WA Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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. Which is one circumstance under Washington rules when a driver must yield at an uncontrolled intersection?

   1. A vehicle has already entered the intersection
   2. You are traveling on the wider roadway
   3. You are approaching from the paved road
   4. Your vehicle is moving faster than the other vehicle
   Show answer

   A vehicle has already entered the intersection. At an uncontrolled intersection, Washington still applies normal right-of-way rules. One listed condition is that a vehicle is already in the intersection, so a driver entering must yield and avoid cutting across its path. Road width and vehicle speed do not decide this particular condition. Being on a paved road also does not automatically give priority, although a driver coming from an unpaved road has a separate duty to yield. Approach slowly, scan each direction, and check whether another vehicle entered first.

2. 2. Which statement matches the Washington guide's warning about driving after consuming cannabis?

   1. Cannabis is lawful for driving once the driver is 21
   2. Driving after consuming any cannabis is illegal for all ages
   3. Driving is legal if the driver waits ten minutes
   4. Only cannabis edibles make driving illegal
   Show answer

   Driving after consuming any cannabis is illegal for all ages. The guide separates legal recreational possession from driving behavior. It says driving after consuming any cannabis is illegal for all ages, so being 21 does not create a driving exception. The choices about edibles or a ten minute wait introduce limits that the guide never gives. The useful cue is any cannabis, all ages. Cannabis can reduce attention, coordination, reaction time, and distance judgment, so a driver should arrange another way home rather than trying to estimate when the effects have faded.

3. 3. What marks a Washington agricultural vehicle designed to go 25 mph or less?

   1. A flashing blue light
   2. A red flag on the left side
   3. A white square
   4. A triangle sign or emblem on the back
   Show answer

   A triangle sign or emblem on the back. Agricultural and farm vehicles designed to go 25 mph or less carry a triangle sign or emblem on the back. When you see the slow moving vehicle emblem, be patient, slow down and give plenty of space. If you need to pass and there are two lanes in your direction, move over a full lane; on a single lane, pass only when the road ahead is clear.

4. 4. At a Washington stop sign, where must you stop before yielding?

   
   1. Only after entering the intersection
   2. At least 50 feet before the sign
   3. At the line, crosswalk, or corner
   4. Only when a pedestrian is visible
   Show answer

   At the line, crosswalk, or corner. Washington's stop sign rule identifies three possible stopping points: the stop line, the crosswalk, or the corner. After stopping, scan for crossing vehicles and pedestrians in every direction and yield the right of way. Waiting until the vehicle is already in the intersection is too late, even if the road looks empty. A stop sign requires a complete stop, not merely a rolling slowdown. Use the nearest marked stopping point, then proceed only after checking the entire intersection.

5. 5. At a Washington stop sign, what must a driver do before yielding the right-of-way?

   
   1. Slow without stopping if the road is empty
   2. Stop at the line, crosswalk, or corner
   3. Stop only after entering the intersection
   4. Stop 50 feet before the sign
   Show answer

   Stop at the line, crosswalk, or corner. A stop sign requires a complete stop at the line, crosswalk, or corner, followed by a check for traffic and pedestrians in every direction. Merely slowing is not enough, and entering the intersection before stopping defeats the control. The guide does not set a 50-foot stopping distance for this sign. Look for the nearest applicable stopping point, stop fully, then proceed only after yielding.

6. 6. How far before a turn should a Washington driver normally begin signaling?

   1. At least 100 feet before turning left or right across oncoming traffic
   2. At least 25 feet before the turn begins
   3. Only after the front wheels enter the intersection
   4. Exactly 500 feet before every turn
   Show answer

   At least 100 feet before turning left or right across oncoming traffic. The guide gives a minimum of 100 feet for signaling before turning left or right across oncoming traffic. Signaling early communicates the planned movement and gives other road users time to respond. Twenty-five feet is shorter than the stated distance, while waiting until the wheels enter the intersection communicates too late. Five hundred feet is not the guide’s ordinary figure for this maneuver. Use the 100-foot mark as a planning point, then check for a safe gap and vulnerable road users.

