Belize Traffic Department
Information for The Written Test:
- According to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act all driving should be done on the right hand side of the road.
- If you want to overtake another vehicle on the road you should do so on the left of such vehicle.
- At the junction of two equal roads of a motor vehicle shall give way to vehicles on his left allowing such vehicles to cross or proceed before him.
- At a major road a driver or a rider of a vehicle should stop and look both ways first to see if the road is clear before her proceeds.
- The driver of a motor vehicle commits an offence if the passengers being conveyed are standing or not properly seated or if the number of passengers being conveyed exceed the number for which the vehicle has been licensed.
- In any city, town, or village the speed limit for trucks, buses and tractors is 15 m.p.h., and all other vehicles 25 m.p.h.; on our highways 45 m.p.h. for trucks and buses and 55 m.p.h. for other vehicles.
- A driver should make sure that the road ahead of him is clear before he overtakes the vehicles in front of him.
- If involved in an accident where people are injured you must stop to give help, and take such injured person or persons to the nearest hospital or doctor and report the accident to the police station.
- It is an offence to make unnecessary noise near a hospital, therefore a driver should avoid the blowing of the horn.
- The headlights must be on at all times whilst driving a vehicle at night.
- When meeting or approaching other vehicles on a road at night a driver should use the low beams only.
- A driver or rider should look both ways first to see if all traffic is clear before moving a vehicle from a standing position.
- To overtake another vehicle at night you should dip headlight from high to low several times to alert other drivers of your presence and intentions.
- Pedestrian crossing is a special marked foot-path across the road where riders and drivers should stop to give way to pedestrians.
- A driver should use the mechanical indicators whenever he changes lanes, turn or pulls out in traffic form a marked path.
- A driver should ensure that the road behind him is clear before reversing, and that the reversing does not interfere or obstruct on either direction.
- The rear view mirror on a vehicle is to have a clear view of the road behind. It is the duty of a driver to glance in the rear view mirror frequently to know what is happening behind him.
- Whenever a vehicle wants to overtake you, you must drive as close as possible to the right side of the road to allow such vehicle to overtake without danger.
- The brakes are the most important part of a vehicle as it is the brakes that allow a driver to bring the vehicle to stop.
- The purpose of the radiator in a vehicle is to cool the engine.
- Any person who operates a motor vehicle in Belize City. Or any place outside Belize must be the holder of a valid driving license.
- The Department of Transport shall have the power at any time to prohibit the use or fitting to any vehicle or any horn or instrument the use of which is likely to cause annoyance to the public.
- There shall not be fixed to any vehicle any lamps other than those required by these regulations except with the written permission of the Department of Transport.
- No person shall alter, deface or place notices upon or interfere in any way with any traffic sign or part of a traffic sign unless authorized by the Department of Transport.
- A Public Service Vehicle means a vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire or reward at separate and distinctive fare for their respective places or not.
- A person in Belize must be 18 years old before he can operate a Public Service Vehicle.
- A person must be at least 18 years old before he can operate a Goods vehicle.
- The renewal of a driving license can be done one month before it expires.
- In order to avid accidents it is safer to drive one vehicle length from the vehicle in front of you for each mile of speed.
- It is important to turn on parking lights whilst on the road when it is rainy, dusty, or foggy so that you can be seen by oncoming traffic and from vehicles appearing from the rear. At al times headlights (low beam) should be turned on if the visibility is poor. Doing this means “a safer driving for all”.
- It is dangerous to use a motor vehicle on the road without brake lights (stop lights) as the vehicle from behind would not now if he vehicle in front is stopping or slowing down and thereby causing collision. It is best to spend a little money than to lose a vehicle or sustain injuries.
- If the driver intends to load or unload passengers or to load goods in Belize City or district towns he should move to the nearest side of the road to do so in order to avoid obstruction of the free flow of traffic.
- If you breakdown or stop a motor vehicle on a road at night you should move the vehicle as far as possible off the road pavement on the right-hand side and put on the parking lights.
- A driver should, when about to enter cities, towns or villages or any inhabited areas, slow down and drive with extreme care and should always be on the lookout for children dashing form road sides.
- The driver of a motor vehicle commits an offence if he uses an unlicensed motor vehicle or trailer, but the driver and owner commits and offence if the motor vehicle or trailer is used without being registered.
- If found guilty of driving a motor vehicle covered under the third party risk insurance the magistrate automatically suspends the drier or owner from holding or obtaining a driving license for a period of 12 months.
- If, whilst driving on the road, you meet a pothole on your side, you should slow down and stop, if necessary. Only turn the steering to the left if there is no vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
- You should not drive and have babies on your lap because if an accident should arise you would need to take immediate action, the baby may grab your arm and cause an accident.
- When approaching a curve a driver should dip the headlights at least three to four times to alert oncoming traffic of its presence. If all drivers practice such attitude, accident rates would decrease.
- Some drivers park vehicles on road at a curve. Apart from being dangerous, it is an offence to park a vehicle on a curve at anytime.
- It is an offence to drive a motor vehicle on the road at night with one headlight, but apart from being an offence it is most dangerous because if it is the left front lamp which is blown out, oncoming traffic would take it for granted that such a vehicle is a motor cycle. Lots of accidents are caused on the road because of such negligence.
- (a) The 'NO ENTRY' sign means no type of vehicle is allowed to go through regardless if it is a bicycle.
(b) The 'KEEP RIGHT' sign means that you should keep on the right side of the road you are on.
(c) The 'YIELD' sign means that you should slow down and stop if necessary to give the right-of-way to traffic on the other road you are about to approach.
(d) No vehicle other than taxis should park at a taxi stand as it is an offense to do so. No vehicles other than an omnibus should park at a bus stand.
(f) A person should not park a motor vehicle within 30 feet of a corner.
- It is dangerous to leave on headlights of a motor vehicle when about to mount the Belize City Swing Bridge or when driving over it; headlights or fog lights flash on drivers traveling from the opposite direction, causing these drivers to immediately have a very poor visibility and would allow both drivers to involve themselves in an accident.
- A motor vehicle cannot be legally driven on a foot-path. A foot-path is designed to be used by pedestrians.
- The law prohibits a taxi driver from obstructing the flow of traffic by parking his vehicle in the middle of a street to pickup and let off passengers. If found contravening this law, the drier shall be prosecuted by a police officer.
- Parking of vehicles on Albert Street is done alternately. Double parking is prohibited.
- Parking of vehicles on Prince Street is done alternately. Double parking is prohibited.
- Parking of vehicles on Queen Street is done alternately between the junction with North Front Street and the Police Compound.
- Parking of vehicles on Daly Street is done alternately. Double parking is prohibited.
- Parking of vehicles on Barrack Road is done alternately from its junction with the North Side Canal of the Town clock. Parking is permitted in front of the business establishment of Karl H. Menzies only for the loading and unloading of cargoes. Vehicles are not permitted to park from the Brothers Habet to Hunter’s Lane.
- Parking of vehicles on Handyside Street is done alternately. Double parking is prohibited.
- Parking of vehicles on Victoria Street is done on the left hand side.
- Parking of vehicles on Hydes Lane is done on the left side between the junction with Barrack Road and its junction n with New Road. Parking is Not permitted between New Road and North Front Street.
- Parking of vehicles is done on the right side of Treasury Lane between its junction with Albert and Regent Street.
- Parking of private vehicles cannot be legally done on Cemetery Road between its junction with Collect Canal and Wood Street.
