California Driver's Handbook Overview
Introduction
- Purpose: Ensure safe travel for all road users, including drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
- Safety Concerns: Over 30,000 fatalities and 100,000 serious injuries on California roads since 2010.
- Vulnerable Users: Pedestrians and bicyclists are at higher risk due to lack of protection compared to vehicle occupants.
- Strategies: Comprehensive traffic safety measures and road design improvements.
- Responsibilities: Encourage safe driving habits, obey traffic laws, and pay attention to vulnerable road users.
Copyright
- Ownership: California DMV holds the copyright.
- Restrictions: Illegal to copy, distribute, or publicly perform the handbook.
- Contact: Legal Office, Sacramento for queries about copy use.
Table of Contents Overview
- California Driver's License
- Getting an Instruction Permit and Driver's License
- The Testing Process
- Changing, Replacing, and Renewing Your Driver's License
- Introduction to Driving
- Navigating the Roads
- Laws and Rules of the Road
- Safe Driving
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions
- Vehicle Registration Requirements
- Driver Safety
- Seniors and Driving
- Glossary
DMV Services
- Online Services: Renewals, appointments, and more via dmv.ca.gov.
- Kiosk Services: Available for registration renewal, license replacement, etc.
- Phone Services: 24/7 automated services, with assistance for the hearing impaired.
Getting a California Driver's License
- Requirements: Pass knowledge and driving tests based on handbook information.
- REAL ID Compliance: Required by May 2025 for flights, military bases, and federal facilities.
- Licenses for Undocumented Residents: Available regardless of immigration status.
- ID Cards: Issued for identification purposes, not for driving.
Instruction Permits and Licenses
- Application Requirements: Proof of identity, residency, and social security number.
- Minors: Additional requirements like driver education and parental approval.
Testing Process
- Vision Test: Ensures adequate vision, corrective lenses may be required.
- Knowledge Test: Multiple choice questions; three attempts allowed.
- Behind-the-Wheel Test: Demonstrates safe driving ability, rescheduling required if vehicle fails requirements.
Laws and Rules of the Road
- Traffic Control: Obey signals and signs, yield to right-of-way vehicles.
- Traffic Signals: Understand meanings of red, yellow, and green signals and arrows.
- Intersections and Right-of-Way: Rules for controlled, uncontrolled, and roundabout intersections.
- Pedestrian Safety: Yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, particularly those who are blind.
Safe Driving Practices
- Surroundings: Be aware of all areas around your vehicle.
- Tailgating: Use the three-second rule to maintain a safe following distance.
- Blind Spots: Check before changing lanes, turning, or merging.
- Road Conditions: Adjust driving for darkness, rain, fog, and other conditions.
Alcohol and Drugs
- DUI Laws: Illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- BAC Limits: Vary by age and situation (e.g., probation, commercial driving).
- Penalties: Include license suspension, fines, DUI programs, and potential jail time.
Financial Responsibility
- Insurance Requirements: Minimum coverage amounts specified.
- Low-Cost Insurance: Available for eligible drivers.
- Collisions: Mandatory reporting and consequences for uninsured drivers.
Driver Safety and Reexamination
- Evaluations: DMV can reexamine driving ability based on medical conditions or driving record.
- Senior Drivers: Special considerations and resources for maintaining driving safety.
Glossary
- Key Terms: Definitions for common terms like BAC, right-of-way, and vulnerable road users.
This summary provides an overview of key points from the California Driver's Handbook, focusing on driver responsibilities, safety measures, and legal requirements.