Missouri Driver License: Pavement Markings, Signs and Signals

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Pavement Markings, Signs and Signals. Free, no account needed.

1. You want to pass another vehicle on a two-lane road. What type of line on your side of the road tells you it's legal to cross into the opposing lane to pass?

A broken line
A solid white edge line
A solid line
Two solid yellow lines

Answer: A — A broken line

Broken lines may be crossed to pass, while solid lines should not be.

2. A traffic officer directs you to stop even though the light facing you is green. What should you do?

Only obey if the officer is a police officer, not other highway personnel
Proceed, since a green light overrides any officer
Stop, obeying the officer over the signal
Wait until the light turns red, then stop

Answer: C — Stop, obeying the officer over the signal

An officer's directions must be obeyed over any sign or signal.

3. You approach an intersection controlled by a flashing yellow light. What should you do?

Slow down and proceed with caution
Treat it exactly like a flashing red light
Stop only if cross traffic is present
Come to a complete stop and wait for green

Answer: A — Slow down and proceed with caution

A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution, unlike a flashing red which requires a stop.

4. You reach an intersection where the traffic signal is completely dark and not working. How should you treat it?

As a flashing yellow light
As having no special rule; proceed with normal caution
As a yield sign in all directions
As a four-way stop

Answer: D — As a four-way stop

A dark or non-working signal operates as a four-way stop.

5. The posted speed limit on a road is 55 mph, but heavy rain is reducing visibility and traction. What does the law require of you?

Maintain the posted limit, since it is a legal maximum
Slow down below the posted limit as conditions demand
Increase your following distance but keep the posted speed
Slow down only if a separate advisory sign is posted

Answer: B — Slow down below the posted limit as conditions demand

The speed limit is a maximum in ideal conditions, and drivers must by law slow down when conditions demand it.

6. Under normal conditions, you want to drive well under 40 mph on an interstate because you feel uncomfortable at higher speeds. What does the law say?

It's allowed as long as you use hazard lights
It's allowed only in the right-most lane
It's allowed whenever traffic is light
This isn't allowed; you should take another route instead

Answer: D — This isn't allowed; you should take another route instead

Interstates post a minimum speed of 40 mph under normal conditions, and a driver uncomfortable with that should use another route.

7. You approach a railroad crossing where the gate is lowering across your lane. What must you do?

Proceed if you don't see a train
Stop, and never drive around the lowered gate
Only stop if the lights are flashing too
Drive around it quickly before it fully closes

Answer: B — Stop, and never drive around the lowered gate

You must never drive around a lowered gate at a railroad crossing.

8. A driver is caught speeding in a work zone on a state road for the first time. What is the minimum fine?

$250
$500
$100
$300

Answer: A — $250

A first offense for speeding or passing in a work zone brings a fine of at least $250.

9. You are driving on a route marked with an odd number. What does that number indicate about the route's direction?

It runs north-south
It is a spur route into a city
It loops around a city
It runs east-west

Answer: A — It runs north-south

North-south routes carry odd numbers, while east-west routes carry even numbers.

10. Your vehicle breaks down on an interstate shoulder and you need to tell responders exactly where you are. What can nearby emergency reference markers tell you?

The posted speed limit for that stretch of road
Your direction and route number, since they stand every two-tenths of a mile
The distance to the nearest hospital
The nearest exit number only

Answer: B — Your direction and route number, since they stand every two-tenths of a mile

Emergency reference markers stand every two-tenths of a mile on interstate shoulders and give the direction and route number.

11. What must you do when you see this sign?

Proceed with caution, no stop required
Slow down and yield to crossing traffic without necessarily stopping
Come to a full stop and wait until crossing vehicles and pedestrians have cleared
Stop only if pedestrians are present

Answer: C — Come to a full stop and wait until crossing vehicles and pedestrians have cleared

This is the Stop sign, requiring a full stop and clearance of crossing traffic before proceeding.

12. What does this sign mean?

Slow down and give the right-of-way to traffic already in the intersection or on the road you're entering
You have the right-of-way over crossing traffic
Come to a complete stop regardless of traffic
A railroad crossing is ahead

Answer: A — Slow down and give the right-of-way to traffic already in the intersection or on the road you're entering

This is the Yield sign, requiring you to slow and give the right-of-way rather than come to a full stop.

13. What does this sign mean, when posted with a stop sign?

The intersection is a roundabout
Traffic signals are ahead at this intersection
Only cross traffic must stop
All directions at the intersection have a stop sign; drivers arriving together yield to the driver on the right

Answer: D — All directions at the intersection have a stop sign; drivers arriving together yield to the driver on the right

This 4-Way plaque tells drivers every approach to the intersection stops, with arrivals at the same time yielding to the right.

14. What must you do at this sign?

Not enter the road at all
Stop before proceeding in any direction
Not turn left, including making a U-turn
Not turn right

Answer: C — Not turn left, including making a U-turn

This is No Left Turn, which also prohibits U-turns since they count as two left turns.

15. What does this sign tell drivers about the center lane?

It may be driven in as a through lane for any distance before turning left
It may be used briefly by traffic from either direction to make a left turn
It is for right turns only
It is reserved exclusively for through traffic

Answer: B — It may be used briefly by traffic from either direction to make a left turn

This marks a shared center lane for left turns from both directions, not to be used for more than a short distance.

