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Arizona driving lesson · Vehicle Equipment & Occupant Safety

Mirrors, horn, lights & warning devices

A 3-minute lesson from the Arizona course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Vehicle Equipment & Occupant Safety
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
20, 21, 22

Some equipment rules protect you (head restraints), some help others see and hear you (horn, flashers), and some keep drivers from confusing you with an emergency vehicle (no front red lights).

Know the rule

A vehicle whose rear view is blocked by its build or load must have at least one outside driver-side mirror showing the highway at least 200 feet to the rear.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
200 ft

Distance your horn must be heard from

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Emergency vehicles may have a siren, whistle or bell as warning devices.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Flashing red lights on the front are allowed only on:

  • Authorized emergency vehicles
  • School buses
  • Snow removal equipment
Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Flashing red front lights are prohibited on all other vehicles — even disabled ones.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Turn on your hazard warning lights (emergency flashers) whenever your vehicle is stopped on the roadway or the shoulder.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Head restraint

Seat-back restraint that reduces whiplash in rear-end crashes. If adjustable, set it against the back of your head, lined up with the middle of your ear.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Every engine must be equipped to prevent escape of excessive fumes and smoke.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
511

Dial any time for traffic conditions, road closures, transit, airports, construction and work zones (also az511.com)

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

511 and az511.com are free ADOT services. Press the star key (*) for touch-tone mode, or use voice prompts.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Put it into practice

Your car stalls and you coast onto the shoulder of the freeway. Turn on your emergency flashers right away — the law says to use them whenever you're stopped on the roadway or shoulder.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If your view to the rear is blocked, your outside driver-side mirror must show the highway for at least how many feet to the rear?
  1. 500 feet
  2. 50 feet
  3. 200 feet
  4. 100 feet

Answer: 200 feet

The outside driver-side mirror must show a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
How far away must your vehicle's horn be audible?
  1. 1,000 feet
  2. 200 feet
  3. 100 feet
  4. 500 feet

Answer: 200 feet

A working horn that can be heard for 200 feet is required on your vehicle.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Flashing red warning lights on the front of a vehicle are prohibited except on which vehicles?
  1. Authorized emergency vehicles, school buses, and snow removal equipment
  2. Any disabled vehicle
  3. Any vehicle towing a trailer
  4. Taxis and rideshare vehicles

Answer: Authorized emergency vehicles, school buses, and snow removal equipment

Flashing red front lights are prohibited except on authorized emergency vehicles, school buses, and snow removal equipment.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
When should hazard warning flashers be activated?
  1. Only during rainstorms
  2. Only at night
  3. Whenever driving slower than traffic
  4. Whenever you are stopped on the road or shoulder

Answer: Whenever you are stopped on the road or shoulder

Hazard flashers should be activated whenever your vehicle is stopped on the roadway or shoulder of the road.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
If adjustable, where should a head restraint be positioned relative to your head?
  1. Angled forward toward your chin
  2. Fitting against the back of your head, lined up with the middle of your ear
  3. As low as possible, near your neck
  4. As high as possible, above your head

Answer: Fitting against the back of your head, lined up with the middle of your ear

An adjustable head restraint should fit against the back of your head and line up with the middle of the ear.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Any private vehicle may legally display flashing red lights on its front if the driver feels it is unsafe.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Flashing red front lights are restricted to authorized emergency vehicles, school buses, and snow removal equipment.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
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