Oregon Driver License: Work Zones, Railroad Crossings, Streetcars and Light Rail

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Work Zones, Railroad Crossings, Streetcars and Light Rail. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver enters a work zone and gets a speeding ticket. Compared to a normal zone, what happens to traffic fines in a work zone?

They are tripled
They are only increased if a worker is present
They stay the same but points are doubled
They are doubled

Answer: D — They are doubled

Traffic fines are doubled in all work zones.

2. A driver passes through a work zone at the posted temporary speed limit but sees no workers or equipment anywhere. Should the driver speed back up to the regular posted limit?

Yes, since the temporary speed only applies during daylight hours
Yes, since the temporary speed only applies when workers are visible
No, the temporary speed applies at all times until an End Work Zone Speed Limit sign or another posted limit
No, but only during construction business hours

Answer: C — No, the temporary speed applies at all times until an End Work Zone Speed Limit sign or another posted limit

The temporary posted speed applies at all times, even with no workers visible, until an ending sign or another posted limit.

3. What color are the traffic control devices, such as signs and cones, used to mark work zones?

Red
Yellow
White
Orange

Answer: D — Orange

Work zones are marked with orange traffic control devices.

4. A driver approaches a two-lane work zone controlled by an automated flagger device showing a red light with its arm down. What must the driver do?

Proceed with caution
Stop only if a human flagger is also present
Stop
Slow down but continue if no workers are visible

Answer: C — Stop

An automated flagger device shows a red light with its arm down to stop traffic.

5. An automated flagger device shows a flashing yellow light with its arm up. What does this mean for an approaching driver?

Yield to oncoming construction vehicles only
Proceed
Stop and wait
Slow to a crawl but never fully proceed

Answer: B — Proceed

A flashing yellow light with the arm up lets drivers proceed.

6. On a freeway work zone, what should a driver generally expect regarding travel through the zone?

To always be diverted onto a full detour route
To have the same lane width and layout as before the zone
To be stopped by a flagger for the entire zone
To keep driving through with fewer, narrower, or new lanes, merging with traffic close to cones and workers

Answer: D — To keep driving through with fewer, narrower, or new lanes, merging with traffic close to cones and workers

On freeways drivers usually keep driving through the zone with fewer, narrower, or new lanes, merging with traffic and passing close to cones, workers, and equipment.

7. A construction vehicle pulls onto the roadway ahead inside a work zone. What should a driver do?

Not follow it
Follow closely to pass it quickly
Pass it immediately regardless of lane markings
Flash the headlights to signal it to move faster

Answer: A — Not follow it

Construction vehicles may enter the road and cause slowing, and drivers should not follow them in a work zone.

8. On a two-lane road work zone without an automated device, who commonly directs traffic using signs and hand signals?

A flagger
A police officer only
The lead construction vehicle driver
No one; drivers self-regulate with cones alone

Answer: A — A flagger

Flaggers use signs and hand signals to direct traffic on two-lane roads through work zones.

9. A driver sees a sign well before reaching a set of tracks. What does this railroad advance sign indicate?

The train has already passed
The crossing has no gates
A crossing is ahead
The speed limit is temporarily doubled

Answer: C — A crossing is ahead

The railroad advance sign warns drivers of a crossing ahead.

10. At a railroad crossing, a driver sees a crossbuck assembly with a plaque underneath showing a number. What does that number tell the driver?

The number of tracks at the crossing
The number of minutes trains typically block the crossing
The distance in feet to the nearest rail
The speed limit at the crossing

Answer: A — The number of tracks at the crossing

The plaque below the crossbuck gives the number of tracks where there is more than one.

11. What sign or signal is always part of a crossbuck assembly at a railroad crossing that a driver must obey?

A one-way sign
A speed limit sign
A yield or stop sign
A no-passing sign

Answer: C — A yield or stop sign

The crossbuck assembly includes a yield or stop sign that drivers must obey.

12. What pavement marking indicates an approaching railroad crossing?

A solid white stop bar only
A double yellow center line
A large X with the letters RR
A diamond symbol with the letters RX

Answer: C — A large X with the letters RR

The pavement carries a large X with the letters RR at railroad crossings.

13. A driver must stop at a railroad crossing but there is no stop line painted on the road. How far from the nearest rail should the driver stop?

At least 15 feet
Right at the edge of the rail
At least 5 feet
At least 30 feet

Answer: A — At least 15 feet

Without a stop line, drivers must stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.

14. A driver approaches a railroad crossing with a posted stop sign, but no train is visible anywhere. What must the driver do?

Proceed without stopping since no train is visible
Slow down but not stop unless a gate is present
Only stop if another vehicle is also waiting
Stop anyway, since the sign requires it even with no train in sight

Answer: D — Stop anyway, since the sign requires it even with no train in sight

A driver must stop when a stop sign is posted at a crossing, even with no train in sight.

15. A school bus stops at a railroad crossing ahead of a driver's car. What should the driver expect and do?

Pass the bus if the adjacent lane is clear
Assume the bus is only stopping for passengers, not the tracks
Be ready to stop behind it, since school buses must stop at tracks
Honk to signal the bus to proceed

Answer: C — Be ready to stop behind it, since school buses must stop at tracks

School buses must stop at tracks, so following drivers should be ready to stop behind them.

16. At a crossing with multiple tracks, a driver just watched one train pass and the gate has fully risen. What should the driver be alert for before crossing?

