California Driver License: Seat Belts, Speed and Emergencies

21 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Seat Belts, Speed and Emergencies. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver has a 14-year-old passenger riding without a seat belt. What is the legal consequence for the driver?

No ticket, since only adults must buckle up
A ticket applies only if the vehicle lacks a rear seat
A ticket applies only if the passenger is under 8
The driver can be ticketed for the unbelted passenger

Answer: D — The driver can be ticketed for the unbelted passenger

Any unbelted passenger under 16 can result in a ticket for the driver, regardless of the passenger's exact age below that threshold.

2. A passenger tucks the shoulder strap under their arm because it feels more comfortable that way. What is wrong with this?

The strap must be worn across the shoulder and chest, not under the arm or behind the back
Nothing, tucking it under the arm is an approved way to wear it
The strap should instead be worn behind the back for comfort
The lap belt, not the shoulder strap, needs adjusting in this case

Answer: A — The strap must be worn across the shoulder and chest, not under the arm or behind the back

The shoulder harness has to cross the shoulder and chest with little slack; wearing it under the arm defeats its protection.

3. A pregnant driver is positioning her lap belt before driving. Where should it sit?

As low as possible under the abdomen
Snug across the widest part of the belly
Loosely across the hips to leave room for the bump
Diagonally, replacing the shoulder strap entirely

Answer: A — As low as possible under the abdomen

For a pregnant driver, the lap belt should sit as low as possible under the abdomen, not across the belly.

4. A parent is buckling in their 18-month-old child, who weighs 22 pounds and is 2 feet 9 inches tall, for a drive in a car that has a passenger air bag. Where must the child ride?

In the front seat, in a forward-facing restraint
In the front seat, in a rear-facing restraint, since air bags add protection
In a rear seat, using a booster with the standard safety belt
In a rear-facing restraint, never in the front seat of a vehicle with an air bag

Answer: D — In a rear-facing restraint, never in the front seat of a vehicle with an air bag

A child under 2, under 40 pounds and under 3 feet 4 inches needs a rear-facing restraint and must never be placed in a front seat with an air bag.

5. A family driving with three children ages 4, 5, and 7, each requiring a child restraint, has a car with only two rear seating positions available. Where can the third child legally ride?

In the front seat, without any restraint, since there is no room in back
The car cannot be driven until a larger vehicle is found
In the front seat, in an approved restraint, since every rear seat is already occupied by a child 7 or younger
On an adult passenger's lap in the rear seat

Answer: C — In the front seat, in an approved restraint, since every rear seat is already occupied by a child 7 or younger

A child under 8 may ride in front in an approved restraint when every rear seat is already taken by children 7 or younger.

6. A short driver wants to sit as close to the steering wheel as possible for better pedal reach, but still needs to stay a safe distance from the air bag. What is the minimum distance from the air bag cover to the breastbone, measured from the center of the wheel?

6 inches
12 inches
8 inches
10 inches

Answer: D — 10 inches

Drivers should sit at least 10 inches from the air bag cover while still being able to control the car.

7. A child is seated directly next to a side air bag position. What risk does this create?

No added risk if the child is properly belted
Serious or fatal injury
Risk only if the child is under age 2
Minor bruising only, similar to any air bag deployment

Answer: B — Serious or fatal injury

A child seated next to a side air bag risks serious or fatal injury.

8. A parent needs to leave their 5-year-old alone in a parked car briefly. What is required to do this legally?

Cracking a window is sufficient without any supervision
Supervision by someone at least 12 years old
Supervision by someone at least 10 years old
It's illegal regardless of supervision for children 6 or younger

Answer: B — Supervision by someone at least 12 years old

Leaving a child six or younger alone in a vehicle is illegal unless a person at least 12 years old is supervising.

9. The posted speed limit on a highway is 65 mph, but dense fog cuts visibility to about 100 feet. What speed does the law require?

45 mph, the minimum safe highway speed
55 mph, the reduced-visibility limit
Whatever speed is safe for the current conditions, even if well under 65 mph
65 mph, since that is the posted limit

Answer: C — Whatever speed is safe for the current conditions, even if well under 65 mph

The Basic Speed Law requires driving no faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the posted limit.

10. A driver is towing a trailer on a two-lane undivided highway with no posted speed limit signs. What is the maximum legal speed?

60 mph
55 mph
50 mph
65 mph

Answer: B — 55 mph

The maximum is 55 mph on a two-lane undivided highway and for vehicles towing trailers.

11. A driver spots an oncoming car and, at the same time, a bicyclist ahead on the right, with no room to safely pass both at once. What should the driver do?

