Roadwise States Washington Driving lessons Diverging diamonds and uncontrolled intersections Washington driving lesson · Intersections and Turning
Diverging diamonds and uncontrolled intersections A 3-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Intersections and Turning
Checkpoint questions 4
Source pages 128, 129, 189 A diverging diamond briefly moves you to the left side of the road so you can turn left onto the freeway without crossing oncoming traffic. Uncontrolled intersections have no signs at all, so you must know the yield rules cold.
Diverging diamond A new Washington interchange design where traffic crosses to the other side of the roadway so left turns on and off freeway ramps are more efficient.
Handbook p. 128 ↗ Know the rule
Diverging diamonds reduce the number of points where vehicles cross paths, lowering collision risk. By eliminating left turns against oncoming traffic, they improve flow and reduce congestion.
Handbook p. 128 ↗ What to expect: Lane shift: you're guided to cross over to the left side of the roadway Free-flow left turns: turn left onto the freeway without stopping or yielding to oncoming traffic Return to normal: after the overpass or underpass, you cross back to the right side Handbook p. 129 ↗ What to do: Pay close attention to signs and pavement markings Don't worry about oncoming traffic when turning left onto the freeway Stay alert and drive at a safe speed Handbook p. 129 ↗ Uncontrolled intersection An intersection without traffic signals or signs.
Handbook p. 189 ↗ Know the rule
Uncontrolled intersections are typically on local roads and streets. The normal right-of-way rules still apply.
Handbook p. 129 ↗ At an uncontrolled intersection, you must yield if: A vehicle is already in the intersection You're entering or crossing a state highway from a secondary road You're entering a paved road from an unpaved road You're turning left and a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction Handbook p. 129 ↗ Put it into practice
You're on a gravel farm road reaching a paved county road with no signs. You must yield to traffic on the paved road before pulling out.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the main benefit of a diverging diamond interchange's design? Free-flow left turns onto the freeway without yielding It keeps traffic on the right side throughout It adds a dedicated left-turn signal It eliminates the need for traffic signs Answer: Free-flow left turns onto the freeway without yielding
The design lets vehicles make left turns onto the freeway without stopping or yielding to oncoming traffic.
Handbook p. 128 ↗ You're approaching an uncontrolled intersection and want to turn left as a vehicle approaches from the opposite direction. Who must yield? The oncoming vehicle Whoever signals first Whoever reaches the center first You, since you're turning left Answer: You, since you're turning left
At an uncontrolled intersection, you must yield if you're turning left as a vehicle approaches.
Handbook p. 129 ↗ You're entering a state highway from a secondary road at an uncontrolled intersection. What must you do? Yield only to vehicles on your right Treat it as your own right-of-way Yield the right-of-way Proceed without stopping Answer: Yield the right-of-way
You must yield when entering or crossing a state highway from a secondary road at an uncontrolled intersection.
Handbook p. 129 ↗ What happens as you approach a diverging diamond interchange? You stop and yield before every left turn You're guided to cross to the left side of the road All traffic merges into one center lane You enter a roundabout at the ramp Answer: You're guided to cross to the left side of the road
The lane shift guides you to the left side of the roadway, then back to the right after the overpass or underpass.
Handbook p. 129 ↗ Previous lesson Roundabouts and traffic calming circles Next lesson Reading lane lines More in Intersections and Turning About the source Roadwise’s Washington course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 128, 129, 189. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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