2024 California Driver's Handbook

Signal __ feet before a turn

100

Signal ___ seconds before changing lanes on freeway

5+

When do you signal?

When changing lanes, turning, parking, or pulling up to/away from a curb

Use your horn to:

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

When to turn on headlights?

when it is too dark to see from 1,000 ft away, 30 min after sunset until 30 minutes to sunset, on mountain roads and tunnels, if you need to use your windshield wipers due to fog, rain, or snow

When to turn down high beams?

500 ft when approaching from front, 300 ft when approaching from behind

If your vehicle doesn't have emergency flashers, use:

Turn signals

If you see a collision ahead, warn drivers behind you by:

Turning on emergency flashers, or tightly tapping brake pedal 3-4 times, or use hand signal when slowing and stopping

If you need to stop due to vehicle trouble:

Turn on emergency flashers, pull off road away from traffic (or where people can see you and your vehicle from behind), call for emergency roadside assistance and stay in vehicle until help arrives

Single solid yellow line indicates:

The center of a road with two-way traffic. Do not cross over this line into oncoming traffic. Do not pass a vehicle in front of you if there is only one lane of traffic going your direction and a solid yellow line on your side of the road

Solid double yellow lines indicates:

No passing from either side

Two sets of solid, double, yellow lines that are two or more feet apart indicates:

A barrier. Do not drive on or over this barrier, make a left turn, or make a U-turn across it.

Broken yellow line indicates:

You may pass if the broken line is next to your driving lane and when it is safe.

Single solid white line indicates:

Traffic lanes going in the same direction, including one-way streets

Double solid white lines indicates:

Lane barrier between regular and preferential use lane (e.g. carpool lane). Never change lanes over these lines, wait for single broken white line.

Broken white lines indicates:

Separation of traffic lanes on roads with 2+ lanes in the same direction

What do end of lane markings look like?

Large broken lines

What do yield lines look like?

A solid white line of triangles pointing towards approaching vehicles.

What do yield lines indicate:

Where approaching vehicles must yield or stop.

Traffic lanes numberd from right to left

3 2 1

Traffic lanes numbered from left to right

1 2 3

Left lane used for:

Passing or turning left

Right lane used for:

Entering or exiting traffic

Steps to changing lanes:

Signal, check rear and side mirrors, check traffic behind and beside you, look over your shoulder to make sure desired lane is clear, check blind spots, make sure there's enough space for your vehicle in desired lane.

Is it necessary to slow down before a lane change?

No

Two sets of lines with the inner lines broken and outer lines solid indicate:

Center left turn lanes

You may only drive for ___ feet in a center left turn lane.

200

It is illegal to drive in a bicycle lane unless you are:

Parking (where permitted), entering or leaving the road, turning (when 200 ft of an intersection)

Never make a U-turn:

At or on a railroad crossing, on a divided highway (by crossing barriers, strips of land, etc.), when you can't see clearly for more that 200 ft in each direction, on a one-way street, in front of a fire station, or in business districts

You may make a U-turn:

Across a double yellow line, on divided highways is opening is provided

How to brake:

Remove foot from gas pedal, allowing vehicle to slow. Lightly press brake until you come to a full stop.

If stopping behind a vehicle, leave enough space to__

See their rear wheels

When entering a highway, you need to:

Be in the proper lane on the onramp, be at or near traffic speed, merge when safe to do so (don't stop unless absolutely necessary), use mirrors and turn signals, quickly turn and look over shoulders

What is the 3-second rule

To ensure safe stopping, leave 3 seconds of space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

If you need to cross several lanes:

Signal and cross lanes one at a time

How to exit a highway safely:

Know your exit and be aware of when it is approaching, chang lanes one at a time, signal and check blind spots, signal 5 sec before exiting, exit at a safe speed, don't cross any solid lines.

There are 2 traffic lanes moving in your direction. You are driving in the left land and many vehicles are passing you on the right. The driver behind you wishes to drive faster, you should:

Move into the right lane where it is safe

The driver ahead of you stops at a crosswalk. What should you do?

Stop, proceeding only when all the pedestrians have crossed.

If you park facing uphill on a street with a curb, set the parking brake and:

Turn front wheels away from the curb

If you park facing downhill on a street with a curb, set the parking brake and:

Turn front wheels towards the curb

At 55 mph, under good conditions, a passenger vehicle can stop within __ feet.

300

At 55 mph, under good conditions, a large vehicle can stop within __ feet.

400

Special "turnout" areas marked on a two-lane road allow:

Slower-moving vehicles to pull over and let faster vehicles pass safely

If a California driver is stopped by a police officer for suspected drugged driving, they may have to undergo a __ test to determine if they are driving under the influence of drugs.

Blood

A driver in front of you is signaling with their arm pointing upward. This driver wants to:

Turn right

A driver in front of you is signaling with their arm pointing downward. This driver wants to:

Slow or stop

A driver in front of you is signaling with their arm pointing straight out. This driver wants to:

Turn left

On a two-lane undivided highway, the maximum speed limit for vehicles towing trailers is __ mph unless otherwise posted.

