Wisconsin Driver License: Signals, Markings, Special Lanes, Roundabouts and Ramps

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Signals, Markings, Special Lanes, Roundabouts and Ramps. Free, no account needed.

1. A traffic signal at an intersection suddenly loses power and shows no light at all. How should a driver treat the intersection?

As a yield sign
Proceed with caution as if it were flashing yellow
Wait for an officer before moving at all
As a stop sign

Answer: D — As a stop sign

A dark or malfunctioning signal is treated as a stop sign.

2. A driver is stopped at a steady red light on a one-way street that intersects another one-way street, and no sign prohibits turns. Which turn is allowed on the red light?

A right turn only
No turn until the light turns green
Either a right or a left turn
A left turn only

Answer: C — Either a right or a left turn

Right on red is generally allowed when safe, and left on red is allowed specifically from a one-way street onto a one-way street.

3. A driver enters an intersection just as the light turns from steady yellow to red. What should the driver do?

Reverse back out of the intersection
Stop immediately in the intersection
Stop only if cross traffic is present
Continue through the intersection

Answer: D — Continue through the intersection

If already in the intersection when the light turns, the driver should keep going rather than stop mid-intersection.

4. At a flashing yellow arrow, what must a driver do before turning?

Yield first, then turn with caution
Wait for the arrow to turn solid green
Proceed immediately without yielding
Come to a full stop, then proceed when safe

Answer: A — Yield first, then turn with caution

A flashing yellow arrow means yield first, then turn with caution.

5. A driver faces a steady green light and wants to turn left, with oncoming traffic approaching. What governs the turn?

The driver must wait for a green arrow to turn left
The driver may turn left only when it is safe, because oncoming traffic has the right-of-way
The driver has the right-of-way over oncoming traffic and may turn freely
Left turns are not permitted on a steady green light

Answer: B — The driver may turn left only when it is safe, because oncoming traffic has the right-of-way

A steady green allows a left turn only when safe, since oncoming traffic has the right-of-way.

6. A driver faces a steady green arrow pointing left. Besides turning in that direction, what should the driver still watch for?

Pedestrians
Oncoming traffic only
Nothing, since the arrow guarantees a clear path
Cross traffic only

Answer: A — Pedestrians

A steady green arrow should have no oncoming or crossing traffic, but drivers must still watch for pedestrians.

7. A road has a single solid white line running along its outer edge. What does this line mark?

The right edge of the lane
A lane reserved for buses only
The boundary between opposing traffic
The left edge of lanes going the driver's way

Answer: A — The right edge of the lane

A solid white line marks the right edge of the lane.

8. A driver wants to change into an adjacent lane that is moving in the same direction, and the lane divider is a dashed white line. Is this permitted?

Yes, it may be crossed when safe
Only if turning within the next block
Only to pass farm equipment
No, dashed white lines may never be crossed

Answer: A — Yes, it may be crossed when safe

A dashed white line divides same-direction lanes and may be crossed when safe.

9. A driver is approaching a vehicle traveling at 20 mph in a 55 mph zone on a two-lane road marked with two solid yellow lines. The slow vehicle is not farm equipment. May the driver pass?

No, passing is only allowed to enter a driveway
No, two solid yellow lines never allow passing
Yes, because the vehicle is going less than half the speed limit and it is safe
Yes, but only if the vehicle is farm equipment

Answer: C — Yes, because the vehicle is going less than half the speed limit and it is safe

Passing a vehicle going less than half the speed limit is an exception to the double solid yellow line rule, unless it is farm equipment.

10. A two-lane road has one dashed yellow line on the driver's side and a solid yellow line on the oncoming side. From which side may passing occur?

Passing is prohibited entirely
From the dashed side only
From the solid side only
From either side

Answer: B — From the dashed side only

With a dashed-and-solid yellow pair, passing is allowed only from the dashed side.

11. A driver approaches a marked crosswalk with a solid white stop line at an intersection with no pedestrian signal. Where should the driver stop?

With the front wheels just before the solid white line
Anywhere before the intersection
Past the crosswalk if no pedestrians are visible
On the crosswalk itself for better visibility

Answer: A — With the front wheels just before the solid white line

Drivers must stop with their front wheels just before the solid white line and never on the crosswalk.

12. A center lane on a two-way street is marked with white turn arrows and bordered on each side by a solid plus dashed yellow line. What is this lane used for?

Bus and bike travel only
Left turns or U-turns from either direction
Passing slower traffic
Through travel during rush hour only

Answer: B — Left turns or U-turns from either direction

A shared center lane is only for left turns or U-turns, usable from either direction.

13. A lane on a highway is bounded by double dashed yellow lines and controlled by overhead lights. What kind of lane is this?

A flex lane
A reserved bus lane
A shared center turn lane
A reversible lane

Answer: D — A reversible lane

Reversible lanes are bounded by double dashed yellow lines and controlled by overhead lights.

14. A driver sees a yellow X displayed above a reversible lane while driving in it. What does this signal mean?

The lane is closed; do not enter
The lane is changing direction; move to a green-arrow lane
The lane is reserved for buses only
The lane is open for normal travel

Answer: B — The lane is changing direction; move to a green-arrow lane

A yellow X over a reversible lane means the lane is changing and drivers must move to a lane marked with a green arrow.

15. A driver is not in a bus, bike, or car pool but needs to turn right, and a reserved lane marked with a white diamond runs along the curb just ahead of the turn. What is allowed?

