Driving School Study Guide

for class final not knowledge test (yet)

As a teen with an intermediate driver's license, for the first 6 months, who can you drive with when you aren't with a parent, guardian, or licensed driver who is at least 25 years old?

NO PASSENGERS UNDER the AGE of 20 (unless they're immediate family)

As a teen with an intermediate driver's license, for the first 6 months, when can you drive when you aren't with a parent, guardian, or licensed driver who is at least 25 years old?

Anytime that ISN'T between 01:00-05:00.

Why are teen's with an intermediate driver's license not allowed to drive between the hours 01:00-05:00?

TLDR: it's MORE UNSAFE. There are drunk drivers, it's harder to see other ppl, you're more likely to be tired (therefore, less attentive), you have less experience driving at night, curfew, etc...

As a teen with an intermediate driver's license, from 6 months to a year or age 18 (whichever comes first), who can't drive with you?

No more than 3 passengers UNDER the age of 20 may be w/ you while driving (unless they are immediate family).

As a teen with an intermediate driver's license, from 6 months to age 18, what are the rules considering the usage of cell phones & wireless communication devices?

You MAY NOT use a cellphone or any other wireless communication device while operating a vehicle UNLESS it is an emergency.

What age group is most at risk of death due to motor vehicle crashes?

Ages 16-25

What is the greatest contributor to collisions?

Impaired driving

What can impaired driving come in the form of?

Distractions, not being in the right head-space, disabilities, etc...

What does SMOG mean?

Signal, Mirror, Over the Shoulder, Go!

In what situations should you SMOG?

When making any lateral movement (e.g. merging, turning, entering traffic, leaving the parking lot, etc...)

List the different traffic signals, what do they mean?

Red: solid, flashing, arrow. Yellow: solid, flashing, arrow. Green: solid, flashing (not in WA), arrow.

What does the solid red traffic signal mean?

Stop. Wait until the traffic light turns green and there are no vehicles or pedestrians in the intersection before you move ahead.

What does the flashing red traffic signal mean?

Stop, functions as a stop sign.

What does the red arrow traffic signal mean?

Stop. A red arrow means you can't go in the direction of the arrow.

What does the solid yellow traffic signal mean?

Slow down. When you see a yellow light, slow down and prepare to stop. If you're in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, continue through the intersection at the posted speed.

What does the flashing yellow traffic signal mean?

TLDR: Slow down & proceed w/ caution.

Slow down, functions as a yield sign. Treat the intersection as an uncontrolled intersection. Proceed when you have the right-of-way.

What does the yellow arrow traffic signal mean?

Slow down. A yellow arrow means the light is going to turn red soon. Prepare to stop & give the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

What does the solid green traffic signal mean?

Go!

BUT, be sure to:

-Wait for the intersection to clear.

-Yield to emergency vehicles as required by law.

-Yield to pedestrians.

What does the flashing green traffic signal mean?

Won't see in WA, it serves as a warning that pedestrians are waiting to cross.

What does the green arrow traffic signal mean?

Go in the direction of the arrow. A green arrow gives you the right-of-way to travel in that direction. There should be no oncoming vehicles, crossing traffic, or pedestrians while the arrow is green.

When can you turn right at a red light?

After coming to a full stop and seeing there isn't a "no turn on red" sign, you can turn right if you have plenty of room to enter traffic.

When can you turn left at a red light?

After coming to a complete stop and seeing there isn't a "no turn on red" sign, you can turn left onto a one-way street if you have plenty of room to enter traffic.

What does a red-colored sign mean?

Prohibitive or restricted action (e.g. stop sign!).

What does an orange-colored sign mean?

Construction & maintenance warning (e.g. flagger, road work ahead, etc...)

What does a yellow-colored sign mean?

General & unexpected road conditions warning (e.g. yield, merge, turns, ending lane, added lane, roundabouts, etc...)

What does a fluorescent-yellow-green-colored sign mean?

Warning of school, pedestrian, & bicycling activity.

What does a white-colored sign mean?

Regulatory (e.g. speed limit).

What does a green-colored sign mean?

Guide or directional info (e.g. exits, location).

What does a blue-colored sign mean?

Motorist services guidance (e.g. hospitals, gas stations, rest areas, etc).

What does a brown-colored sign mean?

Public recreation, cultural & historical area identification (e.g. hiking trails).

Where can you stop at a stop sign?

At the line, crosswalk, or corner.

What does it mean to yield?

To slow down & allow traffic that has the right-of-way to cross first.

How is a speed limit sign (white) different from a speed warning sign (yellow)?

A speed limit tells you the maximum/minimum speed limit. A speed warning indicates that a speed change is recommended for a potential hazard or road condition (often a curve or turn).

When do automated traffic safety cameras automatically record images of you?

If you: fail to stop at a steady red light, fail to stop at a railroad crossing signal, or exceed the speed limit in a school zone.

What does this sign mean?

One way…It identifies where traffic flows ONLY in the direction of the arrow.

What do these signs mean?

Means these actions (e.g. left turns, right turns, or U-turns) aren’t allowed.

What does this sign mean?

Shared center lane left turn only. The sign indicates where a lane is reserved for left-turning vehicles from either direction & isn’t to be used for going through traffic or passing other vehicles. Arrows are often painted on the road.

What do these signs mean?

These signs mark the entrance to a roundabout. Roundabouts can also have yield, pedestrian warning, & directional arrow signs.

What category do these signs fall under?

Work zone signs.

What category do these signs fall under?

