WA Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

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. How is a Washington reversible lane usually marked on the pavement, and what must a driver check first?

   1. Double solid yellow lines, with curb paint checked first
   2. Double-dashed white lines, with overhead signs checked before entering
   3. A single red stripe, with mirror signals checked first
   4. Green pavement, with toll signs checked first
   Show answer

   Double-dashed white lines, with overhead signs checked before entering. Reversible lanes borrow pavement in whichever direction the commute needs, and the pavement advertises that flexibility with double-dashed white lines while overhead signals grant or revoke permission moment by moment. Double solid yellow centerlines mark the middle of a two-way road and prohibit passing in either direction; red stripes can mark fire lanes, while bicycle lanes use bike symbols and lane markings. Read the overhead arrow or X first, every time, even on a route you drive daily.

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

2. 2. What hazard does the pictured Washington sign announce?

   
   1. The road is slippery when wet
   2. A car wash entrance is nearby
   3. A flooded roadway is closed
   4. Loose gravel has been spread
   Show answer

   The road is slippery when wet. This sign warns of slippery when wet. The pictured sign is a yellow diamond sign with a car and skid lines. In the guide color list, yellow marks a general and unexpected road conditions warning. A car wash entrance, a closed flooded roadway, and spread loose gravel are different messages, and none matches the skidding car symbol. The shape and color of a sign, and its symbols and words, give clues to the information it provides.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signs

3. 3. Can a new Washington driver use a parent or friend License Express account for personal services?

   1. Yes, with the account holder watching the screen
   2. Yes, for permit pre-application only
   3. No, new drivers set up their own account and the account must belong to the user
   4. Yes, until the driver turns 18 years old
   Show answer

   No, new drivers set up their own account and the account must belong to the user. New drivers must set up their own License Express account. You cannot get services for yourself using someone else's account. Choose a username and password that are easy to remember. If you forget your WDL number or have account questions, call 360-902-3900. Sign up with a username and password that is easy for you to remember. New drivers need to set up their own account.

4. 4. After a flat tire, you cannot reach a safe place to change it. What should you do in Washington?

   1. Drive slowly to the nearest repair shop
   2. Start changing it beside the moving traffic
   3. Turn off the hazard lights while waiting to save the battery
   4. Turn on hazard lights, stay in the vehicle, and call for help
   Show answer

   Turn on hazard lights, stay in the vehicle, and call for help. If a safe tire-changing location is unavailable, use your hazard warning lights, remain in the vehicle, and call for help. This instruction comes after controlling the vehicle and trying to pull off safely. It does not ask you to begin roadside repairs wherever the vehicle stops. The useful distinction is whether you have a safe place to work: without one, make the emergency visible and wait for assistance rather than changing the tire beside traffic. During the initial blowout response, allow the vehicle to slow by itself or brake gently if necessary.

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

5. 5. When turning onto a Washington road into moving traffic, what must the available time allow you to do?

   1. Enter at a low speed and leave acceleration until after traffic catches up
   2. Complete the turn even if approaching traffic must slow briefly
   3. Complete the turn and reach the traffic's speed without disrupting its flow
   4. Count on the nearest approaching driver to create the remaining space
   Show answer

   Complete the turn and reach the traffic's speed without disrupting its flow. Allow enough time both to complete the turn and to reach the speed of the approaching traffic. Washington emphasizes that turning into the flow should not disrupt that flow. A gap that permits only the beginning of the turn may still be too short for the rest of the maneuver. Judge the approaching vehicles before committing, and give yourself enough time for the entire entry rather than counting only the moment your wheels enter the road. Also make sure you have enough room to complete the crossing or turn without blocking the intersection.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed, following space and zipper merging

6. 6. In Washington, when is an intersection legally a crosswalk?

   1. Only where a crossing guard is posted
   2. Every intersection, marked or unmarked
   3. Only when painted lines mark it
   4. Only at signal controlled corners
   Show answer

   Every intersection, marked or unmarked. Every intersection is legally a crosswalk in Washington, whether the crossing is marked or unmarked. Paint, signals, and crossing guards can add control, but none of them creates the basic pedestrian space at a junction. That rule covers cross streets, side streets, driveways, shopping centers, and parking lot entrances where roads meet. Drivers should stop and yield to pedestrians and traffic already in the intersection, look in each direction more than once, and check mirrors and shoulders for riders before entering.

7. 7. Why should a Washington driver check that headlights are aimed correctly?

