Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings

Traffic lights, arrows, flashing signals and the lines painted on the road tell you who may move, which lane you may use and where passing is allowed. Yellow lines separate opposite directions; white lines separate lanes moving the same way.

91 practice questions with answers. These rules are the same in every state.

Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings quiz

Answer at your own pace. After each question you see the correct answer and why, and at the end a review of what you missed.

Quick quiz: 10 random questions on traffic signals and pavement markings; pass with 8 correct.

Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings questions with answers

You reach an intersection showing a steady red light, and a stop line is painted across your lane. Where must you bring the vehicle to a complete stop?
1. Far enough into the intersection to see cross traffic
2. Anywhere inside the crosswalk
3. Before the stop line
4. Past the stop line but short of the crosswalk
Show answer

Answer C: Before the stop line

A steady red requires a complete stop before the marked stop line. Where there is no stop line you stop before the crosswalk, and where there is neither, before entering the intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What does a steady yellow traffic light tell the driver facing it?
1. The green movement is ending and a red indication is about to appear
2. The signal has failed and is running on a backup timer
3. Cross traffic has already received a green light
4. You may increase speed to clear the intersection before the red
Show answer

Answer A: The green movement is ending and a red indication is about to appear

A steady yellow warns that the related green movement is being terminated and that red will follow, so you should stop if you can do so safely.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Your light turns green, but a vehicle from the cross street is still finishing a turn inside the intersection. What should you do?
1. Sound the horn and steer around the other vehicle
2. Wait until that vehicle has cleared the intersection
3. Enter immediately, because a green light gives you priority over everyone
4. Back up to give the other driver more space
Show answer

Answer B: Wait until that vehicle has cleared the intersection

A green indication lets you proceed only after yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to vehicles already lawfully within the intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A traffic signal is displaying a flashing red light. How must you treat it?
1. As a green light, because flashing means the signal is inactive
2. Slow down but keep rolling through the intersection
3. Stop and stay stopped until the light turns green
4. Stop completely, then proceed when the way is clear
Show answer

Answer D: Stop completely, then proceed when the way is clear

A flashing red carries the same meaning as a stop sign: come to a full stop, then go only when it is safe.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?
1. Stop completely before entering the intersection
2. Slow down and proceed with caution
3. The light will turn red before you reach it
4. Only turning movements are allowed
Show answer

Answer B: Slow down and proceed with caution

A flashing yellow lets you enter the intersection cautiously after yielding to pedestrians and to conflicting traffic that is already there.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
You arrive at an intersection where the traffic signal is completely dark because of a power failure. How should you proceed?
1. Keep your speed, since no indication is controlling anyone
2. Treat the signal as if it were showing green for your direction
3. Treat the intersection as an all-way stop
4. Stay stopped until a repair crew restores the signal
Show answer

Answer C: Treat the intersection as an all-way stop

When a signal shows no indication at all, drivers on every approach must stop and then take turns, exactly as at an all-way stop.
At an intersection where turning right on red is permitted and no sign prohibits it, what must you do before turning?
1. Come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and cross traffic
2. Slow to a rolling stop and turn without coming to a halt
3. Wait for a green light even when the way is completely clear
4. Sound the horn to warn cross traffic that you are turning
Show answer

Answer A: Come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and cross traffic

A right turn on red is allowed only after a full stop, and the turning driver must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to traffic already using the intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
The light ahead is green, but traffic beyond the intersection is backed up so far that you could not clear it. What is the correct action?
1. Enter and wait inside the intersection for space to open
2. Follow the vehicle ahead as closely as possible to fit through
3. Change lanes while inside the intersection
4. Wait behind the stop line until there is room on the far side
Show answer

Answer D: Wait behind the stop line until there is room on the far side

Entering an intersection you cannot clear blocks cross traffic and pedestrians, so you should hold your position until space opens on the other side.
A pedestrian signal displays a steady walking person symbol. What does it mean for a pedestrian at that corner?
1. The pedestrian must not enter the roadway
2. The pedestrian may start crossing in the direction of the signal
3. The pedestrian may cross only if a driver waves them across
4. The pedestrian must finish an existing crossing immediately
Show answer

Answer B: The pedestrian may start crossing in the direction of the signal

The steady walking person permits a pedestrian to begin the crossing, while still yielding to vehicles already lawfully in the intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A pedestrian signal changes to a flashing upraised hand. What does that indication mean?
1. Everyone must leave the roadway at once, wherever they are
2. Pedestrians may still begin crossing if they hurry
3. Do not start crossing, but finish a crossing already begun
4. The signal has malfunctioned and should be ignored
Show answer

Answer C: Do not start crossing, but finish a crossing already begun

The flashing upraised hand is the pedestrian change interval: nobody may start to cross, but a pedestrian already in the crosswalk may continue to the far side or to a median.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What do the numbers on a pedestrian countdown display show?
1. The seconds remaining to finish a crossing already under way
2. The seconds until the vehicle signal turns yellow
3. The width of the roadway in feet
4. The number of pedestrians waiting on the opposite corner
Show answer

