Washington Driver License: Hazards, Conditions, Failures and Collisions

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Hazards, Conditions, Failures and Collisions. Free, no account needed.

1. Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in Washington for which age group?

26 to 35
16 to 25
13 to 19
35 to 44

Answer: B — 16 to 25

Vehicle crashes are named as a leading cause of death for people 16 to 25 in Washington.

2. A driver notices a ball roll into the street and recognizes, moments before a child follows it, that the situation could turn dangerous. Identifying the hazard before it becomes a problem is an example of what?

Eye-lead time
Hazard perception
Risk awareness
Situational awareness

Answer: B — Hazard perception

Hazard perception is identifying hazards before they become a problem, which is exactly this driver's action.

3. Which of these best describes what counts as a hazard while driving?

Any illegal action by another driver
Anything that requires a change in speed or direction
Any moving vehicle within sight
Only stationary obstacles blocking the road

Answer: B — Anything that requires a change in speed or direction

A hazard is defined broadly as anything requiring a change in speed or direction, whether stationary or moving.

4. While driving, you scan the road, check your mirrors, and decide it's safe to change lanes. What should you do next?

Execute the lane change immediately
Communicate the intention by signaling
Evaluate the outcome
Check your final position and speed

Answer: B — Communicate the intention by signaling

The hazard management routine moves from Plan (scanning and deciding) to Communicate (signal) before checking position and executing.

5. You need to brake harder than usual to avoid a hazard ahead. Which other road users are typically most affected by that decision?

Oncoming drivers
The drivers behind you
Pedestrians at the corner
Drivers waiting to pull out from side streets

Answer: B — The drivers behind you

Situational awareness includes recognizing that the drivers behind you are usually most affected by your driving decisions.

6. The posted speed limit is 60 mph, but dense fog has cut visibility sharply. You continue at 60 mph. Is this legal?

Yes, as long as your headlights are on
No, the law requires a speed safe for current conditions even if that's below the limit
Yes, since it matches the posted limit
No, because fog legally requires exceeding the posted limit

Answer: B — No, the law requires a speed safe for current conditions even if that's below the limit

Speed limits are maximums for ideal conditions; the law also requires a speed safe for current conditions, and you're always responsible for that.

7. A driver traveling well above a safe speed for current conditions suddenly faces a hazard. What happens to their stopping distance and reaction time?

Stopping distance lengthens and there's less time to scan and react
Neither is measurably affected
Stopping distance shortens while reaction time improves
Only fuel economy is affected, not stopping ability

Answer: A — Stopping distance lengthens and there's less time to scan and react

Excessive speed lengthens stopping distances and cuts the time available to scan and react to hazards.

8. You're driving near other vehicles in traffic. About how much space should you leave ahead of your vehicle?

One and a half vehicle lengths
At least twice the length of your vehicle
One vehicle length
Half a vehicle length

Answer: B — At least twice the length of your vehicle

The guidance is to leave at least twice the length of your vehicle ahead near other vehicles.

9. You're entering an interstate from an on-ramp while another car is already traveling in the lane you want to join. Who has the right-of-way?

The merging driver, if signaling
Drivers already on the interstate
It is shared equally between both
Whichever vehicle is moving faster

Answer: B — Drivers already on the interstate

Drivers already on the interstate have the right-of-way over merging traffic.

10. Traffic on a road slows to a stop because one lane ahead is closed. What merging approach keeps both lanes flowing most efficiently?

Stop and wait for a large gap before merging
Merge into the open lane as early as possible
Stay in your lane to the merge point and take turns
Speed up to get ahead of the closure

Answer: C — Stay in your lane to the merge point and take turns

The zipper merge, staying in lane to the merge point and taking turns, is recommended and improves flow significantly.

11. To practice looking far enough down the road, you pick a fixed point ahead and count how long it takes to reach it. About how many seconds ahead should that point be?

45 seconds
15 seconds
5 seconds
30 seconds

Answer: B — 15 seconds

Eye-lead time practice uses a marker judged to be about 15 seconds ahead.

12. You're stopped at an intersection waiting to turn left across oncoming traffic. Who has the right-of-way?

The turning driver, once signaling
The approaching oncoming traffic
Whichever driver reaches the intersection first
The driver with fewer vehicles behind them

Answer: B — The approaching oncoming traffic

Approaching oncoming traffic has the right-of-way over a driver turning left across its path.

13. Which type of vision gives you sharp detail in the direction you're looking straight ahead?

Central vision
Line of sight
Fringe vision
Peripheral vision

Answer: A — Central vision

Central vision is defined as the vision providing detail straight ahead.

14. As your driving speed increases, what happens to your central, fringe, and peripheral vision?

All three degrade
Only peripheral vision narrows while central vision sharpens
Only central vision is affected
Vision is unaffected by speed

Answer: A — All three degrade

All three kinds of vision, central, fringe and peripheral, are degraded by speed.

15. You're driving at night on a rural road with no other vehicles in sight. Which headlights should you use?

High beams
Low beams
Hazard lights
Fog lights

Answer: A — High beams

High beams should be used when there's no oncoming traffic, switching to low beams when following another vehicle.

