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This is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for one year or less. A person convicted of causing serious bodily injury during a law enforcement pursuit is subject to imprisonment in a state prison for up to seven years, or a county jail for one year or less. A person convicted of manslaughter resulting from evading law enforcement during a pursuit is subject to imprisonment in a state prison for a minimum of 4 to 10 years.
A person convicted of reckless driving or engaging in a speed contest that causes injury to another person is subject to imprisonment, a fine, or both. DMV monitors your driving record.
If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer and cited ticketed for a traffic violation, you sign the ticket as a promise to appear in traffic court. If you do not keep your promise to appear in court, the FTA goes on your driver record. Each time you are convicted of a moving traffic violation, the court notifies DMV. Traffic convictions and collisions stay on your record for 36 months or longer, depending on the type of conviction.
If you are given a one-point traffic violation, the judge may offer you the choice to attend a traffic violator school to have the citation not reported to your insurance company but remain on your driving record. You can do this once in any month period.
The school will report your course completion to the court. You will also get a completion receipt. If you are a commercial driver cited in a noncommercial vehicle, see the California Commercial Driver Handbook.
DMV will place you on probation, suspend, or revoke your driving privilege. When this happens, you have the right to a hearing. DMV will notify you in writing of any action taken against your driving privilege and inform you of your legal rights, including your right to a hearing.
DMV will revoke your driving privilege if you are convicted of a hit-and-run or reckless driving that resulted in injury. You cannot drive if your driving privilege is suspended or revoked. Turning 18 years old does not erase or end existing restrictions, suspensions, or probation sentences.
Administrative hearings are conducted by DMV. If you received notification that a proposed action is being taken against your driving privilege, you must request a hearing within 10 days of being served or 14 days from the date the notice is mailed.
If you do not make a timely request, your right to a hearing will be lost. This hearing provides you with an opportunity to be heard before an action is taken against your driving privilege. You may also have to appear in court for the same reason.
Any action taken by the court is independent of the action taken by DMV. For more information regarding Administrative Hearings, visit dmv. If you know someone who no longer drives safely, you may submit a Request for Driver Reexamination to DMV to review their driving qualifications.
To obtain a form, visit dmv. For more information on record requests, visit dmv. When your chat is over, you can save the transcript. Use caution when using a public computer or device. This is normally the state where your regular driver's license was issued. CDL General Information. CDL Classifications.
Customer Reviews 4. Google Search. In separate study modules - you won't need all of them - don't waste time on what you don't require. Access to CDL videos covering written and skills tests. CDL study guide in both text and audio - listen as you read along. CDL study Quick Reviews.
A vehicle inspection will help you find problems that could cause an accident or breakdown. Vehicle inspections should be done routinely before operating the vehicle. Review the last vehicle inspection report. Make sure the vehicle has been released for service by the maintenance mechanics, if applicable. The motor carrier must repair any items in the report that affect safety, and certify on the report that repairs were made or were unnecessary.
Remember, when you get behind the wheel, you not the mechanic are responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle. There is detailed information on vehicle inspections in Section 11 of this handbook. You should do an after-trip inspection at the end of the trip, day, or tour of duty on each vehicle you operated. It may include filling out a vehicle condition report listing any problems you find. The inspection report helps a motor carrier know when the vehicle needs repairs.
The suspension system holds up the vehicle and its load. It keeps the axles in place. Therefore, broken suspension parts can be extremely dangerous. Look for:. Cargo Trucks. You must make sure the truck is not overloaded and the cargo is balanced and secured before each trip. If the cargo contains hazardous materials, you must inspect for proper papers and placarding.
In order to obtain a CDL, you will be required to pass a vehicle inspection test. You will be asked to do an inspection of your vehicle and explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why.
The following 7-step inspection method should be useful. Method of Inspection. You should do a vehicle inspection the same way each time so you will learn all the steps and be less likely to forget something. Approaching the Vehicle. Notice the general condition.
