Driver's License Test Prep
California Practice Emergencies

A law enforcement officer directs you to do something that conflicts with the posted traffic signs. What does the manual tell you to do?

  1. A.
    Follow the officer's orders Correct
  2. B.
    Follow the posted signs
  3. C.
    Stop and wait for a second officer
The Why

The answer is "Follow the officer's orders"

The manual says to follow the officer's orders even when they conflict with existing signs, signals, or laws. Choice B reflects the deeper 'always obey signs' training a driver has practiced for years; the manual carves out this one exception because the officer is responding to a live hazard the sign does not know about.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

B. Follow the posted signs

The manual's exception for live officers overrides the general rule to obey signs. This answer applies the deeper 'always obey signs' training and misses the manual's carve-out for a live officer directing traffic.

C. Stop and wait for a second officer

Sitting still ignores the officer's active direction and creates the hazard they are managing. This answer treats officer direction as advisory rather than as a command that overrides posted signs.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Emergencies in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Emergency Vehicles," p.45..

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