7. 7. How does the Washington guide say to report road rage in progress?

   1. File a report at a licensing office
   2. Post it on social media
   3. Call 911 immediately
   4. Follow the driver to get the plate
   Show answer

   Call 911 immediately. Report in progress road rage incidents immediately by calling 911. Reducing road rage and aggressive driving is central to the Washington State Patrol's mission, and troopers act on live reports. If you feel followed or harassed, drive to a busy public place or a police station and call for help; do not go home and do not confront the other driver.

8. 8. What does a green arrow give a driver?

   1. Permission to ignore pedestrians
   2. A command to stop before the arrow changes
   3. The right-of-way to travel in the arrow's direction
   4. Priority over an emergency vehicle
   Show answer

   The right-of-way to travel in the arrow's direction. A green arrow gives the driver the right-of-way to travel in the direction shown. It does not cancel the need to watch the intersection or yield to an emergency vehicle, and it is not a stop instruction. The guide says there should be no oncoming vehicles, crossing traffic, or pedestrians while the arrow is green, but active scanning remains important. Follow the arrow, check that the movement area is clear, and be prepared to respond to anyone already in the intersection or to an emergency signal.

9. 9. What is the safest response when a vehicle cannot safely pull completely off during an emergency zone?

   1. Maintain the limit so traffic is not delayed
   2. Slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit and never exceed 50 mph
   3. Accelerate to clear the area
   4. Stop beside the response vehicle
   Show answer

   Slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit and never exceed 50 mph. If moving into a farther lane is not possible, the emergency-zone rule requires slowing to a minimum of 10 mph under the posted speed limit. The vehicle must also stay at or below 50 mph in that zone. Maintaining speed leaves roadside workers exposed, stopping beside the response vehicle can create a new obstruction, and acceleration increases the danger. Look well ahead for flashing lights, reduce speed before reaching the scene, and give the roadside operation as much room as the roadway allows. The two numbers are the memory cue.

10. 10. During the first six months with a Washington intermediate license, who may ride as a passenger under age 20?

    1. Up to three friends
    2. One friend if the driver is 17
    3. Anyone, as long as all wear seat belts
    4. Only immediate family members
    Show answer

    Only immediate family members. For the first six months after the intermediate license is issued, the driver may carry no passengers under 20 except immediate family members. After six months the rule loosens to no more than three passengers under 20, still excluding family from the count, so up to three friends describes the later stage. Being 17 does not create an exception, and seat belt use does not change the passenger limit.

11. 11. An adult 18 or older in Washington chooses to practice on a permit before the skills exam. How experienced must the supervising driver be?

    1. 3 or more years of experience
    2. Any licensed driver age 18 or older
    3. 5 or more years of experience
    4. 10 or more years of experience
    Show answer

    5 or more years of experience. One of the four ways an adult can get a first Washington license is to pass the knowledge exam, get a permit, practice with a licensed driver who has 5 or more years of experience, and then pass the skills exam. Three years is the rule for supervising a teen's logged hours. Any licensed 18-year-old would not meet the standard, and ten years exceeds it. Adults may also transfer a license or take a course with an exam waiver.

12. 12. A Washington teen who skips driver training passes the knowledge exam at 15 and a half. When may the teen take the skills exam?

    1. Not until age 18
    2. At age 16
    3. At age 16 and a half
    4. Six months after getting the permit
    Show answer

    Not until age 18. Without a driver training course, a teen can take the knowledge exam at 15 and a half and get a permit, but must wait until 18 to take the skills exam and get a license. Age 16 with six months on the permit is the path for teens who complete an approved traffic safety course. Sixteen and a half is not a Washington threshold. The permit lasts one year and can be renewed for a fee.

13. 13. How far from the nearest rail should a driver stop when a railroad crossing signal is flashing?

    
    1. Exactly 75 feet
    2. Between 1 and 5 feet
    3. At least 100 feet and no closer
    4. Between 15 and 50 feet
    Show answer

    Between 15 and 50 feet. When a railroad crossing signal is flashing, a driver must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. The shorter distances leave too little room if a train enters the crossing, while 75 or 100 feet are not the guide’s stated range. The same stopping distance applies when a gate is lowering, a flagger signals, a train creates an immediate hazard, or a warning horn sounds. Stop before the tracks, wait for the warning to end, and never drive around a lowered gate.