Look for damage or the vehicle leaning to one side. Look under the vehicle for fresh oil, coolant, grease, or fuel leaks. Check the area around the vehicle for hazards to vehicle movement people, other vehicles, objects, low-hanging wires, limbs, etc. Review Last Vehicle Inspection Report. Drivers may have to make a vehicle inspection report in writing each day. The motor carrier must repair any items in the report that affect safety and certify on the report that repairs were made or were unnecessary.
You must sign the report only if defects were noted and certified to be repaired or repairs are not needed.
You may have to raise the hood, tilt the cab secure loose things so they do not fall and break something , or open the engine compartment door. Check the following:.
Inspect mirrors and windshield for cracks, dirt, illegal stickers, or other obstructions to seeing clearly. Clean and adjust as necessary. Check that the safety belt is securely mounted, adjusts, and latches properly, and is not ripped or frayed. Make sure the parking brake is set, turn off the engine, and take the key with you. Turn on the headlights low beams and 4-way emergency flashers, and get out of the vehicle. Go to front of vehicle and check that low beams are on and both of the 4-way flashers are working:.
Note: Checks of the brake, turn signal, and 4-way flasher functions must be done separately. Get in the Vehicle. If the vehicle has hydraulic brakes, pump the brake pedal three times. Then apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for 5 seconds. The pedal should not move. If it does, there may be a leak or other problem. Get it fixed before driving. If the vehicle has air brakes, do the checks described in Sections 5 and 6 of this handbook.
Safety Inspection. Drivers of trucks and truck tractors transporting cargo must inspect the securement of the cargo within the first 50 miles of a trip and every miles or every 3 hours whichever comes first after. You may have to make a written report each day on the condition of the vehicle s you drove. Report anything affecting safety or possibly leading to a mechanical breakdown. The vehicle inspection report tells the motor carrier about problems that may need fixing.
Keep a copy of your report in the vehicle for 1 day. That way, the next driver can learn about any problems you have found. These questions may be on your test. If you cannot answer them all, re-read Subsection 2. To drive a vehicle safely, you must be able to control its speed and direction.
Safe operation of a commercial vehicle requires skill in:. Fasten your seatbelt when on the road. Apply the parking brake when you leave your vehicle. Do not roll back when you start. You may hit someone behind you. If you have a manual transmission vehicle, partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the brake.
Put on the parking brake whenever necessary to keep from rolling back. Release the parking brake only when you have applied enough engine power to keep from rolling back. On a tractor-trailer equipped with a trailer brake hand valve, the hand valve can be applied to keep from rolling back.
Speed up smoothly and gradually so the vehicle does not jerk. Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage. When pulling a trailer, rough acceleration can damage the coupling. When starting a bus on a level surface with good traction, there is often no need for the parking brake.
Speed up very gradually when traction is poor, as in rain or snow. If you use too much power, the drive wheels may spin. You could lose control. If the drive wheels begin to spin, take your foot off the accelerator. Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands. Your hands should be on opposite sides of the wheel. If you hit a curb or a pothole chuckhole , the wheel could pull away from your hands unless you have a firm hold.
Push the brake pedal down gradually. The amount of brake pressure you need to stop the vehicle will depend on the speed of the vehicle and how quickly you need to stop.
Control the pressure so the vehicle comes to a smooth, safe stop. If you have a manual transmission, push the clutch in when the engine is close to idle. Because you cannot see everything behind your vehicle, backing is always dangerous. Avoid backing whenever you can. When you park, try to park so you will be able to pull forward when you leave.
When you have to back, here are a few simple safety rules:. Start in the Proper Position. Put the vehicle in the best position to allow you to back safely. This position will depend on the type of backing to be done. Look at Your Path. Look at your line of travel before you begin. Get out and walk around the vehicle.
Check your clearance to the sides, overhead, in, and near the path your vehicle will take. Use Mirrors on Both Sides. Check the outside mirrors on both sides frequently.
Get out of the vehicle and check your path if you are unsure. Back Slowly. Always back as slowly as possible. Use the lowest reverse gear. That way you can more easily correct any steering errors. You also can stop quickly, if necessary. Backing toward the right side is very dangerous because you cannot see as well. Use driver-side backing—even if it means going around the block to put your vehicle in this position.
