Washington Driver License: Sharing the Road

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Sharing the Road. Free, no account needed.

1. A pedestrian with no mobility aid is crossing in front of your stopped car at an intersection. How long must you wait before proceeding?

Until the pedestrian steps out of your lane
Until the pedestrian has completely crossed the entire road
You may proceed once the pedestrian is more than halfway across
Until the pedestrian has cleared your lane and one additional lane

Answer: D — Until the pedestrian has cleared your lane and one additional lane

For a pedestrian without a mobility aid or service animal, drivers must wait until the person has cleared their lane plus one more lane before proceeding.

2. A pedestrian using a guide dog is crossing the street ahead of your car. How long must you wait before proceeding?

Until the pedestrian clears your lane only
Until the pedestrian clears your lane and one additional lane
Until the pedestrian has completely crossed the road
As soon as the pedestrian steps past the front of your vehicle

Answer: C — Until the pedestrian has completely crossed the road

Pedestrians who use a wheelchair, cane, guide dog, or other service animal must be allowed to completely cross before a driver proceeds.

3. A driver wants to let a pedestrian using a service animal know it's safe to cross. Which of these should the driver avoid doing?

Waving to signal them across
Honking the horn
Flashing the headlights
Rolling down the window to speak

Answer: B — Honking the horn

Honking near a service animal can confuse or frighten the animal or the person it assists, so drivers should not do it.

4. What does a yellow light on a school bus mean?

Stop immediately
You may pass carefully
Caution, slow down
The bus is turning

Answer: C — Caution, slow down

School bus lights work like traffic signals, and yellow means caution or slow down while red means stop.

5. You're driving toward a school bus on a two-lane road, approaching from the opposite direction, and its red lights begin flashing. What must you do?

Slow down but continue past since the bus is stopped for the other side
Continue driving since you're traveling the opposite direction
Stop, because on a two-lane road all vehicles must stop for a bus with flashing red lights
Stop only if you see children near the bus

Answer: C — Stop, because on a two-lane road all vehicles must stop for a bus with flashing red lights

On a two-lane road, every vehicle approaching from either direction must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

6. You're driving on a four-lane divided road with a raised median between directions, and a school bus in the oncoming lanes has stopped with red lights flashing. Are you required to stop?

No, oncoming traffic is never required to stop for a school bus
Yes, all drivers regardless of road type must stop
No, because the lanes are separated by a median and there are more than two lanes total
Yes, unless you are in the leftmost lane

Answer: C — No, because the lanes are separated by a median and there are more than two lanes total

On a multilane road, oncoming drivers need not stop if there are three or more lanes or the lanes are separated by a median or barrier.

7. A school bus ahead has had its red lights stop flashing and its stop sign has retracted. When is it safe to proceed?

Immediately, once the lights stop flashing
Once the stop sign retracts, even if the arm hasn't moved
Only after the bus itself starts moving forward
Once the metal arm returns to the bus's front bumper, while continuing to watch for children

Answer: D — Once the metal arm returns to the bus's front bumper, while continuing to watch for children

Drivers should go only after the lights stop, the sign retracts, and the metal arm returns to the bumper, and should keep watching for children afterward.

8. A city bus ahead of you has stopped at a curb to pick up passengers, signals, and begins pulling back into traffic in your lane, traveling the same direction as you. What should you do?

Speed up to pass before it merges
Yield and let the bus merge back into traffic
Maintain your speed since through traffic has the right-of-way
Honk to alert the driver you're there

Answer: B — Yield and let the bus merge back into traffic

Drivers must yield to a transit vehicle traveling their direction that has signaled and is pulling back onto the roadway.

9. You've just passed a large truck and want to merge back in front of it. How do you know you have enough room to do so safely?

When you are one car length ahead of it
When the truck driver flashes its lights at you
When you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror
When you can see the truck's front bumper in your side mirror

Answer: C — When you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror

Before merging ahead of a large vehicle, wait until you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror.

