Practice Test 1

Question 1

At an intersection, if you see a pedestrian using a guide dog or other service animal or carrying a white cane, you must

(hint: don’t startle the pedestrian)

Answer 1

Stop your vehicle.

(A pedestrian using a guide dog or other service animal or carrying a white cane is blind or visually impaired. Use extreme caution around such pedestrians. Under Washington State law, you must not enter a crosswalk in which a blind pedestrian is crossing the roadway, and you must do whatever is necessary to avoid injuring the pedestrian or the service animal. Don’t use your horn because it could confuse or frighten the blind pedestrian or the service animal.)

Question 2

To hold the steering wheel, especially in turns, you should keep

(hint: Opposite sides of the steering wheel.)

Answer 2

Your left hand between 8 and 9 o’clock and your right hand between 3 and 4 o’clock.

(Keeping your hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel facilitates quick turns. When driving a modern vehicle equipped with airbags, place your left hand between 8 and 9 o’clock and your right hand between 3 and 4 o’clock. If your hands are higher than that when the driver’s side airbag deploys, it could shove your hands into your face or even injure your hands. This position also allows you to make turns without taking your hands off the wheel.

Question 3

In Washington State, which occupants of a passenger car must wear safety belts or appropriate child restraints?

(hint: Seat belts save lives.)

Answer 3

The driver and all passenger

(Under Washington State law, all occupants of a passenger car – the driver and all passengers – must wear safety belts or appropriate child restraints. The driver is responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 16 years of age are suitably restrained. Safety belts have been proven to save lives – even in the rear seat.)

Question 4

If a tire suddenly goes flat or blows out, you should NOT

hint: Don’t risk locking the wheels.

Answer 4

Brake hard

(If you experience a blowout, hold the steering wheel tightly, steer straight ahead, and slowly ease your foot off the gas pedal. Don’t brake hard; you might lock the wheels and lose control. Brake lightly only after the vehicle is back under your control. Pull completely off the road at the nearest safe location.)

Question 5

You have parked next to a curb, facing uphill. Which way should you point your front wheels?

(hint: If your brakes fail, which way will your car roll? Can you position your front wheels to prevent this?)

Answer 5

Away from the curb

(When you parallel park facing uphill next to a curb, you should point your wheels away from the curb and then roll back slightly so that the rear part of the curbside front wheel rests against the curb. If your brakes fail, the curb will block your car from rolling backward. Make sure you still set your parking brake and leave your car in the correct gear (Park for an automatic transmission or first gear for maximum forward torque with a manual transmission))

Question 6

What does a yellow diamond sign with a red octagon and up arrow mean?

(hint: What kind of sign is shaped like the red octagon (eight-sided figure) on this sign?)

Answer 6

A stop sign ahead.

(Most warning signs are diamond shaped with a yellow background. This sign gives you advance warning of a stop sign ahead. Prepare to stop and yield. You must stop before any stop line or crosswalk painted on the pavement.)

Question 7

On some roadways, lanes marked as “Transit” are reserved for

hint: These lanes are reserved for public transportation.

Answer 7

Buses only.

(On various roadways, one or more lanes may be reserved for special vehicles. Reserved lanes are marked by signs stating that the lane is reserved for special use, and they often have a white diamond posted at the side of the road or painted on the pavement surface. “Transit” or “Bus” means that the lane is for bus use only.

Question 8

What does a yellow diamond shaped sign with a cross sign in the middle mean?

Answer 8

A cross road ahead

(This sign indicates that a crossroad or four-way intersection is ahead. Another road crosses the road you are on. Slow down and be alert for cross traffic.)

Question 9

If an oncoming vehicle has its high-beam headlights on, you should look toward

(hint: Look away from oncoming vehicles.)

Answer 9

The right edge of the road.

(The high beams of an oncoming vehicle can be blinding. To avoid being temporarily blinded, slow down, keep right, look away from the oncoming vehicle, and look toward the right edge of the road to stay on course until the vehicle has passed by.)

Question 10

A solid white line between lanes of traffic means that you should

Answer 10

Stay in your lane

(A solid white line between lanes of traffic means that you should stay in your lane unless a special situation requires you to change lanes.)

Question 11

When it is raining or the road is wet, you should reduce your speed to avoid

Answer 11

hydroplaning

(When it is raining or the road is wet, as you go faster, your tires will start to ride up on the water like water skis because of low traction with the road. This condition is called hydroplaning. To avoid this condition, drive slower than 35 mph on wet roads.)

Question 12

At a speed of 55 mph, you need about __________ to pass another vehicle.

Answer 12

ten seconds

(At a speed of 55 mph, you need about ten seconds to pass another vehicle. This means you need a ten-second gap in oncoming traffic and sight-distance to pass. At 55 mph, your vehicle will travel about 807 feet in ten seconds. So will an oncoming vehicle that is also traveling at 55 mph. Therefore, to pass safely without risking a collision with the oncoming vehicle, you will need over 1,600 feet of empty roadway ahead of you – about three-tenths of a mile. It is hard to judge the speed of oncoming vehicles at this distance.)

Question 13

In Washington State, you can be arrested for driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of ______ or above.

Answer 13

0.08%

(In Washington State, if you are found to be driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more, you can be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI). If you are under 21 years of age, you can also be arrested for a BAC of 0.02% or more.)

Question 14

You must not follow a fire truck closer than ________ when it is responding to a fire alarm.

Answer 14

500 feet

(In Washington State, it is illegal to follow a fire truck closer than 500 feet when it is responding to a fire alarm. Also, you must not stop your vehicle within 500 feet of a stopped fire truck that is responding to a fire alarm.)

Question 15

In Washington State at night, you must use _________ whenever you’re following another vehicle within 300 feet.

Answer 15

Low beams

(Under Washington State law, you must dim your headlights to low beam whenever you’re within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following. High beams can blind the driver of the vehicle you are following by reflecting off the vehicle’s mirrors.)

Question 16

You are driving on a two-lane roadway. A school bus with flashing red lights is stopped ahead. What must you do?

Answer 16

Stop, no matter which direction you are traveling in.

(Under Washington State law, if you approach a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing on a two-lane road, you must stop before reaching the bus, whether it is on your side of the road, on the opposite side of the road, or at an intersection you are approaching. You must remain stopped until the flashing red lights are turned off or the bus resumes its motion. The Washington Driver Guide recommends continuing to wait until all children have safely left the roadway before you proceed.)

Question 17

In Washington State, the maximum speed limit on state highways is _______ unless otherwise posted.

Answer 17

60 mph

(In Washington State, the maximum speed limit on state highways is 60 mph unless otherwise posted. The maximum speed limit on some rural interstate highways is 70 mph.)

Question 18

To maintain a safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you, the Washington Driver Guide recommends that you use _________ at speeds over 30 mph.

Answer 18

The four-second rule

(To maintain a safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you, the Washington Driver Guide recommends that you use the four-second rule at speeds over 30 mph. That is, leave at least four seconds of following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you. (At speeds of 30 mph or less, a three-second following distance may be sufficient.) Under more hazardous driving conditions, you should increase your following distance even more.)

Question 19

When you parallel park in Washington State, you must park within ________ of the curb.

Answer 19

12 inches

Under Washington State law, when you parallel park, you must park within 12 inches of the curb.

Question 20

__________ mark the left edge of one-way roads and separate opposing lanes of traffic on two-way roads.

Answer 20

Solid yellow lines

(Solid yellow lines mark the left edge of one-way roads and divided highways and separate opposing lanes of traffic on two-way roads.)