WA Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

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 should you do if you are involved in a crash in which someone is injured or killed?

   1. Wait to report it unless the damage exceeds a stated dollar amount
   2. Leave immediately after exchanging a phone number
   3. Move the vehicle far away before reporting anything
   4. Do not drive away, call 911, and notify law enforcement
   Show answer

   Do not drive away, call 911, and notify law enforcement. After a collision involving injury or death, Washington guidance says not to drive away. Call 911 and notify law enforcement. Leaving, delaying the report, or moving far away before handling the emergency can prevent medical care and investigation. The cue is injury or a fatality: protect the scene as safely as possible, summon help, and remain available to provide information rather than treating the crash as a minor property-only event.

2. 2. At a four-way stop, what should you do if two vehicles arrive at approximately the same time?

   1. Yield to the vehicle on your right
   2. The larger vehicle goes first
   3. Both vehicles should proceed together
   4. Yield to the vehicle on your left
   Show answer

   Yield to the vehicle on your right. When two vehicles reach a four-way stop at approximately the same time, the driver must yield to the vehicle on the right. Vehicle size does not determine priority, and both drivers moving together creates a conflict. The left-side vehicle waits while the right-side vehicle proceeds when safe. Use the cue of simultaneous arrival: pause, identify the vehicle to your right, yield, then continue only after the intersection is clear.

3. 3. What must you do before entering an intersection when a cross street is blocked from view?

   1. Edge forward slowly until you can see crossing traffic
   2. Accelerate through before another vehicle appears
   3. Turn around and use the shoulder
   4. Rely on the vehicle ahead without checking
   Show answer

   Edge forward slowly until you can see crossing traffic. If the stop line leaves the cross street hidden, Washington guidance says to edge forward slowly until you can see. This lets crossing drivers see the front of your vehicle and gives them a chance to slow or warn you. Accelerating, using the shoulder, or following another vehicle’s judgment removes your own view. The cue is blocked sightline: stop first, creep only as needed, and enter after confirming the path is clear.

4. 4. What does a square sign with a white horizontal line inside a circle tell a driver?

   1. The road is open only to buses
   2. A railroad crossing is ahead
   3. The lane is reserved for bicycles
   4. Do not enter from that direction
   Show answer

   Do not enter from that direction. The square sign with a white horizontal line inside a circle means a driver cannot enter the street from that direction. It warns against wrong-way entry and helps prevent a head-on collision. It is not a bus, railroad, or bicycle-lane designation. The cue is the white bar across the circle: stop before entering, check for a permitted route, and never proceed against the sign.

5. 5. What does a dashed yellow line at the center of a two-way, two-lane road indicate?

   1. Traffic travels in the same direction on both sides
   2. The lane is reserved for left turns
   3. Passing is forbidden in both directions
   4. You may use the oncoming lane to pass when safe
   Show answer

   You may use the oncoming lane to pass when safe. A dashed yellow centerline separates opposing traffic while permitting a driver to enter the oncoming lane for a pass when the view, traffic, and roadway conditions make that maneuver safe. It does not mean both lanes flow the same way, which is associated with white lane lines. A blanket no-passing rule is shown by solid or double solid yellow markings, not a dashed line alone. A reserved center turn lane uses arrows and different lane guidance. Before crossing, scan ahead and behind, signal, and be certain the pass will not surprise approaching traffic.

6. 6. What do Washington signs in a no-passing zone prohibit?

   
   1. Passing is not allowed
   2. Drivers must use a shared center turn lane
   3. A school zone begins ahead
   4. A temporary work zone begins ahead
   Show answer

   Passing is not allowed. Washington no-passing signs identify places where passing is not allowed. The guide notes that these signs may appear near hills, curves, intersections, or other locations where a vehicle could enter the roadway. A shared center lane is reserved for left turns, while school and work zones use different warning signs and controls. Treat the no-passing message as a restriction on overtaking, especially where the road layout limits your view. Check the lane markings and wait until signs and markings show that passing is permitted again.

7. 7. When should a driver reduce speed below a posted maximum in Washington?