Answer A: The seconds remaining to finish a crossing already under way

The countdown runs during the pedestrian change interval and shows how many seconds are left before the crossing time ends.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A steady green arrow pointing left is displayed for your turning lane. What does it tell you?
1. You must wait for a circular green before turning
2. You may turn left only after yielding to oncoming vehicles
3. You may either turn left or continue straight ahead
4. The turn is protected because conflicting traffic is being held
Show answer

Answer D: The turn is protected because conflicting traffic is being held

A steady green arrow gives a protected movement in the direction shown, although you still yield to pedestrians and to any vehicle already inside the intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Your left-turn lane shows a flashing yellow arrow. What does that indication allow?
1. A left turn with priority over oncoming traffic and pedestrians
2. A left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians
3. Nothing at all, because you must wait for a steady green arrow
4. Only a straight movement through the intersection, with no turn allowed
Show answer

Answer B: A left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians

A flashing yellow arrow marks a permissive left turn: the movement is allowed, but oncoming vehicles and pedestrians keep the right-of-way.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A steady red arrow is displayed for your left-turn lane at a two-way intersection. What must you do?
1. Slow down and complete the turn with extra care and attention
2. Turn at once if no pedestrians or vehicles are present
3. Stop and remain stopped until an indication permits the turn
4. Stop, then turn as soon as conflicting traffic clears
Show answer

Answer C: Stop and remain stopped until an indication permits the turn

A steady red arrow prohibits the movement it points to, so the driver stops and waits for a green arrow, a flashing yellow arrow or another indication that permits the turn.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
The green arrow protecting your turn changes to a steady yellow arrow. What is it telling you?
1. The protected turn is ending and you should prepare to stop
2. Oncoming traffic has just been stopped so that you may turn safely
3. The turn has become protected in both directions at once
4. You have been given extra time to complete the turn
Show answer

Answer A: The protected turn is ending and you should prepare to stop

A steady yellow arrow warns that the arrow movement is being terminated and that a red indication will follow.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Study tip. Rule out the options you know are wrong first. Two plausible answers are easier to choose between than four.
An overhead lane-use control signal shows a steady red X above the lane you are traveling in. What does it require?
1. Continue in the lane but at a reduced speed
2. Use the lane for turning movements only
3. Prepare to stop because the lane will reopen shortly
4. Leave that lane, because it is closed to you
Show answer

Answer D: Leave that lane, because it is closed to you

A steady red X means road users are not permitted to use the lane beneath it, so you must move into a lane that is open.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A steady downward green arrow is displayed over a lane. What does it indicate?
1. The lane ends within a short distance
2. The lane is reserved for buses only
3. The lane is open to traffic in your direction
4. You must leave the roadway at the next exit
Show answer

Answer C: The lane is open to traffic in your direction

A steady downward green arrow means the lane it points to is open to traffic traveling in your direction.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
The overhead signal above your lane changes to a steady yellow X. What should you do?
1. Stop in the lane and wait for a green arrow
2. Prepare to move out of that lane
3. Stay in the lane, because yellow only means caution
4. Accelerate to pass the closed section
Show answer

Answer B: Prepare to move out of that lane

A steady yellow X warns that the lane is about to close, so drivers should get ready to vacate it in favor of an open lane.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A law enforcement officer is directing traffic and waves you forward while the signal facing you shows red. What should you do?
1. Follow the officer's direction and proceed
2. Stay stopped until the light turns green
3. Turn right in order to avoid the conflict
4. Proceed only once the officer has left the roadway
Show answer

Answer A: Follow the officer's direction and proceed

Directions given by an officer controlling traffic take priority over signals, signs and pavement markings.
An officer directing traffic faces you and holds one hand up with the open palm toward your vehicle. What does the gesture mean?
1. Pull to the shoulder and park
2. Turn in the direction the officer is facing
3. Move forward slowly
4. Stop before reaching the officer
Show answer

Answer D: Stop before reaching the officer

A raised open palm shown toward a driver is the standard signal to stop.
A driver ahead of you extends the left arm straight out horizontally through the window. What is being signaled?
1. A breakdown ahead
2. An invitation for you to pass
3. A left turn
4. A stop or a sudden slowdown
Show answer

Answer C: A left turn

The left arm held straight out is the standard hand signal for a left turn.
A driver extends the left arm out the window and bends it upward at the elbow. What does this signal mean?
1. A left turn
2. A right turn
3. A mechanical problem
4. A request to be passed
Show answer

Answer B: A right turn

The left arm bent upward at the elbow is the standard hand signal for a right turn.
A driver extends the left arm out the window and points it downward toward the road surface. What is being signaled?
1. Slowing down or stopping
2. A left turn
3. A right turn
4. That the driver intends to turn around
Show answer

Answer A: Slowing down or stopping

The left arm extended downward is the standard hand signal for slowing or stopping.
When is a driver or rider most likely to need hand and arm signals instead of the vehicle turn signal lamps?
1. Only when driving after dark on an unlit road
2. Only when a police officer directing traffic asks for them
3. Only when traveling through a work zone or a school zone at any hour of the day
4. When the lamps have failed or cannot be seen because of glare or a load
Show answer

