VOCABULARY

USEFUL VOCABULARY FOR DMV WRITTEN EXAM

1. accelerate	to drive faster, to press on the gas pedal
2. assume	to believe something that is not a fact
3. beams (high/low)	lights in front of the car
4. blind spot	area in which we cannot see the other car
5. block (intersection)
6. broken lines
7. continuously	without stopping, without end
8. curb	separation between the sidewalk and the street
9. current conditions	the weather: moisture, wind, and snow now
10. drive defensively	Examples: look around, be attentive, expect problems, leave distance between my car and the car in front of me

11. enter	go in
12. exit	go out
13. hands free	do not use your hands to hold your cell phone
14. hazard	danger
15. interior/exterior lights	lights inside and outside of the vehicle
16. keep to the (left)	stay on the side indicated without passing
17. level
18. maximum	do not drive over the speed indicated
19. merge	look to see if no traffic is coming and continue driving. No need to make a complete stop.
20. minimum	do not drive under the speed indicated
21. posted (speed)	speed indicated on a sign
22. pull over	stop on the side of the road
23. reach your destination	arrive at the place you were going to
24. rear view mirror	mirror that gives you a view of what is behind your car
25. school crossing guard	a person directing traffic near a school crossing
26. shoulder	side of the road that is not used for driving but for stopping. It does not have a sidewalk or a curb on it
27. side view mirror	mirror on the sides of your car that allow you to see what is on your left and on your right.
28. slippery	moisture (water, snow, ice, or oil)  on the road makes it difficult to keep the vehicle steady
29. solid lines
30. speed of traffic	speed of other cars on the road, sometimes faster than the legal speed limit posted on the signs.
31. under no circumstances	NEVER
32. unrestrained	an animal that is moving around inside the vehicle or sitting on your lap
33. warning	precaution, sign stating a possible problem

VOCABULARY FOR TEST 1

1. accommodate	give enough space
2. under no circumstances	never
3. approaching	coming near or nearer to you
4. unable	can't do something
5. parallel	side by side - having same space between
6. merge	come together to form one
7. beams (high-low)	headlights on your car
8. curb	the edge between street and sidewalk
9. flashing	lights blinking on and off repeatedly
10. notify	to officially tell someone about something

VOCABULARY FOR TEST 2

1.  otherwise	differently
2. to block	to obstruct or get in the way
3. required to	must, have to
4.  parallel	next to each other and moving or parked in the same straight direction
5.    3-axle vehicle	a car, truck, bus with 3 shafts holding sets of wheels
6.    multilane	2 or more lanes of traffic
7. in excess of	more than
8. at fault	responsible for
9. downpour	a lot of rain
10. dry spell	some time without rain

Parking At Colored Curbs

Painted colored curbs have the following special parking rules:

White–Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.

Green–Park for a limited time. Look for a posted sign next to the green zone for time limits, or locate the time limit painted on the curb.

Yellow–Stop no longer than the time posted to load or unload passengers or freight. Drivers of noncommercial vehicles are usually required to stay with the vehicle.

Red–No stopping, standing, or parking. (Buses may stop at a red zone marked for buses.)

Blue–Parking is permitted only for a disabled person or a driver of a disabled person who displays a placard or a special license plate for disabled persons or disabled veterans. Disabled people with a placard or special plates may park in special areas for unlimited periods of time, regardless of time restrictions. No one other than a disabled person or a driver of a disabled person may park there. A crosshatched (diagonal lines) area adjacent to a designated disabled parking space is a no parking area. Qualified persons may apply at any DMV office or visit the DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov to obtain a form for a parking placard or special plates. An identification card will be issued to holders of disabled person or disabled veteran license plates.

Example of crosshatched (diagonal lines) area 

NOTE:Placard abuse results in the loss of special parking privileges. It is also a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or both.

Examples of placard abuse:

·    > Using a placard after it has been reported lost or stolen without reporting that the placard was found.

·    > Loaning your placard to friends or family members (disabled or not).

·    > Interchanging placards with friends or family members.

·    > Using a placard when the person it was issued to is not in the vehicle with you (disabled child, family member, disabled employer, etc.).

·    > Using a deceased person’s placard.

NOTE: Disabled plates and/or a placard must be surrendered or returned to the nearest DMV within 60 days of the death of the disabled person.

Illegal Parking: Never park or leave your vehicle

·    > Where a "No Parking" sign is posted.

·    > On a marked or unmarked crosswalk, sidewalk, partially blocking a sidewalk, or in front of     a driveway.

·    > Within 3 feet of a sidewalk ramp for disabled persons or in front of or on a curb that              provides wheelchair access to a sidewalk.

·    > In a disabled person parking space, unless you are disabled and display a placard or            special plates.

·    > In the space next to a disabled person parking space, if it is painted in a crosshatched            (diagonal) pattern (CVC §22507.8(c)(2)).

·    > In a space designated for parking or fueling zero-emission vehicles which display an              identifying decal.

·    > In a tunnel or on a bridge, except where permitted by signs.

·    > Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or a fire station driveway.

