20 questions from the Washington Driver Guide. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What is the legal requirement regarding speed when road conditions are poor?
Answer: You are required to reduce your speed when conditions are poor. The handbook mandates that drivers must adjust their speed downward when road conditions are poor to ensure safety.
Washington Driver Guide, page 63: “Washington law also requires you to drive at speeds that are safe for current road conditions. This means reducing your speed when conditions are poor.”
2. Why does the handbook state that litter creates safety hazards for road users?
Answer: It can cause accidents and spark wildfires. The handbook cites two specific safety hazards caused by litter: causing accidents and sparking wildfires.
Washington Driver Guide, page 34: “Litter on roads can cause accidents. Flammable or inflamed litter can spark wildfires, damaging the environment and potentially causing fatalities.”
3. What is the maximum distance your vehicle should be from the curb when completing parallel parking?
Answer: No more than 12 inches. The handbook states that when adjusting your vehicle in a parallel parking space, it must be no more than 12 inches from the curb.
Washington Driver Guide, page 58: “Make sure your vehicle is no more than 12 inches from the curb.”
4. How should a driver adjust their driving behavior when driving in the dark with limited visibility?
Answer: Reduce speed and increase following distances. The handbook advises reducing speed and increasing following distance to ensure the driver can stop within the illuminated area.
Washington Driver Guide, page 24: “Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. You should be able to stop inside the lit area created by your headlights.”
5. What is the maximum speed limit allowed when driving through an emergency zone?
Answer: Never faster than 50 mph. The handbook states a hard cap of 50 mph for emergency zones, distinct from the relative reduction rule.
Washington Driver Guide, page 55: “Never drive faster than 50 mph in an emergency zone.”
6. What is the recommended action if an oncoming vehicle has its high beams on?
Answer: Look toward the right side of the road. The handbook advises looking to the right side of the road to avoid distraction from oncoming high beams.
Washington Driver Guide, page 67: “If a vehicle comes toward you with its high beams on, look toward the right side of the road to keep from being distracted by the headlights.”
7. How much stopping distance does a loaded truck with properly adjusted brakes require when traveling at 55 mph?
Answer: 450 feet. The handbook states that a loaded truck traveling at 55 mph requires 450 feet to stop completely.
Washington Driver Guide, page 37: “It takes a loaded truck with properly adjusted brakes, traveling at 55 mph, 450 feet to come to a complete stop.”
8. When is it permissible to make a right turn on a red light?
Answer: If you don’t see a “no turn on red” sign and you have plenty of room to enter traffic. A right turn on red is allowed only after a complete stop, provided there is no prohibiting sign and sufficient room to merge safely.
Washington Driver Guide, page 42: “After coming to a complete stop at a red light, you can turn right if you don’t see a “no turn on red” sign and you have plenty of room to enter traffic.”
9. In a traffic calming circle, in which direction does traffic flow around the center island?
Answer: Counterclockwise. The handbook states that traffic flows counterclockwise around the center island in a traffic calming circle.
Washington Driver Guide, page 49: “A traffic calming circle is an intersection with a painted or raised center island that traffic flows counterclockwise around.”
10. How far from the stop line are you if you stop when the line is under your side mirror?
Answer: About 3 to 6 inches. The handbook provides this specific measurement as a reference point for judging distance at intersections.
Washington Driver Guide, page 20: “At an intersection, stopping when the stop line is under your side mirror means you are about 3 to 6 inches from the line.”
11. What is the requirement for drivers who are required to wear corrective lenses?
Answer: Always wear them when driving. The handbook mandates that drivers requiring corrective lenses must always wear them while operating a vehicle.
Washington Driver Guide, page 23: “Always wear them when driving.”
12. What does a steady yellow X indicate on an overhead sign for a reversible lane?
Answer: The lane is changing direction and you should move out. The handbook states that a steady yellow X signals the lane is changing direction, requiring drivers to exit safely.
Washington Driver Guide, page 53: “A steady yellow X means the lane is changing direction, and you should move out of the lane as soon as it’s safe.”
13. Which of the following is listed as a specific consequence of driving at excessive speeds?
Answer: It reduces the effectiveness of seat belts. The handbook states that seat belt effectiveness decreases at higher speeds, making option C the correct choice while others contradict the handbook.
Washington Driver Guide, page 62: “Seat belts are designed to protect you in a crash, but their effectiveness decreases at higher speeds.”
14. What action must a driver take immediately upon seeing or hearing an emergency vehicle using lights and/or sirens?
Answer: Pull your vehicle to the right side of the road and stop. Drivers are required to immediately pull to the right and stop when encountering an emergency vehicle with active signals.
Washington Driver Guide, page 41: “As soon as you see or hear the signals, immediately pull your vehicle to the right side of the road and stop.”
15. When merging into traffic ahead of a large vehicle, what visual confirmation should a driver wait for before moving in front?
Answer: Wait until you can clearly see both of their headlights in your rearview mirror. The handbook specifies that seeing both headlights in the rearview mirror is the criterion for safely merging in front of a large vehicle.
Washington Driver Guide, page 37: “When entering traffic ahead of a large vehicle, wait until you can clearly see both of their headlights in your rearview mirror before merging in front of them.”
16. When driving behind a bicyclist, what is the minimum space you must leave between your vehicle and the bicyclist?
Answer: At least 3 feet. The handbook states that drivers must maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet when following a bicyclist.
Washington Driver Guide, page 39: “When you’re driving behind a bicyclist, leave at least 3 feet of space.”
17. How should a driver treat an intersection if the traffic signal is not working?
Answer: Treat the intersection like a four-way stop. The rules specify that a non-functioning traffic signal requires drivers to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
Washington Driver Guide, page 42: “If a traffic signal isn’t working, treat the intersection like a four-way stop.”
18. Within how many days must you follow the instructions on the back of a traffic ticket to avoid having your driving privileges suspended?
Answer: Within 15 days. The handbook specifies a 15-day window for complying with ticket instructions to prevent license suspension.
Washington Driver Guide, page 75: “You need to follow the instructions on the back of the ticket within 15 days to avoid having your driving privileges suspended.”
19. What action is required when encountering a solid green light?
Answer: Wait for the intersection to clear, yield to emergency vehicles, and yield to pedestrians. The handbook lists three specific requirements for a solid green light: clearing the intersection, yielding to emergency vehicles, and yielding to pedestrians.
Washington Driver Guide, page 43: “Solid Green Go ahead, but make sure to: Wait for the intersection to clear. Yield to emergency vehicles as required by law. Yield to pedestrians.”
20. How should you treat bicyclists who are in a crosswalk?
Answer: Yield to them as you would to pedestrians. The handbook clarifies that bicyclists in crosswalks are treated as pedestrians, requiring drivers to yield regardless of whether the crosswalk is marked.
Washington Driver Guide, page 39: “Bicyclists in crosswalks are considered pedestrians. You must yield to them in both marked and unmarked crosswalks and intersections.”