   1. Aim affects your road view but not the visibility of other drivers
   2. Misaimed lights reduce your road view and can make it harder for others to see
   3. Aim affects other drivers but cannot reduce your own road view
   4. Aiming lights upward extends your view without creating glare for others
   Show answer

   Misaimed lights reduce your road view and can make it harder for others to see. Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce your ability to see the road and make it harder for other drivers to see. Brightness alone does not establish that a lamp is useful; its direction matters too. Washington advises ensuring that headlights are properly aimed and that vehicle lights are clean and working. If night visibility is poor, consider the aim as well as whether the lamps turn on, rather than assuming a higher beam direction is better.

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

8. 8. When can a Washington applicant register with the United States Selective Service System through licensing?

   1. When applying for a license or ID card
   2. Only after receiving a draft notice by mail
   3. When registering a vehicle at a licensing office
   4. When filing a tax return at age 18
   Show answer

   When applying for a license or ID card. You can register with the United States Selective Service System when applying for a license or ID card. The guide directs readers to atg.wa.gov for more information. The guide offers registration when applying for a license or ID card; it does not require waiting for a draft notice. Vehicle registration and tax filing are separate services from Selective Service signup, and licensing applications offer registration.

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

9. 9. Which driving pattern does the Washington guide list as a sign of fatigue?

   1. Signaling well before every turn
   2. Drifting from your lane and hitting rumble strips
   3. Checking mirrors at every intersection
   4. Stopping fully at each stop sign
   Show answer

   Drifting from your lane and hitting rumble strips. Fatigue dulls alertness, attention, reaction time, and judgment much like alcohol does. Warning signs include drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating, and striking rumble strips, along with heavy eyelids, trouble keeping your head up, and missing exits or signs. Mirror checks, full stops, and early signals are healthy habits rather than symptoms of tiredness. If these drift warnings appear, pull off the road and rest instead of pushing on, because a tired driver risks falling asleep at the wheel.

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

10. 10. A medicine label warns against operating heavy machinery. What does that warning include?

    1. Only farm tractors and combines
    2. Riding as a passenger in a car
    3. Driving a vehicle
    4. Crossing a street on foot
    Show answer

    Driving a vehicle. Warnings against operating heavy machinery include driving a vehicle, a point worth remembering when a label sounds like it was written for a job site. Many legal drugs impair driving: over-the-counter products can bring drowsiness, while prescription products can slow reflexes and cloud judgment, vision, and alertness. Combinations can multiply alcohol effects as well. The safe routine is to read every warning label before driving, ask a doctor or pharmacist when unsure, and wait until you know how a drug affects your coordination and reaction time.

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

11. 11. In the OODA Loop described by the Washington guide, what does the first step ask?

    1. Judge whether the other driver was at fault
    2. Choose the fastest escape route available
    3. Signal and move before traffic reacts
    4. Observe what changed in the situation
    Show answer

    Observe what changed in the situation. The OODA Loop starts with Observe: identify what changed, such as a swerving car, sudden obstacle, or change in traffic flow. Next, Orient uses knowledge and experience to understand the change and its risks. Decide means choosing the safest course of action. Act means carrying out that action smoothly and decisively, with clear communication. Is there a car swerving, a sudden obstacle, or a change in traffic flow?

12. 12. What yaw motion appears when a Washington driver wags the steering wheel sharply side to side?

    1. The roof tilts toward the outside of every curve
    2. The front wheels turn with the steering while the back might slide a bit, creating a zigzag
    3. The nose pitches down under engine braking
    4. All four tires lift and reseat together
    Show answer

    The front wheels turn with the steering while the back might slide a bit, creating a zigzag. When you steer sharply from side to side, the front and back of the car do not stay perfectly aligned. The front wheels turn with the steering while the rear might slide a bit, creating a zigzag motion called yaw. The front wheels turn in the direction you’re steering, while the back might slide a bit, creating a zig-zag motion. Roof tilt in a curve describes roll, not yaw.

13. 13. What offense record must a Washington teen keep clean while holding an instruction permit to earn a first license?

    1. No parking tickets of any kind
    2. No offenses only after turning seventeen
    3. No alcohol or drug offenses while driving on the permit
    4. No offenses unless a parent was riding along
    Show answer

    No alcohol or drug offenses while driving on the permit. Applicants ages 16 and 17 must have no alcohol or drug offenses while driving with an instruction permit. The guide separately requires no traffic violations or convictions for the six months before applying for the license. Have no alcohol or drug offenses while driving with your instruction permit. The clean record condition targets alcohol and drug offenses on the permit. The condition covers the whole permit period, not just the last year.