Speed up to clear the bicyclist before the oncoming car arrives
Slow down and let the oncoming car pass first, then move left to give the bicyclist at least three feet
Swerve left immediately to give the bicyclist three feet, ignoring the oncoming car
Stop completely in the lane until both hazards clear

Answer: B — Slow down and let the oncoming car pass first, then move left to give the bicyclist at least three feet

Hazards should be taken one at a time: let the oncoming car pass, then move left to give the bicyclist at least three feet.

12. A front tire blows out while a driver is on the freeway. What is the correct response?

Accelerate slightly to maintain stability
Brake hard immediately to slow down before losing control
Hold the wheel firmly, gradually ease off the accelerator, and correct the steering
Snap your foot off the gas pedal right away

Answer: C — Hold the wheel firmly, gradually ease off the accelerator, and correct the steering

Sudden braking or snapping off the gas can cost control; the correct response is to hold the wheel, gradually release the accelerator, and steer to stabilize.

13. The right-side wheels of a car drop off the edge of the pavement onto the shoulder. What should the driver do?

Accelerate to regain traction before steering back
Yank the wheel sharply back onto the pavement right away
Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, brake gently, and steer back carefully
Brake hard immediately, then steer back

Answer: C — Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, brake gently, and steer back carefully

Yanking the wheel can throw the car into oncoming traffic; the safe method is to ease off the gas, brake gently, and steer back carefully.

14. During a long drive in extreme heat, the temperature gauge starts climbing. Which action helps prevent the engine from overheating?

Use the defroster to increase airflow
Increase speed to boost air cooling
Crack a window and continue at highway speed
Turn off the air conditioner

Answer: D — Turn off the air conditioner

In extreme heat, drivers should watch the gauge, avoid long high-speed runs, and turn off the air conditioner.

15. A car breaks down on a freeway with a wide, clear shoulder. Where should the driver pull over, and from which side should they exit if they need to get out?

Right shoulder, exiting from the right side, away from traffic
Right shoulder, exiting from the left side toward oncoming lanes
Center median, exiting from either side
Left shoulder, exiting from the left side

Answer: A — Right shoulder, exiting from the right side, away from traffic

A disabled vehicle should pull to the right shoulder, with occupants exiting on the right side away from traffic.

16. During commute hours, the CHP Freeway Service Patrol helps a stalled driver, but the car still won't start. Where do they tow it?

Free to a CHP-approved location
They do not offer towing, only roadside repairs
To the driver's home
To a private repair shop of the driver's choice

Answer: A — Free to a CHP-approved location

If the car won't start, the Freeway Service Patrol tows it free to a CHP-approved location, not to a private shop or home.

17. A car stalls on railroad tracks, and the crossing lights start flashing with a train approaching. What should the occupants do first?

Try to push the car off the tracks before running
Get out and run diagonally away from the tracks, toward the direction the train is coming from
Stay in the car with seat belts on and call 911
Get out and run straight away from the tracks in the direction the car is facing

Answer: B — Get out and run diagonally away from the tracks, toward the direction the train is coming from

With a train coming and lights flashing, occupants should get out at once and run diagonally away from the tracks toward the direction the train is coming from, then call 911.

18. An adult driver has a phone mounted hands-free on the dashboard. Which use of it while driving is permitted?

Reading a text message on the screen
Scrolling through a navigation app's route options
Sending a text reply using voice commands
Answering a call with a single tap, when necessary

Answer: D — Answering a call with a single tap, when necessary

Hands-free use is allowed only when necessary and limited to a single swipe or tap; texts and email may never be sent or read while driving.

19. Under what circumstance may a minor use a cell phone while driving?

To call for emergency help
A single swipe or tap to answer a call
Hands-free calls only
Never, under any circumstance

Answer: A — To call for emergency help

Minors may not use a cell phone or wireless device at all while driving, except to call for emergency help.

20. A driver starts the car inside a closed garage to let it warm up before leaving. What danger does this create?

A buildup of odorless carbon monoxide gas
A risk of the battery draining prematurely
No added danger as long as the garage door will open before driving off
A strong burning smell that signals the danger

Answer: A — A buildup of odorless carbon monoxide gas

Every gas engine produces carbon monoxide, a deadly odorless gas, so a car should never be started in a closed garage.

21. During a long drive, a driver begins to feel unusually tired, dizzy, and nauseated with a headache and ringing ears, without an obvious cause. What should the driver do?

Open all the windows and keep driving at highway speed
Ignore it, since these are normal signs of a long drive
Have the exhaust system checked
Turn up the air conditioning and continue

Answer: C — Have the exhaust system checked

Tiredness, dizziness, nausea, headache and ringing ears are carbon monoxide symptoms, and the exhaust system should be checked if they occur.