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California driving lesson · Turns, Merging & Parking

Colored curbs & where you can't park

A 3-minute lesson from the California 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
Turns, Merging & Parking
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
34, 35

Curb colors and no-parking distances are favorite test questions. Learn each color's meaning and the exact distances from hydrants, crosswalks and ramps.

Colored curbs

Colored curbs
ColorMeaning
WhiteStop only to pick up or drop off passengers
GreenPark for a limited time (posted or painted)
YellowLoad/unload passengers and freight; posted time
RedNo stopping, standing, or parking
BlueDisabled parking with placard or special plate
Handbook p. 34 ↗

Know the rule

At a yellow curb, a noncommercial driver is usually required to stay with the vehicle. Buses may stop at a red zone marked for buses only.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Red curb / bus zone marking
Painted curb colors

Never park or leave your vehicle:

  • Where a NO PARKING sign is posted
  • On a marked or unmarked crosswalk
  • On or partially blocking a sidewalk, or in front of a driveway
  • Within 3 feet of a sidewalk ramp for disabled persons, or on a wheelchair-access curb
  • In the crosshatched area next to a disabled parking space
  • In a zero-emission vehicle parking/fueling space unless driving a zero-emission vehicle
  • In a tunnel or on a bridge, unless permitted by signs
  • Between a safety zone and curb, or double parked
Handbook p. 34 ↗
15 ft

No parking within this distance of a fire hydrant or fire station driveway

Handbook p. 34 ↗
20 ft

No parking within this distance of a marked or unmarked crosswalk

Handbook p. 34 ↗
15 ft

No parking within this distance of a crosswalk where a curb extension is present

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Accessible parking space diagram
Crosshatched (diagonal lines) area next to a disabled space: no parking

Know the rule

Do not park on the wrong side of the street or on a freeway, except in an emergency, when an officer requires a stop, or where a stop is specifically permitted.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

If you must stop on a freeway, park completely off the pavement and stay in your vehicle with the doors locked until help arrives.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
4 hours

A vehicle left on a freeway longer than this may be removed

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

Local authorities can reserve parking spaces on public streets for electric vehicle charging.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Driving green, to save fuel and lower emissions:

  • Speed up and slow down smoothly; drive at a steady speed
  • Regularly inflate tires, get oil changes, and check filters
  • Get rid of extra weight in your vehicle
Handbook p. 35 ↗

Put it into practice

You find a curb space 18 feet from a marked crosswalk. It's too close: you must be at least 20 feet away. If the corner has a curb extension, the limit is 15 feet instead.

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.

What does a white curb indicate?
  1. Park for a limited time
  2. No stopping or parking at all
  3. Passenger loading only
  4. Loading zone for freight only

Answer: Passenger loading only

A white curb means you may stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
What does a red curb mean?
  1. Limited-time parking
  2. Passenger loading only
  3. Disabled parking only
  4. No stopping, standing, or parking

Answer: No stopping, standing, or parking

A red curb means no stopping, standing, or parking, except buses at a marked red zone.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
What does a blue curb indicate?
  1. Disabled parking with a placard or plate
  2. Electric vehicle charging
  3. Freight loading
  4. Time-limited parking

Answer: Disabled parking with a placard or plate

A blue curb is reserved for parking for a disabled person with a special placard or license plate.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Within how many feet of a fire hydrant is parking prohibited?
  1. 10 feet
  2. 15 feet
  3. 20 feet
  4. 30 feet

Answer: 15 feet

Never park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or fire station driveway.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Within how many feet of a marked crosswalk is parking normally prohibited?
  1. 15 feet
  2. 10 feet
  3. 20 feet
  4. 25 feet

Answer: 20 feet

Parking is prohibited within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk (15 feet where a curb extension is present).

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Within how many feet of a sidewalk wheelchair ramp is parking prohibited?
  1. Five feet
  2. Ten feet
  3. Fifteen feet
  4. Three feet

Answer: Three feet

Never park within three feet of a sidewalk ramp for disabled persons.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
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