California Driver License: Sharing the Road

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Sharing the Road. Free, no account needed.

Take this test interactively

1. A driver is following a large truck and cannot see either of its side mirrors from their current position. What does this mean for the driver?

  1. The driver should flash their headlights to get the truck driver's attention
  2. The truck is about to make a turn
  3. The truck needs extra room to brake
  4. The truck driver cannot see the driver's car

Answer: D — The truck driver cannot see the driver's car

If a car cannot see the truck's mirrors, it is in the truck's blind spot and the truck driver cannot see the car.

2. A passenger car and a large vehicle are both traveling at 55 mph when both drivers brake hard. The car stops in about 300 feet. About how much distance does the large vehicle need?

  1. About 400 feet, more than the car
  2. About 300 feet, the same as the car
  3. About 200 feet, less than the car
  4. About 600 feet, more than the car

Answer: A — About 400 feet, more than the car

A large vehicle at 55 mph can need about 400 feet to stop, more than a car's roughly 300 feet, and even more if loaded.

3. A truck ahead signals and begins swinging toward the left just before making what turns out to be a right turn. Why does this happen?

  1. The truck's turn signal is malfunctioning
  2. The truck's rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels, so it must swing out before turning
  3. The truck is trying to block another vehicle from passing
  4. The truck driver changed their mind about which way to turn

Answer: B — The truck's rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels, so it must swing out before turning

Because a truck's rear wheels track a shorter path than the front wheels, long vehicles swing wide, sometimes appearing to move opposite the way they will actually turn.

4. On a divided highway with four lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, which lanes are trucks restricted to?

  1. Only the two left-hand lanes
  2. Only the single rightmost lane
  3. Only the two right-hand lanes
  4. Any lane, including the far-left lane

Answer: C — Only the two right-hand lanes

On divided highways with four or more lanes in one direction, trucks may use only the two right-hand lanes.

5. A streetcar is stopped at a marked safety zone letting passengers board. At what speed may a driver pass it?

  1. No more than 15 mph
  2. Must come to a complete stop and wait
  3. Normal speed, as long as no pedestrians are visible
  4. No more than 10 mph

Answer: D — No more than 10 mph

Drivers may pass a bus, streetcar, or trolley stopped at a safety zone or signal, but only at 10 mph or less.

6. A light rail vehicle is moving slowly on tracks down the center of a two-way street, with room to pass on either side. Which side should a driver use to pass it?

  1. Passing a light rail vehicle is never allowed
  2. The left side
  3. Either side, whichever is more convenient
  4. The right side

Answer: D — The right side

Drivers must not pass a light rail vehicle or streetcar on the left unless the tracks are too close to the right to pass there, the street is one-way, or an officer directs otherwise; here none of those apply, so the driver must pass on the right.

7. A driver wants to turn left across light rail tracks and sees a train approaching. What should the driver do?

  1. Speed up to cross before the train arrives
  2. Proceed since light rail vehicles must yield to turning traffic
  3. Never turn in front of the train, and complete the turn only when the signal allows
  4. Turn immediately if the traffic signal shows green, regardless of the train

Answer: C — Never turn in front of the train, and complete the turn only when the signal allows

Drivers must never turn in front of a light rail vehicle and should complete the turn only when the signal allows, remembering that trains can interrupt the traffic lights.

8. How much following distance should a driver keep behind a motorcycle, in case the rider brakes hard or falls?

  1. One second
  2. Five seconds
  3. Three seconds
  4. Two seconds

Answer: C — Three seconds

A three-second following distance behind a motorcycle allows time to react if the rider brakes hard or falls.

9. A motorcyclist lane splits, riding between two lanes of slow-moving freeway traffic in California. Is this legal?

  1. Yes, lane splitting is legal in California
  2. Only if the motorcycle has a special permit
  3. No, lane splitting is illegal in California
  4. Only when all traffic is fully stopped

Answer: A — Yes, lane splitting is legal in California

Lane splitting is legal for motorcyclists in California.

10. A motorcycle occupies a single lane ahead, and a driver is impatient to get past. What should the driver do?

  1. Sound the horn and pass closely
  2. Pass the motorcycle within the same lane if there's enough room
  3. Never attempt to pass a motorcycle within the same lane
  4. Wait for the motorcycle to move onto the shoulder before passing

Answer: C — Never attempt to pass a motorcycle within the same lane

Drivers should give a motorcycle the full lane and never try to pass it within that same lane.

11. An ambulance approaches from behind with its siren and red lights on. What should the driver do?

  1. Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until it has passed
  2. Pull to the left and stop
  3. Maintain current speed and lane position
  4. Speed up to stay ahead of it until a wide spot appears

Answer: A — Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until it has passed

Drivers must yield to an emergency vehicle using its siren and lights by pulling to the right edge of the road and stopping until it passes.

12. A driver is already inside an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind with its siren and lights on. What should the driver do?

  1. Stop immediately, right where they are, even inside the intersection
  2. Reverse back out of the intersection
  3. Pull to the right edge and stop before finishing the crossing
  4. Continue through the intersection, then pull to the right and stop

Answer: D — Continue through the intersection, then pull to the right and stop

A driver already in an intersection should go on through it, then pull to the right and stop, rather than stopping inside the intersection.

