Vehicle Control & Equipment — California DMV Practice Questions

39 questions in this content area. 6 are published in full below with worked explanations.

1. How far should you sit from the steering wheel air bag cover?

AAt least 3 inches.
At least 10 inches.
CAt least 24 inches.

Why B is correct

Ride at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, measured from the center of the wheel to your breastbone, while keeping full control.

2. In hand-to-hand (push/pull) steering, where do your hands start?

At 9 and 3, or 8 and 4 o’clock.
BAt 10 and 2 o’clock, crossing over in turns.
CAt 12 o’clock, one hand only.

Why A is correct

Push/pull steering starts with hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o’clock, and the hands do not cross over the middle of the wheel.

3. It is raining enough that you need your windshield wipers. What else must you do?

Turn on your low-beam headlights.
BTurn on your emergency flashers.
CTurn on your high beams.

Why A is correct

If you need your windshield wipers because of fog, rain or snow, you must turn on your low-beam headlights.

4. Where should the lap belt lie?

ALoosely across your stomach so you can move freely.
BHigh across your waist, above the hip bones.
Snug and low across your hips.

Why C is correct

Adjust the lap belt so it is snug and low across your hips; otherwise you might slide out of it in a crash.

5. While driving, is it legal to wear earplugs or a headset in both ears?

No, it is illegal.
BYes, if the music is not too loud.
CYes, on freeways only.

Why A is correct

You must be able to hear horns, sirens and other warnings. Wearing a headset or earplugs in both ears while driving is illegal.

6. You must dim your high beams within how many feet of a vehicle coming toward you?

500 feet.
B300 feet.
C200 feet.

Why A is correct

Dim to low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following.

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5:38California Vehicle Control & Equipment: five situations explainedFive real situations acted out, answered and explained from the California Driver's Handbook.Free account to watch

33 more Vehicle questions

Answers and explanations for these are in the study app.

A 6-year-old who is 4 feet tall usually must ride:
A child may use a regular safety belt instead of a child restraint once they are 8 years old or at least:
A child under 2 years old, under 40 pounds and under 3 feet 4 inches tall must ride:
A funeral procession led by a traffic officer is passing. What should you do?
After pulling off the road with vehicle trouble and calling for roadside assistance, you should:
At night, cargo that extends more than 4 feet behind your vehicle must be marked with:
Bright sunlight makes your turn signals hard to see. What should you do?
Cargo extends more than 4 feet past your rear bumper. During the day it must display:
Driving with only your parking lights on is:
How far before a turn should you start signaling?
How should the shoulder part of a seat belt be worn?
It is illegal to leave a child of what age unattended in a vehicle?
May a child in a rear-facing car seat ride in the front seat of a car with a passenger air bag?
On a freeway, how long before changing lanes should you signal?
On a sunny day you drive into a mountain tunnel. What should you do with your headlights?
Physicians must report to DMV patients at least 14 years old who have conditions such as:
Smoking in a vehicle while a minor is inside is:
When is hand-over-hand steering used?
When is it appropriate to use your horn on a narrow mountain road?
When may a person ride in the back of a pickup truck?
When must your headlights be on?
Where may you attach a small sticker on the windshield?
Which video display may be visible to the driver while driving?
Who is responsible for knowing how a medication affects your driving?
You are about to change lanes and no other vehicles are in sight. Should you signal?
You are backing up while turning and need to see behind you. Where should your one hand be on the wheel?
You must dim your high beams within how many feet of a vehicle you are following?
You must use your headlights when it is too dark to see clearly from:
You plan to turn into a driveway just after crossing an intersection. When should you signal?
You see a crash ahead. Which is a good way to warn drivers behind you?
You will be gone five minutes on a warm day. Is it safe to leave your dog in the car with a window slightly open?
Your 15-year-old passenger is not wearing a seat belt. Who can get a ticket?
Your car breaks down and you cannot get completely off the road. Where should you avoid stopping?

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