permit test
Section 5
steering!
hand-to-hand Steering
Hands at 9 and 3’o clock or 8 and 4 o’clock
Hands should always be in these positions
hand-over-hand steering
Used to turn at low speeds, park, or recover from a skid
one-hand steering
Used to turn while backing up
signaling
Always signal when turning, changing lanes, slowing down, or stopping
Use signal lights or hand + arm positions
Use horn to:
Avoid collisions
Alert oncoming traffic on mountain roads where you can’t see at least 200 feet ahead
When to use headlights
Dim headlights to low beams
within 500 feet of a vehicle coming toward you
Within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following
Too dark to see from 1,000 feet away
30 minutes after sunset → 30 minutes before sunrise
Adverse weather conditions
Fog, rain, or snow = low-beam
Clouds, dust, smoke, or fog make it difficult to see other vehicles
Mountain roads and tunnels
To help drivers see your vehicle
What to do in an emergency
Turn on emergency flashers
Pull off road if you have to stop
Don’t stop just over a hill or just around a curve
Call for assistance and stay in your car until help arrives
Section 6
traffic lanes!
Single solid yellow line
Center of two way traffic
Don’t pass vehicle in front of you if only one lane + solid yellow line
Double solid yellow lines
Don’t pass
Stay to right unless
High occupancy vehicle (HOV) carpool lane w/ designated entrance
Instructed by construction/ other signs
Turning left across a set to enter or exit driveway, private road, or make a U-turn
Two sets spaced two+ feet apart = barrier
Don’t drive over
Broken yellow line
Pass if line is next to your lane
Single solid white line
Marks traffic lanes in same direction
Includes one way streets
Double solid white lines
Barrier between regular use + preferential use lane (ex: carpool (HOV) lane)
Don’t change lanes over them
Broken white lanes
Separate traffic lanes w/ 2+ lanes in same direction
End of lane markings
Ending = large broken lines
Look for sign that says to exit or merge
Yield line
Solid line of triangles that points towards approaching vehicles
Approaching vehicles should yield
Choosing a lane
Left lane to pass or turn left
Right lane to enter or exit traffic
Steps to change lanes
Signal
Check mirrors
Check traffic behind + beside you
Look over shoulder
Check blind spots
Make sure there’s enough space
You don’t have to slow down before change
Don’t weave in and out of traffic
Once you start moving through an intersection, keep going
types of lanes
Passing lane
Far left lane
Used to pass other vehicles
carpool/ HOV
Reserved for carpools, buses, motorcycles, or low-emission vehicles w/ decal
Center left turn lane
Prepare for + make a left turn or U=turn
Drive for max 200 feet in center left turn lane
Turnout areas or lanes
Some two-lane roads have these
Merge into areas to let others pass
Use when
Driving slowly + passing = unsafe + 5 or more vehicles following you
Bicycle lanes
Legal to drive when
Parking where permitted
Entering or leaving the road
Turning within 200 feet of an intersection
Typically single solid white line and signs
Sometimes green
turns
Right turn
Drive close to right edge of road
If designated right turn = available, enter at opening
Drive in bike lane within 200 feet
Watch for peds, bikes, or bikers between your vehicle and curb
Start signaling at 100 ft before
Look over right shoulder + reduce speed
Stop behind limit line
Look both ways + turn when safe
Complete turn in right lane
You can turn against red light but not against red arrow
Illegal to drive, stop, park, or leave vehicle in area for buses
You CAN cross bus lane to make right turn
Dedicated right turn lane allows for turn w/o stopping
Left turn
Don’t cross any solid line
Enter two way center left turn lane within 200 feet of turn
Respect right of way of other in lane
Look both ways (left-right-left)
Proceed into intersection while turning to complete your turn in left lane
Keep wheels pointed straight ahead until it’s safe to start turn
You can left turn against red light if you turn from one way street to another one-way street
U-turns
You can make a u-turn
Across double yellow
In residential areas if no vehicles are approaching within 200 feet
At intersection unless no u-turn is posted
On a divided highway if center divider is there
Don’t make one
If a no u-turn sign is posted
At or on a railroad crossing
On a divided highway
Where you can’t see 200 feet in each direction
On a one-way street
In front of a fire station
In business districts
Turn at a T intersection
You can turn either way from the center lane
Braking
Stop at limit line → don’t cross over
Merging + Exiting
Highway traffic has right of way when merging
To enter highway
Be in proper lane
Be at or near traffic speed
Don’t cross over solid lines
Cross several lanes one at a time
3 seconds of space between you and vehicle in front of you
To exit
Know exit + be aware when it’s approaching
Signal 5 seconds before you exit (400 ft)
Crossing or entering traffic
150 feet on city streets
300 feet on highway
Don’t start intersection if peds/ vehicles blocking pathway
Wait for vehicles turning right to start turn before beginning left turn
Passing
Look for road conditions that may cause other vehicles to move into your lane
Hill or curve should be ⅓ mile ahead to safely pass
Don’t pass
If Approaching hill/ curve + can’t see if other traffic is approaching
Within 100 ft of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, rr crossing, or other hazard
At crossroads/ driveways
Unless there’s enough space to return to lane
How to pass
Signal
Look over shoulder
Drive into passing lane
Speed up to pass vehicle
