Kenya’s Top Driving Quiz Practice Guide

NTSA Written Test on Questions and Answer

This is the most reliable NTSA Written Test Quiz resource in Kenya, featuring real exam-style questions and answers, designed to sharpen your skills and ensure success in your driving test. Test yourself on road signs, Model Town Board rules, first aid, defensive driving, and more—each question comes with the correct answer to help you learn faster and pass with confidence.

What is the speed of the following vehicles on the highway?

Tractors - 45kph
Pickups - 80kph
Nissan - 80kph
Saloon vehicle - 110kph
Bus - 80kph
Lorry - 80kph
Trailers - 65kph

Where do we park trailers and tractors?

At the green field along two-way traffic

Give 4 rules of ample parking

1.Park from the furthest end
2.Park saloon vehicles only.
3.Park at an angle of 45°
4.Park by forward exit by reversing

Give 5 rules of parallel parking

1.Park from the furthest end
2.Park all types of vehicles except trailers and tractors
3.Park at an angle of 90°
4.Park by reversing exit by forwarding
5.Park at your own risk

What is the function of the traffic island in a roundabout?

It is to regulate the movement of traffic at the
roundabout from different directions to different
destinations clockwise.

Give 3 parts of a roundabout

1.Spaces (1,2 and 3)
2.The innermost lane (lane 4)
3.The traffic island

What is a lane?

A path that vehicles follow

What is the green field along the road made for?

Green field is made for the future expansion

What is pedestrian crossing

A place set aside by the government for pedestrians to
cross the road safely.

What is parking

A place set aside by the government or individuals
where the vehicles are placed stationary.

What is dual carriage traffic

A road with two lanes per side, moving in opposite
direction

What is single carriage traffic

This is a road with a single lane per side where the
traffic moves in the opposite direction. It\'s also called
the two-way traffic.

What is one-way traffic

This is a type of road with more than two lanes per side
where the traffic moves in the same direction.

Describe halt sign

This is the red octagon red sign with white letters
\"STOP\" Halt Sign is the other name for stop sign.

What is the Highway Code?

A booklet discussed and passed by parliament with
guidelines for road users and fines for law offenders.

Write 5 mistakes made at the roundabout

1.Approaching roundabout in the wrong lane
2.Wrong observation of traffic lights
3.Exiting roundabout in the wrong lane
4.Stopping at the roundabout
5.Changing lane at the roundabout

Write rules of MTB

1.Use the shortest and most correct route without using
parking
2.Use the longest and most correct route without using
parking
3.Use parking as the last option, (if there is no any other
route possible)

Write Rules of a roundabout

1.No stopping
2.No waiting
3.No parking
4.No changing lanes/overtaking

Write down rules of a yellow kerb

1.No stopping
2.No waiting
3.No parking

Features of model town board (M.TB)

1.Roundabout
2.One-way traffic
3.Two-way traffic/ single carriage traffic
4.Dual carriageway
5.Parking
6.Give way sign
7.Green field
8.Pedestrian crossing
9.Yellow kerbs
10.Central reserve/ pavement
11.Central line
12.U-turn
13.Entry to the parking
14.Exit from main road markings i.e., arrows
16.Stop sign
17.Junction

Causes of accidents

1. Over–speeding
2. Overtaking
3. Overlapping
4. Overloading
5. Poor roads
6. Bad weather
7. Use of drugs either prescribed or otherwise
8. Driving of non -roadworthy vehicles
9. Careless driving
10. Ignorance of traffic signs and rules
11. Level of emotions i.e., stress

Caravan

In driving, a caravan is a vehicle without its own engine that is towed by a car, van, or truck and used as living quarters for travel and holidays.
It is essentially a portable home on wheels, equipped with beds, a kitchenette, and storage space.

Key characteristics of a caravan
1.No engine: Unlike a motorhome or campervan, a caravan has no engine and cannot move on its own.
2.Towing required: It must be attached to and pulled by another vehicle using a towbar and hitch.
3.Living space: It functions as a mobile living space, providing accommodation for travelers.
4.Increased mobility at destination: Once parked, the caravan can be unhitched from the towing vehicle.
This allows the driver to use the car or van for short excursions, such as grocery runs or sightseeing, without having to take their entire accommodation with them.

