WA DOL Knowledge Test cheat sheet

Washington's default urban speed limit is 25 mph unless signs post a different limit; rural two-lane roads default to 50 mph.

At a stop sign or flashing red, make a full stop behind the limit line or crosswalk, then yield to all cross traffic and pedestrians before proceeding.

A steady red arrow means stop and remain stopped; you may not turn in the direction of the arrow until it changes to green.

Right turn on red is allowed after a full stop and yield, unless a sign prohibits it; left turn on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

At an uncontrolled intersection (no signs or signals), yield to the vehicle on your right; a vehicle already in the intersection has the right of way.

Left turns must yield to oncoming traffic, and a permissive green (solid) ball does not protect a left turn - only a green arrow does.

Passing is prohibited on a two-lane road when a solid yellow line is on your side, within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, or at a school bus loading zone.

When a school bus displays flashing red lights on an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop; on a divided highway, only traffic behind the bus must stop.

At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive goes first; if two arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the right has the right of way.

Sign shape carries meaning: octagon = stop, inverted triangle = yield, diamond = warning, pennant = no-passing zone, round = railroad advance warning.

Sign color carries meaning: red = prohibition/stop, yellow = warning, orange = construction, white = regulatory, green = guide/distance, blue = services.

A solid white line marks the right edge of the roadway; a solid yellow line marks the left edge of a divided highway or one-way road.

Yellow center lines: broken = passing permitted when safe, solid on your side = no passing, double solid = no passing either direction.

A pentagon (five-sided) sign marks a school zone or school crossing.

A circular yellow sign with an X and RR letters is the railroad advance warning sign; a white crossbuck marks the actual crossing.

Flashing yellow lights on a sign or signal mean proceed with caution; flashing red means stop, then proceed when clear.

A red circle with a diagonal slash means the action shown is prohibited (no U-turn, no left turn, no parking).

Warning signs are placed in advance of hazards; the distance to the hazard is often stated on a supplemental plaque beneath the sign.

Washington's basic speed rule requires driving at a speed reasonable for conditions regardless of the posted limit.

Following distance: use the three-second rule on dry pavement; add at least one second for rain and more for snow, ice, or darkness.

Safety belts are required for the driver and all passengers; children under 8 years old must be in an appropriate child restraint unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller.

Handheld cell phone use and texting while driving are illegal in Washington; a first offense is a traffic infraction.

Drivers must use headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and whenever visibility is limited (rain, fog, smoke).

A driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher (0.02% for drivers under 21) is legally impaired; an open container in the vehicle is prohibited.

On a wet road, stopping distance increases and hydroplaning can occur above roughly 35 mph; ease off the accelerator rather than braking hard.

If your vehicle begins to skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go and avoid hard braking.

When parked on a hill facing downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb; facing uphill with a curb, turn wheels away from the curb.

Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as motor vehicles; pass them with at least 3 feet of clearance.

Motorcyclists are entitled to a full lane; do not share a lane with a motorcycle, and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.

Large trucks have large blind spots (No-Zones) on both sides, directly behind, and in front; if you cannot see the truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

When a truck is making a wide right turn, do not pass on the right; the truck may swing left first and its rear wheels track inside the front wheels.

Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way; drivers must stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian has cleared the driver's lane and the adjacent lane.

When merging onto a freeway, use the acceleration lane to match traffic speed and yield to vehicles already on the freeway.

In fog, use low-beam headlights; high beams reflect off the moisture and reduce visibility.

In a work zone, fines for speeding are doubled when workers are present, and flaggers' directions override signs and signals.

When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right edge of the roadway and stop until it passes.