California Driver's Handbook, Section 5: Steering, Signals, Horn and Headlights

How to hold the wheel, when to signal, when to use the horn, and the headlight rules the knowledge test asks about.

Key rules

1. You must be able to hear horns and sirens: it is illegal to drive with a headset or earplugs in both ears. p. 9
2. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can make you an unsafe driver, and it is your job to know their effects. p. 9
3. For push/pull steering, keep your hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o'clock and do not cross them over the middle of the wheel, even in turns. p. 9
4. Use hand-over-hand steering for turns at low speed, for parking and to recover from a skid. p. 10
5. Steer with one hand only when turning while backing up (hand at 12 o'clock) or when you must use a vehicle control. p. 10
6. Signal at least 100 feet before a turn, before every lane change, and at least five seconds before changing lanes on a freeway, even if you see no other vehicles. p. 11
7. Use the horn to avoid collisions or to warn oncoming traffic on narrow mountain roads where you cannot see at least 200 feet ahead. p. 11
8. Switch to low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following. Driving with only parking lights is illegal. p. 11
9. Headlights go on from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, when you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead, and whenever you need your wipers because of rain, fog or snow. p. 11
10. To warn drivers behind you about a hazard ahead, turn on your emergency flashers, tap the brake pedal three or four times, or use a hand signal. p. 12
11. If your car has trouble, pull off the road if you can and turn on your flashers. Never stop just over a hill or just around a curve, where others cannot see you in time. p. 12