16. What must you do when you see this sign?

Merge left because your lane ends
Not pass other vehicles, even if the road looks clear
Yield to oncoming traffic before turning
Reduce speed for a curve ahead

Answer: B — Not pass other vehicles, even if the road looks clear

This marks the start of a no-passing zone; you may not pass even with a clear road.

17. What does this sign mean?

You are approaching a one-way exit safely
A road closure is ahead
You are driving against the flow of traffic and must pull over and turn around
You must yield to oncoming traffic before proceeding

Answer: C — You are driving against the flow of traffic and must pull over and turn around

This Wrong Way sign means you have turned into oncoming traffic and must pull off, turn around and go back.

18. What must you do at this sign?

Turn only during a flashing yellow arrow
Wait for a green light before turning; do not turn on red
Yield to pedestrians before turning right on red
Stop, then turn right when the way is clear

Answer: B — Wait for a green light before turning; do not turn on red

No Turn on Red prohibits the turn-on-red that is otherwise allowed after a stop.

19. What does this sign mean?

A crossing is coming up ahead; slow down now
A railroad crossing is here; treat it like a yield sign and watch for trains
Multiple lanes are merging ahead
A low bridge clearance is ahead

Answer: B — A railroad crossing is here; treat it like a yield sign and watch for trains

The crossbuck at the crossing itself means the same as a yield sign, unlike the round advance warning sign placed before the crossing.

20. What does this sign mean?

A series of curves is ahead; slow down through all of them
The road ends in a T intersection
A single sharp curve is ahead
A divided highway begins ahead

Answer: A — A series of curves is ahead; slow down through all of them

This Winding Road sign warns of multiple curves in sequence, not just one.

21. What must you do when you see this sign?

Prepare for a side road entering from the right
Prepare to stop at a four-way intersection
Prepare for a divided highway to end
Prepare for a roundabout ahead and yield to traffic already in the circle

Answer: D — Prepare for a roundabout ahead and yield to traffic already in the circle

This Circular Intersection sign warns of a roundabout, where you yield to traffic already in the circle.

22. What does this sign mean?

A traffic signal is ahead
You are approaching a school zone
The road ends ahead
A stop sign is coming up; slow down and be ready to stop

Answer: D — A stop sign is coming up; slow down and be ready to stop

Stop Ahead warns of a stop sign on your road ahead, distinct from Signal Ahead which warns of a traffic light.

23. You are driving in the right lane and see this sign. What must you do?

Merge left because your lane is ending
Stay in your lane; no action is needed
Merge right because a new lane is starting
Prepare to exit the highway

Answer: A — Merge left because your lane is ending

Lane Ends / Merge Left means two lanes become one and the right lane must merge left, yielding to the left lane.

24. What does this sign mean?

The road ahead splits into two one-way roadways separated by a median
A narrow bridge is ahead
The median ahead ends and traffic will share the road again
Two-way traffic is about to begin

Answer: A — The road ahead splits into two one-way roadways separated by a median

This marks where a median or barrier starts, dividing the roadway into separate one-way sides.

25. What does this sign warn of?

A bridge that ices before the road does
A steep downgrade requiring a lower gear
The shoulder is soft and unsafe to drive on
The pavement becomes unusually slick when wet; avoid hard braking or sudden turns

Answer: D — The pavement becomes unusually slick when wet; avoid hard braking or sudden turns

Slippery When Wet warns of a road that is unusually slick in rain, unlike Soft Shoulder which warns about the roadside.

26. What does this sign warn of?

Deer may cross the road here; slow down and watch closely
A marked pedestrian crosswalk is ahead
Livestock may be on the road ahead
Bicyclists frequently cross here

Answer: A — Deer may cross the road here; slow down and watch closely

This sign specifically warns of deer crossing, distinct from bicycle or pedestrian crossing warnings.

27. What does this sign show?

The minimum speed allowed on that road
The legal speed limit enforceable by law
A speed limit that applies only to trucks
The recommended safe speed for the curve or ramp it's paired with

Answer: D — The recommended safe speed for the curve or ramp it's paired with

The advisory plaque gives the maximum safe speed for the exit or curve, and that advised speed is for fair weather only.

28. What does this sign mean?

A passing lane is available ahead
You are entering a zone where passing is not allowed
Trucks may not use this lane ahead
The road is about to become one-way

Answer: B — You are entering a zone where passing is not allowed

The pennant-shaped No Passing Zone sign marks the start of a no-passing zone.

29. What must you do when you see this sign?

Come to a complete stop at the sign before continuing
Reduce speed only if flashing lights are active
Prepare to stop at a railroad crossing
Watch for children and be ready to obey crossing guards near a school

Answer: D — Watch for children and be ready to obey crossing guards near a school

The School sign marks a school zone or crossing, where drivers must watch for children and obey crossing guards.

30. What does this sign identify?

A county road route
A U.S. numbered route
An interstate highway route
A state highway route

Answer: C — An interstate highway route

This is the shield marking an interstate route, distinct from the U.S. Route shield.