Essentials of the California Driver’s Handbook

REAL ID Compliance: Beginning May $2025$ , a REAL ID is required to board domestic flights and enter federal facilities or military bases.
Documentation: Applicants must provide proof of identity, two proofs of California residency, legal full name documents, and a Social Security number (exceptions may apply).
Minors (<18): Must be at least $15\frac{1}{2}$ years old to apply for an instruction permit. Requirements include completing a driver education program and documenting $50\,\text{hours}$ of practice, including $10\,\text{hours}$ at night.
Provisional Restrictions: Drivers under $18$ cannot drive between $11\,\text{p.m.}$ and $5\,\text{a.m.}$ or transport passengers under $20$ years old during the first $12\,\text{months}$ unless accompanied by a licensed adult at least $25$ years old.

Vision and Knowledge Tests: The vision test ensures safe sight; the knowledge test allows three attempts before reapplication is required.
Behind-the-Wheel Test: Requires a safe vehicle, valid insurance, and registration. Common vehicle requirements include tires with at least $1/32$ -inch tread depth and a horn audible from $200\,\text{feet}$ .
Technology Restrictions: Advanced assistance systems like automated parallel parking or adaptive cruise control are prohibited during the drive test.

Steering Techniques: Hand-to-hand steering is recommended at the $9$ and $3$ o'clock or $8$ and $4$ o'clock positions. Hand-over-hand steering is used for low-speed turns and recovery.
Signaling: Signal at least $100\,\text{feet}$ before turns and for $5\,\text{seconds}$ before changing lanes on the freeway.
Headlights: Use low-beams when visibility is less than $1,000\,\text{feet}$ , beginning $30\,\text{minutes}$ after sunset until $30\,\text{minutes}$ before sunrise, and during adverse weather.

Lane Markings: Single solid yellow lines mark two-way traffic centers; double solid white lines indicate a barrier between regular and preferential lanes (e.g., HOV).
Center Left Turn Lanes: Drivers may only travel for $200\,\text{feet}$ in this lane to prepare for left turns or U-turns.
HOV Lanes: Reserved for carpools, buses, motorcycles, or low-emission vehicles with decals.
Bicycle Lanes: When turning right, drivers may enter a bike lane within $200\,\text{feet}$ of the intersection after checking for bicyclists.

Roundabouts: Traffic moves in a counterclockwise direction; drivers must yield to traffic already in the circle.
Standard Speed Limits:
- Blind Intersections and Alleys: $15\,\text{mph}$ .
- Railroad Crossings: $15\,\text{mph}$ within $100\,\text{feet}$ if tracks are not visible for $400\,\text{feet}$ .
- School Zones: $25\,\text{mph}$ (some as low as $15\,\text{mph}$ ) when children are present.
- Business/Residential Districts: $25\,\text{mph}$ .
- Two-lane Undivided Highways: $55\,\text{mph}$ .

Following Distance: Use the three-second rule to maintain a safe gap behind other vehicles.
Road Conditions: Reduce speed by $5$ to $10\,\text{mph}$ on wet roads, by half on packed snow, and to $5\,\text{mph}$ on ice.
Seat Belts: Mandatory for all occupants. Children under $2$ years (< 40\,\text{lbs} and < 3\,\text{feet}\,4\,\text{inches}) must use rear-facing restraint systems.
Law Enforcement Stops: Acknowledge the officer with a turn signal, pull to the right, and keep hands in clear view. Drivers must produce a license, insurance, and registration.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits:
- Adults ( $21+$ ): $0.08\%$ or higher.
- Minors (<21): $0.01\%$ or higher.
- Commercial Drivers: $0.04\%$ or higher.
Consequences: Refusal to take a breath or blood test results in a one-year license suspension. DUI convictions stay on the driver’s record for $10\,\text{years}$ .

Minimum Liability Insurance: Required levels are $\$15,000$ for property damage, $\$30,000$ for injury/death of one person, and $\$60,000$ for injury/death to multiple people.
DMV Reporting: Drivers must report collisions to the DMV within $10\,\text{days}$ if there is an injury, death, or property damage exceeding $\$1,000$ .