginning of any road or part of the road.

To warn drivers that the lane indicated by this marking can be used for traffic from the opposite direction at various times of the day or night (reversible lane).

There is a railway crossing ahead where you must stop.

To point out that a route other than the toll route can be followed.

There is a controlled stop 1 km from there, for goods vehicles exceeding the indicated GVM.

drive in a clockwise direction at the junction.

May not park there at all.

There's a one way road ahead going left

Traffic approaching from the rear must stop.

You must stop and wait for the green light.

It is a lane that leads to the airport.

Make sure, in time that there is a big enough gap in the traffic to merge with other traffic. Also yield to other traffic, which might merge.

To inform you that the traffic signals on this route are coordinated and that the signals will be green at all the subsequent intersections if you maintain the indicated speed.

Channelizing line.

May drive on if you were the first vehicle over the line.

Where two roads join your road within a short distance

To warn that there is a possibility of reduced visibility on the road ahead that might cause a hazard to road users.

Slippery road and speed limit is 80 km/h.

A portion of the road is reserved for use by high occupancy vehicles and they may use that part of the road if they wish.

Hairpin bend ahead.

Stop.

There is a gently curve ahead to the right.

For the next 5 km, vehicles weighing more than 10 tons must drive only in this lane.

To guide you to follow the correct route in the intersection (guiding lines).

Lanes that merge.

It informs you that the accompanying regulatory sign applies only during daytime.

Abnormal vehicles.

To give guidance regarding the shape of the intersection ahead, the number of routes and destinations of such routes leaving the intersection.

Located in any road but especially in rural areas near schools

On the left-hand side of the road a short distance beyond an intersection.

Except in any emergency, do not stop at these lines. In the case of a broken line, you may not stop during the times indicated by a road traffic sign.

That the message on this sign can be changed according to roadway conditions and are used to provide real-time information to manage traffic effectively.