Answer D: When the lamps have failed or cannot be seen because of glare or a load

Hand and arm signals replace or reinforce the lamps whenever the lamps do not work or cannot be seen clearly by other road users.
What do yellow lines painted on a roadway separate?
1. Bicycle lanes from the sidewalk
2. Parking bays from the travel lanes
3. Lanes of traffic moving in the same direction
4. Traffic moving in opposite directions
Show answer

Answer D: Traffic moving in opposite directions

Yellow markings separate opposing streams of traffic, and they also mark the left edge of a divided highway or a one-way roadway.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What do white lane lines painted between travel lanes indicate?
1. Traffic in the adjacent lane moves in the same direction as you
2. Traffic in the adjacent lane moves toward you from the opposite way
3. The roadway narrows to a single lane a short distance ahead
4. Passing and lane changing are prohibited under all conditions
Show answer

Answer A: Traffic in the adjacent lane moves in the same direction as you

White markings separate lanes carrying traffic in the same direction and mark the right edge of the roadway.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
You are on a two-lane road where a broken yellow line runs on your side of the center. What does that pattern allow?
1. Parking along the center of the road while traffic passes
2. Nothing at all, because a yellow line may never be crossed for any reason
3. Passing when the way ahead is clear and it is otherwise legal
4. Driving in either half of the roadway whenever you wish
Show answer

Answer C: Passing when the way ahead is clear and it is otherwise legal

A broken yellow center line marks a stretch where passing is permitted for traffic on that side when it can be completed safely.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
On a two-lane road, a solid yellow line runs on your side of the center while a broken yellow line runs on the other side. What does this mean?
1. Passing is permitted in both directions along that stretch
2. Passing is prohibited for traffic in both directions
3. Only heavy vehicles may pass on that side
4. You may not pass, although oncoming drivers may
Show answer

Answer D: You may not pass, although oncoming drivers may

Passing restrictions are read from the line closest to your own lane, so a solid yellow line on your side creates a no-passing zone for you alone.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Two solid yellow lines are painted down the center of a two-way road. What do they mean?
1. The road becomes one-way a short distance ahead
2. Traffic in neither direction may cross them to pass
3. The lines mark the edge of a bicycle lane
4. Passing is permitted for both directions
Show answer

Answer B: Traffic in neither direction may cross them to pass

A double solid yellow line marks a no-passing zone that applies to traffic traveling in either direction.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A broken white line separates your lane from the lane on your right. What does it permit?
1. Stopping in either lane when traffic is heavy
2. Passing on the shoulder beyond the lane
3. Changing lanes when it is safe to do so
4. Driving with wheels in both lanes at once
Show answer

Answer C: Changing lanes when it is safe to do so

A normal broken white line marks a boundary between lanes traveling the same way that road users may cross when it is safe.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What does the solid white line running along the right side of a highway mark?
1. The right edge of the traveled way
2. The beginning of a passing zone
3. A lane reserved for buses
4. The center of the roadway
Show answer

Answer A: The right edge of the traveled way

A solid white edge line shows where the traveled way ends on the right, which is particularly useful at night and in poor visibility.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
You are driving on a divided highway and see a solid yellow line along the left side of your lanes. What does it tell you?
1. A passing zone starts at that point and runs for a mile
2. The lane you are in will end a short distance ahead
3. It marks the boundary of a bicycle lane running beside the traffic
4. It marks the left edge of the roadway for your direction
Show answer

Answer D: It marks the left edge of the roadway for your direction

On a divided highway or a one-way roadway, the left edge of the traveled way is marked with a solid yellow line.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Two solid white lines separate your lane from the lane beside it. What do they mean?
1. The neighboring lane carries oncoming traffic
2. Crossing from one lane to the other is prohibited
3. You must leave the roadway at the next exit
4. Crossing is allowed whenever traffic is light
Show answer

Answer B: Crossing from one lane to the other is prohibited

A solid double white line marks a boundary that road users may not cross, such as the entrance to a preferential lane.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A single solid white line separates two lanes running in the same direction. What is it telling drivers?
1. Changing lanes there is discouraged
2. The lane turns into a parking lane ahead
3. You must stop before crossing it
4. Oncoming traffic uses the next lane
Show answer

Answer A: Changing lanes there is discouraged

A solid white lane line discourages lane changing, typically where merging or weaving would create a hazard.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A center lane is bordered by a solid yellow line on the outside and a broken yellow line on the inside, with turn arrows painted inside it. What is that lane for?
1. Passing slower vehicles approaching from either direction
2. Emergency, maintenance and highway patrol vehicles only
3. Left turns made by traffic traveling in either direction
4. Through travel at a reduced speed during busy periods
Show answer

Answer C: Left turns made by traffic traveling in either direction

That marking pattern identifies a two-way left-turn lane, which drivers approaching from both directions may use to prepare for a left turn.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
How may a two-way left-turn lane never be used?
1. To slow down before completing a left turn
2. As a through travel lane or a passing lane
3. To turn left out of the roadway
4. To wait briefly before merging after leaving a driveway, where that is allowed
Show answer