The added safety is worth it. Use a Helper. Use a helper when you can. There are blind spots you cannot see. The helper should stand near the back of your vehicle where you can see the helper. Before you begin backing, work out a set of hand signals that you both understand. When backing a car, straight truck, or bus, turn the steering wheel toward the direction you want to go. When backing a trailer, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction.
Once the trailer starts to turn, you must turn the wheel the other way to follow the trailer. Whenever you back with a trailer, try to position your vehicle so you can back in a straight line. Back slowly so you can make corrections before you get too far off course. Correct Drift Immediately. As soon as you see the trailer getting off the proper path, correct it by turning the steering wheel in the direction of the drift.
Pull Forward. When backing, make pull-ups to reposition your vehicle when needed. Correct shifting of gears is important. If you cannot get your vehicle into the right gear while driving, you will have less control.
Basic Method for Shifting Up. Most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to change gears. This is the basic method:. Shifting gears using double clutching requires practice. If you remain too long in Neutral, you may have difficulty putting the vehicle into the next gear.
If so, do not try to force it. Return to Neutral, release the clutch, increase the engine speed to match the road speed, and try again. Downshifting, like upshifting, requires knowing when to shift. Use either the tachometer or the speedometer and downshift at the right rpm or road speed. Special conditions where you should downshift are:.
Before Starting Down a Hill. Slow down and shift down to a speed that you can control without using the brakes hard. Otherwise the brakes can overheat and lose their braking power. Downshift before starting down the hill. Make sure you are in a low enough gear, usually lower than the gear required to climb the same hill.
Before Entering a Curve. Slow down to a safe speed, and downshift to the right gear before entering the curve. This lets you use some power through the curve to help the vehicle be more stable while turning. It also allows you to speed up as soon as you are out of the curve. Multi-speed rear axles and auxiliary transmissions are used on many vehicles to provide extra gears.
You usually control them by a selector knob or switch on the gearshift lever of the main transmission. There are many different shift patterns. Learn the right way to shift gears in the vehicle you will drive. Some vehicles have automatic transmissions. You can select a low range to get greater engine braking when going down grades. The lower ranges prevent the transmission from shifting up beyond the selected gear unless the governor rpm is exceeded.
It is very important to use this braking effect when going down grades. They reduce brake wear and give you another way to slow down. There are 4 basic types of retarders exhaust, engine, hydraulic, and electric. All retarders can be turned on or off by the driver.
On some vehicles, the retarding power can be adjusted. Because these devices can be noisy, be sure you know where their use is permitted.
When your drive wheels have poor traction, the retarder may cause them to skid. Therefore, you should turn the retarder off whenever the road is wet, icy, or snow covered.
These questions may be on the test. If you cannot answer them all, re-read Subsections 2. Not looking properly is a major cause of accidents. Importance of Looking far Enough Ahead. Because stopping or changing lanes can take a lot of distance, knowing what the traffic is doing on all sides of you is very important. You need to look well ahead to make sure you have room to make these moves safely.
How far Ahead to Look. Most good drivers look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead. That means looking ahead the distance you will travel in 12 to 15 seconds. At highway speeds it is about a quarter of a mile.
If you are not looking that far ahead, you may have to stop too quickly or make quick lane changes. Looking 12 to 15 seconds ahead does not mean not paying attention to things that are closer. Good drivers shift their attention back and forth, near and far.
Figure 2. Look for Traffic. Look for vehicles coming onto the highway, into your lane, or turning. Watch for brake lights from slowing vehicles. By seeing these things far enough ahead, you can change your speed, or change lanes if necessary to avoid a problem.
If a traffic light has been green for a long time it will probably change before you get there. Start slowing down and be ready to stop. Road conditions. Look for hills and curves— anything for which you will have to slow or change lanes. Pay attention to traffic signals and signs. Traffic signs may alert you to road conditions where you may have to change speed. Check your mirrors regularly. Check more often in special situations. Every registered motor vehicle must have at least 2 mirrors, including 1 attached to the left-hand side, and located to give a clear view of the roadway to the rear for a distance of at least feet.
