California Permit Test

Nearly _______ of the drivers between
15-19 years old are convicted of a
traffic violation in their first year of
driving.

50%

The most common violation is for
__________, which often results in the
loss of vehicle control and accounts
for about 50% of all teen traffic
convictions.

speeding

__________ are the leading
cause of death for teenagers

traffic collisions

If you
are under 18 years old, your risk of a
fatal collision is about _____ times that
of the "average" driver

2 1/2

When you move, you must give
DMV your new address within ____
days.

10

Children who are ______ years old or
older OR who have reached at least
_______ in height may use a properly
secured safety belt meeting federal
standards

1) 8
2) 4'9"

An air bag needs about ______ inches of
space to inflate. Ride at least ____ inches
(measured from the center of the
steering wheel to your breastbone)
from the air bag cover, if you can do
this while maintaining full control of
the vehicle.

1) 10
2) 10

It is illegal to leave a child ____ years
old or younger unattended in a motor
vehicle.

6

A child under six years of age can be left alone in a car under the supervision of a person _____ years
old or older.

12

Solid Red

A red traffic signal light means "STOP." You can make a right turn against a red traffic signal light after you
stop. Yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles close enough to be a hazard. Make the right turn only when it is safe. Do not turn if a "NO TURN ON RED" sign is posted.

Red Arrow

A red arrow means "STOP." Remain stopped until the green signal or green arrow appears. Do not turn against a red arrow.

Flashing Red

A flashing red traffic signal light means "STOP." After stopping, you may proceed when it is safe. Observe the right-of-way rules

Flashing Yellow

A flashing yellow traffic signal light warns you to "PROCEED WITH CAUTION." Slow down and be alert before entering the intersection. Yield to any pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicles in the intersection. You do not need to stop for a flashing yellow traffic signal light

Flashing Yellow Arrow

This traffic signal light means turns are permitted
(unprotected), but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians and then proceed with caution.

Traffic Signal Light Not Working
(Blackout)

The traffic signal light is not working and/or no lights
are showing on the signal. Proceed cautiously as if the intersection is controlled by "STOP" signs in all directions.

3-sided red YIELD
sign

indicates that you must slow down and be
ready to stop, if necessary, to let any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before you proceed.

If you see WRONG WAY or DO NOT ENTER sign,

drive to the side of the road and stop. You are going against traffic. When safe, back out or turn around and return to the road you were on.

A yellow and black circular sign

indicates that you are approaching a railroad crossing

An x-shaped sign with a white background that
states RAILROAD CROSSING

you must look, listen, slow down, and prepare to stop, if necessary. Let any trains pass before you proceed

5-sided sign

indicates that you are near a school. Stop if children
are in the crosswalk.

4-sided diamond-shaped sign

warns you of specific road conditions and dangers ahead.

slippery when wet

merging traffic

divided highway

sharp turn

two way traffic

lane ends

end divided highway

traffic signal ahead

pedestrian crossing

added lane

crossroad

stop ahead

yield ahead

directional arrow

curve

"T" intersection

winding road

In California, pedestrian deaths occur
in approximately ____ of all
traffic fatalities.

22%

Do not drive on a sidewalk except

to cross it to enter or exit a driveway or alley. When crossing, yield to all pedestrians.

e. It is important that you stop your
vehicle within _______ of the crosswalk.

5 feet

Pedestrians have the right-of-way

in marked AND unmarked crosswalks

At intersections without "STOP" or "YIELD" signs,

slow down and be ready to stop. Yield to traffic and pedestrians already in the intersection or just entering the intersection. Also, yield to the vehicle or bicycle that arrives first, or to the vehicle or bicycle on your right if it reaches the intersection at the same time as you.

At "T" intersections without "STOP" or "YIELD" signs,

yield to traffic and pedestrians on the through road. They have the right-of-way.

While waiting to turn left, keep your wheels pointed

straight ahead until it is safe to start turn

When you turn right,

be sure to check for pedestrians who want to cross the street and bicyclists riding next to you.

On divided highways or highways with several lanes

watch for vehicles coming in any lane you cross. Turn either left or right only when it is safe.

If you have parked on the side of the road or are leaving a parking lot, etc.,

yield to traffic before reentering the road.

When 2 vehicles meet on a steep mountain road where neither vehicle can pass,

the vehicle facing downhill must yield the right-of-way by backing up until the vehicle going uphill can pass. The vehicle facing downhill has the greater amount of control when backing up the hill.

The maximum speed limit on most California highways is

65 mph , can drive 70 mph when posted

Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit on a two-lane undivided highway and for vehicles towing trailers is

55 mph

When you tow a vehicle or trailer, or drive a bus or 3 or more axle truck, you must drive in

the right most lane or in a lane specially marked for slower vehicles. If no lanes are marked and there are four lanes or more in your direction, you may only drive in either of the two lanes closest to the right edge of the road.

When driving within 500 to 1,000 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street, the speed limit is

25 mph unless otherwise posted

When the school bus flashes red lights (located at the
top front and back of the bus), you must

stop from either direction until the children are safely across the street and the lights stop flashing. The law requires you remain stopped as long as the red lights
are flashing

The speed limit for a blind intersection is

15 mph

The speed limit in any alley is

15 mph

The speed limit is _____ within 100
feet of a railroad crossing where you
cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in
both directions.

