California Driving Rules and Regulations

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering California driving rules, speed limits, steering techniques, and legal requirements based on the lecture notes provided lecture notes.

Hand-to-hand steering

A technique where hands are placed at $9$ and $3$ o'clock or $8$ and $4$ o'clock; hands do not cross over the middle of the steering wheel.

Hand-over-hand steering

A technique used for turning at low speeds, parking, or recovering from a skid where the driver reaches across the steering wheel to grasp the opposite side.

Signaling distance (General)

Drivers must signal at least $100\,\text{ft}$ before turning or changing lanes.

Signaling distance (Freeway)

Drivers must signal at least $5\,\text{sec}$ before changing lanes on a freeway.

Dimming high-beam headlights

High beams must be dimmed to low beams within $500\,\text{ft}$ of an oncoming vehicle or within $300\,\text{ft}$ of a vehicle you are following.

Headlight use requirements

Headlights must be used when it is too dark to see from $1000\,\text{ft}$ away, from $30\,\text{min}$ after sunset until $30\,\text{min}$ before sunrise, or in bad weather requiring windshield wipers.

Double solid yellow lines

A barrier that cannot be crossed over unless entering/exiting a driveway, making a u-turn, or entering a designated HOV lane entrance on the left.

Yield line

A line of solid white triangles (shark's teeth) pointing toward approaching vehicles indicating where to yield or stop.

HOV lane

A High-occupancy vehicle lane reserved for carpools, buses, motorcycles, or low-emission vehicles with DMV-issued decals.

Center left turn lane

A lane in the middle of a two-way street used for left turns or U-turns; you may only drive in it for a maximum of $200\,\text{ft}$.

Turnout areas

Special lanes on two-lane roads where slower drivers must pull over if there are $5$ or more vehicles following them and passing is unsafe.

Bicycle lane entry rule

Drivers may enter a bike lane to park (where permitted), enter/leave the road, or prepare for a turn within $200\,\text{ft}$ of an intersection.

Limit line

A wide white line painted on the street that shows drivers where to stop before entering an intersection or crosswalk.

Roundabout travel

Traffic travels in a counterclockwise direction; drivers must yield to traffic already in the circle and must not stop or pass within it.

Safety zone

A space set aside for pedestrians waiting for buses, streetcars, or trolleys, marked by raised buttons or markers; passing speed is restricted to $10\,\text{mph}$.

Emergency vehicle following limit

It is illegal to follow within $300\,\text{ft}$ of any fire engine, police car, or ambulance when their siren or flashing lights are on.

Low-speed vehicle (LSV)

Vehicles like golf carts or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) that reach a maximum speed of $25\,\text{mph}$ and are restricted from roads with speed limits of $35\,\text{mph}$ or higher.

Passing bicyclists

Drivers must allow at least $3\,\text{ft}$ of distance between the vehicle and the cyclist when passing.

Work zone penalties

Fines for traffic violations are $1000$ or more; assaulting a highway worker can result in fines up to $2000$ and up to $1\,\text{yr}$ in prison.

School bus stop law

Drivers must stop from either direction when a bus flashes red lights; failure to stop can result in a fine up to $1000$ and a suspended driving privilege for $1\,\text{yr}$.

Blind intersection speed limit

The speed limit is $15\,\text{mph}$ if there are no stop signs and you cannot see for $100\,\text{ft}$ in either direction.

Alley speed limit

The speed limit is $15\,\text{mph}$ for any road no wider than $25\,\text{ft}$ used to access the rear or side of properties.

Railroad crossing speed limit

$15\,\text{mph}$ within $100\,\text{ft}$ of a crossing where you cannot see the tracks for $400\,\text{ft}$ in both directions, unless controlled by gates or a flagman.

Windshield sticker restrictions

Stickers are limited to a $7\,\text{in}$ square on the passenger side lower corner, a $5\,\text{in}$ square on the driver side lower corner, or a $5\,\text{in}$ square in the upper center.

Administrative Per Se

A California law that requires the DMV to suspend or revoke the driving privilege of any person arrested for a DUI.

BAC limit (Minor)

For individuals under $21\,\text{yrs}$, it is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of $0.01\%$ or higher.

Financial responsibility limits

Minimum insurance coverage must be at least $30k$ for a single death/injury, $60k$ for multiple deaths/injuries, and $15k$ for property damage.

Collision reporting (DMV)

A report must be filed with the DMV within $10\,\text{days}$ if a collision caused more than $1000$ in property damage or any injury or death.

Vehicle ownership transfer

When buying a vehicle, you have $10\,\text{days}$ to transfer ownership; when selling, you must notify the DMV within $5\,\text{days}$.