Oregon permit test: traffic signals
Steady and flashing lights, arrows, pedestrian signals and lane-use signals. 6 questions.
A power failure has knocked out the traffic signal at an intersection and all the lights are dark. How should you treat it?
Keyboard: press 1–4 or A–D to answer, Enter for the next question, S to save, R to read aloud, P to pause reading, L to listen and answer.
Sample traffic signals questions
A power failure has knocked out the traffic signal at an intersection and all the lights are dark. How should you treat it?
- A As if there were stop signs in every direction
- B As a green light for the busier road
- C As if there were yield signs in every direction
- D As a flashing yellow light, slowing but not stopping
Show answer
A. As if there were stop signs in every direction
When a signal is dark, every driver must stop as at an all-way stop and then take turns. A flashing red signal is treated the same way.
View diagram
You want to turn left and the signal shows a flashing yellow arrow. What does it mean?
- A Left turns are closed until the arrow turns green
- B You have the right of way and oncoming traffic is stopped
- C You may turn, but first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
- D The arrow is about to turn red, so you should stop if you safely can
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C. You may turn, but first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
A flashing yellow arrow allows the turn shown, but you do not have the right of way. Oncoming traffic has a steady green, so wait for a safe gap and for pedestrians to clear.
You are on a two-way street stopped at a steady red light. The cross street is one-way going left. Under Oregon law, what may you do?
- A Turn left without stopping if no cars are coming
- B Turn left onto it after a complete stop, yielding to traffic and pedestrians
- C Turn left only if a sign specifically permits left on red
- D Nothing until the light turns green, since left turns on red are never allowed
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B. Turn left onto it after a complete stop, yielding to traffic and pedestrians
In Oregon you may turn on red after a complete stop when you are turning right onto a two-way road, or right or left onto a one-way road in its direction of travel. A sign or police officer can still prohibit it.
In Oregon, which turns are allowed at a steady red arrow after a complete stop?
- A Any turn, as long as you yield to pedestrians
- B The same turns allowed at a steady circular red light
- C Only U-turns, if no sign prohibits them
- D No turns at all until the arrow changes
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B. The same turns allowed at a steady circular red light
A steady red arrow means stop and stay stopped, but Oregon allows the same turns on a red arrow as on a circular red. Always come to a complete stop and yield first.