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Washington driver handbook guide

Washington driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 30 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Washington course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 60 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
30
Source PDF pages
191
Companion lessons
60
Licensing agency
DOL

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Introduction Source p. 1
  2. We Are Washington Source p. 15
  3. Chapter 1: Licenses Source p. 17
  4. Getting a Personal Driver License Source p. 25
  5. Maintaining Your License Source p. 35
  6. Chapter 2: Vehicles Source p. 40
  7. Know Your Vehicle Source p. 44
  8. Occupant Protection Source p. 52
  9. Steering, Braking, and Balance Source p. 55
  10. Chapter 3: Drivers Source p. 67
  11. Impaired Driving Source p. 72
  12. Avoiding Distracted Driving Source p. 84
  13. Sharing the Road Source p. 93
  14. Traffic Laws Source p. 108
  15. Traffic Light Signals Source p. 110
  16. Signs Source p. 113
  17. Intersections and Turning Source p. 121
  18. Road Markings Source p. 130
  19. Zones Source p. 140
  20. Parking Source p. 143
  21. Transporting and Maritime Source p. 150
  22. Chapter 5: Risks Source p. 153
  23. Speed, Space, and Merging Source p. 157
  24. Road and Driving Conditions Source p. 166
  25. Vehicle Failures Source p. 173
  26. Collisions Source p. 175
  27. Law Enforcement Source p. 180
  28. Conclusion Source p. 183
  29. Glossary Source p. 184
  30. Accessibility and Accommodations Source p. 191

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 1

Introduction

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Cover
  • Driver Guide es and
  • We are Washington
  • Resources
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 15

We Are Washington

This chapter’s sections include:

  • We are Washington
  • Equity For All Customers
  • Contact Information | Dol.Wa.Gov
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 17

Chapter 1: Licenses

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Chapter 1
  • 1.0 | Deciding To Drive
  • 1.1 | Assigned Wa Number (Wdl Number)
  • 1.2 | License Express
  • 1.3 | Licensing And Vehicle Offices
  • 1.4 | Washington State Residents
  • New Residents 18+ Years Old
  • New Residents: 16 To 17 Years Old
  • Your Identity
  • Services
  • Help For The Unhoused
  • 1.6 | Identification And Driver Licenses
  • 1.7 | Real Id
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 25

Getting a Personal Driver License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Instruction Permit
  • Ages 16 To 17
  • Ages 18+
  • Intermediate Driver License
  • Agricultural Permits
  • Early Warning Letters
  • Vision Screenings
  • Organ Donor
  • Medical Designations
  • 1.10 | Endorsements
  • 1.11 | Older Drivers
  • Two Exams
  • Taking The Exams
  • 1.13 | Driver Training Education
  • Over 18
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 35

Maintaining Your License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 1.14 | For Guardians Of New Drivers
  • Replacing Your Driver License
  • Renewing Your Driver License
  • Expired License
  • Losing Your Driving Privileges
  • Alcohol, Drugs, And Firearms Violations
  • Driving Under The Influence (Dui)
  • Minors (under 21)
  • Open Container Law
  • Change Of Address Or Name
  • Voter Registration
  • Selective Service Registration
  • Twin Registry
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 40

Chapter 2: Vehicles

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 2.0 | Vehicle Services
  • Certificate Of Ownership (Title)
  • Registration
  • Vehicle Address
  • Individual To Individual
  • Dealership To Individual
  • 2.2 | Vehicle License Plates
  • 2.3 | Insurance Required
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 44

Know Your Vehicle

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 2.4 | Know Your Vehicle
  • Functions
  • Adjustments
  • Vehicle Safety Technology
  • 2.5 | Vehicle Maintenance
  • Tires
  • Glass Surfaces
  • Tip!
  • Headlights
  • Brake Lights
  • Turn Signals
  • Hand Signals
  • Hazard Warning Lights
  • Driver’S Seat
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 52

Occupant Protection

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Seat Belts And Occupant Protection
  • Child Seats
  • Airbags
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 55

Steering, Braking, and Balance

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 2.7 | Steering
  • Hand-To-Hand Steering (Pull/Push)
  • Hand-Over-Hand Steering
  • One-Hand Steering
  • 2.8 | Braking
  • Braking Pressure
  • Antilock Braking Systems
  • 2.9 | Accelerating
  • 2.10 | Balanced Weight
  • Pitch
  • Roll
  • Yaw
  • 2.11 | Vehicle Reference Points
  • 2.12 | Your Blind Zones
  • 2.13 | Other Vehicles' Blind Zones
  • Observational Scans
  • 2.14 | Before You Go
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 67