Driving with a caravan
Driving while towing a caravan is different from driving a standard car due to the added length, width, and weight of the combined vehicle.
1.Safety checks: Before driving, you must perform several checks.
Ensure the caravan is correctly loaded with heavy items low and close to the axle, and that all lights and brakes are connected and working.
2.Maneuvering: Turning corners requires a wider angle to avoid clipping the curb with the caravan wheels.
Reversing can be particularly challenging and is often best done with someone guiding you.
3.Speed and braking: You will have a longer braking distance, so you should leave more space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Speed limits are also often reduced for vehicles towing trailers.
4.Weight distribution: Improperly loaded caravans can sway or \"snake,\" potentially causing the driver to lose control.
If this occurs, do not brake or overcorrect the steering, but instead take your foot off the accelerator and keep the steering straight.
5.Extension mirrors: If the caravan is wider than your car, you are required by law in many places to use towing mirrors to give you a clear view of the road behind you.

Caravan vs. motorhome
While both offer mobile accommodation, the driving experiences are quite different.

Hazard sign

This is a sign with an exclamation mark or a black dot to
show a black spot area.

Lifesavers

These are two metallic reflectors with stands carried by
drivers in their vehicles and are used when vehicles
develop mechanical problems or during accidents.
They are placed 50 to 70m behind and in front of
disabled vehicles along two-way traffic and 100m from
each, behind disabled vehicles on one-way traffic roads.

Freewheeling / coasting

In driving, freewheeling is the act of a vehicle moving forward under its own momentum, with its wheels disconnected from the engine.
This is commonly known as \"coasting\" and occurs when a driver either puts the car in neutral or holds down the clutch pedal.
The practice was a feature in some older vehicles and two-stroke engine cars, but it is now widely considered an unsafe driving habit for modern vehicles.
How freewheeling differs from normal driving
In a normally driven car, the wheels are constantly connected to the engine via the drivetrain.
Engine driving wheels: When you press the accelerator, the engine applies power to the wheels.
Engine braking: When you take your foot off the accelerator, the engine\'s resistance helps to slow the car down. This is known as engine braking and is a critical safety feature, especially when driving downhill.
With freewheeling, this connection is broken, allowing the wheels to spin independently of the engine.

Why freewheeling is dangerous
For drivers of modern cars, coasting is a dangerous practice that should be avoided.
1.Loss of engine braking: When freewheeling, you lose the ability to use the engine to control your speed.
This forces you to rely solely on your brakes, which can cause them to overheat and fail on long descents.
2.Reduced control: Decoupling the engine from the wheels decreases your control over the vehicle\'s speed and traction, especially around corners or in slippery conditions.
3.Slower emergency reaction: In an emergency, you lose the ability to accelerate quickly to get out of trouble. You first have to shift the car back into gear, which increases your reaction time.
4.No fuel savings in modern cars: In older carbureted engines, freewheeling could save fuel by allowing the engine to idle.
However, modern fuel-injected engines use a feature called \"deceleration fuel cut-off\" (DFCO) that completely stops fuel flow when you\'re coasting in gear. Therefore, coasting in neutral actually wastes fuel, as the engine needs to consume a small amount of fuel to maintain a steady idle.

Coasting / Freewheeling

Coasting is the act of driving with the clutch pressed down or the gearshift in neutral, allowing the car to roll forward on its own momentum without power from the engine. While often done in an attempt to save fuel, it is an unsafe driving habit that significantly reduces vehicle control.

Why coasting is dangerous
1.Loss of engine braking: When you coast, the wheels become disengaged from the engine.
This eliminates the engine\\\'s natural braking effect, which is crucial for slowing the vehicle down, especially on downhill roads.
2.Reduced control: With the engine disconnected, you cannot accelerate quickly to react to a potential hazard or to regain control.
The loss of engine braking can also make it difficult to maintain a safe speed, especially when cornering.
3.Overheated brakes: Because you lose the assistance of engine braking, you must rely solely on the footbrake to control your speed.
On long or steep hills, this can cause the brakes to overheat, reducing their effectiveness and increasing stopping distance.
4.Increased stopping distance: When coasting, your stopping distance is increased because you must rely on the brakes alone.
In an emergency, this extra distance can be the difference between avoiding a collision and having an accident.
5.Potential for accidents: Losing control of your vehicle due to coasting, such as taking a bend too wide, can put you and other drivers at risk.

Why coasting does not save fuel
The belief that coasting saves fuel is outdated and no longer true for modern cars with fuel injection systems.
1.With engine braking: When you take your foot off the accelerator and remain in gear, the engine\\\'s electronic control unit (ECU) detects that you are decelerating and cuts the fuel supply to the engine.
The momentum of the vehicle keeps the engine turning without using any fuel.
2.With coasting: When you put the car in neutral, the engine becomes disconnected from the wheels.
It must therefore continue to idle, using a small amount of fuel to keep running.
Staying in gear while going downhill is therefore more fuel-efficient than coasting in neutral.

