California Driver's Handbook - Section 5

How can vision affect your driving?

You must be able to notice hazards in different types of lighting, judge distances, adjust to traffic speed, and read road signs.

How can hearing affect your driving?

You must be able to hear horns, sirens, motorcycles, or screeching tires that may alert you of hazards. It is illegal to wear a headset or earplugs in both ears while driving. 

How can fatigue and Drowsiness affect your driving?

Can affect your vision and increase reaction time to hazards.

How can Physical and Mental states affect your driving?

You must be alert to quickly decide the correct course of action in any type of traffic situation, including unexpected ones.

How can medications affect your driving?

Prescription and over-the-counter medications can make you can unsafe driver. Some medicines can make you sleepy. It is your responsibility to know the effect of the medications you take.

How can health affect your driving?

Physicians are required to report patients, who are least 14 years old, to the DMV for medical conditions that may affect your ability to drive safely, such as lapse of consciousness. 

What is critical when controlling the vehicle?

Keeping both your hands on the wheel whenever possible

What is the hand to hand steering method?

Start with hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4, don’t cross your hands over the middle of the steering wheel, keep your hands in these positions even when making turns

What is the hand-over-hand steering method

Start with hands at 8 and 4 o clock, reach across the steering wheel to grasp the opposite side, let go of the steering wheel with you other hand, reach across the arm still holding the wheel, grip the wheel, and pull up

When can you use one-handed steering

When you are turning while backing up to see where you are going behind you, place your hand at the 12 o clock position on the steering wheel. 

When you are operating the vehicle controls that require you to remove a hand from the steering wheel.

What are signals, horns, and headlights used for?

communicating with other drivers

Always signal in what circumstances?

When turning, changing lanes, slowing down, or stopping

When should you use hand-arm positions?

If signal lights are not functioning, or bright sunlight makes it hard to see

Left turn hand-arm signal

Arm straight out

Right turn hand-arm signal

hand up

Slow or stop hand-arm signal

hand down

How do bicyclists signal turns?

arm held straight out, pointing in the direction they plan to turn

How many feet before you turn should you signal?

100

How many seconds before you change lanes on a freeway should you turn?

5

What lane changes should you signal before?

All

When should you signal considering curbs?

Before pulling next to or away from

Do you have to signal if there are no other cars around?

yes

If you are planning on turning shortly after crossing an intersection, do you signal before, in the middle, almost through, or after the intersection?

almost through

Turn off signal when?

you no longer need it

When should you use your horn?

To let other drivers know you are there or warn others of a hazard

Use your horn to:

Avoid collisions, or alert oncoming traffic on narrow mountain roads where you cannot see at least 200 feet ahead

Dim high-beam headlights to low beam within how many feet of a vehicle coming towards you?

500

Dim high-beam headlights to low beam within how many feet of a vehicle you are following

300

It is illegal to use only what type of lights?

parking

Use headlights when it is too dark to see from how many feet away?

1,000

use headlights how many minutes after sunset?

30

Use headlights how many minutes before sunrise?

30

You have to use headlights in adverse weather, but if you have to use __________, you must use __________

windshield wipers, low-beam headlights

You should use headlights when conditions prevent you from what?

seeing other vehicles

You should use headlights when driving on __________, _______ ________, even on ____________

mountain roads, through tunnels, sunny days

You should use headlights no matter what when a sign says

headlights must be on

Headlights should be used to help what?

other driver’s see your vehicle, especially when the sun is low on the horizon

If you need to use emergency flashers to warn drivers of a collision or hazard ahead, use these steps

turn on emergency flashers, lightly tap your brake pedal 3 or 4 times, use a hand signal when slowing or stopping

If you need to use your emergency flashers when stopping because of vehicle trouble, use these steps

turn on emergency flashers (or use turn signals if lacking emergency flashers), pull off the road away from traffic if possible, call for emergency roadside assistance and stay in vehicle until help arrives

Where should you stop if you cannot pull off the road during vehicle issues?

where people can see you and your vehicle from behind

Where should you not stop if you experience vehicle issues?

just over a hill or just around a curve