Practical summary of the Ghana Highway Code

Guidelines and rules of thumb to drive safely with special section for Road Signs

Keep your car in good condition:
- regularly check lights, breaks, steering, tyres, direction indicators
- regularly clean windscreen and windows
Wear seatbelts
When on a motercycle, scooter or moped, always wear a safety helmet
Know all road signs

Defensive driving

Signal about what you plan to do
Use your mirrors
Keep to the speed limit, especially to 50 kmh (km per hour) in town
Keep your distance to the car before you:
Mind pedestrians, cyclists and animals along the road
Give way to ambulance, fire engines or police when their blue lights flash or two-tone horns sound
Respect limits in using of alcohol or medicine

Control your car in emergency situations:
- if a tyre blows, do NOT slam brakes; control your steering wheel, steer right ahead and slowly stop
- if a rearwheel skid happens, do NOT slam brakes: turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid, as the car straightens out, straighten the front wheels also
- if the accelaration pedal jams, turn off ignition and brake to a stop, leaving your car in gear !
In case of misbehaviour of other road users: warn with horn and with flashlights, pull to the right as far as possible

Keep right when you plan no special action
Single broken line:
you may cross for overtaking, when the road is clear
Double solid line:
you may NOT cross in any circumstance
Mixed line:
you may cross for overtaking, when the dotted line is on your side and the road is clear
Dual carriageway (motorway only):
- keep right, when you have moderate speed
- go to the left for overtaking only
Three-lane carriageway (motorway only):
- keep right, when you have moderate speed
- stay in the middle, when slower vehicles are on your right
- go to the left for overtaking only
Choose your lane when turning left or right: follow road markings and arrows in time !
Do not enter areas marked with yellow diagonal stripes

Look left, look right, look left again before crossing or turning; use your mirrors to double-check
On a level crossing, give way to a car from the left
On a priority junction:
- when you have NO priority, stop at the "stop" or "give way" road sign, wait for a safe gap in the traffic before moving on
- when you have priority, make sure other road users give way to you before moving on
- when a mandatory road sign is present, follow indicated direction
When controlled by traffic lights, follow the lights, but make sure other road users give way before moving on at a green light
When controlled by a police officer, follow his/her directions at all times

turning right: stay to the rightside of the road or choose the outer lane if two lanes are present (yellow arrows)
going forward: you are free to choose the inside (blue arrows) or the outside (yellow arrows) of the roundabout, but once on the inside you should not turn right anymore (red arrows); likewise, when on the outside you should not go left (red arrows)
going left: use the inside of the roundabout or choose the inner lane if two lanes are present (blue arrows)
When approaching: give way to a car from the left
When on the roundabout follow directions for turning right, going straight forward and going left:

Do NOT park where
- there is a prohibitory road sign
- it would be difficult for others to see clearly
- it would be a danger to others
- it would hold up traffic or make the road narrow
- emergency vehicles stop
Take care when opening a door when leaving, use your handbrake, turn off lights and always lock your car

If you have a breakdown:
- get your car off the road
- flash the amber direction indicators
- place the red reflecting triangle 50 meters before your car
Accidents:
- if there is no help: give first aid
- if there is help available: pass slowly and follow indications of police

Joining:
- When approaching from a road on the right (slip road): give way to traffic already on the motorway, accelerate in the extra lane, join the inside lane when you have the same speed as the traffic
Leaving:
- When leaving by a road on the right: watch for the signs about your turn-off point, give a clear signal, get into the right lane and join the slip road in time
- If you miss your turn-off point, carry on until the next one, do NOT reverse or turn back

Keep your distance at any level crossing
Do not cross a railway once the red lights have started to flash
At crossings without gates: always stop, look both ways, listen carefully if there is no train coming
If you are just crossing when the red lights start flashing: keep going