10. At highway speed, why should you avoid lingering alongside a large truck for an extended time?

If you can't see the truck driver's mirrors, you're likely in a blind zone
It increases your fuel consumption
The truck may suddenly speed up to block you
It is illegal to drive alongside a truck

Answer: A — If you can't see the truck driver's mirrors, you're likely in a blind zone

If you cannot see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you, since large vehicles have blind zones on each side.

11. A loaded truck with properly adjusted brakes is traveling 55 mph. About how much distance does it need to come to a complete stop?

150 feet
300 feet
450 feet
600 feet

Answer: C — 450 feet

A loaded truck with properly adjusted brakes at 55 mph needs about 450 feet to stop, which is why drivers should never cut in front without room.

12. You're following a snowplow that is actively clearing snow from the road. Why should you stay well back from it?

It requires two lanes to turn
It throws snow that creates blizzard-like, low-visibility conditions
The plow may stop suddenly for obstacles
Its brake lights are hard to see

Answer: B — It throws snow that creates blizzard-like, low-visibility conditions

Snowplows throw snow that creates blizzard-like conditions for anyone following closely, so drivers should give them room.

13. A motorcyclist ahead of you is moving side to side within their own lane. What is the most likely reason?

The rider is improving visibility and avoiding debris, which is normal lane positioning
The rider is inviting you to pass on that side
The rider is losing control of the motorcycle
The rider is signaling an upcoming turn

Answer: A — The rider is improving visibility and avoiding debris, which is normal lane positioning

Motorcyclists move around within their lane to see, be seen, and avoid debris; this is normal and not a sign of trouble.

14. Traffic is heavy and slow, and you consider sharing a lane side by side with a motorcyclist ahead. Is this acceptable?

Only if the motorcyclist signals permission first
Yes, but only on multilane roads
Yes, if the motorcyclist moves over to make room
No, a motorcyclist is entitled to the full width of the lane

Answer: D — No, a motorcyclist is entitled to the full width of the lane

Motorcyclists are entitled to the full lane width, so a driver should never share a lane alongside one.

15. Before turning at an intersection, why should a driver look left, right, and left again specifically with motorcycles in mind?

Motorcycles always travel with a passenger
Motorcycles can hide in blind zones and their speed is easy to misjudge
Motorcycles are only permitted in the rightmost lane
Motorcycles are required to stop farther back than cars

Answer: B — Motorcycles can hide in blind zones and their speed is easy to misjudge

Motorcycles hide in blind zones, and drivers turning or pulling out often miss them or misjudge their speed.

16. A motorcyclist ahead of you slows down by rolling off the throttle rather than braking. What might a following driver notice?

No brake light even though the motorcycle is slowing
A turn signal that flashes twice as fast
The motorcycle pulling completely off the roadway
The motorcycle's horn sounding automatically

Answer: A — No brake light even though the motorcycle is slowing

Riders may slow using the throttle and show no brake light, so following drivers need to give them time to notice signals and react.

17. A bicyclist is riding through a marked crosswalk at an intersection. How should this bicyclist be treated for right-of-way purposes?

Bicyclists have no right-of-way in a crosswalk
As a vehicle that must yield to all crossing traffic
As a pedestrian
The same as a motorcyclist

Answer: C — As a pedestrian

A bicyclist in a crosswalk is treated as a pedestrian, in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

18. You're driving on a two-lane road, one lane each direction, and want to pass a bicyclist ahead. Oncoming traffic is clear. What should you do to pass safely?

Sound your horn and pass quickly before oncoming traffic arrives
Stay in your lane and pass with at least 3 feet of space
Wait for the bicyclist to move onto the shoulder before passing
Move fully into the oncoming lane, since it's clear, keeping at least 3 feet from the rider

Answer: D — Move fully into the oncoming lane, since it's clear, keeping at least 3 feet from the rider

On a two-lane road you pass a bicyclist by moving into the oncoming lane only when clear, keeping at least 3 feet from the rider.