Answer B: As a through travel lane or a passing lane

The lane exists only for turning movements, so traveling or passing along it puts you head-on with vehicles turning from the opposite direction.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What is the purpose of a wide solid white line painted straight across your lane on the approach to an intersection?
1. It separates lanes carrying traffic in opposing directions
2. It marks the outer edge of a marked bicycle lane
3. It shows the point where a required stop must be made
4. It marks the strip where pedestrians usually walk
Show answer

Answer C: It shows the point where a required stop must be made

A stop line indicates the point at which the stop required by a signal or a stop sign is to be made, ahead of the crosswalk and the intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What does a marked crosswalk tell a driver approaching a corner?
1. That parking is allowed right up to the edge of the marking itself
2. That vehicles may stop and wait within the marked area
3. That the roadway ahead narrows and the lane count drops
4. Where pedestrians are expected to cross and must be given way
Show answer

Answer D: Where pedestrians are expected to cross and must be given way

Crosswalk markings show pedestrians where to cross and warn drivers to yield to anyone using the crossing.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
At a freeway exit, the paved triangle between the ramp and the through lanes is filled with diagonal white lines. What do they mean?
1. Stay out of that area, because it is not meant to be driven on
2. It is an extra lane you may use whenever the traffic is heavy
3. It is a designated emergency parking area for disabled vehicles
4. It marks a merge point where entering traffic must yield
Show answer

Answer A: Stay out of that area, because it is not meant to be driven on

Chevron and diagonal markings fill paved areas that traffic is not intended to use, so drivers should keep out of them.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A white diamond symbol is painted in a highway lane. What does it identify?
1. A lane that ends at the next exit
2. A lane where passing is prohibited
3. A lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles
4. A lane set aside for slow-moving vehicles
Show answer

Answer C: A lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles

The diamond symbol marks a preferential lane, most often one reserved for vehicles carrying a minimum number of occupants.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A lane along the right edge is set off by a solid white line and marked with a bicycle symbol. How should a driver treat it?
1. Use it as a right-turn lane at all times and park in it when needed
2. Stay out of it except for the short distance needed to turn or cross where that is allowed
3. Use it as an extra travel lane whenever the through lanes are moving slowly or are backed up
4. Treat it as a shoulder that is available for stopping and parking at any hour
Show answer

Answer B: Stay out of it except for the short distance needed to turn or cross where that is allowed

A marked bicycle lane is set aside for bicycle traffic, and motor vehicles may enter it only briefly where turning or crossing is permitted.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A bicycle symbol topped by two chevrons is painted in the middle of a travel lane. What does that marking indicate?
1. The lane is closed to motor vehicles and reserved for bicycles alone at all times
2. Bicyclists must dismount and walk their bicycles through that section
3. It is a bicycle-only lane physically separated from motor traffic
4. Bicyclists share the lane with motor vehicles and may ride away from the curb
Show answer

Answer D: Bicyclists share the lane with motor vehicles and may ride away from the curb

A shared lane marking shows drivers where bicyclists are likely to ride in a lane used by both bicycles and motor vehicles.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A white arrow painted in your lane points only to the right, and a sign above the lane shows the same movement. What must you do?
1. Choose any movement as long as you signal it
2. Continue straight, because paint is only advisory
3. Turn right from that lane
4. Stop and wait for a gap so you can change lanes inside the intersection
Show answer

Answer C: Turn right from that lane

Pavement arrows used with lane-use signs are regulatory, so a driver occupying that lane must make the movement shown.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
The lights at a highway-rail grade crossing begin to flash red as you approach. What must you do?
1. Cross quickly before the gates begin to come down over the roadway
2. Stop short of the tracks and wait until the lights stop and no train is near
3. Slow down and cross the tracks if you cannot see a train approaching from either side
4. Stop only if a gate has come down across the road at the crossing
Show answer

Answer B: Stop short of the tracks and wait until the lights stop and no train is near

Flashing red lights at a crossing require a stop clear of the tracks, and you may proceed only once the lights have stopped, any gates are fully raised and no train is approaching.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A grade crossing is marked only with a crossbuck and has no lights or gates. What does the crossbuck require of you?
1. Stop every single time before crossing, whatever the conditions may be
2. Nothing at all, because it is only an information marker
3. Yield to rail traffic and cross only when no train is approaching
4. Cross without slowing, since no active device is installed
Show answer

Answer C: Yield to rail traffic and cross only when no train is approaching

The crossbuck requires road users to yield the right-of-way to rail traffic, so you must look and listen and be ready to stop.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Study tip. When two answers both seem legal, pick the one that is safer for everyone on the road. That is how most tests are written.
The gates at a railroad crossing are down, and you can see that the road beyond them is clear. What is the correct action?
1. Wait until the gates rise completely and the lights go out
2. Drive around the gates because the way is visibly clear
3. Drive around the gates slowly if no train is in sight
4. Sound the horn and cross
Show answer

