WA Permit Practice Test 11

All 20 questions in test 11

Every question below comes from the Washington question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. What does the pictured Washington sign prepare a driver for?

   
   1. A steep hill ahead
   2. A speed bump in a parking lot
   3. A drawbridge that opens for boats
   4. A tunnel with height limits
   Show answer

   A steep hill ahead. This sign warns of a hill ahead. The image presents a yellow diamond sign with a truck on a slope. Yellow, per the guide color list, warns of general and unexpected road conditions. A parking lot speed bump, an opening drawbridge, and a tunnel with height limits are not the grade shown by the truck on the slope. The shape and color of these signs, and their symbols and words, give clues to what they provide.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signs

2. 2. How should your turn signals and brake lights be used with a motorcyclist following you in Washington?

   1. Flash brake lights only at the last second
   2. Skip signaling when the road looks empty
   3. Signal early enough to give the rider plenty of notice time
   4. Use hazard lights instead of turn signals
   Show answer

   Signal early enough to give the rider plenty of notice time. Give motorcyclists plenty of time to notice your turn signals and brake lights. Last-second warning does not give the motorcyclist the plenty of notice time recommended by the guide. The following rider is exactly who needs the signal. The guide specifically calls for giving motorcyclists time to notice turn signals and brake lights. The marked choice, Signal early enough to give the rider plenty of notice time, is the one that matches the guide on this point.

   Study this in the handbook: Large vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and farm vehicles

3. 3. The light turns yellow while your car is already inside a Washington intersection. What should you do?

   1. Stop in the middle of the intersection
   2. Reverse back behind the stop line
   3. Continue through the intersection at the posted speed
   4. Accelerate hard to clear the intersection faster
   Show answer

   Continue through the intersection at the posted speed. If you are already in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, continue through at the posted speed. You may not accelerate beyond the posted speed limit to enter or clear an intersection on yellow. If you’re in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, continue through the intersection at the posted speed. The guide directs a driver already in the intersection to continue through at the posted speed.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and rules of the road

4. 4. While entering a parallel space in Washington, when should you begin turning sharply into the space?

   1. As soon as your mirror passes the car ahead
   2. After backing until your front bumper aligns with the rear bumper of the car ahead
   3. After your rear bumper passes the space end
   4. Before signaling, to surprise no one
   Show answer

   After backing until your front bumper aligns with the rear bumper of the car ahead. Check traffic and signal, then reverse while looking in the direction you will move. Back slowly until your front bumper is in line with the rear bumper of the vehicle you are parking behind. Then turn the steering wheel sharply and back slowly into the space. Back slowly until your front bumper is in line with the rear bumper of the vehicle you’re parking behind.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and hills

5. 5. After passing a Washington bicyclist, when may you return to the lane?

   1. Whenever an approaching vehicle makes you feel hurried
   2. As soon as your front bumper passes the front wheel
   3. As soon as the bicyclist disappears from the side window
   4. After making sure you are clear of the bicyclist
   Show answer

   After making sure you are clear of the bicyclist. Make sure your vehicle is clear of the bicyclist before returning to the lane. Washington warns that moving over too soon can put the rider in danger. The instruction concerns the whole vehicle, not merely its front bumper reaching ahead of the bicycle. Plan the pass with enough space to finish it safely and avoid treating an approaching vehicle or a disappearing side-window view as proof that it is time to move back.

   Study this in the handbook: Large vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and farm vehicles

6. 6. What standards must a Washington child restraint system meet, and how must it be secured?

   1. Any standard a parent prefers, tightened by feel
   2. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, secured by vehicle and restraint maker instructions
   3. Washington tab renewal standards, checked yearly
   4. Airline seat standards, secured with the vehicle belt alone
   Show answer

   Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, secured by vehicle and restraint maker instructions. Child restraint systems must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and be secured according to both the vehicle and restraint manufacturer instructions. A certified child passenger safety technician can check the installation; safety-check locations are available at wacarseats.com. Keep a child in each restraint stage as long as the seat allows for the best protection. Child restraint systems must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and be secured in the vehicle according to vehicle and child restraint system manufacturer instructions.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats, steering and braking

7. 7. Why might a Washington driver add a disability or medical designation to a license or ID card?

   1. To skip the vision screening at renewal
   2. To give first responders information about communication or conditions in an emergency
   3. To qualify for a driver license without exams
   4. To replace carrying any medical information while traveling
   Show answer

   To give first responders information about communication or conditions in an emergency. You may add or remove disability and medical designations on your driver license or ID card. In an emergency, they inform first responders about how you communicate or conditions that could affect a health emergency. Options include developmental disability, deaf or hard of hearing, and medical alert. In an emergency, these designations give first responders information about how you communicate or inform them you have conditions that could impact a health emergency.