When to use coasting
Coasting is only acceptable for very brief moments during normal driving and should not be used for extended periods. For example:
1.When changing gears: You must briefly depress the clutch to change gears in a manual car.
2.When coming to a complete stop: You press the clutch in just before you stop to prevent the engine from stalling.
3.When parking: At very slow speeds, you may need to briefly coast to maneuver into a parking space.

Chevrons

These are two metallic reflectors found in every
commercial vehicle/gate to show their width.

In driving, \"chevrons\" can refer to two types of markings with different meanings, depending on where they are located.
On road signs
Chevron signs are rectangular signs with black and white or yellow and black arrows that indicate a sharp change in the road\'s direction.
Purpose: To warn drivers of dangerous curves, sharp bends, or lane merges that may not be obvious.
Function: They guide the driver to follow the path of the road and remind them to reduce their speed.

On the road surface
Chevrons are V-shaped white markings painted on the road to indicate a required safe following distance.
Purpose: To help prevent rear-end collisions, particularly on high-speed roads like motorways.
Function: Drivers are instructed to maintain a minimum of two chevrons between their vehicle and the one in front.
On commercial vehicles

In some places, like the UK and Africa, chevrons are also reflective markings on the back of commercial vehicles.
Purpose: To increase the vehicle\'s visibility, especially at night or in bad weather, and warn other drivers that the vehicle may be slow-moving or stopping.
Function: They alert other drivers to exercise caution and slow down when approaching. This is often a legal requirement for road maintenance or other work vehicles.

Cat eyes

These are small reflectors with power at the middle or
road to show the width of a lane at night.

\"Cat eyes,\" more formally known as reflective road studs or raised pavement markers, are safety devices embedded in the road surface to guide drivers at night or in poor weather conditions. They reflect light from a vehicle\'s headlights back to the driver, illuminating lane markings and road boundaries when painted lines are not visible.

How they work
The brilliance of cat eyes comes from the use of retroreflection, which directs light back to its source with minimal scattering.
Original design:
Invented by Percy Shaw in the 1930s, the original \"Cat\'s Eye\" consists of glass beads or reflectors set in a flexible rubber dome, which is housed in a cast-iron base.
Self-cleaning mechanism: When a vehicle\'s tire rolls over the stud, the rubber dome compresses.
This action pushes the reflective lenses down into the base, where a small wiper cleans the surface.
The base is also designed to hold rainwater, which assists the cleaning process.
Modern versions: Newer road studs can incorporate solar-powered LEDs that actively emit light, offering even greater visibility from a distance.

Color meanings
The different colors of cat eyes are standardized in many countries to provide specific information to drivers.

In the UK and Europe
1.White: Marks the center line of a single carriageway or separates lanes of traffic moving in the same direction on motorways.
2.Red: Lines the left edge of the road or the hard shoulder of a motorway.
3.Amber (or Yellow): Separates the central reservation (median) from the main carriageway on a motorway.
4.Green: Indicates a lay-by or where slip roads, such as junction entrances and exits, join or leave the main carriageway.
5.Green/Yellow: Marks temporary changes to the lane layout during roadworks.
6.Blue: Marks access points for emergency vehicles, such as special police pull-offs or fire hydrant locations.

In North America
1.White: Separates lanes moving in the same direction.
2.Yellow: Divides lanes of opposite-moving traffic.
3.Red: Alerts drivers that they are traveling the wrong way on a one-way street or ramp.
4.Blue: Indicates the location of roadside fire hydrants.
5.Green: Can mark access points for emergency vehicles.

Importance for road safety
1.Enhances visibility: Cat eyes make road edges, lanes, curves, and other road features more visible during low-light conditions, rain, or fog.
2.Reduces accidents: By clearly delineating lanes and providing timely warnings, they help to reduce accidents caused by poor visibility.
3.Provides tactile feedback: The raised design of some road studs creates a subtle rumble when a driver drifts over them, providing an audible and physical warning.
4.Increases durability: The original cast-iron and rubber design was extremely resilient, and modern versions are still engineered to withstand harsh weather and heavy traffic.

Skidding

This is moving a vehicle without its wheels rotating.

