DICTIONARY
Here you’ll find help understanding “tricky” words
📘 driving licence Glossary
Some terms in theory and instruction can be difficult or a bit technical. Here, students can look them up and find a simple explanation with real-life examples.
Road user
A person participating in traffic. This could be a driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or motorcyclist.
Maneuver
An action you perform with the vehicle, such as turning, parking, backing up, or changing lanes.
Start-up
When you start the car and begin driving.
Braking
When you slow down by braking.
Lane change
When you switch from one track to another.
Blind spots
The areas around the car that you can't see in the mirrors.
Orientation
Make sure to look around and check the traffic around you before you do anything.
Indicator light
The small lights in the car that indicate whether something is active or malfunctioning.
Traffic accident
A traffic accident.
Traction
How well the tires grip the road.
Speed limit
The maximum speed you are allowed to drive.
Stop
When the car is stationary for a short time.
Parking
When the car is stationary and has been abandoned.
Acceleration capability
How quickly the car can accelerate.
Response time
The time that elapses from the moment you notice something until you react.
Distraction
Something that distracts you from the traffic. This could be a cell phone, music, a text message, or a conversation.
Inattention
When you aren't paying enough attention to what's happening on the road.
Risk factors
Circumstances or situations in which there is a greater chance that something will go wrong.
Driver assistance systems
In-car technology that assists the driver, such as emergency braking, parking sensors, or lane-keeping assist.
Handling characteristics
The way a vehicle responds, for example when turning, braking, or accelerating.
Gearbox
The part of the car that transmits the engine's power to the wheels via the transmission.
Clutch
The component that connects the engine to the transmission in cars with manual transmissions.
Braking distance
The distance the car travels from the moment you brake until it comes to a stop.
Loading
How much weight the car is carrying, such as passengers and luggage.
Engine stall
When the engine stalls.
Interleaving
When two lanes merge into one, and traffic has to flow smoothly between them.
Traffic sign
A traffic sign that provides information, prohibits certain actions, requires certain actions, or issues a warning.
Signaling
When you signal in traffic, for example by using your turn signal.
Risk blindness
When you get so used to a situation that you start to underestimate the danger.
You’ve driven this same route many times and think, “Nothing ever happens here.” Then you let your guard down and fail to notice a cyclist or a pedestrian.
Perception and reaction time
Your ability to notice things in traffic, understand what they mean, and respond appropriately.
A car in front of you brakes suddenly. You must first notice it, then realize that it’s dangerous, and then brake quickly and correctly yourself.
Distraction
When something distracts you from driving.
You glance briefly at your phone or GPS. In those few seconds, the car in front of you could brake before you realize it in time.
Technology-based distraction
When technology such as cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, touchscreens, or GPS distracts you from the traffic.
You try to change the song or read a message on the car's display. Meanwhile, you're not paying proper attention to the road.
Centrifugal force
The force that pushes the car outward in a turn, especially if you're going too fast.
You're going too fast into a turn. The car feels like it's being pushed toward the edge of the road.
Understeer
When the car doesn't turn as much as you want it to and keeps going straight instead of turning as planned.
You turn the steering wheel in a sharp turn, but the car doesn't turn quite enough and slides forward.
Oversteer
When the rear of the car starts to slide out, causing the car to turn more than you intended.
You're turning on a slippery road, and suddenly the rear end starts to slide out to the side.
Directional stability
How well the car stays on course without "drifting" on the road.
A car with good directional stability feels smooth and steady on the highway. A car with poor directional stability requires frequent small corrections with the steering wheel.
Sensitivity to crosswinds
How much the car is affected by crosswinds.
You're driving over a bridge or emerging from the slipstream of a truck, and the car is being pushed sideways by the wind.
Traffic management
How traffic flows and functions overall.
If a car stops unnecessarily and blocks the way, or if a driver hesitates too much, it can disrupt the flow of traffic.
Appropriate response
To respond in a way that is safe, calm, and appropriate to the situation.
A child is standing at the side of the road. An appropriate response is to slow down and be ready to brake.
Terms and Conditions
How well or poorly a driver can see their surroundings.
A van without a rear window has poorer visibility to the rear than a standard passenger car.
Handling characteristics
How a vehicle behaves when turning, braking, accelerating, or changing direction.
A small car and a large van do not handle turns the same way. The van takes up more space and requires more room.
Loading
How heavy the car is due to passengers, luggage, or cargo.
If the car is full of people and bags, it will take longer to stop and will need to travel a greater distance to do so.
Braking distance
The distance the car travels from the moment the brakes are applied until the car comes to a stop.
On a dry road, the car can stop relatively quickly. On a wet or slippery road, the stopping distance becomes much longer.
Reaction length
The distance the car travels before you start braking, because you need time to react first.
You see a ball rolling out onto the road. By the time you notice it and move your foot to the brake, the car is still moving forward.
Audible alarm
A sound in the car that alerts you to something.
The car is beeping because you haven't fastened your seatbelt, or because you're about to hit something while parking.
Good condition
That the car is in a condition that makes it safe and legal to drive.
If the brakes aren't working properly or a tyre severely worn, the car is not in safe condition.
Handlebar cover
When there is too much "play" in the steering wheel, the car doesn't respond precisely enough.
You turn the steering wheel slightly, but the wheels don't respond right away.
Unimpeded traffic flow
So that traffic can flow smoothly without unnecessary stops, disruptions, or dangerous situations.
If you stop where you’re not supposed to, you can block other drivers and disrupt the smooth flow of traffic.
Leading
The driver or car in front of you.
If the car in front of you brakes suddenly, you need to be able to react in time.
Oncoming
Traffic coming toward you from the opposite direction.
When you want to pass another vehicle or turn left, be aware of oncoming traffic.
Unconditional right of way
You should always hold back and let the others go first.
When driving near shark teeth, you need to be able to stop and wait if someone approaches.
Unobstructed view
That you can see well enough to judge whether it is safe to proceed.
If a hedge, a van, or darkness blocks your view, you do not have a clear view.
