CA Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

Every question below comes from the California question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. Where is a U-turn allowed in a California business district?

   1. Anywhere traffic is light enough.
   2. Only at an intersection or on a divided highway with an opening.
   3. Across two sets of double yellow lines.
   4. In front of a fire station driveway.
   Show answer

   Only at an intersection or on a divided highway with an opening.. California generally forbids U-turns in business districts, but allows them at an intersection or on a divided highway where an opening has been provided. The light-traffic option ignores the location rule. The two-sets-of-double-yellow option is also barred because that painted barrier cannot be crossed for a U-turn. Use the cue of offices and businesses along the street: in that district, look for an intersection or a divider opening before turning around.

2. 2. When turning left from a two-way street, which lane should you finish in to reduce collision risk?

   1. The right lane closest to the curb.
   2. The left lane closest to the middle of the street in your direction.
   3. Any open lane on the new road.
   4. The center lane until traffic clears.
   Show answer

   The left lane closest to the middle of the street in your direction.. For a left turn from a two-way street, California shows drivers ending in the left lane closest to the middle of the street going in their direction. The any-open-lane option belongs to certain turns onto one-way streets with three or more lanes, not this basic two-way-to-two-way turn. The cue is the street type you are leaving: from a two-way street, start near the center and finish near the center on the new roadway.

3. 3. What does an orange and red triangle on the back of a vehicle indicate?

   1. A slow-moving vehicle that usually travels 25 mph or less.
   2. A vehicle carrying passengers for hire.
   3. A school bus preparing to stop.
   4. A vehicle with a disabled parking placard.
   Show answer

   A slow-moving vehicle that usually travels 25 mph or less.. An orange and red triangle on the rear of a vehicle identifies a slow-moving vehicle. The handbook gives road maintenance vehicles as an example and notes they usually travel at 25 mph or less. The school-bus option confuses this triangle with flashing school bus lights. Use the cue of the reflective triangle on the back: expect a much slower vehicle ahead and adjust speed early instead of closing the gap at normal traffic speed.

4. 4. Unless otherwise posted, what is the usual maximum speed on most California highways?

   1. 55 mph.
   2. 60 mph.
   3. 65 mph.
   4. 75 mph.
   Show answer

   65 mph.. The handbook states that, unless signs say otherwise, the ideal maximum speed limit on most California highways is 65 mph. The 55 mph option applies to two-lane undivided highways and vehicles towing trailers, so it is a different category. This rule also sits under the Basic Speed Law, meaning conditions may still require a lower speed. The cue is a normal posted or unposted California highway without towing or two-lane-undivided limits.

5. 5. A safety zone is marked in the roadway for people waiting for a streetcar. May you drive through it?

   1. No, never, under any condition
   2. Yes, when no pedestrians are standing in it
   3. Yes, at 10 mph or less
   4. Yes, if the streetcar has already left
   Show answer

   No, never, under any condition. Safety zones are spaces set aside for pedestrians waiting for buses, streetcars, and trolleys, and they are marked by raised buttons or markers on the road. The handbook says not to drive through a safety zone under any condition, so an empty zone or a departed streetcar does not open it to traffic. The 10 mph figure is the limit for passing a bus or streetcar stopped at a safety zone, not permission to enter the zone itself. Treat the raised markers as a curb you cannot cross.

6. 6. Why should you create more space ahead when another vehicle is tailgating you?

   1. So you can brake harder and force the tailgater back.
   2. So you have more time to react and can let the tailgater pass when safe.
   3. So the tailgater can draft behind your vehicle.
   4. So you can speed up without changing lanes.
   Show answer

   So you have more time to react and can let the tailgater pass when safe.. A tailgater behind you reduces your margin if traffic changes suddenly, so California advises creating more space in front while maintaining course and speed, then moving right when safe to let the driver pass. The brake-harder choice increases rear-end risk and contradicts the handbook's calm response. The cue is a vehicle riding too close behind you: avoid sudden moves, open space ahead, and give that driver a chance to go around.

7. 7. What does California say about parking in front of a driveway?

   1. It is never allowed to park in front of a driveway.
   2. It is allowed if the driveway appears unused.
   3. It is allowed for passenger loading only.
   4. It is allowed when at least one lane remains open.
   Show answer

   It is never allowed to park in front of a driveway.. California lists parking in front of a driveway among places where you must never park or leave a vehicle. The unused-driveway option is wrong because the rule does not depend on whether the driveway currently has traffic. Blocking access can trap vehicles or force unsafe backing. The cue is the curb break or driveway entrance: if your parked vehicle would cover that access point, choose another legal space instead.

