All | # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
There are currently 143 names in this directory
Adjacent direction
Coming from the left or right, across your path
Amber
The yellow colour used for traffic lights
Approaching
Getting closer to, from any direction
Arterial road
A main road that carries a lot of traffic between suburbs or within cities or towns
Axle
Bar on which wheels rotate
Beam (lights)
Angle and brightness of lights – (low or high)
Black spot/black length
A place or length of road with a high rate of crashes
Blind spots (see also head check)
Area that is not seen in mirrors or areas where your vision to the front, side or rear is blocked when driving
Blockouts
Central vision and/or where your vision is blocked
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
The proportion or percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream (eg the BAC limit for full licence holders in NSW is 0.05 which means 0.05 per cent alcohol or .05 grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood i.e. 0.05g/100ml).
Boom
Long pole used to block the road as at a railway crossing
Buffering
Positioning your vehicle to create maximum space around you, away from hazards
Built up area
In relation to a length of road, means an area in which there are buildings on land next to the road, or there is street lighting, at intervals not over 100m for a distance of at least 500m or, if the road is shorter than 500m, for the whole road
Bystander
Person present but not involved in an event
Cancelled (licence)
You can no longer use your licence; that is, you can no longer drive
Car based motor tricycles
A three-wheeled vehicle primarily constructed from car components
Child restraint
Specific seatbelts, seats or capsules that children under a certain age are required to use/wear (e.g. baby restraints, child seats, child safety harnesses)
Colliding
Crashing into
Commentary driving
A training and development technique of talking when you are driving to indicate where you are looking, what hazards you are seeing and what action you might take
Compliance plate
The plate that identifies a vehicle as being manufactured to safety standards applicable to the time of manufacture
Compulsory
Necessary, required, must do
Corrosive (chemical)
Chemical that eats away, like acid, for example
Covering the brake
Where your right foot is off the accelerator and over the brake pedal without activating the brake, see also ‘setting up the brake’
Crash avoidance space
The space a driver needs to manage, in order to prevent a potential crash
Default speed limit
The speed limit where there are no speed limit signs. The urban limit is 50 km/h
Defined
Explained
Demerit (points)
There are different points limits for different types of licences (learner, provisional etc). Demerit points are recorded against your licence for a range of traffic offences (e.g. speeding). If you get too many demerit points your licence may be cancelled or suspended
Device
A piece of equipment
Diabetes
Disease which affects the body’s use of sugar
Disability (driving)
Physical condition that may affect your driving
Disqualified (licence)
You are not allowed to hold or obtain a licence in NSW. You can no longer drive
Dragon’s teeth
A series of triangular road markings to increase school zone visibility
Driver Qualification Test (DQT)
A combination of an advanced Hazard Perception Test, a further test of the road rules and safe driving practice. The test must be passed to progress from P2 stage to full licence status
Driving instructor
A person who instructs learners or provisionals (for money or reward) how to drive
E-Toll
Electronic toll lanes
Eco Driving
A style of driving to reduce fuel consumption and help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Edge line
Line marked along the road at or near the far left or right
Endorsed
A statement placed on a document (e.g. a licence or registration papers)
Engine capacity
Engine size usually stated in litres or cubic centimetres (cc) 1 litre =1000 cc
Epilepsy
Disease that can cause fits
Exceed
Go beyond – as with speed, to exceed the speed limit is to go faster than the speed limit.
Exempt
If you are exempt, a particular requirement does not apply to you (e.g. tests or fees)
Expired (licence)
The date on the licence is no longer current and the licence is therefore no longer valid
Explosive
Something that is dangerous as it may blow up
Expressway
See motorway
Fatal
Something that results in death
Fatigue
The experience of feeling ‘sleepy’, ‘tired’ or ‘exhausted’. Fatigue affects both your body and your ability to drive safely
Field of vision
What you can see without moving your eyes or head
Flammable
Easily set on fire
Flash high beam
To switch the headlights from low beam to high beam and back
Following distance
The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle travelling ahead of you in the same direction. Following distance is also called ‘headway’
Foot crossing
Pedestrian crossing
Forklift
Vehicle designed to lift and move loads. Usually used to load trucks.