Chapter 3: Drivers

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 3.0 | You Behind The Wheel
  • Health
  • Physical Health
  • Vision
  • Seeing At Night
  • Hearing
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 72

Impaired Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 3.1 | Impaired Driving
  • Alcohol And Driving
  • Cannabis And Driving
  • Medications And Driving
  • Polydrug Use And Driving
  • Fatigue And Drowsy Driving
  • Mental Health
  • Aggressive Driving
  • Racing And Street Demonstrations
  • Road Rage
  • If You Are Experiencing Road Rage
  • If You Are The Victim Of Road Rage
  • Reporting Road Rage
  • 3.2 | Informed Decisions On The Road
  • Why Informed Decisions Matter
  • Make Good Decisions
  • 3.3 | Problem Solving On The Road
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 84

Avoiding Distracted Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 3.4 | Avoiding Distracted Driving
  • Washington’S Distracted Driving Laws
  • 3.5 | Smart Drivers
  • Pay Attention
  • Visually Search And Scan
  • 3.6 | Respect And Responsibility
  • Traffic Advisories
  • Litter The Environment
  • Self-Evaluation
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 93

Sharing the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 4.0 | Awareness And Cooperation
  • 4.1 | Sharing With People
  • 4.2 | Sharing With School Buses
  • Know?
  • When You Are Behind The Bus
  • When You Are In Front Of The Bus
  • 4.3 | Sharing With Transit Buses
  • 4.4 | Sharing With Large Vehicles
  • Snowplows
  • 4.5 | Sharing With Motorcycles
  • Following
  • Lanes
  • Turning
  • Road Surface
  • Lights
  • 4.6 | Sharing With Bicyclists
  • General Guidance
  • Passing A Bicyclist
  • Bike Lanes
  • 4.7 | Sharing The Road With Trains
  • Important Safety Reminders
  • When To Call For Help
  • Light Rail
  • 4.8 | Sharing With Agricultural Vehicles
  • 4.9 | Sharing With Emergency Vehicles
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 108

Traffic Laws

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 4.10 | Traffic Laws
  • General Driving Guidance
  • Traffic Control Devices
  • Broken Lights Or Signals
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 110

Traffic Light Signals

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 4.11 | Traffic Light Signals
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 16 · source p. 113

Signs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Freeway Ramp Meters
  • 4.12 | Signs
  • Red
  • Orange
  • Yellow
  • Yellow Green
  • White
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Brown
  • Common Signs
  • Work Zone Signs
  • Service Signs
  • Recreation Signs
  • Destination Signs
  • Other Traffic Signs
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 17 · source p. 121

Intersections and Turning

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 4.13 | Common Intersections
  • 4.14 | Turning
  • U-turns
  • 4.15 | Other Intersections
  • Roundabouts
  • Diverging Diamonds
  • Uncontrolled Intersection
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 18 · source p. 130

Road Markings

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 4.16 | Road Markings
  • Lanes
  • Hov / Carpool
  • Reversible Lanes
  • Reserved Lanes
  • Toll Lanes
  • Other Road Markings
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 19 · source p. 140

Zones

This chapter’s sections include:

  • School Zone
  • Work Zone
  • Emergency Zone
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 20 · source p. 143

Parking

This chapter’s sections include:

  • General Parking Rules
  • Perpendicular And Angled Parking
  • Parallel Parking
  • Parking On A Hill
  • Reserved Disabled Parking
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 21 · source p. 150

Transporting and Maritime

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station Parking
  • Towing
  • Secure Your Load
  • Animals
  • Ferries
  • Beaches
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 22 · source p. 153

Chapter 5: Risks

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 5.0 | Dangers Of Driving
  • Risk Awareness
  • Hazard Perception
  • Situational Awareness
  • Hazard Management
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 23 · source p. 157

Speed, Space, and Merging

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 5.1 | Speed
  • Excessive Speeds
  • Speed Limits
  • Adjusting Speed For Conditions
  • 5.2 | Space
  • 5.3 | Merging
  • Zipper Merging
  • 5.4 | Time
  • Count Seconds
  • Turning In Front Of Approaching Vehicles
  • 5.5 | Focus
  • Attention
  • Field Of Vision
  • Path Of Travel
  • Line Of Sight
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 24 · source p. 166

Road and Driving Conditions

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Information Gathering
  • 5.6 | Road And Driving Conditions
  • Night Driving
  • Curves
  • Slippery Roads
  • Skidding
  • Hydroplaning
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 25 · source p. 173

Vehicle Failures

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 5.7 | Vehicle Failures
  • Tires
  • Power
  • Headlight
  • Accelerator
  • 5.8 | Communicating Risks
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 26 · source p. 175