14. 14. What minimum tire tread depth does the Washington guide give?

    1. Not less than 2/32 of an inch
    2. Not less than 1/32 of an inch
    3. Not less than 6/32 of an inch
    4. Any visible tread
    Show answer

    Not less than 2/32 of an inch. Worn tires can cause slipping and sliding, especially on wet roads, and the guide says tire tread should not be less than 2/32 of an inch. Low tire pressure also affects handling, and the proper inflation figure is on the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver's side door edge or in the owner's manual. Check both regularly rather than waiting for a problem.

15. 15. How long does a Washington vehicle purchaser have to transfer the title into their name without penalty fees?

    1. 5 days
    2. 15 days
    3. 30 days
    4. 60 days
    Show answer

    15 days. The purchaser must bring the signed title to a licensing office to transfer ownership within 15 days to avoid penalty fees. The seller's report of sale, due within five days, only records that the seller gave up the vehicle. Until the buyer transfers the title, the vehicle is not legally theirs, so acting within the 15 days protects both parties.

16. 16. What does Washington require when transporting an animal outside the passenger area, such as in a truck bed?

    1. Nothing, as long as the tailgate is up
    2. A speed under 35 mph
    3. A leash tied to the bumper
    4. A protective harness or enclosure so the animal cannot jump or fall out
    Show answer

    A protective harness or enclosure so the animal cannot jump or fall out. It is illegal for anyone to transport an animal outside a vehicle, such as in the bed of a truck, without a protective harness or enclosure so the animal cannot jump or fall out. Transporting an animal in a way that risks the animal or public safety is a misdemeanor under Washington's animal cruelty laws. An unrestrained dog in a bed is also a distraction for other drivers.

17. 17. How long is a Washington instruction permit valid before renewal is needed?

    1. Six months
    2. One year
    3. Two years
    4. Until the holder turns 18
    Show answer

    One year. A Washington instruction permit is valid for one year and can be renewed for a fee. Six months is a practice period required for many applicants ages 16 to 17, not the permit’s full validity period. Two years describes the validity of a knowledge exam score, not the permit itself. Keep the permit’s expiration date in mind when planning practice and the skills exam so an expired document does not interrupt the licensing process.

18. 18. For which age group does the Washington guide say vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death?

    1. People over 65
    2. Children under 10
    3. People ages 16 to 25
    4. People ages 35 to 50
    Show answer

    People ages 16 to 25. In Washington, vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people ages 16 to 25, a group more susceptible to fatal and serious injury crashes. The common factors in fatal crashes are speed, impairment, distraction, unrestrained occupants and inexperience. Risk awareness, the ability to spot present and potential hazards, is the skill the guide asks new drivers to build.

19. 19. When turning at an intersection, which lane should you enter?

    1. The farthest lane from your starting direction
    2. Any lane that has the shortest queue
    3. The shoulder if the turn is difficult
    4. The lane closest to the direction you are coming from
    Show answer

    The lane closest to the direction you are coming from. Washington law requires a driver turning left or right to turn into the lane closest to the direction from which the driver came. Entering the far lane can cross other traffic paths and make the turn unpredictable. Queue length does not change the lane rule, and the shoulder is not a substitute travel lane. The cue is near side to near side: hold the original lane through the turn, then change lanes after completing it if necessary.

20. 20. What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean at an intersection?

    1. It has the same meaning as a yield sign
    2. It requires a full stop before every movement
    3. It gives the approaching driver priority over everyone
    4. It means the signal is permanently out of service
    Show answer

    It has the same meaning as a yield sign. A flashing yellow light has the same meaning as a yield sign. Treat the intersection as uncontrolled, slow down, look for traffic and people, and proceed only when safe. A full stop is not automatically required, and the signal does not grant unlimited priority. The cue is caution rather than a guaranteed stop: reduce speed early, check each direction, and yield whenever another road user has the right-of-way.