Default speed limits — unless otherwise posted
| Location / condition | Limit |
|---|---|
| Most California highways | 65 mph |
| Two-lane undivided highways; vehicles towing trailers | 55 mph |
| Business or residential districts | 25 mph |
| School zone (children outside or crossing, within 500 ft) | 25 mph |
| Some school zones | As low as 15 mph |
| Blind intersection (no stop signs at any corner) | 15 mph |
| Alley (road no wider than 25 ft) | 15 mph |
| Near railroad crossing when you cannot see 400 ft in both directions (within 100 ft) | 15 mph |
| Passing stopped bus or streetcar at a safety zone | 10 mph max |
| Ice roads | 5 mph max |
Adverse conditions — how much to reduce speed
| Condition | Reduce by |
|---|---|
| Wet road | 5–10 mph |
| Packed snow | Half your current speed |
| Ice | No more than 5 mph total |
| Cannot see more than 100 ft ahead (heavy rain or snow) | Maximum 30 mph |
Key distance rules
| Rule | Distance |
|---|---|
| Signal before turning (regular street) | 100 ft |
| Signal before freeway lane change | 5 seconds (~400 ft) |
| Enter bike lane before a right turn | Within 200 ft |
| Drive in center left-turn lane (max) | 200 ft |
| Space needed to enter traffic on city street | ~150 ft (½ block) |
| Space needed to enter traffic on highway | ~300 ft (1 block) |
| Minimum following distance from emergency vehicle | 300 ft |
| Minimum gap when passing a bicyclist (no lane change possible) | 3 ft |
| Parking clearance from fire hydrant or fire station driveway | 15 ft |
| Parking clearance from crosswalk | 20 ft |
| Airbag — minimum distance, center of wheel to breastbone | 10 inches |
| Three-second following rule | 3 seconds |
| Horn must be audible from at least | 200 ft |
| Tire tread minimum depth | 1/32 inch |
| Brake pedal minimum clearance from floor when depressed | 1 inch |
Traffic light meanings
- Solid red — Stop. May turn right after a complete stop unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. May not turn on a red arrow.
- Red arrow — Stop. Do not turn. Wait for green.
- Flashing red — Stop, then go when safe. Treat as a stop sign.
- Solid yellow — Caution; light about to turn red. Stop if you can do so safely.
- Yellow arrow — Protected turn ending. Complete cautiously if already in the intersection.
- Flashing yellow — Proceed with caution. No stop required.
- Flashing yellow arrow — Turn permitted but not protected. Yield to oncoming traffic first.
- Solid green — Go, but yield to pedestrians and any vehicles already in the intersection.
- Green arrow — Protected turn. Oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light.
- Traffic light not working — Treat as a 4-way stop sign in all directions.
Pedestrian signals
- WALK / walking person symbol — You may cross.
- DON'T WALK / raised hand — Do not cross.
- Flashing DON'T WALK — Do not start crossing. The signal is changing. Drivers must still yield to pedestrians already in the crosswalk.
- Countdown numbers — Seconds remaining to cross.
- Diagonal crossing — Cross in any direction only when the WALK signal shows.
Colored curbs — parking rules
- White — Stop only to pick up or drop off passengers.
- Green — Park for a limited time (posted on sign or painted on curb).
- Yellow — Load and unload only. Non-commercial drivers must stay with their vehicle.
- Red — No stopping, standing, or parking. Buses may stop in bus-designated red zones.
- Blue — Disabled persons with a special placard or license plate only.
Sign shapes — what each means
- Octagon (8-sided, red) — STOP
- Inverted triangle (red/white) — YIELD
- Diamond (yellow/black) — Warning: specific road condition or hazard ahead
- Pentagon (5-sided, yellow) — School zone
- Circle or X-shape (yellow/black) — Railroad crossing ahead
- White rectangle — Regulatory rule you must obey
- Orange diamond or rectangle — Highway construction or maintenance
- Red circle with red line through it — Prohibition (shows what you cannot do)
- Green rectangle — Guide sign (destinations, services)
Lane markings quick reference
- Single solid yellow — Center of two-way road. Do not pass if there is only one lane in your direction.
- Double solid yellow — No passing. Exceptions: HOV lane entry on left, construction, U-turn across single set into driveway.
- Two sets of double yellow lines, 2+ ft apart — Barrier. Never drive on or over it.
- Broken yellow — May pass when safe.
- Single solid white — Same-direction lanes or one-way streets.
- Double solid white — Lane barrier (e.g., HOV lane). Never change lanes over it. Wait for broken white.
- Broken white — Lanes traveling in the same direction. May change lanes when safe.
Hand-and-arm signals (when vehicle signals not working)
- Left turn — Arm straight out to the left
- Right turn — Arm bent upward at elbow
- Slowing or stopping — Arm bent downward at elbow
BAC legal limits
Over 21 years old
0.08%
BAC limit
Under 21 years old
0.01%
BAC limit
On DUI probation (any age)
0.01%
BAC limit
Commercial driver or passenger for hire
0.04%
BAC limit
What counts as "1 drink"?
1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor, OR 12 oz of 5% beer, OR 5 oz of 12% wine. Subtract 0.01% BAC for each 40 minutes between drinks.
DUI arrest — immediate consequences
- Officer may take your license and issue a 30-day temporary license.
- You have 10 days from the arrest date to request a DMV administrative hearing.
- DMV suspends your driving privilege under Administrative Per Se law.
- Refusing a chemical test: driving privilege suspended or revoked for 1 year.
DUI conviction penalties (first offense)
- License suspended or revoked for 1 year.
- Must complete a DUI program.
- Must file a California Insurance Proof Certificate (SR 22/SR 1P).
- Up to 6 months in county jail.
- Fine may be imposed.
- Vehicle may be impounded.
- May require installation of an ignition interlock device (IID).
- All DUI convictions remain on your record for 10 years.
Open container rules
Alcohol and cannabis containers must be sealed and unopened while in the vehicle. If open, must be stored in the trunk or away from the passenger area. Open containers in the glove box are illegal. Exception: passengers in a bus, taxi, camper, or motorhome.
Driver's license point totals that trigger suspension
- 4 points in 12 months
- 6 points in 24 months
- 8 points in 36 months
Traffic convictions and collisions remain on your record for 36 months or longer depending on the type of conviction.
Minimum insurance requirements
- $30,000 for a single death or injury
- $60,000 for death or injury to more than one person
- $15,000 for property damage
Driving without insurance and getting into a collision: suspension for up to 4 years, regardless of who was at fault.
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