Freeway
See motorway
Full Licence
Licence issued to P2 drivers who have held that licence for at least 24 months, have passed the Driver Qualification Test (DQT).
Graduated licensing scheme
The three licence stages required in order to gain a full licence
Gross Combination Mass (GCM)
The maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle plus the laden weight of any trailer(s)
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)
The maximum laden mass of the vehicle.
Hazard
Any possible danger that might lead to a crash
Hazard lights
Flashing orange warning lights found on most vehicles
Hazard perception
Ability to recognise and respond to potentially dangerous situations and react appropriately.
Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
A touch-screen computer test which measures your ability to recognise and respond to potentially dangerous situations and react appropriately when driving. Provisional drivers must pass this test to progress from the P1 to P2 licence stage
Head check
Looking over your shoulder to the left or right to make sure that there’s nothing in your blind spot. Also known as ‘shoulder check’
Heavy Vehicle Drivers’ Handbook
Roads & Maritime publication that explains road rules that apply to heavy vehicles (buses and trucks)
High alcohol hours
Periods of time during the week when alcohol related crashes mostly occur – mostly weeknights and weekends. About 30% of fatal crashes are alcohol related during these hours.
ICAC
Independent Commission Against Corruption
International Driving Permit
A permit issued in accordance with the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva 1949, for use in conjunction with a current driver licence
Interpreter (knowledge test)
A person who understands more than one language and reads the English test questions and then asks the applicant the same questions in another language
Intersection
Where two or more roads meet or join
Interstate (travel)
Travel between States, NSW to WA for example
Kerb
Concrete edge of a road
Knowledge test
The Driver Knowledge Test
Lane
An area of road marked by continuous or broken lines, designed for use by a signal line of vehicles
Law
Rules set out by the government that must be followed
Level crossing
Point where a road crosses a railway track
Licence class
There are different licences required for driving different vehicles of different sizes (e.g. motorcycle, car etc)
Licence condition
Things that affect a licence (e.g. must wear spectacles)
Licence type
Kind of licence, such as learner, provisional, full
Load
Items carried on a vehicle from one place to another
Low alcohol hours
Periods of time during the week when alcohol-related crashes least occur – mostly daylight hours, on weekdays and portions of Saturday and Sundays. Less than 10% of fatal crashes are alcohol related during these hours.
Median strip
A section that divides lanes in a two way street
Microsleep
Brief, unintended periods of loss of attention associated with events such as blank stare, head snapping, prolonged eye closure, etc, which may occur when a person is fatigued but trying to stay awake to perform a monotonous task like driving a car or watching a computer screen.
Minimum
Least, smallest
Motorcycle pre-learner training course
A training course undertaken in order to obtain a learner rider licence
Motorcycle pre-provisional training course
A training course undertaken in order to obtain a provisional rider licence
Motorcycle Rider’s Handbook
Roads & Maritime publication that explains road rules that apply to motorcycles and riders.
Motorised wheelchairs
A three or four wheeled mobility aid that cannot travel faster than 10 km/hour. A user is defined as a pedestrian
Motorway
Large road (usually more than 2 lanes in each direction) designed to move a lot of traffic quickly. Usually with a 100 or 110km/h speed limit
Multi-laned road
A road with more than one lane in each direction. These roads sometimes have a median strip dividing traffic travelling in each direction
Must
A mandatory requirement.
Oncoming (vehicle)
A vehicle approaching you from the front
Organ donor
Person who wishes to donate their organs (liver, kidney, lungs etc) for transplant after they have died
Overcrowding
Having more occupants in a vehicle than available seats
Overloaded (vehicle)
A vehicle carrying a load that is too big or heavy for the vehicle to carry it safely or legally
Overseas
Outside Australia
Overtake
To pass a vehicle travelling in the same direction as you
P1 Licence
Provisional licence - Stage 1. This is the first provisional licence issued to new solo drivers in NSW after 1 July 2000. It must be held for a minimum of 12 months before one becomes eligible to progress to Stage 2. P1 drivers must display a red P sign (red P on a white background).