Answer A: Wait until the gates rise completely and the lights go out

Lowered gates mean rail traffic is expected, and driving around them removes the only protection the crossing provides.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Traffic is backed up on the far side of a railroad crossing. What should you do before driving onto the tracks?
1. Move onto the tracks so you keep your place in the queue
2. Cross slowly and stop with only the rear of the vehicle on the tracks
3. Change lanes on the crossing to find a shorter queue
4. Wait behind the tracks until there is room to clear them completely
Show answer

Answer D: Wait behind the tracks until there is room to clear them completely

Never enter a crossing until you are certain you can drive completely across without stopping, because a vehicle trapped on the tracks cannot get out of a train's way.
Your vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing and will not restart. What should you do first?
1. Get everyone out and away from the tracks immediately
2. Stay inside and keep trying to start the engine
3. Open the hood and inspect the engine
4. Stand beside the vehicle and wave at any approaching train
Show answer

Answer A: Get everyone out and away from the tracks immediately

Everyone must leave the vehicle and move well clear of the tracks at once, walking toward the train at an angle so that debris from an impact travels away from you.
You are clear of the tracks after your vehicle stalled on a crossing. Whom should you contact?
1. The nearest repair shop before anyone else
2. Your insurance company first of all
3. The emergency number posted on the blue sign at the crossing, or 911
4. Nobody, because the railroad detects stopped vehicles automatically
Show answer

Answer C: The emergency number posted on the blue sign at the crossing, or 911

Grade crossings carry an emergency notification sign with a railroad phone number and a crossing identification number so that approaching trains can be stopped, and 911 works if that sign is not visible.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A train has just passed a crossing that carries more than one set of tracks. What should you do?
1. Cross as soon as the last car of the train has gone past the far side of the crossing
2. Wait until the warning devices stop and you can see clearly along every track
3. Cross behind the train straight away so the driver can see you
4. Follow the vehicle in front across the tracks without checking again
Show answer

Answer B: Wait until the warning devices stop and you can see clearly along every track

A passing train can hide a second one coming on another track, so wait for the signals to clear and check each track before moving.
A flagger in a work zone turns a paddle so that the red octagonal face reading STOP is toward you. What must you do?
1. Stop completely and wait for the flagger to signal you forward
2. Slow to about half the posted speed and keep moving past the flagger
3. Stop only if workers are actually standing in the roadway
4. Change lanes and drive past the flagger without stopping
Show answer

Answer A: Stop completely and wait for the flagger to signal you forward

The STOP face of a flagger paddle requires a complete stop, and you may move again only when the flagger directs you to.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A flagger turns the paddle to the orange face reading SLOW. What does that tell approaching drivers?
1. Stop at once and switch off the engine until told otherwise
2. Reverse out of the zone and take a different route
3. Keep to the normal speed limit through the zone
4. Reduce speed and continue through the work area with care
Show answer

Answer D: Reduce speed and continue through the work area with care

The SLOW face keeps traffic moving at a reduced speed while workers or equipment are close to the travel lanes.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
In a work zone, the flagger's instructions conflict with the pavement markings still visible on the road. Which do you follow?
1. The pavement markings, because they are permanent
2. The flagger, because a person directing traffic outranks the markings
3. Whichever allows the higher speed
4. Neither, because you should stop and wait for the zone to close
Show answer

Answer B: The flagger, because a person directing traffic outranks the markings

An authorized flagger controlling a temporary traffic control zone overrides signs, signals and markings, and drivers must obey the flagger's signals.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
An arrow panel at a work zone displays a flashing arrow pointing to the left. What does it require?
1. Stop and wait there for a flagger to direct you
2. Turn left at the next intersection beyond the work area
3. Move out of the closed lane into the lane on the left
4. Keep to your present lane and reduce speed only
Show answer

Answer C: Move out of the closed lane into the lane on the left

A flashing or sequential arrow on an arrow panel directs traffic out of a closed lane and into the lane the arrow points to.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
An arrow panel in a work zone shows four flashing lamps in caution mode instead of an arrow. What does that display mean?
1. Warning only, so pass the work area with caution in your current lane
2. Your lane is closed ahead and you must merge into the lane to the right
3. Your lane is closed ahead and you must merge into the lane to the left
4. The work zone has ended and normal driving conditions apply again
Show answer

Answer A: Warning only, so pass the work area with caution in your current lane

Caution mode gives a general warning without directing a lane change, so drivers stay alert and pass the activity with care.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A driver passes this sign and the signal beyond it is already showing green. What is the safest response?
1. Speed up to clear the intersection before the indication changes
2. Stop at the intersection whatever the indication shows
3. Ease off the accelerator and be ready to stop, because an indication that has been showing for a while is about to change
4. Move to the left lane and hold the same speed
Show answer

Answer C: Ease off the accelerator and be ready to stop, because an indication that has been showing for a while is about to change