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

14. 14. Rain starts on a hot Washington afternoon. Why can the first minutes of rain be extra slippery?

    1. Heat lifts oil in the asphalt to the surface until rain washes the oil away
    2. New rain makes asphalt expand and polish smooth
    3. Hot tires melt and leave rubber on dry lanes
    4. Rain cools brakes so cars slide farther on hills
    Show answer

    Heat lifts oil in the asphalt to the surface until rain washes the oil away. When rain starts on a hot day, the pavement can be very slippery for the first few minutes. Heat causes oil in the asphalt to come to the surface, and the road remains slippery until the oil washes away. Adjust your driving for slippery conditions, which may require driving below the posted speed limit. Heat causes the oil in the asphalt to come to the surface.

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

15. 15. On a Washington ocean beach open to driving, who has the right-of-way over vehicles at all times?

    1. Vehicles closest to the water
    2. Vehicles traveling on the firmest sand
    3. Vehicles approaching a marked beach exit
    4. Pedestrians and bicyclists
    Show answer

    Pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians and bicyclists retain the right-of-way at all times on Washington beaches where driving is allowed. Being on sand does not remove the normal responsibilities of a driver because the beach counts as a state highway. A marked vehicle approach or a firm strip of sand does not give motor vehicles priority over those people. Follow the beach access restrictions and watch for walkers and riders throughout your travel on the beach.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed, following space and zipper merging

16. 16. When does Washington allow parking on a freeway shoulder?

    1. Whenever the shoulder is wider than the vehicle
    2. Whenever you need to answer a routine call
    3. For a short rest if the travel lanes stay clear
    4. When you have an emergency
    Show answer

    When you have an emergency. The freeway shoulder is listed as a prohibited parking place unless you have an emergency. Leaving the travel lane clear or finding a wide shoulder does not create another exception. Separate an emergency stop from an ordinary reason to pause a trip, such as making a routine call. When planning to stop, remember that a shoulder is not a general parking area even though it lies outside the normal traffic lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and hills

17. 17. A safe opening is available to pass a bicyclist. Which passing maneuver follows Washington guidance?

    1. Pass slowly on the right if the shoulder is paved
    2. Pass on the left, then turn right before the bicyclist reaches the intersection
    3. Pass slowly on the left and wait until clear of the rider before returning
    4. Pass on the left and move back as soon as your front bumper is ahead
    Show answer

    Pass slowly on the left and wait until clear of the rider before returning. Pass a bicyclist slowly on the left, with a safe opening and the required clearance. Waiting for a gap does not remove the need to manage speed during the pass. Do not move back into the lane until you are clear of the rider. If you will turn right, do not pass the bicycle immediately before that turn; let the rider clear the intersection first. These steps preserve room for the bicycle throughout the maneuver.

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

18. 18. At a Washington intersection, how must you treat a bicyclist who has the right-of-way?

    1. Yield to the bicyclist as you would to a vehicle
    2. Pass the rider before reaching the stop line
    3. As a pedestrian who must dismount first
    4. Wave the rider through only when no cars wait
    Show answer

    Yield to the bicyclist as you would to a vehicle. Bicyclists have the same rights, duties, and responsibilities as vehicle drivers. At intersections, yield to bicyclists as you would to a vehicle. Bicyclists in crosswalks are considered pedestrians, and you must yield to them in marked and unmarked crosswalks and intersections. Watch for bicyclists when turning a corner or pulling into a driveway. Racing a rider to the stop line violates the yield duty.

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

19. 19. What does the assigned Washington number on a Washington license, permit, or ID card often start with?

    1. The letters DOL
    2. The letters WDL
    3. The first digits of a Social Security number
    4. A county code followed by a dash
    Show answer

    The letters WDL. All Washington licenses, permits, and ID cards have an assigned Washington number specific to the holder. The manual says this number often starts with the letters WDL. This number is specific to you. It often starts with the letters WDL. DOL names the Department of Licensing, not the opening letters of the personal number. The manual identifies WDL as the letters this number often starts with.

20. 20. What class must Washington driver training courses for students under age 18 offer?

    1. A parent orientation class
    2. A first aid class for guardians
    3. A vehicle maintenance class
    4. A night driving class for parents
    Show answer

    A parent orientation class. Driver training courses for students under age 18 must offer a parent orientation class. These sessions familiarize mentors with the program and explain the requirement for 40 hours of daylight driving and 10 hours of night driving. Driver training courses for students under age 18 are required to offer a parent orientation class. First aid training is not the class these courses are required to offer.

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