Signal + return to original lane
You can only pass on right if
Open highway has 2+ lanes in your direction
Driver in front of you = turning left + you can safely pass on right
You are on one-way street
If someone is passing you
Allow it
parking
Parallel parking
Find a space
Pull up alongside vehicle in front of space
Check blind spots
Begin backing up at 45 degree angle
Straighten out when rear = within 18’’ of curb
park
Straight line backing
Check traffic
Activate turn signal before pulling up to curb
Check blind spots
Begin backing up in straight light
Back up at smooth, safe speed
Parking on hill
On a sloping driveway = turn wheels
Headed downhill
Front wheels into curb/ right toward side of road
Uphill
Front wheels away from curb
uphill/ downhill w/o curb
Turn wheels so vehicle rolls away from center of road if brakes fail
White curb = pick up/ drop off
Green = limited time
Yello = load or unload passengers + freight
Red = no stopping, standing, or parking
Blue = disabled
Illegal parking
No parking sign
Marked or unmarked crosswalk
Sidewalk or in front of driveway
Within 3 feet of sidewalk ramp for disabled
In front of a curb w/ wheelchair access to sidewalk
Space for zero emission vehicles
tunnel/ bridge
Within 15 feet of fire hydrant/ fire station driveway
Double parked
On wrong side of street or on freeway
green driving
Drive at steady speed
Get rid of extra weight
Regularly inflate tires, get oil changes, and check filters
law enforcement
Turn on right turn signal to acknowledge the officer
Move completely onto the right shoulder
Section 7
Traffic signals
Flashing red signal = stop and then go when safe
Yellow arrow means that protected turning time = ending
Flashing yellow = proceed w/ caution
Flashing yellow = turn, but it’s unprotected
Red yield = slow down + be ready to stop for anyone
Signs
Lane ends
End divided highway
Added lane
Crossroad
Winding road
Slippery when wet
Merging traffic
Slow moving vehicle
Diamond shaped
Specific road conditions + dangers
White rectangular = important rules
Right of way
Vehicle that arrives at intersection first has row
Right of way goes to person on right if you arrive at same time
If approaching stop sign, stop first and then proceed
Through road has right of way in t-intersection
Peds have row when turning left
When entering traffic, yield to traffic already in lanes
Roundabout
Crosswalks
Often marked w white lines
Peds have light of way
Blind
Guide dogs
White canes
Don’t stop in middle of crosswalk
Don’t honk at blind person
Pulling in cane + stepping away = you may go
Mountain roads
Facing uphill has right of way
Large vehicles
Large vehicles have blind spots called no zones
If you can’t see side mirrors, driver can’t see you
Loaded trucks take forever to stop
Don’t suddenly slow down or stop in front of large vehicle
Longer vehicle = greater difference in length of turning path
Always pass on left side
Miscellaneous vehicles
buses/ streetcars/ trolleys
Safety zones are for peds that are waiting
DON’T DRIVE THROUGH
Don’t pass at over 10 mph
When ^^^ is stopped at safety zone/ traffic light, pass at no more than 10 mph
Don’t overtake + pass light rail vehicle or streetcar on left side
Light rail vehicles
Same rights + responsibilities as other vehicles
They can interrupt traffic lights
Motorcycles
Three second following dist
Move to one side of lane to let bikers pass
Don’t pass biker in same lane as you
Emergency vehicles
Right of way → move over and slow down
In intersection, continue through & move to right and stop
Follow officer’s orders
Don’t follow within 300 feet of any fire engine, law enforcement vehicle, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle w/ sirens or flashing lights on
Don’t drive to scene of disaster
Slow moving vehicles
Travel at 25 mph or less
NEV and LSV
Max speed of 25 mph
Bicycles
Same rights + resp as drivers
Leave space between vehicle + bike when passing → AT LEAST 3 feet
road workers
Slow down
Extra space between vehicles
Vehicles with hazardous loads
Diamond shaped sign on truck
Traffic violations = over 1000 dollars
When to move over + slow down
Stationary emergency vehicles or tow trucks w/ flashing amber lights
Stopped road work vehicles w/ emergency flashing lights/ warning lights
Heavy traffic/ bad weather
Drive slower but at speed limit
Move to right to let people pass
Towing
Move to far right lane to tow a vehicle
Children
Speed limit = 25 mph within 500 feet of a school when there are kids around
School buses flash yellow lights to warn you to slow down and stop
Flashing red lights → stop from either direction until kids cross
If you fail to stop, 1000 fine + suspended for 1 year
Blind intersections
Speed limit = 15 mph
No stop signs
Alley
Road no wider than 25 ft
15 mph
railroad/ light tracks
15 mph within 100 ft + no sight of track for 400 ft in both directions
Drive faster if crossing is controlled by gates or smt
Flashing red lights = stop and wait no matter what
Don’t stop on railroad tracks
business/ residential districts
25 mph
what you can’t do on the road
Smoke w/ minor in vehicle
Dump or abandon animals on highway → 1000 fine, six months or jail, or both
Drive vehicle w/ unsecured load
Can’t carry cargo that extends beyond fenders on left side of more than 6’’ from right
Can’t ride in back of pickup truck unless secure seats + seat belts
Don’t transport animals in back of pickup truck
Don’t put signs in front windshield/ side rear that block view
Don’t interfere with funeral procession
Don’t flee law enforcement
No speed contests
Points on record
Moving traffic violation = 1 point
4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 months, or 8 in 36 months = suspended!