55

The ideal maximum speed limit on most California highways is __ mph unless otherwise posted.

65

If you are found guilty of driving without wearing a seat belt, you will be fined up to _____ if this was your first offense.

$20

If you are found guilty of driving without wearing a seat belt, you will be fined up to __ if this was your second offense.

$50

Can you pass another vehicle when approaching a curve or a hill?

Yes, but only if there's enough space.

You must not follow within __ feet of any emergency vehicle with a siren or flashing lights.

300

What indicated the outer edge of a roadway, and may be crossed only by traffic moving to or from the shoulder?

Solid white line

To merge, enter, or exit traffic on city streets, you need a space that is:

150 ft, which is around half a block

To merge, enter, or exit traffic on the highway, you need a space that is:

300 ft, which is around a block

When should you not pass another vehicle?

If you are approaching a hill or curve and can't see if other traffic is approaching, at crossroads and driveways, or within 100 ft of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, railroad crossing, or other hazardous areas

You should not pass within __ ft of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, railroad crossing, or other hazardous areas.

100

A white curb indicates:

Passenger pick-up and drop-off

A green curb indicates:

Short-term parking only

A yellow curb indicates:

Load and unload passengers and freight

A red curb indicates:

No stopping, standing, or parking

A blue curb indicates:

Parking of disabled people

What to do during a law enforcement stop?

Turn on right turn signal to acknowledge, move completely onto the right shoulder (preferably a well-lit area), remain in vehicle, roll down window before officer makes contact, place hands in clear view

In a roundabout, always travel in a __ direction.

Counter-clockwise

In a roundabout, yield to:

All traffic already in the roundabout

Always pass a large vehicle from the __ side. And afterwards, what do you do?

Left; move ahead of it.

How to stay out of a large vehicle/truck's blind spot ("No Zone")?

Make sure you can see the truck's side mirrors. If you can't see the side mirrors, the truck driver can't see you

When blind person pulls in cane, and steps away from intersection, they're usually indicating:

You may proceed

What is a safety zone?

Spaces set aside for pedestrians waiting for buses, streetcars, and trolleys

When a bus, streetcar, or trolley is stopped at a safety zone or traffic light, you may pass at no more than __ mph

10

Do not overtake and pass a light rail vehicle or streetcar on the left side (moving or standing) unless:

On a one-way street, or if a traffic officer directs you to do so.

Whenever possible, give a motorcycle __ lane.

The full lane

Failure to pull over and stop for emergency vehicles may result in:

A ticket

If you are in an intersection when you see an emergency vehicle, what should you do?

Continue through the intersection. Drive to the right when safe and stop, letting the emergency vehicle pass.

When you can't change lanes to pass a bicyclist, allow __ feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist

3+

How to go through work zones:

Slow down, allow extra space between vehicles, expect slowing or stopping, watch for drivers changing lanes, avoid distractions.

Fines for traffic violations in a work zone can be __ or more

$1,000

Anyone convicted of assaulting a highway worker faces fines up to __ and imprisonment for up to __.

$2,000; 1 year

If you choose to drive slower than other traffic, drive in the __ lane.

Right

The speed limit is __ mph within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street.

25

The speed limit is 25 mph within __ feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street.

500

An intersection is considered blind if:

It has no stop signs at any corner

The speed limit in an alley is __ mph

15

The speed limit for a blind intersection is __ mph

15

The speed limit is __ within 100 feet of a railroad crossing and you can't see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions

15

Flashing red warning lights at a railroad/train crossing indicates:

You must stop and wait. Do not proceed until red lights stop flashing (even if the gate rises)

When the crossing devices or a person warns you a train is coming, stop at least __ feet from the nearest track.

15

A person convicted of reckless driving or engaging in a speed contest that causes injury to another person is subject to:

Imprisonment, a fine, or both.

To give yourself time to react, avoid last minute moves and hazards, always keep your eyes moving and scan the road at least __ seconds ahead of your vehicle

10

If a tailgater is behind you, you should:

Maintain your course and speed. When safe, merge right or change into another lane, allowing the tailgater to pass.

When following motorcyclists on metal surfaces (bridge gratings, railroad tracks, etc.) and gravel, you should:

Create for space in front of your vehicle

When should you check your blind spots?

Lane change, turn at intersection, merge with traffic, backing up, leaving parking space, parallel parking, pull away from curb, opening car door.

How are locked wheel skids caused?

Braking too hard when you are going too fast

How to avoid slippery surface skids?

Slow down as you approach intersections and curves, avoid fast turns and quick stops, shift to low gear before going down a steep hill

If you start skidding, you should:

Slowly release gas pedal, don't use brakes, turn steering wheel in direction of skid, try to get a wheel on dry pavement

On a wet road, reduce your speed by __

5-10 mph

On packed snow, reduce your speed by __

Half

On ice, reduce your speed by __

No more than 5 mph

What is hydroplaning?

Tires lose contact with the road and have no traction