Section 5: An Introduction to Driving - California DMV

General Information

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• Translation Disclaimer: Machine translation is for convenience and may not be accurate. English content is the official source for DMV information.

DMV Services and Resources

• REAL ID, Online Services, MyDMV: Key resources available online.
• Common DMV Service Categories:
  • Vehicle Registration (Renew, New, Replace, Insurance Proof, Vehicle Record)
  • Driver's Licenses & IDs (Renew, New Application, Replace, mDL Pilot, Driver Record)
  • Payments & Refunds (Late Fees, Reinstatement, Dishonored Checks, Fee Calculator)
  • Appointments (Locations, Scheduling, Queueing)
  • Testing (Online, Handbooks, Specialty Guides, Videos, Practice Tests)
  • Check Status (Address, Safety, Registration, DL/ID, mDL, IBC Case)

Health Considerations for Driving

• Vision: Vital for recognizing hazards, adjusting to speed, reading signs.
• Hearing: Important to hear alerts; illegal to drive with headsets in both ears.
• Fatigue and Drowsiness: Impacts vision and reaction time.
• Physical and Mental Alertness: Necessary for quick decision-making.
• Medications: Be aware of effects on driving capability.
• Health Reporting: Physicians report medical conditions affecting driving.

Vehicle Control Techniques

• Hand-to-Hand Steering (Push/Pull):
  • Hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 positions.
  • No crossing hands over the wheel.
• Hand-Over-Hand Steering:
  • For low-speed turns, parking, skid recovery.
  • Begin with hands at 8 and 4 o'clock.
• One-Hand Steering:
  • When backing up or operating controls.
  • Hand at 12 o'clock position.

Signals, Horns, and Headlights

• Signaling:
  • Always signal for turns, lane changes, stopping.
  • Use hand signals if lights are not visible.
  • Signal at least 100 feet before. On freeways, signal for 5 seconds.
• Horn Usage:
  • Warn others of your presence or hazards.
• Headlight Usage:
  • Dim high beams within 500 feet of incoming traffic.
  • Use headlights when visibility is poor, after sunset, before sunrise, in adverse weather, on mountain roads, or as indicated by signs.
• Emergency Flashers:
  • Used to warn drivers of hazards or when the vehicle is stopped due to issues.

Additional Information

• Driver’s Handbook: Available in PDF and American Sign Language.
• Health Impact: Your health directly affects your ability to drive safely.
• Legal Obligations: Follow DMV regulations for health, signaling, and vehicle control.

Translation and Technical Support

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