CA Driving Instructor flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Basic Speed Law

California rule that a driver may never travel faster than is safe for current road, weather, and traffic conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit.

Right turn on red

After a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and cross traffic, a driver may turn right at a red light unless a sign prohibits the turn.

Zero tolerance law

California law making it illegal for a driver under 21 to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or higher.

Negligent operator threshold

DMV may suspend a license after 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months.

Three-second rule

Following-distance method in which the driver picks a fixed object and counts at least three seconds between the lead vehicle passing it and their own arrival.

Push-pull steering

Steering method in which the hands slide the wheel without crossing, keeping both hands on the wheel and clear of the airbag deployment path.

Anti-lock braking system

System that prevents wheel lockup during hard braking, allowing the driver to press firmly and hold while steering around a hazard.

Visual lead time

Scanning roughly 12 to 15 seconds ahead of the vehicle so hazards are identified before they become immediate emergencies.

Four-step teaching method

Instructional sequence of preparation, presentation, application, and evaluation used to structure classroom or behind-the-wheel lessons.

Commentary driving

Technique in which the student verbally describes hazards, decisions, and planned actions while driving, building scanning habits and judgment.

Task analysis

Breaking a complex driving maneuver into smaller ordered sub-skills so each can be taught, practiced, and mastered separately.

Transfer of learning

Application of a skill learned in one setting, such as a quiet street, to a different setting such as freeway traffic.

Tread depth minimum

California requires passenger vehicle tires to have at least 1/32 inch of tread depth, with no bulges, cuts, or exposed cord.

Dual controls

Extra brake pedal, and often accelerator or clutch, installed on the instructor's side of a driving school vehicle for safety.

Window tint limit

California requires front side windows to transmit at least 70 percent of light, and permits tinting on the windshield only as a top strip.

Pre-trip inspection

Walk-around check of tires, lights, fluids, mirrors, belts, and required equipment completed before each lesson or trip.

Occupational license

DMV-issued authorization required before a driving school, branch office, or instructor may legally operate in California.

Instructor license

Credential issued by DMV to a qualified person permitting paid behind-the-wheel instruction, which must be carried while teaching.

Student driver sign

Visible marking required on driving school vehicles that identifies the car to other road users as a training vehicle.

License revocation grounds

DMV may revoke a driving school or instructor license for fraud, falsified records, unsafe vehicles, or failure to meet licensing requirements.

SIPDE process

Defensive driving sequence of Search, Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute used to manage risk continuously while driving.

Skid recovery

Ease off the accelerator and brake, then look and steer where the vehicle should go, avoiding abrupt or excessive counter-steering.

Tire blowout response

Hold the wheel firmly, keep the vehicle straight, ease off the accelerator, and slow gradually before steering off the roadway.

Cover braking

Resting the foot over the brake pedal without pressing when a hazard is developing, so reaction time is reduced.

Provisional license restrictions

For 12 months after issuance, a driver under 18 may not carry passengers under 20 or drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unsupervised.

Hand controls

Adaptive levers operating throttle and brake, allowing a driver with lower-limb impairment to control the vehicle without foot pedals.

Spinner knob

Steering wheel attachment that enables one-handed steering, often used by drivers with limited grip strength or upper-limb impairment.

Supervised practice hours

California minors must complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before receiving a provisional license.

Student record confidentiality

Student personal information, evaluations, and lesson notes are not disclosed without consent or a specific legal requirement.

Falsifying completion certificates

Recording false training hours or signing an untrue certificate constitutes fraud that can lead to license revocation and criminal penalties.

Mandated reporting

Legal duty of certain professionals, which may include instructors, to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the proper authorities.

Professional boundaries

Maintaining a strictly instructional relationship with students, avoiding favoritism, harassment, and inappropriate personal involvement.