CA DMV AMBULANCE STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+ 2025/2026
✔✔Any doubt as to the seriousness of the emergency when considering use of Code 3,
must be decided in favor of - ✔✔the patient
✔✔Driving in a way that risks loss of control of the vehicle or relies on drivers or
pedestrians to react ideally is justified in what circumstances - ✔✔Never
✔✔Ambulance drivers are exempt from certain traffic laws in what conditions - ✔✔1.
Responding to an Emergency call
2. Displaying a steady burn red warning lamp with 1000 feet of visibility in front of the
vehicle
3. Reckless driving and driving under the influence are never justified
✔✔If a driver is involved in an accident, but was exempt from certain traffic laws can he
still be criminally and civilly liable? - ✔✔Yes, if he was not acting with due regard for the
safety of others.
✔✔Determining if a driver exercised due regard toward the safety of others is based on
what criteria: - ✔✔1. Sufficient notice of the ambulances approach was given.
2. signalling equipment
a) whether it was necessary to use it
b) whether it was used
c) whether it was audible and/or visible
3. speed of the vehicle should never prevent the driver from maintaining complete
control of it.
4. If the driver decelerated before impact with a driver who did not yield
✔✔A rural driver at 55mph may not hear the wail of the siren if his windows are closed
and the radio is playing until the ambulance is ___ away - ✔✔33 feet
✔✔A city driver with his windows down may hear the siren when it is ___ away - ✔✔123
✔✔Hazards when driving with Code 3 include - ✔✔1. blind intersections
2. driveways
3. motorists with impaired hearing
4. inattentive drivers
✔✔When using a siren Ambulance drivers should - ✔✔1. assume drivers do not hear
the siren at safe distances under most conditions especially at intersections
2. assume drivers have difficulty locating the source of the siren
3. use the siren only when it is most effective
4. never pass on the right
, ✔✔When using a warning lamp - ✔✔1. excessive use reduces public respect of their
purpose
2. use primarily to protect life and property
✔✔Front steady burn red warning light should be displayed - ✔✔when an extreme
hazard exists
✔✔Do revolving, rotating, or flashing red lamps satisfy the requirement for a steady
burn lamp? - ✔✔No, but they can supplement it
✔✔Flashing red lights may only be displayed - ✔✔when an extreme hazard exists,
(meaning any incident that requires traffic to stop, be blocked, or proceed only as
directed.
✔✔Flashing Amber Lights used - ✔✔only for unusual traffic hazards, until hazard
ceases to exist.
✔✔Warning Lamp effectiveness may be reduced by what 3 factors - ✔✔1. low sun or
glare
2. confusion with traffic signals and neon lights
3. Their position if mounted to high or low on the ambulance.
✔✔Should headlamps be used in the daylight? - ✔✔yes, they increase visibility.
✔✔Definition of defensive driving: - ✔✔doing everything reasonably possible to avoid
accidents.
✔✔a preventable accident is one - ✔✔in which the driver failed to take reasonable
precautions to avoid the accident
✔✔Defensive driving requires - ✔✔continual exercise of sound judgment and good
driving habits with an awareness that all other drivers cannot be relied upon to drive
safely
✔✔Is physical fitness a prerequisite for safe driving? - ✔✔Yes.
✔✔Five elements of defensive driving - ✔✔1. knowledge: of the rules of the road, his,
and his vehicles limitations.
2. Alertness: of potential hazards
3. Vision: as speed increases visual accuracy decreases
4. Judgement: knowing what to do when
5. Skill: in handling an ambulance.
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+ 2025/2026
✔✔Any doubt as to the seriousness of the emergency when considering use of Code 3,
must be decided in favor of - ✔✔the patient
✔✔Driving in a way that risks loss of control of the vehicle or relies on drivers or
pedestrians to react ideally is justified in what circumstances - ✔✔Never
✔✔Ambulance drivers are exempt from certain traffic laws in what conditions - ✔✔1.
Responding to an Emergency call
2. Displaying a steady burn red warning lamp with 1000 feet of visibility in front of the
vehicle
3. Reckless driving and driving under the influence are never justified
✔✔If a driver is involved in an accident, but was exempt from certain traffic laws can he
still be criminally and civilly liable? - ✔✔Yes, if he was not acting with due regard for the
safety of others.
✔✔Determining if a driver exercised due regard toward the safety of others is based on
what criteria: - ✔✔1. Sufficient notice of the ambulances approach was given.
2. signalling equipment
a) whether it was necessary to use it
b) whether it was used
c) whether it was audible and/or visible
3. speed of the vehicle should never prevent the driver from maintaining complete
control of it.
4. If the driver decelerated before impact with a driver who did not yield
✔✔A rural driver at 55mph may not hear the wail of the siren if his windows are closed
and the radio is playing until the ambulance is ___ away - ✔✔33 feet
✔✔A city driver with his windows down may hear the siren when it is ___ away - ✔✔123
✔✔Hazards when driving with Code 3 include - ✔✔1. blind intersections
2. driveways
3. motorists with impaired hearing
4. inattentive drivers
✔✔When using a siren Ambulance drivers should - ✔✔1. assume drivers do not hear
the siren at safe distances under most conditions especially at intersections
2. assume drivers have difficulty locating the source of the siren
3. use the siren only when it is most effective
4. never pass on the right
, ✔✔When using a warning lamp - ✔✔1. excessive use reduces public respect of their
purpose
2. use primarily to protect life and property
✔✔Front steady burn red warning light should be displayed - ✔✔when an extreme
hazard exists
✔✔Do revolving, rotating, or flashing red lamps satisfy the requirement for a steady
burn lamp? - ✔✔No, but they can supplement it
✔✔Flashing red lights may only be displayed - ✔✔when an extreme hazard exists,
(meaning any incident that requires traffic to stop, be blocked, or proceed only as
directed.
✔✔Flashing Amber Lights used - ✔✔only for unusual traffic hazards, until hazard
ceases to exist.
✔✔Warning Lamp effectiveness may be reduced by what 3 factors - ✔✔1. low sun or
glare
2. confusion with traffic signals and neon lights
3. Their position if mounted to high or low on the ambulance.
✔✔Should headlamps be used in the daylight? - ✔✔yes, they increase visibility.
✔✔Definition of defensive driving: - ✔✔doing everything reasonably possible to avoid
accidents.
✔✔a preventable accident is one - ✔✔in which the driver failed to take reasonable
precautions to avoid the accident
✔✔Defensive driving requires - ✔✔continual exercise of sound judgment and good
driving habits with an awareness that all other drivers cannot be relied upon to drive
safely
✔✔Is physical fitness a prerequisite for safe driving? - ✔✔Yes.
✔✔Five elements of defensive driving - ✔✔1. knowledge: of the rules of the road, his,
and his vehicles limitations.
2. Alertness: of potential hazards
3. Vision: as speed increases visual accuracy decreases
4. Judgement: knowing what to do when
5. Skill: in handling an ambulance.