Nothing further, since the risen gate means the crossing is clear
A flagger who will wave the driver through
A second train that may be hidden or approaching from either direction
A reduced speed limit sign posted just past the tracks

Answer: C — A second train that may be hidden or approaching from either direction

One train can hide another, so at multi-track crossings drivers must look carefully for a second train from either direction.

17. A railroad crossing gate is in the process of rising after a train has passed. Is it legal for a driver to drive under it before it fully rises?

No, but only if a train is still visible
No, driving around or under a gate at any point is illegal and dangerous
Yes, as long as the lights have stopped flashing
Yes, if the gate is more than halfway up

Answer: B — No, driving around or under a gate at any point is illegal and dangerous

Driving around or under a gate, whether down, rising, or lowering, is illegal and extremely dangerous.

18. A driver's car stalls on the tracks and a train is not yet visible. What is the first thing the driver should do?

Get out of the vehicle and get away from the tracks
Stay in the car and try to restart the engine
Wait inside the car for a train to appear before moving
Call the railroad hotline before exiting the vehicle

Answer: A — Get out of the vehicle and get away from the tracks

If stuck on the tracks, the driver should get out of the vehicle and get away from the tracks even if no train is visible.

19. A driver whose car is stuck on the tracks safely exits and wants to alert the railroad. What should the driver look for at the crossing?

A call box located only inside the gate arm
The railroad advance sign further back on the road
The crossbuck plaque showing the number of tracks
The Emergency Notification System sign on a post at the crossing

Answer: D — The Emergency Notification System sign on a post at the crossing

Drivers should find the Emergency Notification System sign on a post at the crossing and call to alert the railroad.

20. A driver is stuck on the tracks, has gotten away from the vehicle, and now sees a train approaching. Which direction should the driver move?

Back toward the vehicle to retrieve belongings first
At a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the direction the train is coming from
Straight away from the tracks, in the same direction the train is traveling
Parallel to the tracks, away from the train

Answer: B — At a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the direction the train is coming from

If a train approaches, move at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks toward the direction the train is coming from, so debris misses you.

21. A driver sees flashing red lights at a railroad crossing signal but the gate is not yet down. What must the driver do?

Wait for a flagger before deciding whether to stop
Slow down only if a train horn is heard
Proceed carefully since the gate has not activated
Stop

Answer: D — Stop

Drivers must stop when the flashing red lights are on at a crossing.

22. A driver misjudges the distance to an oncoming train at a crossing, assuming it is farther away than it looks. What is generally true about how close a visible train actually is?

Trains only appear close when they are moving slowly
Distance perception of trains is accurate at crossings
The train you see is closer than it seems
The train you see is farther than it seems

Answer: C — The train you see is closer than it seems

The train you see is closer than it appears, and trains cannot stop quickly.

23. A streetcar ahead has stopped in the street to let passengers on and off. What should a driver behind it do?

Honk and proceed once doors close, even if passengers are still crossing
Go around it using the oncoming lane if clear
Stay behind it until it moves or the people are safely away
Pass it carefully in the same lane if there is room

Answer: C — Stay behind it until it moves or the people are safely away

When a streetcar stops for passengers, drivers must stay behind it until it moves or the people are safely away.

24. A driver wants to park near light rail tracks that have no solid white line marking a parking boundary. Where should the driver park to stay legal?

Directly on the tracks if no train is approaching
In the middle of the lane nearest the tracks
Anywhere within one car length of the rails
As close to the curb as possible, away from the rails

Answer: D — As close to the curb as possible, away from the rails

Without a solid white line, drivers should park as close to the curb as possible, away from the rails, and never on the tracks.

25. A streetcar is traveling in the lane next to a driver's car and is currently stopped at a light. Can the driver turn in front of it?

No, never turn in front of a streetcar traveling the same way in the next lane, even if it is stopped
Yes, since it is stopped and not moving
Yes, as long as a turn signal is used
No, unless the streetcar operator waves the driver through

Answer: A — No, never turn in front of a streetcar traveling the same way in the next lane, even if it is stopped

Drivers must never turn in front of a streetcar or train traveling their way in the next lane, even if it is stopped.

26. A driver is about to change lanes on a street that shares space with light rail tracks. What should the driver check for first?

Whether the parking line is solid or dashed
Whether a flagger is present
Streetcars or trains that may be close behind and unnoticed
Whether the crossbuck plaque shows more than one track

Answer: C — Streetcars or trains that may be close behind and unnoticed

Drivers should check for streetcars and trains before changing lanes, since they may be close behind unnoticed.

27. A light rail train is running close behind a driver's car in a shared lane. Why should the driver avoid sudden braking or unpredictable moves?

They cannot stop quickly, so sudden or unpredictable moves near them should be avoided
Because streetcars can stop instantly, so the only risk is to following cars
It is fine, since streetcars always yield to following traffic
It only matters if the streetcar is empty of passengers

Answer: A — They cannot stop quickly, so sudden or unpredictable moves near them should be avoided

Streetcars and light rail trains cannot stop quickly, so drivers should avoid sudden braking or unpredictable moves near them.

28. A driver's vehicle makes contact with a streetcar during a minor collision. What should the driver do?

Exchange information and leave without further action
Wait for the operator or police to give instructions
Follow the streetcar to its next stop to report the incident
Immediately move the vehicle off the tracks before anyone arrives

Answer: B — Wait for the operator or police to give instructions

If contact is made with a streetcar or train, the driver should wait for the operator or police to give instructions.