   1. Only when driving below the minimum speed
   2. Only when a police officer is visible
   3. Never, because the posted number controls every condition
   4. When road conditions require it, such as slippery pavement or fog
   Show answer

   When road conditions require it, such as slippery pavement or fog. Washington says the maximum speed limit is for ideal conditions. A driver should reduce speed when the roadway is slippery, fog makes it difficult to see, or another condition reduces safety. The posted number remains a ceiling, not a promise that traveling at that speed is safe everywhere. Watch pavement and visibility, then choose a speed that keeps the vehicle under control and avoids driving too fast for conditions.

8. 8. What does a flashing red traffic light require?

   1. A yield without stopping
   2. A speed reduction with no stop required
   3. A complete ban on entering the intersection
   4. A full stop, followed by proceeding when it is your turn
   Show answer

   A full stop, followed by proceeding when it is your turn. A flashing red traffic light functions as a stop sign. Come to a full stop, then proceed when it is your turn and the intersection is safe. Treating it as a yield would skip the required stop, while a permanent ban would confuse a control signal with a closed roadway. Simply reducing speed is also insufficient. Look for pedestrians, cyclists, and cross traffic after stopping, then apply the normal right-of-way order. The red flashing pattern is the visual cue that this signal requires a complete stop before movement.

9. 9. After the first six months with a Washington intermediate license, how many passengers under 20 who are not immediate family may ride along?

   1. None
   2. No more than three
   3. No more than one
   4. No more than five
   Show answer

   No more than three. From six months until age 18 or one year, whichever comes first, an intermediate driver may carry no more than three passengers under 20 who are not immediate family. None is the rule only for the first six months. A one passenger cap is not the Washington rule, and five exceeds the cap. After one year of safe driving with no crash or traffic offense, the passenger limits no longer apply.

10. 10. A red slash over a right turn symbol means that right turns are:

    
    1. Not allowed at that location
    2. Required after stopping
    3. Allowed only for buses
    4. Allowed only when traffic is heavy
    Show answer

    Not allowed at that location. The pictured movement controls the meaning of a prohibition sign. A crossed right turn arrow tells you that right turns are not allowed at that location. It does not make the turn mandatory, create a bus exception, or change with traffic volume. Slow and read the entire sign before choosing another permitted path. The red slash is a broad warning that an action is restricted, while the arrow tells you exactly which action is restricted.

11. 11. After selling or giving away a vehicle, when must a Washington owner file a Vehicle Report of Sale?

    1. Within 15 days
    2. Within five days
    3. Within 30 days
    4. Only if the buyer asks
    Show answer

    Within five days. If you sell, trade, gift, or dispose of your vehicle, file a Vehicle Report of Sale form within five days. Remove the license plates, pay the fee, and file at a vehicle licensing office or online. The report does not transfer ownership; the signed and dated title goes to the purchaser, who then has 15 days to transfer ownership to avoid penalty fees.

12. 12. Why should a driver not rely on daytime running lights as a complete substitute for regular headlights?

    1. They work only when the vehicle is parked
    2. They make the front of the vehicle invisible
    3. They are not as bright and do not activate the taillights
    4. They automatically activate high beams in every condition
    Show answer

    They are not as bright and do not activate the taillights. Daytime running lights help illuminate the front of some vehicles, but the guide warns they are not as bright as headlights and do not activate the taillights. That means a driver relying on them may be less visible from behind, especially in changing weather or light. The other choices describe behavior the guide does not state. A useful check is whether the rear lights are on, not merely whether some front lights appear. Turn on regular headlights when darkness or rain, snow, fog, or smoke makes visibility more demanding.

13. 13. Where is driving on ocean beaches allowed in Washington, and what speed limit applies?

    1. On any beach at 15 mph
    2. Statewide at 35 mph
    3. Only in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties, at 25 mph
    4. Nowhere
    Show answer

    Only in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties, at 25 mph. Driving is allowed on ocean beaches only in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. The beach is considered a state highway, so all driving laws apply, the speed limit is 25 mph, and pedestrians and bicyclists have the right of way at all times. Enter only through marked beach approaches and stay on the hard packed sand near the approaches where driving is permitted.

14. 14. What must you do when a school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop sign?