A signal that has been displaying the same indication for some time is close to changing, so arriving at a controlled speed with the brake covered is safer than accelerating to beat it.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Where does the restriction that starts at this sign come to an end?
1. At the next intersection, whatever the pavement shows
2. Exactly one mile beyond this point
3. As soon as the driver can see clear road ahead
4. Where the centerline markings show that overtaking is allowed again
Show answer

Answer D: Where the centerline markings show that overtaking is allowed again

The sign marks the start of the restricted section, and the centerline markings along the road show how far it runs and where overtaking becomes lawful again.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
In normal operation, which indication always comes between a green and a red on the same signal face?
1. A short period with nothing lit at all
2. A steady green arrow for the turning lane
3. A steady yellow
4. A flashing red held for a few seconds
Show answer

Answer C: A steady yellow

The yellow change interval must follow every green or green arrow, so a signal can never jump straight from green to red.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
In a normal signal cycle, what comes after a steady red indication?
1. A green indication that starts the next movement
2. A yellow indication warning that the red is ending
3. A flashing red allowing a stop and go movement
4. A dark period while the controller changes phase
Show answer

Answer A: A green indication that starts the next movement

Yellow is a warning that a movement is ending, so it never precedes a green; a red is followed by a green or a green arrow.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
At an intersection that uses a lagging left turn, when is the left-turn arrow displayed?
1. At the same time as the walk indication
2. After the through movement has run
3. Before any other movement at the intersection
4. Only while a vehicle waits over the detector
Show answer

Answer B: After the through movement has run

A lagging left turn phase runs at the end of the green rather than the start, so a driver waiting to turn should not assume the arrow has been missed.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A flashing red arrow is displayed for your turning lane. What does it require?
1. Stopping and waiting until a green arrow appears
2. Slowing and turning without stopping if nothing is coming
3. Stopping and turning only after the pedestrian phase ends
4. Stopping, then turning when the way is clear
Show answer

Answer D: Stopping, then turning when the way is clear

A flashing red arrow is treated like a stop sign for that movement: come to a full stop, then turn when it is safe and no one has to be cut off.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A pedestrian waiting at a curb faces a steady upraised hand. What does that indication mean?
1. Do not start to cross in that direction
2. Cross quickly, because the signal is about to change
3. Cross only if no vehicle is turning into the crosswalk
4. Wait for the countdown to reach zero and then cross
Show answer

Answer A: Do not start to cross in that direction

A steady upraised hand forbids entering the crosswalk, while a flashing hand only forbids starting a new crossing.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
At many crossings the walk indication appears only after a button is pressed. What happens if a pedestrian does not press it?
1. The walk indication is shown on every second cycle instead
2. The signal may cycle without showing a walk indication
3. The walk indication appears anyway but lasts a shorter time
4. The signal holds traffic on red until someone presses it
Show answer

Answer B: The signal may cycle without showing a walk indication

An actuated pedestrian phase is called in by the pushbutton, so without it the controller may serve the vehicle movements alone.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A small signal face beside a bikeway shows red, yellow and green lenses that each carry a bicycle symbol. Whom does it control?
1. Drivers who are turning across the bikeway at that point
2. Bicyclists and pedestrians who share the same path
3. Bicyclists using that crossing or bikeway
4. All traffic, with the symbol showing where bikes wait
Show answer

Answer C: Bicyclists using that crossing or bikeway

A bicycle signal face governs bicycle movements only, and people on foot at the same corner still follow the pedestrian signal.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A signal stands part way up a freeway entrance ramp and turns green briefly again and again. How many vehicles does such a signal normally release on each green?
1. One for each lane of the ramp
2. As many as can pass before the red returns
3. Two per lane, so that pairs can merge together
4. Any number, since the signal only sets a rhythm
Show answer

Answer A: One for each lane of the ramp

A ramp control signal releases a single vehicle per lane on each green so that vehicles reach the merge one at a time instead of in a bunch.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A yellow lamp flashes above a warning sign at a sharp curve. What does it ask of a driver?
1. Stop before the sign and go on when the way is clear
2. Treat the flashing lamp as though it were a red signal
3. Ignore the sign, because the beacon replaces its message
4. Slow down and pass the point with extra care
Show answer

Answer D: Slow down and pass the point with extra care

A warning beacon draws attention to the sign it is mounted with, and the message of the sign is what the driver must act on.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
At a rural intersection a beacon flashes yellow toward the main road and red toward the side road. How is each approach treated?
1. The main road slows and proceeds, the side road stops
2. Both roads stop and take turns as at an all-way stop
3. The main road stops and the side road keeps priority
4. Both roads proceed, since neither indication needs a stop
Show answer

Answer A: The main road slows and proceeds, the side road stops

An intersection control beacon assigns flashing yellow to the road with priority and flashing red to the approach that must stop and yield.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A flashing red lamp is mounted above a stop sign at a rural intersection. What does it add?
1. A warning that cross traffic does not have to stop
2. Permission to roll through when nothing is coming
3. Emphasis, while the required stop stays the same
4. A duty to stop only while the lamp is flashing
Show answer

