California Driver License: Speed Limits, School Buses and Your Record

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Speed Limits, School Buses and Your Record. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver is towing a small trailer on a freeway that has a lane specifically marked for slow-moving vehicles. Which lane should the driver use?

Any lane that matches the flow of traffic
The lane second from the left
The carpool lane
The lane marked for slow vehicles

Answer: D — The lane marked for slow vehicles

Vehicles towing a trailer, or trucks with three or more axles, must use the far-right lane or a lane marked for slow vehicles.

2. A driver on a multi-lane road chooses to travel below the speed of the surrounding traffic. Which lane should the driver use?

The right lane
Any lane, since slower drivers set the pace
The left lane
The center lane

Answer: A — The right lane

A driver who chooses to go slower than the flow of traffic must use the right lane.

3. A driver travels well below the posted speed limit and blocks the normal flow of traffic behind. Is this driver at risk of a citation?

No, driving under the speed limit is always legal
No, only driving over the limit can result in a citation
Yes, driving slower than the limit can earn a citation if it blocks traffic
No, as long as the driver keeps to the right lane

Answer: C — Yes, driving slower than the limit can earn a citation if it blocks traffic

Blocking the normal flow of traffic by going too slowly, not just speeding, can result in a citation.

4. Children are outside and crossing within 500 feet of a school, and no lower limit is posted. What is the speed limit?

25 mph
35 mph
15 mph
20 mph

Answer: A — 25 mph

The default limit near a school with children present is 25 mph within 500 feet, unless a lower limit is specifically posted.

5. A school bus ahead switches from flashing yellow lights to flashing red lights. What must a driver approaching from either direction now do?

Proceed carefully, since only traffic behind the bus must stop
Stop only if approaching from the same direction as the bus
Slow down and prepare to stop, since that was already signaled
Stop and remain stopped until the children have finished crossing and the lights stop flashing

Answer: D — Stop and remain stopped until the children have finished crossing and the lights stop flashing

Flashing red lights require traffic from both directions to stop and remain stopped until children are across and the lights stop.

6. What can happen to a driver who fails to stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights?

A fine up to $1,000 and a one-year license suspension
A six-month license suspension only, no fine
A fine up to $500 and points on the record only
A warning on first offense, fine on repeat offenses

Answer: A — A fine up to $1,000 and a one-year license suspension

Failing to stop for a school bus's red lights can cost up to $1,000 and a one-year suspension.

7. A school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on the far side of a highway divided by a median, with two lanes of travel in each direction. Must a driver on the near side stop?

No, because the bus is on the other side of a divided highway with two or more lanes in each direction
No, drivers never need to stop for school buses on highways
Yes, drivers in both directions must always stop for flashing red bus lights
Yes, unless the driver is more than 500 feet from the bus

Answer: A — No, because the bus is on the other side of a divided highway with two or more lanes in each direction

There is a specific exception for a divided or multilane highway with two or more lanes in each direction when the bus is on the other side.

8. A driver approaches an intersection with no stop sign on any corner, and buildings block the view of cross traffic. What should the driver do, and what is the speed limit?

Come to a complete stop regardless; limit is 25 mph
Proceed at normal speed since no stop sign is posted
Edge forward slowly until the view is clear; limit is 15 mph
Edge forward slowly; limit is 25 mph

Answer: C — Edge forward slowly until the view is clear; limit is 15 mph

At a blind intersection with no stop signs, edge forward slowly until visibility is clear; the limit there is 15 mph.

9. A driver enters a paved way no wider than 25 feet that runs behind a row of stores. What is the speed limit while driving through it?

15 mph
10 mph
25 mph
There is no set limit

Answer: A — 15 mph

A narrow road no wider than 25 feet serving the rear or side of buildings is an alley, with a 15 mph limit.

10. Approaching a railroad crossing with no gates, warning signal, or flagman, a driver cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in either direction. What is the speed limit within 100 feet of the crossing?

20 mph
15 mph
10 mph
25 mph

Answer: B — 15 mph

With limited visibility of the tracks and no gates, signal, or flagman controlling the crossing, the limit within 100 feet is 15 mph.

11. At a railroad crossing, a driver sees the gate begin to rise while the red lights are still flashing. What should the driver do?

Wait exactly 15 seconds after the gate starts rising, then cross
Cross since a rising gate means the train has passed
Continue waiting until the lights actually stop flashing
Cross as soon as the gate clears enough to fit through

Answer: C — Continue waiting until the lights actually stop flashing

Drivers must not cross until the flashing red lights stop, even if the gate has started to rise.

12. A warning device at a railroad crossing signals an approaching train. How far from the nearest rail must a driver stop?

At least 50 feet
At least 10 feet
At least 25 feet
At least 15 feet

Answer: D — At least 15 feet

When a device or person warns of a train, a driver must stop at least 15 feet from the nearest track.

13. A driver stopped at a railroad crossing sees the gates down but no train appears or is heard for several minutes. What should the driver do?

