California video lessons · Lesson 8 of 10
California Vehicle Control and Equipment: five situations explained
All five situations and their answers are below. To watch the lesson, create a free account.
In this video
- 0:00Intro
- 0:16Driving with only your parking lights on is:
- 1:01When must your headlights be on?
- 2:03When may a person ride in the back of a pickup truck?
- 2:56How far should you sit from the steering wheel air bag cover?
- 3:50A funeral procession led by a traffic officer is passing. What should you do?
- 4:48Recap
In short
It is illegal to drive using only parking lights. Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead. No one may ride in the back of a pickup unless it has secure seats and safety belts.
The five situations
Pick an answer first, the way the video pauses for you. Each one cites the California Driver's Handbook.
Situation 1
Driving with only your parking lights on is:
Answer: C. Illegal. It is illegal to drive using only parking lights.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 5 › Signals, Horns, And Headlights › Using Your Headlights
Situation 2
When must your headlights be on?
Answer: B. 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 5 › Signals, Horns, And Headlights › Using Your Headlights
Situation 3
When may a person ride in the back of a pickup truck?
Answer: A. Only with secure seats and seat belts. No one may ride in the back of a pickup unless it has secure seats and safety belts.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 7 (cont.) › Other Important Roadway Information
Situation 4
How far should you sit from the steering wheel air bag cover?
Answer: B. At least 10 inches. Ride at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, measured from the center of the wheel to your breastbone, while keeping full control.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 8 (cont.) › Air Bags
Situation 5
A funeral procession led by a traffic officer is passing. What should you do?
Answer: A. Not interfere with it. A funeral procession led by a traffic officer has the right-of-way. You can be ticketed for interrupting it.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 7 (cont.) › Other Important Roadway Information
Transcript
0:00Intro
Your car, your equipment and your passengers come with rules of their own. Here are five of them from the California Driver's Handbook. For each one, pick your answer before I reveal it.
0:16Situation 1
It's getting dark, and a driver ahead has only their small parking lights on. Driving with only your parking lights on is: The answer is C: Illegal. It is illegal to drive using only parking lights. Driving with only your parking lights on is illegal. Turn on your headlights.
1:01Situation 2
The sun went down a while ago, and the light is fading fast. When must your headlights be on? The answer is B: 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead. Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you can't see 1,000 feet ahead.
2:03Situation 3
Your friends want to ride in the open back of a pickup truck. When may a person ride in the back of a pickup truck? The answer is A: Only with secure seats and seat belts. No one may ride in the back of a pickup unless it has secure seats and safety belts. No one may ride back there unless the truck has secure seats and safety belts.
2:56Situation 4
You're adjusting your seat before you drive. How far should you sit from the steering wheel air bag cover? The answer is B: At least 10 inches. Ride at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, measured from the center of the wheel to your breastbone, while keeping full control. Sit at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, measured from the center of the wheel to your breastbone, and keep full control of the car.
3:50Situation 5
A funeral procession led by a traffic officer is passing through the intersection. A funeral procession led by a traffic officer is passing. What should you do? The answer is A: Not interfere with it. A funeral procession led by a traffic officer has the right-of-way. You can be ticketed for interrupting it. It has the right-of-way. Don't interfere with it. You can be ticketed for interrupting it.
4:48Recap
It is illegal to drive using only parking lights. Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead. No one may ride in the back of a pickup unless it has secure seats and safety belts. Ride at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, measured from the center of the wheel to your breastbone, while keeping full control. A funeral procession led by a traffic officer has the right-of-way. Nice work. Try more vehicle and equipment questions in Practice by Topic, then test yourself with a full mock exam.
The rules in this lesson
- It is illegal to drive using only parking lights.
- Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead.
- No one may ride in the back of a pickup unless it has secure seats and safety belts.
- Ride at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, measured from the center of the wheel to your breastbone, while keeping full control.
- A funeral procession led by a traffic officer has the right-of-way.
Original practice lesson written from the California Driver's Handbook. EstatePass is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California DMV; these are not official test questions.