8. 8. What do blue traffic signs guide Washington drivers toward?

   1. Motorist services such as hospitals and rest areas
   2. Construction detours and lane closures
   3. School and bicycle activity zones
   4. Railroad crossings and grade warnings
   Show answer

   Motorist services such as hospitals and rest areas. Blue signs provide motorist services guidance. Services include hospitals, electric vehicle charging stations, and rest areas. Brown identifies recreation, cultural, and historical areas; orange warns of construction and maintenance; green provides guide or directional information. Fluorescent yellow green warns of school, pedestrian, and bicycling activity. Blue = Motorist services guidance Brown = Public recreation, cultural and historical area identification. Orange, not blue, covers construction and maintenance warning.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signs

9. 9. A person experiencing homelessness in Washington needs identification. What ID help does the guide describe?

   1. A free driver license with no office visit
   2. A no-cost ID or a reduced-fee ID
   3. A temporary license plate used as ID
   4. An ID issued only after a skills exam
   Show answer

   A no-cost ID or a reduced-fee ID. People experiencing homelessness are eligible for a no-cost ID or a reduced-fee ID. People receiving public assistance might also qualify for a reduced-cost ID. Contact a local DSHS community services office for help; the office locator is at dshs.wa.gov. If you are experiencing homelessness, you’re eligible for a no-cost ID or a reduced-fee ID. The assistance described in section 1.5 is a no-cost or reduced-fee ID, not a free driver license.

10. 10. A Washington intermediate license holder commits a first traffic violation. What happens to the current license restrictions?

    1. The license is suspended for six months
    2. The license is suspended until age 18
    3. All restrictions end right away
    4. The current restrictions apply until age 18
    Show answer

    The current restrictions apply until age 18. A first violation keeps the current intermediate restrictions in place until the driver turns 18, rather than ending them early or jumping straight to a suspension. The six month suspension belongs to a second violation, where it runs for six months or until age 18, whichever comes first, and suspension until 18 is saved for a third violation. Reading the penalty ladder in order prevents mixing those rungs: first violation extends restrictions, second suspends for a stretch, third suspends for the remaining teen years. One ticket early on means the limits stay with you longer.

    Study this in the handbook: Instruction permits and the intermediate license

11. 11. When adjusting the steering wheel in Washington, what position should your elbows have while you grip it?

    1. Resting against the seat
    2. Locked straight
    3. Sharply bent close to the chest
    4. A gentle bend
    Show answer

    A gentle bend. Adjust the steering wheel so your elbows have a gentle bend when you grip it. Washington describes this alongside sitting comfortably straight and arranging the seat for clear vision and easy pedal access. Reaching with locked arms is not the target position, and pulling the wheel so close that your arms press into your chest is not the instruction either. Check the relationship between your seat and wheel before beginning to drive.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, brake lights, tires and signals

12. 12. Crosswalk pavement lights begin flashing in Washington. What is required?

    1. Yield because the flashing lights require it
    2. Treat the lights as decorative markings
    3. Proceed if no person is visible mid-road
    4. Stop only when a vehicle ahead stops
    Show answer

    Yield because the flashing lights require it. Some crosswalks have in-pavement lights activated by crossing pedestrians. You must yield when those lights flash. You must also yield to people in or about to enter a crosswalk. Every intersection is legally a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked. Some crosswalks might also have in-pavement lights that are activated by crossing pedestrians. You must yield when these lights are flashing. Flashing pavement lights carry a legal yield requirement.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses and transit buses

13. 13. At night on an open Washington road without streetlights or other vehicles nearby, which headlight practice does the guide recommend?

    1. Alternate high and regular beams repeatedly to improve the road view
    2. Keep regular headlights selected even with no other traffic nearby
    3. Use high beams, returning to regular headlights for approaching or followed traffic
    4. Reserve high beams for curves and use regular headlights on straight sections
    Show answer

    Use high beams, returning to regular headlights for approaching or followed traffic. Use high beams on a dark open road when other traffic does not require regular headlights. Washington recommends high beams when there are no oncoming vehicles and regular headlights when following another vehicle. This is guidance on choosing the useful setting, not a claim that regular headlights stop working on an empty road. Check for approaching and followed traffic while continuing to search ahead and to the sides for hazards.

    Study this in the handbook: Night driving, slippery roads, skids and hydroplaning

14. 14. Which memory lapse does Washington list as a warning sign of driver fatigue?