·    > On or within 7½ feet of a railroad track.

·    > Between a safety zone and the curb.

·    > "Double parked." (Parking in the street when all legal parking places at the curb are taken.)

·    > On the wrong side of the street.

·    > At a red curb.

·    > On a freeway, except:

o                                               > In an emergency, or

o                                               > When an officer or device requires a stop, or

o                                               > Where a stop is specifically permitted. A vehicle (even if disabled)                                        that is stopped, parked, or left standing on a freeway for more                                            than four hours may be removed (CVC §22651(f)).

NOTE: If you must stop on a freeway, park completely off the pavement and stay in your vehicle with the doors locked until help arrives. Leave enough space for other vehicles to freely pass by your vehicle. Your vehicle should be visible for at least 200 feet in each direction.

Special Parking Rules

·    When you park alongside a curb on a level street, the front and back wheels must be parallel and within 18 inches of the curb. Park parallel to the street if there is no curb.

·    Never leave your vehicle while the engine is still running; stop the engine and set the parking brake.

·    When you are ready to exit your vehicle, look carefully for passing vehicles, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Do not open the driver’s side door unless it is safe to do so and you do not interfere with traffic. Do not leave the door open any longer than necessary.

Parking On A Hill

When you park:

• On a sloping driveway, turn the wheels so the vehicle will not roll into the street if the brakes fail.
• Headed downhill, turn your front wheels into the curb or toward the side of the road. Set the parking brake.
• Headed uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a few inches. The wheel should gently touch the curb. Set the parking brake.
• Headed either uphill or downhill when there is no curb, turn the wheels so the vehicle will roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.

                 Down Hill                                            Up Hill                       No Curb, Up Hill or Down Hill

Always set your parking brake and leave the vehicle in gear or in the "park" position.

VOCABULARY FOR TEST 3

1.    elementary school	School attended by children
2.    transfer	Give your car to another person in your family
3.    smog test	A test to show your vehicle is in good working condition
4.    driveway	Entrance for cars to a home, business or parking lot
5.    upcoming	Coming next, as you continue driving
6.    signal	Use your blinker to show cars following you that you will be turning
7.    hands-free devices	Phones that are connected in such a way that you do not need to hold them to hear
8.    unmarked	That is not marked
9.    clears	Is completely gone
10.  school crossing guards	People who direct traffic close to a school entrance and all main crossings close to the school.

VOCABULARY FOR TEST 4

1.   Dust storm	bad weather with fine earth powder in the air
2.   Headlights	powerful light fixed at the front of car
3.   Assume	to take as true without proof
4.   Chances	possibilities
5.   Hazardous	dangerous
6.   One-way street	street where cars drive in only one    direction    (ex. Anacapa Street)
7.   Swing wide	make a very open turn
8.   Double, yellow line	two yellow lines together and parallel on the  road
9.    Broken line	not a continuous line
10.     Defensively	in a position where you defend or protect yourself

Day 4: Driving laws regarding alcohol & drugs  (p. 81-88)

Vocabulary words

1.                Impair:   weaken, make someone unable to perform simple tasks well

2.                DUI:   Drive under the influence

3.                Suspensions:   delay or stop for a period of time

4.                Revocations:  cancelations

5.                BAC:   blood alcohol concentration

6.                PAS:  Preliminary alcohol screening (blood and/or urine test at scene

7.                Impound:   take away officially until claimed

8.                IID:   ignition interlock device

9.                Designated driver:  person in a party who does not consume alcohol and drives others safely
10.           Restricted driver license:  license that allows you to drive to/from work and to/from DUI program

Day 4:  Driving laws regarding cell phones and other distractions (p. 55-56)

Vocabulary words

     1.    Electronic wireless device:  cell phone

     2.    Voice operated:  works with sounds of words

     3.    Hands-free:  does not need to be held by hands

     4.    Hazardous conditions:  dangerous circumstances or situations

     5.    Engage:  spending time doing something

     6.    Minors:  Children under 18 years of age

     7.    Unless:  except if / only if

Day 4:  Things you must / must not do as listed in the California Driver          Handbook  (p.89-91)

Vocabulary words

     1.      Headset:   Headphones

     2.      Safety hazard:  Risk of danger: could be harmful

     3.      Tow:   Pull

     4.      Honk:  Sound of car horn

     5.      Hinder:  Prevent from doing

     6.      Right-of-way:   The right of traffic to drive, cross or pass

     7.      Low beams:   not high, strong lights

     8.      Headlights:   Powerful lights fixed at the front of the car

     9.      Disabled:   Unable to be driven or moved
   10.   Impound:   to take officially until claimed

VOCABULARY FOR TEST 5

1. bumper	area in front and rear of car
2. citation	ticket, paper saying you broke a driving law
3. congestion	many cars on road
4.construction	repairing or building on roads
5. defensive	not aggressive, driving alert, protecting
6. frustrate	irritate, to make angry
7. tailgate	drive too close to the car in front
8. transport	move from one place to another
9. unrestrained	not secured
10. yield	give the right-of-way