Mirror Adjustment. Mirror adjustment should be checked prior to the start of any trip and can only be checked accurately when the trailer s are straight. You should check and adjust each mirror to show some part of the vehicle. This will give you a reference point for judging the position of the other images. Regular Checks. You need to make regular checks of your mirrors to be aware of traffic and to check your vehicle. Check your mirrors for vehicles on either side and in back of you.
In an emergency, you may need to know whether you can make a quick lane change. Use your mirrors to spot overtaking vehicles. Check your mirrors regularly to know where other vehicles are around you, and to see if they move into your blind spots. Check Your Vehicle. Use the mirrors to keep an eye on your tires.
It is one way to spot a tire fire. If you are carrying open cargo, you can use the mirrors to check.
Look for loose straps, ropes, or chains. Watch for a flapping or ballooning tarp. Special Situations. Special situations require more than regular mirror checks. These are lane changes, turns, merges, and tight maneuvers. Lane Changes.
You need to check your mirrors to make sure no one is alongside you or about to pass you. Check your mirrors:.
In turns, check your mirrors to make sure the rear of your vehicle will not hit anything. When merging, use your mirrors to make sure the gap in traffic is large enough for you to enter safely. Tight Maneuvers. Any time you are driving in close quarters, check your mirrors often. Make sure you have enough clearance. How to use Mirrors. Use mirrors correctly by checking them quickly and understanding what you see. When using your mirrors while driving on the road, check them quickly.
Look back and forth between the mirrors and the road ahead. Do not focus on the mirrors for too long. Otherwise, you will travel quite a distance without knowing what is happening ahead. This is often helpful. But everything appears smaller in a convex mirror than it would if you were looking at it directly. Things also seem farther away than they really are. It is important to realize this and to allow for it. Other drivers cannot know what you are going to do until you tell them. Signaling what you intend to do is important for safety.
Here are some general rules for signaling. Put your turn signal on before changing lanes. Change lanes slowly and smoothly. Slowing Down. Warn drivers behind you when you see you will need to slow down.
A few light taps on the brake pedal—enough to flash the brake lights—should warn following drivers. Use the 4-way emergency flashers for times when you are driving very slowly or are stopped. Warn other drivers in any of the following situations:.
Do not Direct Traffic. Some drivers try to help out others by signaling when it is safe to pass. You should not do this, it could cause an accident. You could be blamed and it could cost you many thousands of dollars. Other drivers may not notice your vehicle even when it is in plain sight. To help prevent accidents, let them know you are there. When Passing. Whenever you are about to pass a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist, assume they do not see you. They could suddenly move in front of you.
When it is legal, tap the horn lightly or, at night, flash your lights from low to high beam and back. And, drive carefully enough to avoid an accident even if they do not see or hear you. When it is Hard to see. At dawn, dusk, in rain, or snow, you need to make yourself easier to see. If you are having trouble seeing other vehicles, other drivers will have trouble seeing you. Turn on your lights, use the headlights, not just the identification or clearance lights.
Use the low beams; high beams can bother people in the daytime as well as at night. When Parked at the Side of the Road. When you pull off the road and stop, be sure to turn on the 4-way emergency flashers.
This is important at night. Do not trust the taillights to give warning. Drivers have crashed into the rear of a parked vehicle because they thought it was moving normally. If you must stop on a road or the shoulder of any road, you must put out your emergency warning devices within 10 minutes. Place your warning devices at the following locations:.
When putting out the triangles, hold them between yourself and the oncoming traffic for your own safety. So other drivers can see you. Use Your Horn When Needed.
Your horn can let others know you are there. It can help to avoid an accident. Use your horn when needed. However, it can startle others and could be dangerous when used unnecessarily. Driving too fast is a major cause of fatal accidents. You must adjust your speed depending on driving conditions. These include traction, curves, visibility, traffic and hills. The Effect of Speed on Stopping Distance.