13. How closely may a driver follow behind a moving emergency vehicle that has its siren or lights on?

  1. No closer than 100 feet
  2. No closer than 500 feet
  3. No closer than 200 feet
  4. No closer than 300 feet

Answer: D — No closer than 300 feet

Drivers must not follow within 300 feet of any emergency vehicle that has its siren or lights on.

14. A road maintenance vehicle displays an orange-and-red triangle emblem on its rear. About how fast does it typically travel?

  1. 45 mph or less
  2. 35 mph or less
  3. 25 mph or less
  4. 15 mph or less

Answer: C — 25 mph or less

Vehicles marked with the orange-and-red triangle, such as road maintenance vehicles, usually travel at 25 mph or less.

15. A neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) owner wants to drive it on a public road posted at 40 mph. Is this allowed?

  1. No, NEVs top out at 25 mph and may not be used on roads posted above 35 mph
  2. No, NEVs may only be used on roads posted above 45 mph
  3. Yes, as long as the NEV can reach the posted speed limit
  4. Yes, NEVs may be driven on any posted road

Answer: A — No, NEVs top out at 25 mph and may not be used on roads posted above 35 mph

NEVs and low-speed vehicles top out at 25 mph and are not allowed on roads posted above 35 mph.

16. On a two-way street, a cyclist riding slower than the flow of traffic in a normal-width lane is not passing, turning, or avoiding a hazard. Where should the cyclist ride?

  1. In the center of the lane, controlling the full lane
  2. As close as possible to the left curb
  3. Anywhere in the lane, at the rider's discretion
  4. As close as possible to the right curb

Answer: D — As close as possible to the right curb

A cyclist riding slower than traffic must ride as close as possible to the right curb, except in the listed situations such as passing, preparing a left turn, a lane too narrow to share, or a one-way road with two or more lanes, none of which apply here.

17. A cyclist is riding on a one-way street. Besides riding near the right curb, what else is the cyclist permitted to do?

  1. Nothing else, a cyclist must always ride near the right curb
  2. Ride facing oncoming traffic
  3. Ride near the left curb
  4. Ride down the center of the road

Answer: C — Ride near the left curb

On a one-way street a bicyclist is permitted to ride near the left curb, in addition to the usual right-curb position.

18. A driver wants to pass a cyclist on a two-lane road but cannot change lanes, and there is only about two feet of space next to the rider. What should the driver do?

  1. Sound the horn, then pass
  2. Pass carefully at reduced speed
  3. Pass on the right if a bike lane happens to be empty there
  4. Wait until at least three feet of space is available before passing

Answer: D — Wait until at least three feet of space is available before passing

When a driver cannot change lanes to pass a cyclist, at least three feet of clearance is required, and if that much room isn't available, the driver must not pass yet.

19. A driver plans to make a right turn and wants to merge into a bike lane beforehand. How far before the turn may the driver enter the bike lane?

  1. No more than 300 feet before the turn
  2. No more than 200 feet before the turn
  3. At any point, as long as no cyclist is currently present
  4. No more than 100 feet before the turn

Answer: B — No more than 200 feet before the turn

A driver may enter a bike lane no more than 200 feet before making the turn.

20. A cyclist is riding after dark. From what distance must the bicycle's white front lamp be visible?

  1. 200 feet
  2. 300 feet
  3. 100 feet
  4. 500 feet

Answer: B — 300 feet

A bicycle's white front lamp must be visible from 300 feet at night, a shorter distance than the 500 feet required of the rear reflector or light.

21. A 15-year-old rides a bicycle on a public street. What safety equipment is legally required?

  1. Reflective clothing
  2. A horn or bell
  3. A rearview mirror
  4. A helmet

Answer: D — A helmet

Bicyclists under 18 are required to wear a helmet.

22. A driver is cited for speeding through a construction zone while workers are present. What happens to the normal fine?

  1. It is reduced for a first offense
  2. It stays the same as a normal traffic fine
  3. It is capped at $500
  4. It doubles

Answer: D — It doubles

Fines double in construction or maintenance zones when workers are present, and in Safety Enhanced-Double Fine Zones.

23. What is the maximum penalty for assaulting a highway worker in a work zone?

  1. Up to $500 and no jail time
  2. Up to $2,000 and a year in jail
  3. Up to $5,000 and two years in jail
  4. Up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail

Answer: B — Up to $2,000 and a year in jail

Assaulting a highway worker carries a penalty of up to $2,000 and a year in jail.

24. A truck displays a diamond-shaped placard on its exterior. What does this indicate?

  1. The vehicle is exempt from stopping at railroad crossings
  2. The vehicle is a slow-moving road maintenance vehicle
  3. The vehicle is carrying a dangerous load, such as gas or explosives
  4. The vehicle is oversized and needs a wide berth when turning

Answer: C — The vehicle is carrying a dangerous load, such as gas or explosives

A diamond-shaped placard on a truck indicates it is carrying a dangerous load such as gas or explosives.

25. A truck carrying a placarded hazardous load approaches a railroad crossing. What must the driver do?

  1. Slow down, but stopping is not required
  2. Stop before crossing the tracks
  3. Only stop if a bus is also approaching
  4. Proceed if no train is visible

Answer: B — Stop before crossing the tracks

Vehicles carrying placarded hazardous loads must stop before crossing railroad tracks, the same requirement that applies to buses and school buses.

Take this test interactively

More California Driver License practice tests