Carefully drive around the lowered gate since no train is visible
Honk the horn and proceed once it seems clear
Wait five minutes, then proceed regardless
Call the posted railroad emergency number or 911

Answer: D — Call the posted railroad emergency number or 911

Drivers must never go around a lowered gate; if gates are down with no train apparent, they should call the posted railroad emergency number or 911.

14. No speed limit sign is posted along a residential street lined with houses. What is the speed limit?

25 mph
30 mph
20 mph
15 mph

Answer: A — 25 mph

In a business or residential district, the default limit is 25 mph unless a different limit is posted.

15. Is it legal to smoke in a vehicle while a minor is a passenger?

Yes, if the vehicle is not moving
Yes, if the minor is over age 12
Yes, as long as a window is cracked open
No, smoking with a minor in the vehicle is not allowed

Answer: D — No, smoking with a minor in the vehicle is not allowed

Smoking is prohibited in a vehicle whenever a minor is present, with no exceptions given.

16. A vehicle's load extends 10 inches beyond the right fender, with nothing extending past the left fender. Is this within the load-width rules?

No, no load may extend beyond the fenders on either side
No, the load may extend no more than 6 inches beyond the fenders on the right, and nothing on the left
Yes, up to 12 inches is allowed on either side
Yes, since nothing extends beyond the left fender

Answer: B — No, the load may extend no more than 6 inches beyond the fenders on the right, and nothing on the left

A load may extend up to 6 inches beyond the right fenders, but nothing may extend beyond the fenders on the left; 10 inches on the right exceeds the limit.

17. Cargo extends 5 feet behind a vehicle's rear bumper. What must be attached to the cargo during the day?

Nothing, since 5 feet is within the allowed limit
A reflective triangle
Two red lights
A 12-inch red or fluorescent orange flag

Answer: D — A 12-inch red or fluorescent orange flag

Cargo extending more than 4 feet behind the rear bumper needs a 12-inch red or fluorescent orange flag during the day, plus two red lights at night.

18. Can passengers ride in the open bed of a pickup truck?

Yes, as long as they are seated and holding on
Yes, only if the bed has secure seats and seat belts
Never, under any circumstances
Yes, if the truck is traveling under 25 mph

Answer: B — Yes, only if the bed has secure seats and seat belts

Passengers may only ride in a pickup or truck bed if it has secure seats and seat belts.

19. A funeral procession, led by a traffic officer with marked vehicles and headlights on, is crossing an intersection. What is a driver's obligation?

The procession has the right-of-way; interrupting it can result in a ticket
Only emergency vehicles get the right-of-way, not funeral processions
A driver may cross through a gap in the procession when the way looks clear
The procession must yield to normal cross traffic

Answer: A — The procession has the right-of-way; interrupting it can result in a ticket

A funeral procession led by a traffic officer with marked vehicles and headlights on has the right-of-way, and interrupting it is a ticketable offense.

20. A driver evading law enforcement causes serious injury to someone during the pursuit. What is the maximum penalty?

4 to 10 years in state prison
A fine only, no jail time
Up to seven years in state prison
Up to one year in county jail

Answer: C — Up to seven years in state prison

Causing serious injury during a pursuit while evading law enforcement carries up to seven years in state prison; the lesser and greater penalties apply to simple evading and manslaughter while evading, respectively.

21. An adult driver accumulates 4 points on their record within a 12-month period. What can result?

Only a warning letter is sent
Nothing, since 4 points is below the threshold
Automatic revocation, not suspension
The license may be suspended

Answer: D — The license may be suspended

An adult's license may be suspended at 4 points within 12 months.

22. A driver receives a one-point violation, and a judge offers traffic violator school, which the driver has not attended in the past 18 months. What is the effect of completing it?

The citation stays on the record but is not reported to the driver's insurer
The points are converted to a warning
It can be used again within the same 18 months for another citation
The citation is removed from the record entirely

Answer: A — The citation stays on the record but is not reported to the driver's insurer

Traffic violator school, available once in any 18-month period for a one-point violation, keeps the citation on the record but keeps it from being reported to the insurer.

23. A provisional (minor) license holder, within the first 12 months of licensure, has two at-fault collisions. What is the consequence?

A six-month suspension and one year of probation
30 days of driving only with a licensed adult age 25 or older
A warning only
Immediate revocation of the license

Answer: B — 30 days of driving only with a licensed adult age 25 or older

A second at-fault collision or conviction (or one of each) in the first 12 months of a provisional license brings 30 days of driving only with a licensed adult 25 or older; the six-month suspension applies only after a third incident.

24. A 17-year-old driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. What is a possible consequence?

A one-year license suspension or a delay in eligibility
Six months of probation only
Automatic loss of the license until age 21
A warning only, since the driver is a minor

Answer: A — A one-year license suspension or a delay in eligibility

A conviction for alcohol or a controlled substance at ages 15 to 20 brings a one-year suspension or a delay in eligibility.

25. A driver wants to request an administrative hearing after being personally served notice of a DMV suspension. Within how many days of being served must the hearing be requested?

10 days
5 days
30 days
14 days

Answer: A — 10 days

A hearing must be requested within 10 days of being served notice, or within 14 days if the notice was mailed instead.