California permit test: alcohol and drugs

Impairment starts with judgment, before you feel drunk. Only time sobers you up.

Key rules

• Illegal BAC: 0.08% for drivers 21 and older; 0.04% for commercial drivers and drivers carrying passengers for hire; 0.01% for drivers under 21. (CVC §23152, §23136)
• You can be convicted of DUI below these levels if alcohol or any drug, including legal medicine, impairs you. (CVC §23152)
• Implied consent: if lawfully arrested for DUI, you must take a breath or blood test. Refusing leads to a suspension or revocation of your driving privilege, on top of any DUI penalties. (CVC §23612)

The full study guide for this topic, 29 practice questions and a printable cheat sheet are in the Exam Pack.

Sample questions

For a driver 21 or older in a regular passenger car, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of:

If an opened container of alcohol is carried in a vehicle, it must be kept:

Other topics

• Speed limits: California has one rule above all others: never drive faster than is safe for the conditions.
• Signals and signs: Lights and signs tell you who goes and who waits.
• Road signs: About one in five questions in our bank is a road sign.
• Right of way: The law says who must yield, never who may force their way.
• Lane markings and lane types: Paint tells you which way traffic moves and what you may do in each lane.
• Lanes, passing and turns: Lane lines tell you where you may move.
• Freeways: Match the speed of traffic, keep right unless passing, and never stop in the lanes.
• Parking: Where and how you park is tested with exact distances.
• Sharing the road: Bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcycles, trucks and buses all have rights on the road.
• Buses, light rail and streetcars: Trains and buses are big, heavy and slow to stop.
• Work zones: Orange signs mean workers and equipment are close to traffic.
• Railroad crossings: Trains cannot stop quickly.
• Defensive driving: Leave yourself space and time.
• Weather and slippery roads: Rain, ice, fog and wind call for lower speeds than the posted limit.
• Night driving and emergencies: See and be seen at night, and know the first steps when something goes wrong.
• Alcohol and drugs: Impairment starts with judgment, before you feel drunk.
• Phones and distraction: Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.
• Seat belts and children: Everyone buckles up, and children ride in the back in the right seat for their age and size.
• Vehicle control and equipment: Know your car's controls and keep it legal: clear windows, working lights, secure loads.
• Police stops and road rage: Stay calm, stay visible and keep your hands where they can be seen.
• Insurance, collisions and penalties: Every driver must carry insurance, stop after a crash, and keep a clean record.
• Permits and licensing rules: Rules for drivers under 18 are tested often.

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