Your surroundings
Don’t tailgate
Three second rule for safe following distance
If vehicle merges in front too closely, take foot off the accelerator
w/ tailgater → maintain course and speed → merge right and let them pass
Create more space when following motorcyclists on metal surfaces and gravel
Don’t stay in someone’s blind spot
Road conditions
darkness
Use high beam headlights when possible
Dim them to avoid blinding ppl
Look toward right to avoid other vehicle’s lights
Drive to right when vehicle w/ one light approaches
Sun glare
Keep windshield clean
Wear polarized sunglasses
Keep space between your vehicle and vehicles around you
Make sure car visor works
Avoid driving during sunrise or sunset
Skids
Slippery surface
Ice, packed snow, speed, downhill
Drive slowly and leave space between vehicles
Slow down at intersections + curves
Avoid fast turns + quick stops
Low gear when going down steep hill
Steps
Remove foot from accelerator
Don’t use brakes
Turn steering wheel towards skid
Locked wheel
Braking too hard
Ease up on brake pedal
Stop braking + turn wheel into skid
Slippery roads
Wet: reduce speed by 5-10 mph
Packed snow: reduce speed by half
Ice: no more than 5 mph
Shade from tree + building may hide icy spots
Bridges + overpasses freeze before rest of road
Pavement = slippery when it starts to rain
If you can’t see farther than 100 ft, less than 30 mph
Hydroplaning
Slow down gradually
Don’t use brakes
Avoid by: driving slowly, steer around standing water, slow down w/ sloshing sounds, slow down when changing lanes/ directions
Snow or mud
Low gear + front wheels straight
Accelerate
Slowly forward
Reverse as much as possible
Low gear + forward
Flooded roads
Find another route
High winds
Reduce speed
Firm hand position on steering wheel
Be alert
No cruise control
Be proactive
Fog or smoke
Avoid driving
Low beam headlights!
Law enforcement traffic breaks
Turn on emergency flashers
Decrease speed to same speed as officer
Safety guidelines
Under 8 must be in rear seat
8+ may have safety belt
Ride 10 inches from air bag
Don’t leave anyone in hot vehicle
Ideal max speed limit on cal highways = 65 mph
55 mph on two lane undivided highway
Give more space to the most dangerous situation
If vehicle = disabled on freeway
Pull over to right shoulder
Exit on right side
Dial 511
Return to vehicle assap
Stay inside w/ seat belt on
If vehicle = disabled on rr track, run away from track
Tire blowout/ accelerator malfunction
Turn on emergency flashers
Hold steering wheel tightly and steer straight ahead
Slow down gradually by taking foot off accelerator slowly
Shift to neutral if accelerator is stuck
Or shut off engine to slow it down
Let vehicle slow to stop off the road
Apply brakes when vehicle = stopped
Driving off pavement
Grip steering wheel firmly
Remove foot from accelerator
Brake gently
Check for traffic
Steer back onto pavement
Section 9
Illegal to drive after drinking a lot of alcohol
Can’t carry opened alcohol or weed
Can’t drive w/ BAC of:
0.08 if over 21
0.01 if under 21
0.01 if on DUI
In california, you consent to breath, blood, or urine test
Can’t have alcohol in vehicle unless someone 21+ is with you
Section 10
Common causes of collisions
Distractions
Unsafe speed
Improper turns
Right of way
No stop signals + signs
Wrong side of road
Driving faster/ slower than traffic
If you’re in a collision
Stop
Report it to DMV within 10 days if more than 1,000 dollars in damage to property
Buying or selling a vehicle
10 days to transfer ownership
20 days for out-of-state vehicles