    
    1. Stop as required by the bus signal and wait
    2. Use the center turn lane to get around the bus
    3. Stop only if you are directly behind the bus
    4. Pass slowly if no child is visible
    Show answer

    Stop as required by the bus signal and wait. Flashing red lights and an extended stop sign identify a loading or unloading school bus. Drivers must stop when the rule applies, and the guide specifically states that all vehicles stop in this situation. A child may be hidden from view, so visual confirmation is not a condition. The center turn lane is not a safe bypass, and limiting the duty to the vehicle directly behind ignores traffic traveling in the same direction. Stop well before the bus, stay alert, and wait for the signals to end.

15. 15. What are the white stripes next to a Washington disabled parking space, and what is the rule for them?

    1. Overflow parking for compact cars
    2. A loading zone for deliveries
    3. An access aisle that must be kept clear
    4. A motorcycle space
    Show answer

    An access aisle that must be kept clear. The white stripes next to a reserved space are called an access aisle and must be kept clear so a person can deploy a ramp or lift and open the door fully. You can be fined for parking in a reserved stall without displaying the required placard and for blocking the access aisle. A placard should not hang from the mirror while you drive.

16. 16. What does Washington's guide say speed limits indicate?

    1. A speed that must be maintained in every weather condition
    2. The minimum speed for every road
    3. The maximum speed legal under ideal conditions
    4. Permission to exceed the limit while passing
    Show answer

    The maximum speed legal under ideal conditions. A posted speed limit is the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions, not a promise that the same speed is safe in rain, ice, traffic, or poor visibility. The guide also says Washington law requires reducing speed when conditions are poor. Therefore the minimum-speed and always-maintain choices misread the sign, while passing does not create permission to exceed the posted maximum. Use the sign as a ceiling and adjust downward when the roadway demands it.

17. 17. Where may open alcohol or cannabis products be transported in a Washington vehicle?

    1. In the glove box
    2. Only in a trunk or truck bed
    3. Under a seat
    4. In the center console
    Show answer

    Only in a trunk or truck bed. Open alcohol and cannabis products can only be transported in a trunk or truck bed. Containers cannot be kept in storage compartments accessible to the driver, and alcohol or cannabis in unlabeled or mislabeled containers is also prohibited. The rule applies to passengers as well. Keeping open products out of reach removes any question of consumption while driving and protects passengers from a citation.

18. 18. Before turning, what check does the Washington guide specifically recommend for nearby bicyclists or pedestrians?

    1. Rely only on the rearview mirror
    2. Check the side mirrors and look over your shoulder
    3. Sound the horn and turn without looking behind
    4. Check behind only after the turn is complete
    Show answer

    Check the side mirrors and look over your shoulder. A turn can cross the path of someone beside or behind the vehicle, so the guide calls for side-mirror checks and an over-shoulder check before turning. A rearview mirror alone leaves side areas unexamined. A horn is not a substitute for seeing a bicyclist or pedestrian, and checking after the turn comes too late to prevent a conflict. Build the mirror and shoulder scan into the turn routine before steering across the adjacent path.

19. 19. How long is the temporary license good for after a Washington teen is licensed in person?

    1. 10 days
    2. 30 days
    3. 45 days
    4. 90 days
    Show answer

    45 days. Before leaving the office, a new driver receives a temporary license good for 45 days, and the official card arrives by mail. Ten days is the deadline to update an address, and 30 days is the time a new adult resident has to get a Washington license. Ninety days is not the stated validity. A teen who applies online prints a receipt as the temporary license instead, and it has no photo.

20. 20. What is a good way to avoid distraction before driving in Washington?

    1. Hold the phone low so it is below the steering wheel
    2. Put the phone away before moving and keep attention on driving
    3. Read notifications only while stopped at a red light
    4. Use a handheld device whenever traffic is moving slowly
    Show answer

    Put the phone away before moving and keep attention on driving. The guide recommends putting the phone away as a practical way to prevent attention from drifting during a trip. Holding it low still involves a handheld electronic device and takes visual or mental focus from the road. Reading at a red light is not a reliable safety plan because traffic can move unexpectedly and the driver remains responsible for awareness. Slow traffic does not make handheld use safe. Set the phone aside before the vehicle moves.