The faster you drive, the greater the impact or striking power of your vehicle. When you double your speed from 20 to 40 mph the impact is 4 times greater. The braking distance is also 4 times longer. Triple the speed from 20 to 60 mph and the impact and braking distance is 9 times greater. At 60 mph, your stopping distance is greater than the length of a football field. Increase the speed to 80 mph and the impact and braking distance are 16 times greater than at 20 mph.
High speeds greatly increase the severity of accidents and stopping distances. By slowing down, you can reduce braking distance. The heavier the vehicle, the more work the brakes must do to stop it and the more heat they absorb. The brakes, tires, springs, and shock absorbers on heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicle is fully loaded.
Empty trucks require greater stopping distances because an empty vehicle has less traction. The service brake must hold the vehicle or combination of vehicles stationary on any grade on which it is operated under all conditions of loading or unloading. The service brakes of every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles must be capable of stopping from an initial speed of 20 mph as follows maximum stopping distance MSD in feet:. You cannot steer or brake a vehicle unless you have traction.
Traction is friction between the tires and the road. There are some road conditions that reduce traction and call for lower speeds. Slippery Surfaces. It will take longer to stop, and it will be harder to turn without skidding, when the road is slippery. Wet roads can double stopping distance. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. On packed snow, reduce speed by a half, or more. If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
Identifying Slippery Surfaces. Sometimes it is hard to know if the road is slippery. Here are some signs of slippery roads:. Drivers must adjust their speed for curves in the road. If you take a curve too fast, 2 things can happen.
The tires can lose their traction and continue straight ahead, so you skid off the road. Or, the tires may keep their traction and the vehicle rolls over. Tests have shown that trucks with a high center of gravity can roll over at the posted speed limit for a curve.
Slow to a safe speed before you enter a curve. Braking in a curve is dangerous because it is easier to lock the wheels and cause a skid. Slow down as needed. Do not ever exceed the posted speed limit for the curve. Be in a gear that will let you accelerate slightly in the curve. This will help you keep control. You should always be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead. Fog, rain, or other conditions may require that you slow down to be able to stop in the distance you can see.
At night, you cannot see as far with low beams as you can with high beams. Slow down when you must use low beams. When you are driving in heavy traffic, the safest speed is the speed of other vehicles. Vehicles going the same direction at the same speed are not likely to run into one another. In most states, speed limits are lower for trucks and buses than for cars. It can vary as much as 15 mph. Use extra caution when you change lanes or pass on these roadways.
Drive at the speed of the traffic if you can without going at an illegal or unsafe speed. Keep a safe following distance. The main reason drivers exceed speed limits is to save time. Anyone trying to drive faster than the speed of traffic will not be able to save much time.
The risks involved are not worth it. If you go faster than the speed of other traffic, you will have to keep passing other vehicles. This increases the chance of an accident, and it is more tiring. Fatigue increases the chance of an accident.
Going with the flow of traffic is safer and easier. Your most important objective is to select and maintain a speed that is not too fast for the:. Speeding traffic is the number one cause of injury and death in roadway work zones.
Observe the posted speed limits at all times when approaching and driving through a work zone. Watch your speedometer, and do not allow your speed to creep up as you drive through long sections of road construction. Decrease your speed for adverse weather or road conditions. Decrease your speed even further when a worker is close to the roadway.
You must not follow the vehicles listed below any closer than feet. The rule does not apply during overtaking and passing, when there are 2 or more lanes for traffic in each direction, or in a business or residential district. You need space all around your vehicle to be a safe driver. When things go wrong, space gives you time to think and take action. You need to manage space to have space available when something goes wrong.
While this is true for all drivers, it is very important for large vehicles. They take up more space and require more space for stopping and turning. Of all the space around your vehicle, the space you are driving into, that is most important. The Need for Space Ahead. You need space ahead in case you must suddenly stop. According to accident reports, the vehicle that trucks and buses most often run into is the one in front of them.
The most frequent cause is following too closely.
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