In driving, skidding is the uncontrolled sliding of a vehicle\'s tires across a road surface, caused by a loss of friction. A skid is a dangerous loss of control that is almost always unintended and can lead to a crash.

Common causes of skidding
1.Excessive speed: Driving too fast for the conditions is the most common cause of skidding.
2.Slippery surfaces: Poor weather conditions like rain, ice, or snow significantly reduce your tires\' grip on the road.
3.Sudden or hard braking: Abruptly applying the brakes can cause the wheels to lock up and lose traction.
4.Rapid acceleration: Pressing the accelerator too hard, especially on a slippery surface, can cause the wheels to spin.
5.Sharp steering: Making sudden or coarse steering movements can upset the vehicle\'s balance and cause it to slide.
6.Worn tires: Tires with poor tread depth are much less effective at gripping the road, especially when it\'s wet.

Types of skids
Skids can be categorized by which wheels lose traction.
1.Rear-wheel skid (oversteer): The back end of the car slides sideways.
This often occurs when entering a turn too quickly and can cause the car to feel like it\'s spinning.
2.Front-wheel skid (understeer): The front wheels lose traction, causing the car to continue traveling in a straight line instead of turning.
The steering wheel may feel unusually light.
3.Four-wheel skid: All four wheels lose traction at once. The vehicle slides forward in the direction of its momentum, and the driver loses all steering control.

What to do during a skid
The instinctive reaction during a skid is often the wrong one. The proper technique varies slightly depending on the type of skid, but some basic rules apply to help you regain control.
1.Stay calm: Avoid panicking and making sudden, jerky inputs to the steering or pedals.
2.Ease off the pedals: Lift your foot from both the brake and the accelerator to allow the wheels to start rolling again and regain traction.
3.Steer in the direction you want to go: This is often referred to as \"steering into the skid.\"
If the back of your car slides to the right, steer gently to the right. This allows the wheels to align with the direction of the slide.
4.Be prepared to counter-steer: As the car straightens out, you must be ready to quickly and gently steer the opposite way to avoid \"fishtailing\"—skidding in the other direction.

Junction

A junction is a location where two or more roads meet or cross. Safely navigating junctions is a core driving skill that involves proper observation, positioning, and understanding right-of-way rules.

Types of junctions
1.T-junctions: Form a \"T\" shape where a minor road meets a major road. Drivers on the minor road must give way to traffic on the major road.
2.Crossroads: Involve two roads intersecting. At a controlled crossroads with traffic lights or signs, follow the signals. At unmarked crossroads, caution is key, and you should give way to traffic on the right unless otherwise directed.
3.Roundabouts: Circular junctions designed to keep traffic moving. When entering, you must give way to traffic already on the roundabout coming from your right. Traffic lights may also control some roundabouts.
4.Box junctions: Marked with yellow criss-cross lines. You must not enter the box unless your exit is clear. The exception is when you are turning right and are only stopped by oncoming traffic or other vehicles also waiting to turn right.
5.Staggered junctions: Appear when two minor roads join a main road, but the intersections are offset from one another instead of directly opposite.
6.Slip roads: Typically used to join or leave a motorway or major highway. Traffic on the main road has priority. You must use your mirrors and check your blind spot to find a safe gap to merge.

How to navigate junctions safely
The key to navigating any junction is observation and anticipation. Driving instructors often teach a routine like the \"Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look\" (MSPSL) method.

1. On approach:
Mirrors: Check your center and side mirrors to assess the position of traffic behind you.
Signal: Use your indicator in plenty of time to inform other road users of your intentions.
Position: Move into the correct lane for your turn. For a left turn, position your vehicle toward the left side of the lane. For a right turn, position toward the center line.
Speed: Adjust your speed by braking early and gradually. Use the appropriate gear (often second or first) for the turn.
Look: Continuously observe for hazards like pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles.

2. At the junction:
Determine priority: At a \"Give Way\" or \"Stop\" sign, you must give way to or stop for traffic on the main road.
Yield to pedestrians: Always give way to pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross the road you are turning into.
Observe and wait for a safe gap: If you don\'t have priority, wait until there is a large enough gap in the traffic to join or cross safely without causing other vehicles to stop, slow down, or swerve.

3. During the turn:
Execute the turn: Look in the direction you are going and steer smoothly. Avoid cutting the corner on a right turn.
Complete observations: Check your mirrors as you enter the new road to check on following traffic.
Adjust speed: Accelerate to match the flow of traffic on the new road.
Cancel signal: Turn off your indicator once the maneuver is complete.

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