Service signs.

What category do these signs fall under?

Recreation signs.

What category do these signs fall under?

Destination signs.

What does this sign mean?

City mileage.

What does this sign mean?

Optional exit & exit only.

What does this sign mean?

Highway signs.

What does this sign mean?

Lane use control.

What does this sign mean?

Cross road, aka 4-way intersection.

What does this sign mean?

Curve.

What does this sign mean?

Hill.

What does this sign mean?

Low clearance. Warns drivers that the overhead clearance of a bridge, tunnel, or overpass is limited. The number displayed (14 ft—4 in) is the maximum safe vehicle height allowed

What does this sign mean?

Right lane ends & traffic in the right lane must merge safely into the left lane.

What does this sign mean?

Right merge sign. It warns drivers on the main road that traffic is merging from the right.

What does this sign mean?

Pedestrian crossing.

What does this sign mean?

Left reserve curve. This warns drivers that the road ahead bends sharply to the left, then immediately curves back to the right.

What does this sign mean?

School crossing.

What does this sign mean?

Indicates an upcoming side road intersection to the right.

What does this sign mean?

Traffic lights ahead.

What does this sign mean?

Slippery roads.

What does this sign mean?

Alerting drivers that the unpaved area directly next to the road is made of unstable dirt, gravel, or grass.

What does this sign mean?

Stop sign ahead.

What does this sign mean?

Sharp turn.

What does this sign mean?

Two-way traffic.

What does this sign mean?

Added lane (from right, no merging required).

What does this sign mean?

Narrow road or bridge ahead.

What does this sign mean?

Curve left, 35 mph recommended.

What does this sign mean?

Divided highway (road) begins.

What does this sign mean?

Divided highway (road) ends.

What does this sign mean?

Winding road.

What does this sign mean?

Advisory speed.

What does this sign mean?

Tire chain advisory.

What does this sign mean?

Light rail.

What does this sign mean?

Sharp curve ahead.

What does this sign mean?

Railroad crossing.

What does this sign mean?

Traffic direction.

What do flashing red lights at railroad crossing mean?

It means a train is approaching. You must come to a complete stop at the stop line or, if not present, between 15 & 50 feet away from the nearest rail of a train crossing.

What does a bicycle lane look like?

Typically painted green (not always), use solid white lines, & are marked with a bicycle symbol. However, the bike lane markings vary in length & you should drive as though the markings continue.

What lines mark the edge of the road & separate bicycle lanes from other traffic?

Solid white lines.

What lines separate travel lanes or mark the center of the road & tell you if traffic is traveling in one or two directions?

White & yellow lines.

What direction do white lines flow?

White lines separate traffic lanes moving in the same direction, aka, one-way road.

What direction do yellow lines flow?

Yellow lines separate traffic in opposite directions, aka, two-way road.

What do shorter dashed white lines mean?

It means the lane is ending, you will need to either merge or exit. You can cross dashed lines if you have SMOG’ed & it’s safe.

What’s a median?

They divide two or more roadways.

What can be a median?

They can be open spaces, cement dividers, or 18-inch solid yellow pavement markings w/ stripes. It’s illegal to drive within, over, or across medians.

What does a dashed white line between lanes of traffic mean?

You can cross it to change lanes if you have SMOG’ed & it’s safe.

What does a solid white line between lanes of traffic mean?

You should stay in your lane unless you enter a special situation (emergency) that requires you to change lanes.

What do a double solid white lines between lanes of traffic mean?

It’s a barrier between lanes. It’s illegal to cross double white lines.

What does a dashed yellow line mean?

It shows the center of a two-way, two-lane road. If you’ve SMOG’ed & it’s safe, you may use the oncoming lane to pass another vehicle.

What does a solid yellow line mean?

It can indicate the edge of the road or a no-passing zone. Do not cross a solid yellow line to pass another vehicle.

What do double solid yellow centerlines mean?

It shows the middle of a two-way road. You are not allowed to pass, in either direction, on roads with double yellow lines.

What does a solid yellow & a dashed yellow line mean?

It can also show the center of a two-way roadway. You’re not allowed to pass when the solid yellow line is on your side of the road. If the dashed line is on your side of the road, you may pass if it’s safe to do so.

When can you pass on a solid yellow & a dashed yellow line? When can you not?

If the dashed line is on your side of the road, you may pass if it’s safe to do so. You’re not allowed to pass when the solid yellow line is on your side of the road.

What must you do once your in a turn lane?

Follow through with the turn.

When can you cross a solid yellow line on your side of the road?

To get into a center lane.

What is the shared center lane?

This lane is marked with left turn arrows. These shared center lanes are reserved for vehicles making left turns in either direction, from or into the roadway (or U-turns when they’re permitted).

What should you look out for when using a shared center lane?

Look out for traffic coming the other direction because those cars also have the right to use the same tunr lane.

What should you do if there are no markings on the road?

Stay as close to the right side as safely possible

What does HOV stand for?

High-Occupancy-Vehicle

What are HOV lanes reserved for?

Carpools, vanpools, & buses (motorcycles are also allowed to use HOV lanes).

What are HOV lanes identified by?

They are identified by the diamond symbol on signs & on the pavement. These lanes are separated from the other lanes on the highway by a solid white line.

What are reversible lanes for?

Like express lanes, they help address traffic congestion by switching the travel direction of one or more lanes when additional capacity is needed. Reversible lanes are typically operated on regular, fixed schedules that reflect daily commuting patterns. They can also be activated for major events or incidents.