8. 8. After a collision with no injuries, what should you do with a drivable vehicle?

   1. Leave it where it stopped until insurance arrives.
   2. Move it out of traffic and then call 911.
   3. Drive home and report the collision later.
   4. Block the lane to preserve the scene.
   Show answer

   Move it out of traffic and then call 911.. When no one is hurt in a collision, California tells drivers to move the vehicle out of traffic and then call 911. Leaving a drivable car in the lane can delay help and create another crash hazard. The preserve-the-scene option is wrong for this no-injury situation because the handbook prioritizes clearing traffic. Use the cue of no injuries and a vehicle that can move: get it out of the travel lane before making the call.

9. 9. After a collision, what information must you show to the other driver and others involved?

   1. Only your license plate number and phone number.
   2. Driver's license, registration, insurance information, and current address.
   3. Only proof that the vehicle passed smog inspection.
   4. Driver's license and a written estimate of damage.
   Show answer

   Driver's license, registration, insurance information, and current address.. California requires drivers in a collision to show their driver's license, vehicle registration card, insurance information, and current address to the other driver, law enforcement, and anyone else involved. The license-plate option leaves out required documents and your current address. These exchanges help identify drivers, vehicles, and financial responsibility. The cue is any collision scene where you are involved: stop and be ready to provide the listed records before leaving.

10. 10. When may an animal be transported in the back of a pickup or other truck?

    1. Only when the animal is properly secured.
    2. Whenever the trip stays below 35 mph.
    3. If the tailgate is closed and traffic is light.
    4. Only on rural roads outside business districts.
    Show answer

    Only when the animal is properly secured.. California says not to transport animals in the back of a pickup or other truck unless the animal is properly secured. The closed-tailgate option is incomplete because the handbook focuses on preventing the animal from falling, jumping, or being thrown from the vehicle. Speed and road type do not replace secure restraint. The cue is an animal riding in an open truck bed: before moving, confirm it is secured against escape or ejection.

11. 11. Why should you allow extra time for seniors, people with small children, and people with disabilities at crossings?

    1. They may need extra time to cross safely.
    2. They may cross only at yellow crosswalk lines.
    3. They have right-of-way only when signals are flashing.
    4. They must wait until all vehicles have passed.
    Show answer

    They may need extra time to cross safely.. California reminds drivers that some pedestrians, including seniors, people with small children, and people with disabilities, may require extra time to cross safely. The flashing-signal option is wrong because pedestrians have right-of-way in marked or unmarked crosswalks, and drivers must be prepared to yield. The cue is a pedestrian who may move slowly or need assistance. Reduce speed early and wait long enough for the person to fully clear your path.

12. 12. What does a green arrow mean at a traffic signal?

    1. Go in the direction of the arrow for a protected turn.
    2. Proceed straight only after yielding to all traffic.
    3. Turn only after stopping at the limit line.
    4. The protected turn has ended and the light will change.
    Show answer

    Go in the direction of the arrow for a protected turn.. A green arrow means go in the direction the arrow points, and California describes that movement as a protected turn because oncoming vehicles are stopped by a red signal. The protected-turn-ended option describes a yellow arrow, not a green one. Even with the arrow, stay alert for pedestrians or hazards. The cue is arrow color: green grants the indicated protected movement, while yellow warns that the protected time is ending.

13. 13. What scanning habit helps you avoid last-minute moves and road hazards?

    1. Keep your eyes moving and scan at least 10 seconds ahead.
    2. Watch only the vehicle directly in front of you.
    3. Check mirrors only after you begin braking.
    4. Focus on the center line until reaching an intersection.
    Show answer

    Keep your eyes moving and scan at least 10 seconds ahead.. California advises drivers to keep their eyes moving and scan the road at least 10 seconds ahead. Watching only the vehicle directly in front leaves too little time to notice traffic signals, pedestrians, stopped vehicles, or changing lanes. The cue is any open stretch before an intersection or hazard area: look far enough ahead to plan early, while still checking mirrors and side areas so your movements are not sudden.

14. 14. You are already inside a California intersection when an emergency vehicle with its lights on appears. What should you do?