    1. Forgetting a passenger birthday next week
    2. Misplacing the car keys at home twice
    3. Needing a list for grocery shopping
    4. Being unable to remember driving the last few miles
    Show answer

    Being unable to remember driving the last few miles. Being unable to remember driving the last few miles is a listed sign of fatigue. Other signs include heavy eyelids, drifting, and missing exits or signs. Pull over and rest if these occur. If you are traveling alone and become tired, the guide recommends pulling off the road for a 20-minute nap. Having difficulty focusing, or you can’t remember driving the last few miles.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, cannabis, medicine and fatigue

15. 15. Who can enroll in the adult traffic safety courses some Washington driver training schools offer?

    1. Only drivers whose licenses were suspended
    2. Teenagers under 18 who failed the knowledge exam and their parents
    3. Novice drivers, drivers new to the United States, and drivers wanting a refresher
    4. Commercial drivers renewing endorsements and employer safety officers
    Show answer

    Novice drivers, drivers new to the United States, and drivers wanting a refresher. Some driver training schools offer adult traffic safety courses for new drivers over 18. These classes may be taken by novice drivers, people new to the United States, or drivers seeking a refresher. The guide says adults without driver training face increased crash risk. You can take these classes as a novice driver, as someone new to the United States, or as a refresher.

    Study this in the handbook: License exams, renewal and losing your license

16. 16. Your vehicle stalls on Washington railroad tracks. What comes first?

    1. Push the car clear with passengers steering
    2. Get everyone out of the vehicle immediately
    3. Wave at the train so the crew can brake
    4. Rock the car in gear until it restarts
    Show answer

    Get everyone out of the vehicle immediately. If your vehicle gets stuck at a railroad crossing, get everyone out immediately. For anything on or close to the tracks, call the number on the blue and white Emergency Notification System sign and provide the crossing ID, your location, and details. If there is no sign, dial 911. Trains have the right-of-way and can take up to a mile to stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings, emergency vehicles and emergency zones

17. 17. Before turning right across a possible motorcycle path in Washington, what look pattern helps?

    1. Fix your eyes on the vehicle behind you
    2. Look left, look right, then look left again
    3. Glance once at the mirror and turn
    4. Watch only the crosswalk signal timer
    Show answer

    Look left, look right, then look left again. Motorcyclists may be hidden or missed in blind zones. Check over your shoulder to make sure your blind zone is clear. For a right turn, look left, right, and left again. Drivers pulling into a lane or turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle might miss it or misjudge its speed. Looking twice can save a life. For example, if you are turning right, look left, look right, then look left again.

    Study this in the handbook: Large vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and farm vehicles

18. 18. Why should a Washington driver wait before passing a turning large vehicle?

    1. Large vehicles may need more than one lane to finish a turn
    2. Large vehicles always turn from the far left lane
    3. The driver is required to wave traffic past first
    4. Their turn signals stay off until the turn ends
    Show answer

    Large vehicles may need more than one lane to finish a turn. Large vehicles may need more than one lane to complete a turn without hitting something. Do not pass a large vehicle while its driver is turning; wait until the turn is complete. Passing during a turn is a frequent cause of collisions involving large vehicles. The guide also says large vehicles need two lanes of space in a roundabout. To avoid hitting something, large vehicles might require more than one lane to complete a turn.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses and transit buses

19. 19. A fire forces you to leave a Washington vehicle touching power lines. How should you position yourself before jumping clear?

    1. Step down while keeping a hand on the roof
    2. Place one foot on the ground while holding the door
    3. Open the door and perch on the doorway ledge
    4. Sit on the ground beside the vehicle before moving away
    Show answer

    Open the door and perch on the doorway ledge. When fire requires an escape from a vehicle touching power lines, open the door and perch on its doorway ledge before jumping. The next movement must clear the vehicle without touching it. Keep your arms at your sides and land with both feet together, then shuffle away as directed. Stepping down while holding the door reverses the safety sequence. Prepare for the jump from the ledge instead of making contact with the ground while still holding the car.

    Study this in the handbook: Breakdowns, collisions and power lines

20. 20. You park facing downhill in Washington with a curb beside you. Which way should the front wheels point?

    1. Away from the curb so the car rolls into the street center
    2. Straight ahead with only the parking brake holding
    3. Toward the curb until the front of the front tire touches the curb
    4. Toward the nearest driveway opening downhill
    Show answer

    Toward the curb until the front of the front tire touches the curb. Turn your steering wheel toward the curb until the front of your front tire touches the curb. If your vehicle starts to roll, it will roll forward into the curb. For downhill parking, turn toward the curb until the front of the front tire touches it. Set the parking brake and turn toward the curb until the front of the front tire touches it.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and hills