Answer C: Emphasis, while the required stop stays the same

A stop beacon makes an easily missed stop sign more visible, but it neither adds to nor takes away from the obligation the sign already imposes.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A signal beside a fire station stays dark until apparatus is about to leave, when it shows yellow and then red. What must a driver do?
1. Carry on if the way looks clear, since the signal only warns
2. Stop on the red and wait until the signal goes dark again
3. Treat the dark signal as an all-way stop at all times
4. Stop only once an emergency vehicle is already in the road
Show answer

Answer B: Stop on the red and wait until the signal goes dark again

An emergency vehicle signal is a real traffic signal, so its red indication must be obeyed while the apparatus pulls out into the street.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Lights set into the pavement along both edges of a crosswalk start to flash yellow as you approach. What do they tell you?
1. The crosswalk is closed while repairs are carried out
2. The signal ahead is about to change to red for you
3. The crossing may be used only by children going to school
4. Someone is crossing and has to be given way
Show answer

Answer D: Someone is crossing and has to be given way

In-roadway warning lights flash only when a pedestrian activates the crossing, so a flashing pattern means somebody is in or entering the crosswalk.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
In the code that governs pavement markings, what does a double line stand for?
1. A boundary that only heavy vehicles must respect
2. A maximum restriction
3. A change of lane function ahead
4. A surface that has just been resurfaced
Show answer

Answer B: A maximum restriction

The marking code is consistent: a double line means the strongest restriction, a solid line discourages or forbids crossing, and a broken line is permissive.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What does a broken line indicate, whatever color it is painted?
1. That traffic beyond it moves the other way
2. That passing is allowed for the next mile
3. That crossing it is permitted
4. That the lane beside it ends soon
Show answer

Answer C: That crossing it is permitted

A broken line always describes a permissive condition, and the color then tells the driver whether the traffic beyond it runs the same way or the opposite way.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A line of short dashes set closer together than an ordinary lane line runs beside your lane where a ramp leaves the highway. What does a dotted line of that kind convey?
1. A warning that the lane is about to change function
2. A place where parking is allowed outside peak hours
3. A boundary that must never be crossed by any vehicle
4. The edge of a lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles
Show answer

Answer A: A warning that the lane is about to change function

Dotted lines give guidance or warning about a downstream change, such as a lane that becomes an exit only lane or a lane line carried across an intersection.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A line beside your lane is painted about twice the normal width. What does the extra width convey?
1. That only wide vehicles may be driven across it
2. Greater emphasis on the restriction it carries
3. That the lane beyond it is reserved for buses
4. That the pavement was resurfaced at that point
Show answer

Answer B: Greater emphasis on the restriction it carries

Width is part of the marking code: a wide line carries more emphasis than a normal one, which is why it is used at gores and channelizing lines.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Red pavement markings are used on a roadway to show that
1. it must not be entered from that direction
2. parking is prohibited along that whole stretch
3. the surface has been treated to give extra grip
4. emergency vehicles have priority over other traffic
Show answer

Answer A: it must not be entered from that direction

Red markings identify a roadway that is not to be entered or used, and they also mark the pavement of truck escape ramps.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Study tip. One test a day for a week beats seven tests in one evening: spaced practice is what makes rules stick.
Blue pavement markings are used together with white markings at
1. loading zones set aside for delivery vehicles only
2. spaces where an electric vehicle may be charged
3. bus stops where general traffic may not wait
4. parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities
Show answer

Answer D: parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities

Blue supplements the white markings of accessible parking spaces, which is the only assignment blue has on the pavement.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Driving at night you notice that the raised markers along the line beside you are throwing back red light. What does that tell you?
1. You are drifting close to the edge of the paved surface
2. You are approaching a toll plaza a short distance ahead
3. You are facing traffic and must get off that roadway
4. You are in a lane that is reserved for buses and taxis
Show answer

Answer C: You are facing traffic and must get off that roadway

Red retroreflection is shown only toward traffic that should not be there, so a red return means the vehicle is heading the wrong way.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
In heavy fog at night on a rural two-lane road, which marking best helps a driver hold position?
1. The double yellow line where passing is not allowed
2. The reflective markers set along the crown of the road
3. The solid white line along the right edge
4. The broken yellow line at the center of the road
Show answer

Answer C: The solid white line along the right edge

Steering by the right edge line keeps a driver clear of oncoming traffic, while watching the center line tends to pull the vehicle toward it.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A curb lane is marked BUS ONLY 7 AM TO 9 AM. What may the driver of a car do?
1. Use the lane outside those hours
2. Use the lane during those hours when carrying passengers
3. Use the lane at any time when no bus is in sight
4. Use the lane during those hours whenever traffic is heavy
Show answer

Answer A: Use the lane outside those hours

A part-time bus lane is reserved only during the posted period, and outside it the lane serves general traffic like any other.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A wide solid white line separates the through lanes from an exit lane. What does it tell drivers?
1. The through lanes end and everyone must take the exit
2. The choice of lane should already have been made
3. They may weave across it as long as they signal first
4. The exit lane is closed to all but heavy vehicles
Show answer

