GUIDELINES FOR USING THE ROAD
A road is a path established over land for the passage of vehicles, people, and animals. It provides a dependable pathway for moving people and goods from one place to another.
Roads are typically smooth, paved, or otherwise, prepared to allow easy travel.
Types of Roads
Single Carriageways
Dual Carriageways
Built-up streets
One-way streets
Single Carriageways: These are roads that allow for traffic flow in the opposite direction. They normally have two lanes. Always keep to the right lane and maintain the 60km/h speed limit. On a three-lane single carriageway, the outside lanes are for traffic moving in the opposite direction while the middle lane should only be used for overtaking and turning left.
Careless overtaking and poor judgment on single carriageways combine to cause accidents. Only make your maneuvers on the left when you are sure it is safe for yourself and other road users.
Dual Carriageways: These are roads divided at the centre by a median or combination of broken and solid lines, or by two solid lines for traffic going in the opposite direction. A dual carriageway that is physically divided by a barrier makes straddling impossible, while an undivided dual carriageway allows traffic crossing where there are no solid lines. They usually are motorways requiring a maximum of 100kmph. Traffic in the opposite direction is completely separated from each other.
Here, the right lane is called the slow or crawler lane while the other lanes are the speed or overtaking lanes. Always start on the right lane on dual carriageways. On a two-lane dual carriageway, the left lane is for overtaking and you will have to move back to the right lane after completing your maneuver. On a three-lane dual carriageway, you may overtake on the middle lane or the left lane.
Built-up Streets: These are residential streets that require careful driving. Here, pedestrians particularly children who are unable t discern speed may run into the road unexpectedly. A pedestrian hit by a car traveling at 35 or 40km/h is likely to survive, but someone hit at 50kmph and above is most likely to be killed. The applicable speed required by the various roads and vehicles should not be exceeded.
One-Way Streets: These are streets for traffic traveling in one direction only. Signs usually indicate one-way streets. Always watch out for one-way signs and heed them. You must not travel against the direction indicated by one-way signs. Look out for exit routes as soon as you can.
