K53 Tutor

The K53 learner's book. Free.

Everything you need for the learner's licence test, in plain English. Read a chapter, then test yourself.

Rules of the road

  1. Learner's licence: codes, ages and how to applyLearner's licence codes, minimum ages, how to apply, who is disqualified and how long the licence lasts, in plain English for the K53 test.
  2. Speed limits in South AfricaSouth Africa's general speed limits in town, outside town and on a freeway, in plain English for the K53 learner's licence test.
  3. Keeping left, changing lanes and the shoulderWhere to drive on the road, when you may cross to the right, drive on the shoulder or change lanes, in plain English for the K53 learner's test.
  4. Signalling and indicatorsWhen you must signal, how to use your indicators and what indicators and rear reflectors a car needs, for the K53 learner's licence test.
  5. Overtaking and passing rulesOn which side to overtake, when you may pass on the left and where passing is not allowed, in plain English for the K53 learner's test.
  6. Parking rules: where you may not parkWhere you may not park in town and out of town, the distances to memorise and when a vehicle is deemed abandoned, for the K53 learner's test.
  7. Stopping rules: where you may not stopThe places where you may not stop a vehicle on a public road, the 6 metre and 9 metre rules and the three exceptions, for the K53 learner's test.
  8. Compulsory stops: when you must stopWhen a driver must stop on a public road, including for animals, plus the tyre rule for a light motor vehicle, for the K53 learner's test.
  9. Right of way at junctions and pedestrian crossingsWho must yield at a junction with a traffic island, at a pedestrian crossing and when entering or crossing a public road, for the K53 learner's test.
  10. Freeway rules in South AfricaWho may not use a freeway, when you may stop on one, and the rules on hand signals, walking, animals and merging for the K53 learner's test.
  11. Vehicle lights: when to switch on and when to dipWhen your headlamps must be on, when to dip them, and the distances for each lamp on a car, explained for the K53 learner's licence test.
  12. Seatbelt rules for adults and childrenWho must wear a seatbelt, who counts as a child, and what the driver must do for children, explained for the K53 learner's licence test.
  13. What to do after a car accidentWhat the law says you must do after a road accident: stop, help, give your details and report it within 24 hours. For the K53 learner's test.
  14. Alcohol, cellphones and reckless drivingThe alcohol limits, the cellphone rule and the rules on reckless and inconsiderate driving, explained for the K53 learner's licence test.
  15. General duties of a driver in South AfricaThe general duties of a driver for the K53 learner's test: following distance, hooter, emergency vehicles, loads, passengers and towing.
  16. What your vehicle must have to be on the roadWhat a vehicle must have for the K53 learner's test: mirrors, windscreen, brakes, exhaust, number plates, emergency triangle and load limits.
  17. K53 road words and definitions explainedA plain-English glossary of the road words in the K53 learner's test: vehicles, parts of the road, brakes, tare, GVM, drivers and licences.

Road signs, signals and markings

  1. Road sign shapes and colours in South AfricaHow to read South African road signs by shape and colour: the six groups of signs, what each shape means and what a yellow sign tells you.
  2. Stop, yield and no entry signs explainedWhat stop, yield, no entry and one-way signs mean, and exactly what you must do at each one, for the K53 learner's licence test.
  3. Command signs: what you must doCommand signs tell you what you must do on the road. How to read them for the K53 learner's licence test, in plain English.
  4. Prohibition signs and what they meanProhibition signs tell you what you may not do. Learn to read the limit, no-turn, no-parking and no-stopping signs for the K53 learner's test.
  5. Reservation signs and other regulatory signsReservation, freeway, woonerf, secondary, combination and de-restriction signs for the K53 learner's test, explained in plain English.
  6. Warning signs for crossroads and junctionsWhat the crossroad, T-junction, Y-junction and dual roadway warning signs mean and what you must do at each one, for the K53 learner's test.
  7. Warning signs for curves and traffic circlesWhat the curve, hairpin bend, traffic circle, two-way traffic and lane ends warning signs mean and what you must do, for the K53 learner's test.
  8. Hazard warning signs and what to do at each oneWhat the hazard warning signs mean and what you must do, from pedestrians and animals to road works and railway crossings, for the K53 learner's test.
  9. Guidance signs and freeway direction signsGuidance signs for the K53 learner's test: route markers, direction signs, freeway exit signs, diagrammatic signs and tourism symbols, in plain English.
  10. Information signs and what they tell youInformation signs tell you about exits, roads that end, right of way, bus stops and traffic lights ahead. Each one explained for the K53 learner's test.
  11. Regulatory road markings: lines you must obeyStop lines, yield lines, no overtaking, no stopping and no parking lines: what each road marking means for the K53 learner's test.
  12. Warning and guidance road markings explainedWhat warning and guidance road markings mean, from continuity lines to lane arrows and speed humps, for the K53 learner's licence test.
  13. Traffic lights and traffic officer signalsWhat each traffic light colour, arrow and flashing light means, plus lane signals, flag signals and a traffic officer's hand signals, for the K53 test.

Vehicle controls

  1. K53 vehicle controls: the 11 names and numbersThe eleven numbered controls of a car for the K53 learner's test: the name and number of each, and the control an automatic car does not have.
  2. K53 vehicle controls: which control do you use?Which car control you use to stop, change gear, turn, park and more, given as plain rules with the control numbers for the K53 learner's test.

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