Answer B: The choice of lane should already have been made

A channelizing line marks where the paths separate and crossing it is discouraged or prohibited, so the lane change has to happen upstream.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
You face a red light at an intersection that has no stop line and no marked crosswalk. Where must you stop?
1. At least one car length back from the corner curb
2. Anywhere that leaves room for another vehicle to turn in
3. Before entering the intersection
4. With the front bumper level with the signal head
Show answer

Answer C: Before entering the intersection

With no line and no crosswalk, the stopping point is the near edge of the intersecting roadway, close enough to see cross traffic but clear of it.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Some crosswalks are marked with two transverse lines and others with a row of wide bars laid along the direction of travel. Why is the second pattern used?
1. It shows that pedestrians must cross in single file there
2. It is far easier for an approaching driver to see
3. It shows that the crossing is controlled by a signal
4. It marks a crossing that only children are allowed to use
Show answer

Answer B: It is far easier for an approaching driver to see

Longitudinal bar patterns are used where extra visibility is wanted, such as an uncontrolled crossing or one near a school, because they show up much better from a car.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A row of solid white triangles points toward you across your lane. What does it mark?
1. The place to yield to traffic or people ahead
2. The place where a required full stop must be made
3. The start of a lane that is about to be dropped
4. The boundary of an area that must be kept clear
Show answer

Answer A: The place to yield to traffic or people ahead

A yield line of triangles shows drivers exactly where to give way, and it is used at roundabouts and at midblock crosswalks.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
On a multi-lane street, a yield line is painted well back from an unsignalized crosswalk rather than right at it. Why?
1. So a stopped vehicle does not block the next intersection
2. So a turning truck has room to swing across the lane
3. So there is space for cyclists to wait beside the cars
4. So drivers in the other lanes can see the pedestrian
Show answer

Answer D: So drivers in the other lanes can see the pedestrian

Setting the yield line back keeps a stopped vehicle from hiding a crossing pedestrian from drivers in the next lane, which is a common cause of these crashes.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
On a street with parking along the curb, the shared lane marking is painted well out from the curb face. What does that placement tell a bicyclist?
1. To stay in the middle of the road at all times
2. To move onto the sidewalk when traffic is heavy
3. To ride clear of the doors of parked cars
4. To ride as close to the parked cars as possible
Show answer

Answer C: To ride clear of the doors of parked cars

The marking is set at least eleven feet from the curb where parking is allowed so that riders are guided outside the reach of an opening door.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A large X with the letters R and R beside it is painted across your lane. What does it mean?
1. A railroad crossing lies a short distance ahead
2. A crossing was removed and the rails were taken up
3. Heavy vehicles must stop and look before going on
4. The lane is reserved for rail maintenance vehicles
Show answer

Answer A: A railroad crossing lies a short distance ahead

The pavement marking repeats the advance warning for a grade crossing, and it is used on paved approaches where speeds are high or where gates are installed.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
The word SCHOOL is painted in large letters across the roadway. What is it doing?
1. Marking the place where school buses turn round
2. Showing where parents may wait for their children
3. Warning that only school traffic may use that lane
4. Backing up the signs marking a school zone
Show answer

Answer D: Backing up the signs marking a school zone

Word markings on the pavement reinforce a message that is already signed, and a driver looking at the road ahead cannot miss them.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
You have turned onto a ramp at night and your headlights pick out large white arrows painted on the pavement pointing straight back at you. What do they mean?
1. You must yield before joining the roadway at the top
2. You are in a lane that leads only to a service area
3. You are traveling against the flow and must turn back
4. You are approaching a lane that ends a short way ahead
Show answer

Answer C: You are traveling against the flow and must turn back

Wrong-way arrows are laid so that a driver going the correct way never sees them head on, so an arrow pointing at you means you are on the ramp backwards.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
A raised area crosses the roadway and carries a series of white markings on its face. What are those markings for?
1. To make the hump visible so drivers slow for it
2. To show where pedestrians may cross the roadway
3. To mark a place where parking is not allowed
4. To show heavy vehicles which line to take over it
Show answer

Answer A: To make the hump visible so drivers slow for it

Speed hump markings warn drivers that the pavement rises, which matters most at night or when the hump is in shadow.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
What are painted curb markings mainly used for?
1. Marking the boundary of the state highway system
2. Showing where snow is to be cleared in winter
3. Indicating the presence of underground utilities
4. Conveying parking and stopping regulations
Show answer

Answer D: Conveying parking and stopping regulations

Colored curbs tell drivers where waiting or parking is restricted, and because the exact color meanings are set locally a driver should also read the posted signs.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Snow has covered the pavement markings on a two-lane road. How should a driver judge lane position?
1. By following the vehicle ahead as closely as it can be done
2. By the tracks of other traffic and the roadside features
3. By staying in the middle of the cleared width of the road
4. By keeping the left wheels where the center line should be
Show answer

Answer B: By the tracks of other traffic and the roadside features

With the markings hidden, ruts left by earlier traffic, signs, poles and the line of the shoulder are the best clues to where the lane runs.

Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov