Is driving under the influence of drugs illegal in California?

Prepare for the California DMV Traffic School Test. Study with interactive quizzes, flashcards, and understand with detailed explanations. Get cleared for your driving confidently!

Driving under the influence in California includes drugs as well as alcohol. If a drug impairs your ability to drive—affecting coordination, judgment, or reaction time—it's illegal to operate a vehicle. This applies to illegal drugs and to prescription or over‑the‑counter medications that cause impairment. The key point is impairment, not whether you have a prescription. So impairment from any drug is illegal and dangerous. The other statements don’t fit because DUI laws cover drugs too, prescriptions can still impair you, and you can be charged even if your driving isn’t obviously dangerous at that moment.