What sharing the road rules are on the California permit test?

California's sharing the road questions come from its own statutes and the California Department of Motor Vehicles handbook. QuizLane covers 3 California-specific sharing the road items, drawn from 3 distinct source sections, alongside 10 questions on rules that apply in every state.

How many sharing the road questions are on the California permit test?

California Department of Motor Vehicles does not publish a per-topic breakdown. The test as a whole has 46 questions and you need 38 correct (83%) to pass, so sharing the road is worth studying alongside every other topic rather than in isolation.

Are these official California DMV sharing the road questions?

No. These are original study questions written against California law and the official handbook, each carrying the section it came from. They are not endorsed by California Department of Motor Vehicles and are not copies of the real exam.

Do I need an account to practice California sharing the road questions?

No. Practice starts immediately as a guest. An account is optional and only saves your attempt history across devices.

On a California divided or multilane highway (two or more lanes in each direction), when a school bus on the other roadway is flashing red lights you:

Need not stop for a bus on the other roadway

Must stop only if children are visible

In California, motorcycles sharing a lane with other vehicles (lane splitting) is:

Legal, and other drivers must still give a motorcycle the full lane when possible

Allowed only on surface streets

CASharing the road

California sharing the road practice questions

3 questions below test California’s own sharing the road law, each with the statute or California Department of Motor Vehicles handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on sharing the road rules that apply in every state.

The California permit knowledge test has 46 questions in total and needs 38 correct (83%) to pass.

Practice sharing the road All California topics

California law

3 questions on California’s own sharing the road rules

These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.

1. On a California divided or multilane highway (two or more lanes in each direction), when a school bus on the other roadway is flashing red lights you:
- AMust stop only if children are visible
- BMust stop in both directions
- Need not stop for a bus on the other roadway
- DMust slow to 15 mph only
Answer: Need not stop for a bus on the other roadway. Vehicle Code §22454(b) and the California Driver's Handbook both say you need not stop for a bus on the other roadway of a divided or multilane highway.
Source: California Vehicle Code — §22454(b)
2. California's Three Feet for Safety Act requires motorists overtaking a bicyclist to leave at least:
- ATwo feet of space
- Three feet of space
- COne full lane
- DOne foot of space
Answer: Three feet of space. Vehicle Code §21760 requires a safe pass that leaves at least three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.
Source: California Vehicle Code — §21760 (Three Feet for Safety Act)
3. In California, motorcycles sharing a lane with other vehicles (lane splitting) is:
- Legal, and other drivers must still give a motorcycle the full lane when possible
- BAllowed only on surface streets
- CAllowed only below 25 mph
- DIllegal in all cases
Answer: Legal, and other drivers must still give a motorcycle the full lane when possible. The California Driver's Handbook states it is legal to share lanes with motorcycles (lane splitting) and reminds drivers to give a motorcycle the full lane and never pass a motorcycle in the same lane.
Source: California Driver's Handbook — Sharing the Road — Motorcycles

Sources for the California items above

Applies everywhere

Sharing the road rules that hold in every state

A sample of the national sharing the road bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the California items above for 13 questions in total.

1. A large truck ahead of you swings left before turning right. You should:
- Stay back and never move into the gap on its right
- BSound your horn to correct the driver
- CMove alongside its left door
- DPass on the right side while there is room
Answer: Stay back and never move into the gap on its right. Long vehicles must swing wide to clear the corner. The gap on the right is where the trailer will sweep through.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Sharing the road — large vehicles
2. An orange triangle with a red border on the back of a vehicle means it:
- AIs a school vehicle
- BHas an oversize load
- CIs carrying hazardous materials
- Travels well below normal traffic speed
Answer: Travels well below normal traffic speed. The slow-moving vehicle emblem marks farm equipment and similar vehicles. Closing speed is much higher than it appears.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Sharing the road — slow-moving vehicles
3. How much of a traffic lane may a motorcycle need?
- The full lane
- BNo more than half a lane
- COnly the left tire track
- DOnly the shoulder
Answer: The full lane. Motorcyclists may use the full lane and may change position to improve visibility or avoid hazards. Do not crowd them.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Sharing the road — motorcycles

Practice all 13 sharing the road questions

Sharing the road rules in other states

Sharing the road law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.

ColoradoCO · 2 questions NevadaNV · 2 questions WashingtonWA · 3 questions ArkansasAR · 2 questions GeorgiaGA · 4 questions IllinoisIL · 2 questions IndianaIN · 2 questions IowaIA · 2 questions

Confirm current California rules

Statutes and handbooks change. California Department of Motor Vehicles is authoritative for California sharing the road rules and for the permit test itself.

Visit California Department of Motor Vehicles

Common questions

About California sharing the road rules and this practice set.