Driver’s license knowledge test (Class C) · California DMV
Signals and signs
Questions and answers
-
You are stopped at a solid red light and want to turn right. When may you turn?
After a full stop, if no NO TURN ON RED sign is posted and the way is clear
A right turn on a solid red light is allowed after you stop at the limit line and yield to pedestrians, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.
Section 7 · Solid Red Light ↗ -
What does a red arrow mean?
Stop and do not turn until a green light or green arrow appears
A red arrow means stop. Unlike a solid red light, it does not allow a turn after stopping.
Section 7 · Red Arrow ↗ -
What must you do at a flashing red light?
Stop, then go when it is safe
A flashing red light is treated like a stop sign: stop first, then go when it is safe.
Section 7 · Flashing Red Light ↗ -
The light turns solid yellow as you approach an intersection. What should you do?
Stop if you can do so safely, otherwise cross the intersection cautiously
Yellow warns that the light is about to turn red. Stop if you can do it safely. If you cannot, cross with caution.
Section 7 · Solid Yellow Light ↗ -
What does a flashing yellow light mean?
Slow down and proceed with caution, you do not need to stop
A flashing yellow light is a warning. Slow down and stay alert, but you are not required to stop.
Section 7 · Flashing Yellow Light ↗ -
You face a flashing yellow arrow and want to turn left. What applies?
You may turn after yielding to oncoming traffic, the turn is not protected
A flashing yellow arrow allows the turn, but oncoming traffic is not stopped. Yield first, then turn with caution.
Section 7 · Flashing Yellow Arrow ↗ -
What does a green arrow tell you?
You may make a protected turn in the direction of the arrow
A green arrow gives a protected turn: oncoming vehicles are held by a red light.
Section 7 · Green Arrow ↗ -
The traffic lights at an intersection are not working. What should you do?
Stop as if there were stop signs in all directions, then proceed cautiously
A dark signal is treated as an all-way stop. Stop, then go carefully when it is safe.
Section 7 · Traffic Light Not Working ↗ -
Your light is green, but traffic is backed up on the far side of the intersection. What should you do?
Stay out of the intersection until you can get completely across
Do not enter an intersection on green unless you can clear it before the light turns red.
Section 7 · Solid Green Light ↗ -
A pedestrian is still crossing while the Don’t Walk signal is flashing. What must a driver do?
Yield to the pedestrian
Drivers must yield to pedestrians even when the Don’t Walk signal is flashing.
Section 7 · Flashing Don’t Walk or Flashing Raised Hand ↗ -
What does a five-sided sign tell you?
You are near a school
The five-sided sign marks a school area. Drive slowly and stop for children in the crosswalk.
Section 7 · 5-sided Sign ↗ -
At night the road reflectors shine red in your headlights. What does this mean?
You are driving the wrong way
Red reflectors facing you mean you are going against traffic. Back out or turn around when it is safe.
Section 7 · WRONG WAY Sign ↗ -
You come to a STOP sign where there is no limit line and no crosswalk. Where do you stop?
Before entering the intersection
With no limit line and no crosswalk, the stop is made before entering the intersection.
Section 7 · STOP Sign ↗ -
What does a yellow and black circular sign mean?
You are approaching a railroad crossing
The round yellow and black sign warns of a railroad crossing. Look, listen, slow down, and be ready to stop.
Section 7 · Yellow and Black Circular Sign or X-shaped Sign ↗ -
What do diamond-shaped signs do?
Warn of specific road conditions and dangers ahead
Diamond-shaped signs are warnings about conditions or dangers ahead.
Section 7 · Diamond-shaped Sign ↗ -
What does a red YIELD sign require?
Slow down and be ready to stop to let others pass before you proceed
At a yield sign you slow down and stop if needed so vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians can pass first.
Section 7 · Red YIELD Sign ↗ -
What does a yellow arrow tell you?
The protected turning time is ending
A yellow arrow means the protected turn is about to end and the signal will change soon.
Section 7 · Yellow Arrow ↗ -
A yellow arrow appears while you are already in the intersection making your turn. What should you do?
Cautiously complete the turn
If you are already in the intersection, or cannot stop safely, finish the turn with caution.
Section 7 · Yellow Arrow ↗ -
Which signal could come next after a yellow arrow?
A green light, a red light, or a red arrow
Watch the signal that follows a yellow arrow. It may be a green or red light, or a red arrow.
Section 7 · Yellow Arrow ↗ -
You have stopped at a solid red light where a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. The road is clear. May you turn right?
No, wait for the green light
A right turn on a solid red light is allowed only where no NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.
Section 7 · Solid Red Light ↗ -
At which signal do you stop and then go as soon as it is safe, without waiting for the signal to change?
A flashing red light
A flashing red light means stop, then go when it is safe. A red arrow keeps you stopped, and a flashing yellow light does not require a stop.