16. An oncoming driver at night has their high beams on and doesn't dim them as they approach. Where should you look?

Toward the right edge of the road
Toward the center line
Directly at the oncoming headlights
In the rearview mirror

Answer: A — Toward the right edge of the road

Looking toward the right edge of the road avoids the glare while still guiding your path.

17. Driving at night, how fast should you generally travel?

Slow enough to stop within the glow of your headlights
Twice the posted daytime limit
Fast enough to reach your destination on schedule
The same as the posted daytime speed limit

Answer: A — Slow enough to stop within the glow of your headlights

Night speed should let you stop within the glow of your headlights, usually about 400 feet.

18. You're approaching a curve in the road. Where should you position your vehicle within the lane just before entering it?

Slightly to the inside of the lane
Slightly to the outside of the lane
Dead center of the lane
As close to the shoulder as possible

Answer: B — Slightly to the outside of the lane

Positioning slightly to the outside of the lane before a curve is the recommended technique, along with slowing beforehand and looking through the curve.

19. Your vehicle begins to skid on a wet road. After taking your foot off the accelerator, which way should you steer?

In the direction the vehicle is moving
Opposite the direction the vehicle is moving
Keep the wheel perfectly straight
Toward the shoulder

Answer: A — In the direction the vehicle is moving

During a skid you steer in the direction the vehicle is moving and keep correcting until traction returns.

20. You're driving on a wet road and want to avoid hydroplaning. What's the most effective way to prevent it?

Increase your tire pressure before driving in rain
Slow down on wet roads
Brake hard before reaching any puddles
Turn sharply to steer around standing water

Answer: B — Slow down on wet roads

Hydroplaning is tires riding on water, and the cure is simply slowing down on wet roads.

21. One of your tires blows out while driving on the freeway. What should you do?

Accelerate briefly to regain control
Steer sharply toward the shoulder
Brake hard immediately to stop as fast as possible
Grip the wheel, keep the car straight, and ease off the gas without braking hard

Answer: D — Grip the wheel, keep the car straight, and ease off the gas without braking hard

For a blowout you grip the wheel, keep straight, ease off the gas, and avoid hard braking.

22. Your accelerator pedal sticks and the engine won't slow down. What should you do first?

Pull the emergency brake hard
Shift quickly into neutral
Turn off the engine immediately while still moving fast
Pump the brakes repeatedly

Answer: B — Shift quickly into neutral

For a stuck accelerator, shift quickly to neutral, then pull off and turn off the engine once safe.

23. Your car breaks down and you have flares to warn approaching traffic. About how far behind the vehicle should you place them?

500 to 600 feet
10 to 20 feet
50 to 100 feet
200 to 300 feet

Answer: D — 200 to 300 feet

Flares should be placed 200 to 300 feet behind a disabled vehicle.

24. Your car has broken down on the shoulder and you want to signal that you need help, but you have no flares or warning triangle. What should you do?

Raise the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, mirror, or door handle
Leave the driver's door open
Honk the horn continuously
Turn on the radio at high volume

Answer: A — Raise the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, mirror, or door handle

Raising the hood or tying a white cloth to the vehicle signals distress when no warning device is available.

25. You back into a parked car in a lot and can't find the owner nearby. What must you do?

Leave a note with the date, time and your contact information
Call a tow truck and leave
Wait at the scene indefinitely until someone arrives
Leave without a note since no one was hurt

Answer: A — Leave a note with the date, time and your contact information

If you hit a parked vehicle and can't find the owner, you must leave a note with the date, time and your contact information.

26. You're in a minor collision and no officer comes to the scene to file a report. Within how many days must you file your own collision report?

24 hours
4 days
30 days
10 days

Answer: B — 4 days

State law requires filing a collision report form within 4 days if an officer does not file one.

27. At the scene of a crash, a passenger is bleeding heavily from a leg wound. After confirming they're breathing, what should you do?

Apply a tourniquet immediately
Move them to your vehicle for warmth
Give them water to keep them calm
Apply pressure first, then a bandage, then a tourniquet only if needed

Answer: D — Apply pressure first, then a bandage, then a tourniquet only if needed

After checking breathing, bleeding is addressed with pressure first, then a bandage, then a tourniquet if necessary.

28. You realize your vehicle has just driven over a downed power line. What should you do?

Get out immediately and move away
Stop immediately, since moving risks electrocution
Honk to alert others, then proceed carefully
Continue driving slowly off the line

Answer: B — Stop immediately, since moving risks electrocution

If you drive over a power line, stop immediately because moving risks electrocution.

29. You're pulled over by police at night. Besides pulling to the right and turning off the engine, what else should you do?

Turn on the interior light
Turn on your high beams
Exit the vehicle to meet the officer
Flash your headlights at the officer

Answer: A — Turn on the interior light

At a night stop you should turn on the interior light along with the other steps like staying inside and keeping hands on the wheel.

30. An officer hands you a ticket to sign. What does signing it mean?

It is an admission of guilt usable in court
It immediately suspends your driver's license
It has no legal significance either way
It is not an admission of guilt, but refusing to sign can lead to arrest

Answer: D — It is not an admission of guilt, but refusing to sign can lead to arrest

You must sign a ticket; signing is not an admission of guilt, but refusing to sign can lead to arrest.