    1. Stop immediately in the intersection.
    2. Continue through, then drive right and stop as soon as safe.
    3. Turn left to clear the middle faster.
    4. Back up to the limit line.
    Show answer

    Continue through, then drive right and stop as soon as safe.. If you are already in an intersection when an emergency vehicle appears, California says to continue through the intersection, then drive to the right and stop as soon as it is safe. Stopping in the middle can block the emergency route and cross traffic. The backing-up option creates another conflict because drivers behind you may not expect it. The cue is your vehicle's position: inside the intersection means clear it first, then yield from the right edge.

15. 15. What does California law say about drinking alcohol while riding as a passenger in a vehicle?

    1. It is illegal while riding as a passenger.
    2. It is allowed if the driver is sober.
    3. It is allowed in the front seat only.
    4. It is illegal only for passengers under 21.
    Show answer

    It is illegal while riding as a passenger.. California bars drinking alcohol, and smoking or eating cannabis products, while driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle. The sober-driver option is wrong because the passenger conduct is prohibited separately. The handbook lists narrow exceptions for passengers in a bus, taxi, camper, or motorhome, but not for an ordinary moving car. The cue is an open container or active use inside the passenger area: keep alcohol and cannabis sealed and unopened during the ride.

16. 16. Traffic is moving faster than the posted speed limit. What should you remember?

    1. You may be cited for driving faster or slower than the speed limit.
    2. You must match the fastest traffic to avoid blocking lanes.
    3. The posted limit does not apply during rush hour.
    4. You may exceed the limit when staying in the right lane.
    Show answer

    You may be cited for driving faster or slower than the speed limit.. California warns that driving faster or slower than the speed limit can lead to a citation, even when traffic pressure makes another speed tempting. The match-fastest-traffic option is wrong because surrounding drivers do not erase the posted limit or the Basic Speed Law. Conditions may require slowing, but speeding remains risky and illegal. The cue is the speedometer compared with the posted sign: keep a lawful, reasonable speed and move right when slower traffic needs to pass.

17. 17. What is the proper way to check your own blind spots?

    1. Look over your shoulders out the side windows.
    2. Rely only on adjusted mirrors.
    3. Turn your whole body and steering wheel together.
    4. Wait for another driver to honk.
    Show answer

    Look over your shoulders out the side windows.. Mirrors do not show every area around the vehicle. California says to check blind spots by looking over the right and left shoulders out the side windows, turning only your head. The mirror-only choice misses the areas slightly behind and beside most vehicles. The whole-body option is also unsafe because it can move the steering wheel. The cue is any lane change, merge, backing movement, parking exit, or door opening: add a shoulder check before moving.

18. 18. During a traffic stop, what documents must a California driver produce?

    1. A driver license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration.
    2. Only a driver license and current address.
    3. A passport, registration, and smog certificate.
    4. Insurance information only after a citation is issued.
    Show answer

    A driver license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration.. During a law enforcement stop, the driver must produce a driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. The current-address-only option leaves out registration and insurance, which the handbook specifically includes. Officers may conduct a limited search for those documents if the driver does not produce them. The cue is a stopped vehicle contact with law enforcement: have the three required records available and provide them when requested.

19. 19. Which stopped roadside vehicle is covered by California's move over and slow down rule?

    1. A stopped road work vehicle displaying emergency flashing or amber warning lights.
    2. Any parked passenger car with no lights on.
    3. A food truck serving customers from a private lot.
    4. A moving delivery van using a turn signal.
    Show answer

    A stopped road work vehicle displaying emergency flashing or amber warning lights.. California's move over and slow down rule includes stopped road work vehicles displaying emergency flashing or amber warning lights, along with certain emergency vehicles and tow trucks. The parked-car option lacks the warning-light condition described by the handbook. This rule protects people working near traffic. The cue is a stopped work or emergency vehicle with flashing or amber lights: change lanes away from it when safe and reduce speed while passing.

20. 20. Fog becomes too thick for safe driving. What should you consider doing?

    1. Pull off the road, turn on emergency flashers, and wait.
    2. Use high beams and continue at the posted speed.
    3. Drive using only fog lights.
    4. Cross lanes to find a clearer path.
    Show answer

    Pull off the road, turn on emergency flashers, and wait.. In heavy fog or smoke, California first recommends avoiding the drive if possible. If fog becomes too thick while you are already driving, consider pulling off the road, activating emergency flashers, and waiting for conditions to improve. The high-beam option is wrong because high beams reflect back and cause glare. Your cue is limited sight distance that prevents a safe stop within what you can see: leave the lane instead of pressing on.