Roadwise States Washington Driving lessons Rules of the road and traffic control devices Washington driving lesson · Signs and Signals
Rules of the road and traffic control devices 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 Signs and Signals
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 108, 109 Traffic laws exist so everyone moves in a predictable way. Most basic rules stay the same, but laws can change, and it's your job to stay current. Signals, signs, and markings tell you what to do, and some people can override them.
Know the rule
Find the current rules of the road by searching RCW 46.61 online. For as long as you drive, it's your responsibility to stay informed.
Handbook p. 108 ↗ General driving guidance: Drive on the right; use the left only to safely and legally pass on a two-lane road Keep right except to pass, and obey the speed limit even while passing Carpool lanes are not passing lanes Don't pass on the shoulder or drive on it unless officials or signs direct you Avoid blocking travel lanes; if you must stop, keep moving until you can safely pull over Don't drive in reverse on the road, even if you miss your turn or exit Handbook p. 108 ↗ Know the rule
Hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers on Washington freeways is illegal and dangerous.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ Traffic control devices Signals, signs, and road markings that control the flow of traffic. You must look for and comply with all of them.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ Know the rule
Law enforcement, construction workers, maintenance personnel, and school crossing guards can direct traffic in special circumstances. They can overrule traffic signals, and you must follow their directions.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ Know the rule
If a traffic signal isn't working, treat the intersection like a four-way stop: come to a complete stop, yield to traffic on your right, and proceed cautiously when it's safe.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ Put it into practice
You miss your freeway exit. Don't stop or back up along the shoulder: that's illegal. Keep moving forward to the next exit and turn around from there.
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.
A traffic signal at an intersection isn't working at all. How should you treat the intersection? As a green light for the main road As a yield-only intersection As closed to all traffic Like a four-way stop Answer: Like a four-way stop
If a signal isn't working, treat the intersection like a four-way stop: stop, yield to the right, then proceed.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ Law enforcement, construction workers, and school crossing guards can overrule traffic signals with their own directions. True False Answer: True
These people can overrule traffic signals, and their directions must be followed.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ When may you drive on the shoulder of the road? To pass a car turning left When directed by officials or signs When traffic is backed up To pass a slow vehicle on the right Answer: When directed by officials or signs
Don't use the shoulders to pass; unless directed by officials or signs, you shouldn't drive on the shoulder.
Handbook p. 108 ↗ You miss your freeway exit. What should you do? Back up slowly on the shoulder Continue to the next exit Stop on the shoulder and wait for a gap Make a U-turn across the median Answer: Continue to the next exit
Keep moving forward; it's illegal to back up on a shoulder or freeway, even if you miss your exit.
Handbook p. 108 ↗ On a road with two lanes in your direction, which lane should you normally drive in? The left lane, since it moves faster Either lane if you're at the limit The carpool lane when it's empty The right lane, using the left to pass Answer: The right lane, using the left to pass
Keep right except to pass; carpool lanes are not passing lanes.
Handbook p. 108 ↗ Picking up a hitchhiker on a Washington freeway is legal as long as you pull fully onto the shoulder. True False Answer: False
Hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers on Washington freeways is illegal and dangerous.
Handbook p. 109 ↗ Previous lesson Trains, light rail, and emergency vehicles Next lesson Traffic lights, arrows, and ramp meters More in Signs and Signals About the source Roadwise’s Washington course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 108, 109. 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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