Collisions

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 5.9 | Collisions
  • Crashing A Vehicle
  • Reporting A Crash
  • Reporting An Injury
  • Calling 911
  • Encountering Power Lines
  • Witnessing A Crash
  • Emergency Kit
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 27 · source p. 180

Law Enforcement

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 5.10 | Law Enforcement
  • Getting Pulled Over
  • Getting A Ticket
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 28 · source p. 183

Conclusion

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 29 · source p. 184

Glossary

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 30 · source p. 191

Accessibility and Accommodations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Accessibility And Accommodations
  • Disclaimer
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Washington course groups the source material into 12 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 5 lessons

Getting Your License

WDL numbers, permits, residency, and the road to a full license

  1. Your WDL number, License Express, and the permit
  2. Residency, new residents, and REAL ID
  3. First license: ages 16 to 17
  4. Ages 18+, the intermediate license, and farm permits
  5. Exams, vision checks, and license designations

Unit 2 · 3 lessons

Keeping Your License

Renewals, DUI law, and losing driving privileges

  1. Renewing, replacing, and losing privileges
  2. DUI: alcohol, cannabis, and test limits
  3. Open containers and underage violations

Unit 3 · 5 lessons

Vehicle Equipment

Registration, insurance, safety tech, lights, and occupant protection

  1. Title, registration, sale, plates, and insurance
  2. Know your vehicle and its safety technology
  3. Maintenance and setting up the driver's seat
  4. Lights, turn signals, and hand signals
  5. Seat belts, child seats, and airbags

Unit 4 · 4 lessons

Handling Your Vehicle

Steering, braking, balance, and blind zones

  1. Steering: hand positions and three methods
  2. Braking pressure, ABS, and accelerating
  3. Balanced weight and reference points
  4. Blind zones, mirror checks, and before you go

Unit 5 · 8 lessons

The Driver

Fitness to drive, impairment, decisions, and staying focused

  1. Health, vision, and hearing
  2. Alcohol, cannabis, medications, and polydrug use
  3. Fatigue, drowsy driving, and emotions
  4. Aggressive driving and road rage
  5. Making informed decisions and solving problems
  6. Distracted driving and paying attention
  7. Searching and scanning around you
  8. Respect, responsibility, and the environment

Unit 6 · 6 lessons

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, buses, large vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and trains

  1. Pedestrians and people you might not see
  2. School buses and transit buses
  3. Large vehicles, snowplows, and farm vehicles
  4. Sharing the road with motorcycles
  5. Sharing the road with bicyclists
  6. Trains, light rail, and emergency vehicles

Unit 7 · 6 lessons

Signs and Signals

Rules of the road, traffic lights, sign colors, and the signs you must know

  1. Rules of the road and traffic control devices
  2. Traffic lights, arrows, and ramp meters
  3. Sign colors and guide signs
  4. Stop, yield, speed, and camera signs
  5. No-go, lane, roundabout, and work zone signs
  6. Warning signs and other signs to recognize

Unit 8 · 4 lessons

Intersections and Turning

Right-of-way, turns, roundabouts, diverging diamonds, and uncontrolled intersections

  1. Entering intersections and right-of-way
  2. Turning, U-turns, and intersection types
  3. Roundabouts and traffic calming circles
  4. Diverging diamonds and uncontrolled intersections

Unit 9 · 4 lessons

Lane Markings and Special Zones

Lines, special lanes, crosswalks, bike markings, and school, work, and emergency zones

  1. Reading lane lines
  2. Turn lanes, HOV, reversible, and toll lanes
  3. Crosswalks, bike lanes, and other markings
  4. School, work, and emergency zones

Unit 10 · 5 lessons

Parking and Transporting

Where and how to park, hills, special spaces, loads, animals, ferries, and beaches

  1. Where you can't park
  2. Leaving your car: brake, doors, children, and animals
  3. Parking techniques: angled, perpendicular, and parallel
  4. Hills, disabled parking, and EV charging spaces
  5. Towing, loads, animals, ferries, and beaches

Unit 11 · 4 lessons

Managing Risk

Hazards, speed, space, merging, timing, and focus

  1. Risk awareness and hazard management
  2. Speed and space
  3. Merging, zipper merging, and timing your turns
  4. Focus, field of vision, and line of sight

Unit 12 · 6 lessons

Conditions and Emergencies

Night, curves, slippery roads, breakdowns, collisions, and traffic stops

  1. Night driving and curves
  2. Slippery roads, skids, and hydroplaning
  3. Vehicle failures and breakdowns
  4. Collisions: what to do, report, and 911
  5. Power lines, witnessing a crash, and your emergency kit
  6. Getting pulled over and getting a ticket