Law enforcement traffic breaks — California Permit Test

During a traffic break the officer turns on their emergency lights and slowly weaves across lanes, to slow or stop traffic and remove hazards or prevent collisions.

The weaving is what stops anybody slipping past into the hazard up ahead.

During a traffic break, the officer turns on their emergency lights and slowly weaves across lanes.

In a traffic break, turn on your emergency flashers to warn other drivers.

The drivers behind cannot see the patrol car, so your flashers are their first warning.

Turn on your emergency flashers to warn other drivers.

Slowly decrease your speed to the same speed as the officer, without braking suddenly unless it is necessary to avoid a collision, and keep a safe distance from the patrol vehicle ahead.

Braking hard in a line of slowing traffic is how the traffic break causes its own crash.

Slowly decrease your speed to the same speed as the officer. Do not brake suddenly unless necessary to avoid a collision.

Do not drive past the patrol vehicle during a traffic break, and do not speed up until the officer turns off their emergency lights and conditions allow.

Passing the patrol car puts you into the hazard the break was created for.

Not drive past the patrol vehicle. Do not speed up until the officer turns off their emergency lights and traffic conditions allow you to return to your normal speed.

What is a law enforcement traffic break?

An officer weaving across lanes to slow traffic. The weaving is what stops anybody slipping past into the hazard up ahead. California Driver’s Handbook, p.64: “During a traffic break, the officer turns on their emergency lights and slowly weaves across lanes.”