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Rules of the road · part 20 of 45

K53 rules of the road questions and answers (part 20)

15 practice questions for the South African K53 learner's licence test. Try each one first, then open the answer to see why it is correct.

286 A light motor vehicle has an excellent service brake and parking brake, but no working emergency brake (which is not combined with the parking brake). May it be used?

  1. Yes, two out of three is enough
  2. No, it needs service, parking and emergency brakes in good order
  3. Yes, if it is driven in daylight
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Answer B: No, it needs service, parking and emergency brakes in good order

All three must be fitted and in good working order, unless the emergency and parking brake are the same brake.

Memory tip: Three brake roles must be covered.

Light vehicle (code 2) · Heavy vehicle (code 3)

287 When may you use your vehicle's hooter?

  1. To tell a slow driver to hurry up
  2. To greet a friend on the pavement
  3. Only when it is necessary for safety
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Answer C: Only when it is necessary for safety

Hooters may not be used except on the grounds of safety.

Memory tip: Hoot for safety, not for hello.

All vehicle codes

288 From what distance must a light motor vehicle's hooter be clearly audible to a person of normal hearing?

  1. 45 metres
  2. 150 metres
  3. 90 metres
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Answer C: 90 metres

The hooter must be in good order and clearly audible from 90 metres.

Memory tip: Ninety metres to be heard.

Light vehicle (code 2)

289 A light motor vehicle's hooter does not work. What does the manual say?

  1. You may not use the vehicle on a public road
  2. You may use it if you flash your lights instead
  3. You may use it in the daytime only
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Answer A: You may not use the vehicle on a public road

A light motor vehicle must have a hooter in good working order to be used on a public road.

Memory tip: No working hooter, no road.

Light vehicle (code 2)

290 The traffic light has just turned green and the driver in front has not moved. Is it acceptable to hoot at them?

  1. Yes, if you hoot only once
  2. Yes, hooting is always allowed at traffic lights
  3. No, hooting is only allowed when necessary for safety
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Answer C: No, hooting is only allowed when necessary for safety

Using the hooter is limited to when it is needed for safety, not impatience.

Memory tip: Impatience is not a safety reason.

All vehicle codes

291 A child steps off the pavement into your path, and you cannot avoid braking late. Is using the hooter allowed?

  1. No, the hooter may never be used in towns
  2. No, you must flash your lights instead
  3. Yes, because its use is necessary for safety
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Answer C: Yes, because its use is necessary for safety

The hooter may be used when it is necessary on the grounds of safety.

Memory tip: Danger ahead: hooter allowed.

All vehicle codes

292 May a private vehicle be fitted with a siren or warning device that plays a tune?

  1. No, such devices may not be used in private vehicles
  2. Yes, if it is quieter than the hooter
  3. Yes, as long as it is not used at night
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Answer A: No, such devices may not be used in private vehicles

The manual says sirens or warning devices that play a tune may not be used in private vehicles.

Memory tip: Private cars: no tunes, no sirens.

All vehicle codes

293 Which of these uses of a hooter is permitted?

  1. Sounding it because it is necessary for safety
  2. Sounding it to attract a friend's attention
  3. Sounding it to show you are annoyed
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Answer A: Sounding it because it is necessary for safety

Only safety is a valid ground for using the hooter.

Memory tip: Safety first, hooter second.

All vehicle codes

294 A vehicle behind you is sounding a siren and displaying emergency warning lights. What must you do?

  1. Increase speed to stay ahead
  2. Ignore it unless a traffic officer signals
  3. Give it immediate right of way
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Answer C: Give it immediate right of way

Drivers and riders must give immediate right of way to emergency vehicles sounding a siren and displaying emergency warning lights.

Memory tip: Siren plus lights: give way at once.

All vehicle codes

295 What colour warning light does a fire-fighting vehicle display?

  1. Red
  2. Blue
  3. Green
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Answer A: Red

Fire-fighting vehicles, rescue vehicles and ambulances display a red warning light.

Memory tip: Fire and ambulance: red.

All vehicle codes

296 What colour warning light does a vehicle driven by a traffic officer on duty display?

  1. Red
  2. Blue
  3. Green
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Answer B: Blue

Traffic officers carrying out their duties use a blue warning light.

Memory tip: Officers wear blue.

All vehicle codes

297 What colour warning light is used by a vehicle driven by a person engaged in civil protection?

  1. Red
  2. Green
  3. Blue
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Answer B: Green

Civil protection vehicles display a green warning light.

Memory tip: Civil protection goes green.

All vehicle codes

298 An ambulance with a red warning light and siren approaches from behind. What is the correct action?

  1. Stop only if the ambulance flashes its headlights
  2. Give way immediately
  3. Stay in your lane at the same speed
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Answer B: Give way immediately

Emergency vehicles with siren and warning lights must be given immediate right of way.

Memory tip: Ambulance behind: yield now.

All vehicle codes

299 Which of these is NOT an emergency vehicle named in the manual?

  1. A rescue vehicle with a red warning light
  2. An emergency medical response vehicle
  3. A private car playing a tune on a siren-type device
Show the answer

Answer C: A private car playing a tune on a siren-type device

Rescue, fire-fighting, ambulance and medical response vehicles are emergency vehicles. Tune-playing devices are not allowed in private vehicles.

Memory tip: Private cars are never emergency vehicles.

All vehicle codes

300 Which pair of vehicles is correctly linked to its warning light colour?

  1. Ambulance: red; traffic officer: blue
  2. Ambulance: blue; traffic officer: red
  3. Ambulance: green; traffic officer: blue
Show the answer

Answer A: Ambulance: red; traffic officer: blue

Ambulances use red lights and traffic officers use blue lights.

Memory tip: Ambulance red, officer blue.

All vehicle codes

These are original practice questions, not official test questions. Always confirm requirements with your driving licence testing centre.