15 mph

Stop at least ____ , but no more than ______, from the nearest track when the crossing devices are active or
a person warns you a train is coming.

1) 15
2) 50

Business or Residential Districts
The speed limit is _______, unless
otherwise posted

25 mph

Near Streetcars, Trolleys, or Buses
The passing speed limit, when safe
to pass, is no more than _____.

10 mph

If you see animals or livestock near the roadway

slow down and proceed with caution

Before changing lanes,

look into your rear view mirror for nearby vehicles and over your shoulder to check for blind spots.

Turn on your lights during the day if

it is hard to see or you cannot see at least
1,000 feet ahead of you.

Solid yellow lines

mark the center of a road used for two-way traffic. No passing if the solid yellow line is on your side.

Broken yellow lines

indicate that you may pass if the broken line is next to your driving lane.

Two solid yellow lines

indicate no passing.

You may turn left across a single set of double yellow lines to

enter or exit a driveway, make a U-turn, or into or out of a private road.

Two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced 2 feet or more apart

are considered a barrier. Do not drive on or over this barrier, make a left turn, or a U-turn across it, except at
designated openings

Solid white lines

mark traffic lanes going in the same direction, such as
one-way streets.

Broken white lines

separate traffic lanes on roads with two or more
lanes in the same direction.

Double white lines

two solid white lines that indicate a lane barrier
between a regular use and a preferential use lane, such as a carpool/HOV. Never change lanes while in these lanes; wait until a single broken white line appears

Pass traffic on the left. You may pass on the right only when

• An open highway is clearly marked for two or more lanes of travel in your direction.
• The driver ahead of you is turning left and you do not drive off the roadway to pass. Never pass on the left if the driver is signaling a left turn.

If you are driving slowly on a two-lane highway or
road where passing is unsafe, and 5 or more vehicles are following you must

drive into the turnout areas or lanes to let the vehicles pass

When you are making a right turn within 200 feet of the corner or other driveway entrance, you must enter
the bicycle lane only after

ensuring there is no bicycle traffic, and then make the turn. Do not drive in the bicycle lane at any other time.

Left turns

To make a left turn, drive close to the center divider line
or into the left turn lane. Begin signaling about 100 feet before the turn.

A left turn against a red light can only be made

from a one-way street onto a one-way street

Never make a U-turn:

•At or on a railroad crossing.
•On a divided highway by crossing a dividing section, curb, strip of land, or two sets of double yellow
lines.
• Where you cannot see clearly 200 feet in each direction because of a curve, hill, rain, fog, or other
reason.
• Where a "No U-Turn" sign is posted.
•When other vehicles may hit you.
•On a one-way street.
•In front of a fire station. Never use a fire station driveway to turn your vehicle around.
•In business districts.

When you park:
• On a sloping driveway,

turn the wheels so the vehicle will not roll into the street if the brakes fail

When you park: Headed downhill

turn your front wheels into the curb or toward the
side of the road. Set the parking brake

When you park: Headed uphill

turn your front wheels away from the curb and let
your vehicle roll back a few inches.

When you park: Headed either uphill or downhill
when there is no curb,

turn the wheels so the vehicle will roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.

Parking at Colored Curbs: White

Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.

Parking at Colored Curbs: Green

Park for a limited time. Look for a posted sign next to the green zone for time limits, or locate the time limit painted on the curb

Parking at Colored Curbs: Yellow

Stop no longer than the time posted to load or unload passengers or freight. Drivers of noncommercial
vehicles are usually required to stay with the vehicle.

Parking at Colored Curbs: Red

-No stopping, standing, or parking. (Buses may stop at a red zone marked for buses.

Parking at Colored Curbs: Blue

Parking is permitted only for a disabled person
or driver of a disabled person who displays a placard
or special license plate.

When you park alongside a curb on a level street,

the front and back wheels must be parallel and within
18 inches of the curb. Park parallel to the street if there is no curb

Use Your Headlights

When it is cloudy, raining, snowing, or foggy. If weather conditions require you to use your windshield wipers, you are required to turn on your low-beam headlights—it's the law.

Do not _____ before merging into freeway traffic

STOP

Do not pass:

• If you are approaching a hill or curve and you cannot see if there is another vehicle approaching.
•Within 100 feet of an intersection

Large trucks take ______ to stop than vehicles traveling at the same speed.

longer

Emergency Vehicles

You must yield the right-of-way to any police vehicle, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle
using a siren and red lights. Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle(s) have
passed. However, never stop in an intersection. If you are in an intersection when you see an emergency
vehicle, continue through the intersection and then, drive to the right as soon as it is safe and stop.

It is against the law to follow within _________ behind any fire engine, police vehicle, ambulance, or other
emergency vehicle with a siren or flashing lights

300 ft

A diamond-shaped sign on a truck

means that the load on the truck is potentially dangerous

If your vehicle starts to hydroplane,

slow down gradually—do not apply the brakes.

Wet road

go 5 to 10 mph slower.

Packed snow

reduce your speed
by half

Ice

slow to a crawl.

Driving in the Fog

if you must drive, then drive slow, turn on your windshield wipers, and use your low-beam headlights. The light from the highbeam headlights will reflect back
and cause glare.

Use your _______ headlights at
night when it rains

low beam