Section 7 · Flashing Red Light ↗ -
What does a solid yellow light warn you about?
The light is about to turn red
Yellow means caution, because the red light comes next.
Section 7 · Solid Yellow Light ↗ -
Which signal is a warning that lets you continue without stopping?
A flashing yellow light
A flashing yellow light asks you to slow down and be alert, with no stop required. The other two both require a stop.
Section 7 · Flashing Yellow Light ↗ -
Which signal lets you turn left only after you yield to oncoming traffic?
A flashing yellow arrow
With a flashing yellow arrow the turn is allowed but not protected. A green arrow gives a protected turn, and a red arrow forbids the turn.
Section 7 · Flashing Yellow Arrow ↗ -
Your light turns green while another vehicle is still crossing the intersection in front of you. What should you do?
Wait until the vehicle has cleared the intersection
Green means go, but you still stop for any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian in the intersection.
Section 7 · Solid Green Light ↗ -
With which signal is oncoming traffic held by a red light while you turn?
A green arrow
Only the green arrow gives a protected turn, with oncoming vehicles stopped by a red light.
Section 7 · Green Arrow ↗ -
A pedestrian signal shows WALK or a walking person. What does it mean?
Pedestrians may cross the street
WALK or the walking person tells pedestrians they may cross.
Section 7 · WALK or Walking Person ↗ -
A pedestrian signal shows a steady Don’t Walk or raised hand. What does it mean?
Pedestrians may not cross the street
Don’t Walk or the raised hand tells pedestrians not to cross.
Section 7 · Don’t Walk or Raised Hand ↗ -
A pedestrian is still on the sidewalk when the raised hand starts flashing. What should the pedestrian do?
Not start crossing the street
A flashing Don’t Walk or raised hand means the traffic light is about to change, so crossing should not be started.
Section 7 · Flashing Don’t Walk or Flashing Raised Hand ↗ -
What do the numbers on a pedestrian signal show?
The seconds left for crossing the street
The numbers count down the time that remains for crossing.
Section 7 · Numbers ↗ -
What does a diagonal crossing allow?
Pedestrians to cross the intersection in any direction at the same time
Crisscross and diagonal crosswalks let pedestrians cross in every direction at once.
Section 7 · Diagonal Crossing ↗ -
At an intersection with diagonal crosswalks, when may pedestrians cross?
Only when the walk signal allows it
Even at a diagonal crossing, pedestrians cross only on the walk signal.
Section 7 · Diagonal Crossing ↗ -
Some pedestrian signals beep, chirp, or give spoken messages. Whom do these sounds help?
Blind or visually impaired pedestrians
The sounds help pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired to cross the street.
Section 7 · Sounds ↗ -
What is a pedestrian push button used for?
To activate the WALK or walking person signal
Pressing the button calls up the WALK or walking person signal.
Section 7 · Pedestrian Push Button ↗ -
A pedestrian wants to cross at an intersection that has no pedestrian signals. What should the pedestrian obey?
The vehicle traffic signals
Where there are no pedestrian signals, the vehicle traffic signals apply.
Section 7 · No Pedestrian Signals ↗ -
A warning sign has a shape or color you have not seen before. Must you obey it?
Yes, obey every warning sign whatever its shape or color
All warning signs must be obeyed, no matter what shape or color they are.
Section 7 · Signs ↗ -
At a STOP sign there is a marked crosswalk but no limit line. Where do you make your stop?
Before entering the crosswalk
Make a full stop before the crosswalk or at the limit line, then check traffic in all directions.
Section 7 · STOP Sign ↗ -
You see WRONG WAY signs and realize you entered a roadway against traffic. What should you do?
Back out or turn around when it is safe
If you have entered against traffic, back out or turn around as soon as it is safe.
Section 7 · WRONG WAY Sign ↗ -
How can you tell at night that you are driving the wrong way on a road?
The road reflectors shine red in your headlights
Red reflectors in your headlights at night show that you are going against traffic.
Section 7 · WRONG WAY Sign ↗ -
You see an X-shaped sign ahead. What should you do?
Look, listen, slow down, and prepare to stop for a railroad crossing
The X-shaped sign means a railroad crossing is ahead. Let any trains pass before you proceed.
Section 7 · Yellow and Black Circular Sign or X-shaped Sign ↗ -
What does the blue and white sign at many railroad crossings tell you?
What to do in an emergency or a stall on the tracks
The blue and white sign explains what to do if there is an emergency on or near the tracks or your vehicle stalls on them.
Section 7 · Yellow and Black Circular Sign or X-shaped Sign ↗ -
What do white rectangular signs communicate?
Important rules you must obey
White rectangular signs state rules that drivers must follow.
Section 7 · White Rectangular Sign ↗