Washington permit test: highways & freeways

Entering, exiting and driving on limited-access roads. 4 questions.

Question 1 of 4
Highways & freeways

A freeway ramp meter shows a red light. What should you do?

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 highways & freeways questions

  1. A freeway ramp meter shows a red light. What should you do?

    • A Stop at the white stop line until it turns green
    • B Merge carefully if the freeway looks clear
    • C Slow down and roll through
    • D Use the shoulder to bypass the meter
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    A. Stop at the white stop line until it turns green

    Ramp meters work like regular traffic signals. On red, stop at the white stop line; on green, continue along the on-ramp.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide, page 113

  2. Merging from an acceleration lane onto a highway
    View diagram
    Merging from an acceleration lane onto a highwayYouAcceleration lane

    You are merging onto an interstate from an on-ramp. Who has the right-of-way?

    • A You, because you are merging
    • B Drivers already on the interstate
    • C Whoever is going faster
    • D The larger vehicle
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    B. Drivers already on the interstate

    Drivers already on the interstate have the right-of-way. Use the whole on-ramp, your signal and mirrors, and adjust your speed to merge into a safe gap.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide, page 160

  3. You miss your freeway exit. What should you do?

    • A Back up on the shoulder to the exit
    • B Stop in the lane and wait for a gap
    • C Make a U-turn across the median
    • D Continue to the next exit
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    D. Continue to the next exit

    Keep moving forward. Don't drive in reverse on the road even if you miss your exit; it's illegal to back up on a shoulder or freeway.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide, page 108

  4. What happens as you drive through a diverging diamond interchange?

    • A You stop and yield before every left turn
    • B You circle around a central island
    • C You cross to the left side of the road, then back to the right
    • D You must use the left lane to pass
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    C. You cross to the left side of the road, then back to the right

    At a diverging diamond, signals and markings guide you across to the left side of the roadway, which allows free-flowing left turns onto the freeway. After the overpass or underpass, you cross back to the right.

    Source: Washington Driver Guide, page 129