P2 Licence
Provisional licence - Stage 2. This is the second licence issued to new solo drivers in NSW after 1 July 2000. It is issued for 30 months to drivers who have held a P1 licence for at least 12 months and have passed the Hazard Perception test (HPT). A P2 licence must be held for a minimum of 24 months. P2 drivers must display a green P sign (green P on a white background). A P2 licence has fewer restrictions than a P1 licence.
Parallel parking
Parking with the whole length of the vehicle next to the kerb
Pedestrian
A person who travels by foot (walker, runner for example). Also includes people in motorised and non-motorised wheelchairs and people using wheeled recreational devices or toys
Penalised (penalty)
Punished by way of demerit points, fines, prison, vehicle confiscation etc for breaking a law
Photo licence
Roads & Maritime issued driver licence
Points
See demerit points
Professional Driver
A professional driver is a motor vehicle driver whose primary work is to transports goods or, a bus, taxi or hire car driver who is accredited under the Passenger Transport Act 1990. Drivers will not quality if the driving of a motor vehicle is incidental to their primary work (eg a sales person or a tow truck driver)
Regulations
Laws (see law)
Renew (licence)
To replace a licence that is no longer current
Rev
To increase engine speed
Revs
Engine speed (measured in revolutions per minute, RPM)
Road
An area used by the public for the purpose of driving or riding motor vehicles
Road rage
A range of anti-social or aggressive behaviour by road users
Road related area
Includes an area that divides a road, a footpath, nature strip, cycleway and parking areas
Roads & Maritime inspectors
Roads & Maritime personnel authorised to conduct vehicle inspections
Route
Way from one place to another
Safe gap
A gap in traffic that enables you to turn, overtake or cross an intersection without being involved in a collision or endangering other road users. This means that no other road users should need to take evasive action to avoid your vehicle
Safety chains (trailer)
Chains that catch a trailer in an emergency, if the tow connection breaks for example
Scanning
Constantly moving your eyes and/or your head when driving so that you can detect hazards that may arise ahead, to the sides and behind your vehicle. Scanning means taking in the whole scene 360° around your car
Service centre
A ‘one-stop shop’ providing access to various government services and a single point of contact
Setting up the brake
Where your right foot is off the accelerator and applying light pressure to the brake pedal
Should
A recommendation, advice
Shoulder
Strip of land that runs down the side on an un-kerbed road
Shoulder check
See head check
Single laned
A road with one lane running in each direction
Sleep debt
The difference between the hours of sleep a person needs and the actual hours of sleep they get
Slip lane
A separate lane for a vehicle turning left
Space cushion
A ‘buffer zone’ around your vehicle (to the front, sides and rear) between you and other vehicles and road users that gives you time to spot and react to hazards that may arise.
Spectacles
Eye glasses or contact lenses
Speed limit
The legal speed for any particular stretch of road, licence or vehicle
Speeding
Excessive or inappropriate speed, including not adjusting your speed to suit the conditions or speed limit
Stationary
Not moving
Supervising driver
A person who holds a full Australian licence for the appropriate class of the vehicle and sits beside the learner driver
Suspended (licence)
You can no longer use your licence; that is, you can no longer drive
Tow truck
A vehicle that is designed to tow another vehicle
Towing
Attaching and then pulling a trailer or vehicle behind a vehicle
Traffic offences
Actions that break the traffic law (see law)
Trailers
Vehicles that do not have an engine and that are towed behind motor vehicles
Translator
A person who understands more than one language and who rewrites a written document such as a driver’s licence in English from another language (see interpreter)
U-turn
A complete change of direction, approximately a 180° turn
Unattended (child)
A child left with no immediate, supervising, responsible adult
Unladen
Not loaded (see load)
Vehicle combination
Vehicles joined together. An articulated vehicle can be a vehicle combination of a car and caravan for example
Warning signs
Yellow diamond shaped signs that warn you of hazards ahead (e.g. animals or an intersection)
Wigwag light
Flashing orange lights on the rear of buses
Work site
An area of road, bridge or road reserve that includes the work area(s) and any additional length of road or bridge required for traffic control such as signs and barriers
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