19. You've parked at a curb next to a street and are about to open your car door. What should you check for first?

Nearby parking signage
Oncoming vehicle traffic only
Pedestrians on the sidewalk only
Bicyclists approaching from any direction

Answer: D — Bicyclists approaching from any direction

Drivers should look all around for riders before opening a car door, since bicyclists may be passing close to parked cars.

20. You're approaching an intersection where you plan to turn right, and a bicyclist is riding straight through the intersection in the same direction as you. What should you do?

Let the bicyclist clear the intersection before you turn
Pass the bicyclist just before making your turn
Honk so the bicyclist yields to your turn
Turn right quickly before the bicyclist reaches the intersection

Answer: A — Let the bicyclist clear the intersection before you turn

Drivers should let a bicyclist clear the intersection before turning and should never pass one just before a right turn.

21. Approaching an intersection, you notice the painted bike lane markings end just before the crosswalk, though a bicyclist is riding straight through on that path. How should you treat the gap in the markings?

As if the bike lane markings continue through the gap
As a sign the bicyclist must merge into your lane
As a passing zone reserved for turning vehicles
As if the bike lane no longer exists there, so you can merge freely

Answer: A — As if the bike lane markings continue through the gap

Bike lane markings should be treated as continuing even where the painted lines end.

22. You're approaching a railroad crossing and the signal lights begin to flash. About how far from the nearest rail should you stop?

50 to 100 feet
5 to 10 feet
At least 100 feet
15 to 50 feet

Answer: D — 15 to 50 feet

Drivers should stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail when a signal flashes or another warning condition applies.

23. You're approaching a railroad crossing where the lights are flashing and bells are ringing, but the gate has not yet lowered. Can you cross?

Yes, if you can see the train is still far away
Yes, since the gate is still up
No, you must stop because flashing lights and ringing bells require a stop regardless of the gate
Only if no flagger is present

Answer: C — No, you must stop because flashing lights and ringing bells require a stop regardless of the gate

When lights flash and bells ring, drivers must stop whether or not the gate is down, and must never drive around a gate.

24. Why should a driver never assume it's safe to cross tracks just because an approaching train looks far away or slow?

Trains must always yield to vehicles at crossings
Trains can be closer, quieter, and faster than they appear
Trains only travel in one direction on each track
Trains take less than 100 feet to stop

Answer: B — Trains can be closer, quieter, and faster than they appear

Trains can be closer, quieter, and faster than they look, and can come from either direction on any track.

25. Your vehicle has stalled on a railroad crossing and a train is approaching. What should everyone in the vehicle do?

Try to push the vehicle off the tracks first
Get out immediately, all at the same time
Stay in the vehicle with hazard lights on
Wait for the train to signal before exiting

Answer: B — Get out immediately, all at the same time

If a vehicle is stuck on the tracks, everyone should get out at once rather than trying to move the vehicle or wait.

26. You're driving near Link light rail tracks. About how much distance should you keep from a train?

No specific distance is required
At least 50 feet
At least 3 feet
At least one car length

Answer: D — At least one car length

Near light rail, drivers should keep at least one car length from trains and never stop, park, or leave a car on the tracks.

27. You see a slow-moving vehicle ahead with a triangle emblem mounted on the back. What does this emblem indicate?

The vehicle is a school bus
The vehicle is an emergency vehicle
The vehicle is built for 25 mph or less
The vehicle is carrying hazardous materials

Answer: C — The vehicle is built for 25 mph or less

Farm vehicles built for 25 mph or less carry a triangle emblem on the back to warn following traffic.

28. You hear a siren and see flashing lights of an ambulance approaching from behind. What should you do?

Stop immediately in your current lane
Pull to the right side of the road and stop until it passes
Pull to the left side of the road and stop
Speed up to clear the intersection first

Answer: B — Pull to the right side of the road and stop until it passes

Drivers should pull to the right side of the road and stop, waiting until the emergency vehicle has passed before reentering traffic.