The driver may never enter the reserved lane for any reason
The driver may drive in it for up to a mile before turning
The driver may use it only during off-peak hours
The driver may cross into it to turn, within the next half block

Answer: D — The driver may cross into it to turn, within the next half block

Driving in a reserved lane is illegal except to turn across it within the next half block.

16. A sign restricts a reserved lane to buses and car pools with four or more riders, from 6 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. What does this indicate about reserved lane restrictions?

Car pools are never permitted in reserved lanes
Reserved lanes are always restricted to buses only, all day
Reserved lane hours are the same everywhere and never posted
Signs may set specific hours, days, and minimum rider counts for use

Answer: D — Signs may set specific hours, days, and minimum rider counts for use

A sign may set hours and days, along with occupancy requirements like a four-rider minimum.

17. A large truck driver sees a paved shoulder opened as a travel lane with a green arrow displayed overhead. Can the truck use this lane?

No, large trucks may not use the flex lane
Yes, but only during scheduled events
No, only buses and car pools may use it
Yes, the green arrow permits any vehicle including large trucks

Answer: A — No, large trucks may not use the flex lane

Large trucks may not use the flex lane regardless of the signal shown.

18. A driver is traveling in a flex lane when the overhead signal changes to a yellow X. What should the driver do?

Speed up to clear the lane before it opens further
Merge into the general-purpose lanes because the flex lane is closing
Stop immediately in the lane
Continue driving normally since yellow means caution only

Answer: B — Merge into the general-purpose lanes because the flex lane is closing

A yellow X on a flex lane means it is closing, so drivers should merge into the general-purpose lanes.

19. Which direction does traffic move through a roundabout?

It depends on the number of lanes
Whichever direction the overhead lane signs indicate
Counterclockwise
Clockwise

Answer: C — Counterclockwise

Roundabouts move traffic counterclockwise.

20. A driver is approaching a one-lane roundabout with no other traffic visible inside it. Must the driver come to a complete stop before entering?

No, with no traffic inside the driver need not wait
No, roundabout entries never require yielding
Yes, a full stop is always required before entering any roundabout
Yes, because a one-lane roundabout requires yielding to all traffic before entering

Answer: A — No, with no traffic inside the driver need not wait

With no traffic inside the roundabout, a driver need not wait to enter.

21. While driving inside a roundabout, a driver realizes they are in the wrong lane for their exit. What should the driver do?

Stop and wait for a gap to change lanes
Continue in the current lane and never change lanes inside the roundabout
Reverse to the entry point
Change lanes immediately to reach the correct exit

Answer: B — Continue in the current lane and never change lanes inside the roundabout

Drivers should stay in their lane and never change lanes while inside a roundabout.

22. An emergency vehicle with its siren on approaches a driver who is already inside a roundabout. What should the driver do?

Stop immediately inside the roundabout
Reverse out of the roundabout
Continue circulating until the emergency vehicle passes
Exit at the next right and then pull over

Answer: D — Exit at the next right and then pull over

A driver already inside a roundabout should exit at the next right and then pull over, avoiding stopping in the roundabout.

23. In a two-lane roundabout with the typical lane assignments, a driver plans to go straight through without turning. Which lane(s) can be used for this?

Neither lane; a dedicated through lane is required
Only the left lane
Either the right or the left lane
Only the right lane

Answer: C — Either the right or the left lane

Typically the right lane is for right turns or through traffic, and the left lane for left turns, U-turns or through traffic, so either lane may go through.

24. A driver is entering a two-lane roundabout. Which traffic must the driver yield to before entering?

Only traffic in the lane closest to the entry point
Only traffic signaling to exit
No yielding is required if entering on a green light
Traffic in both circulating lanes

Answer: D — Traffic in both circulating lanes

In a two-lane roundabout, drivers must yield to traffic in both lanes before entering.

25. A driver approaches a freeway entrance ramp displaying a lit "Ramp Metered When Flashing" sign. What should the driver do to activate the signal?

Honk the horn to alert the sensor
Stop a full car length before the stop line
Flash the headlights at the signal
Pull all the way up to the white stop line so the tires trigger the pavement sensors

Answer: D — Pull all the way up to the white stop line so the tires trigger the pavement sensors

Drivers must pull up to the white stop line so their tires trigger the pavement sensors.

26. A driver notices emergency lights flashing behind their vehicle. After pulling over to the right and stopping, what should the driver do with their hands while waiting?

Reach into the glove box for registration immediately
Exit the vehicle with hands raised
Keep both hands on top of the steering wheel in plain sight
Keep hands in the lap out of view

Answer: C — Keep both hands on top of the steering wheel in plain sight

Drivers should put both hands on top of the wheel in plain sight and make no sudden moves.

27. A driver strikes a deer at night on a rural road and the vehicle is still drivable. Besides checking the car is safe to drive, what else should the driver do regarding the deer itself?

Bury the deer at the roadside
Transport the deer to the nearest veterinarian
Call police to issue a tag for the deer
Leave the scene immediately without reporting anything

Answer: C — Call police to issue a tag for the deer

After a deer collision, the driver should call police to issue a tag for the deer.

28. A driver who is not part of a funeral procession comes up behind the line of vehicles. What is that driver prohibited from doing?

Following the lead vehicle's signals
Cutting into or interfering with the line of vehicles
Yielding the right-of-way to the procession
Driving with headlights off

Answer: B — Cutting into or interfering with the line of vehicles

Drivers outside the procession must not cut into or interfere with the line; the headlights-on rule applies to the vehicles in the procession.