Practice session
Traffic lights, signals and road markings
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The whole pool, with the answer and the explanation for each one. Practise first, then read through anything you were unsure of.
Show all 27 questions with answers
1 of 27 · Traffic signals
You are stopped at a steady red light and want to turn left onto a one-way street. No sign forbids it. What may you do?
- A.After a full stop, turn left onto the one-way street once the intersection is clearAnswer
- B.Nothing; left turns on a red light are never allowed
- C.Turn left without stopping if no vehicle is coming
- D.Wait for a green arrow before turning
Explanation: A steady red means stop. After you have come to a full stop and checked that the intersection is clear of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, you may turn right, or turn left onto a one-way street, unless a sign forbids it.
2 of 27 · Traffic signals
What does a steady green light mean?
- A.Go, but only if the intersection is clear and it is safeAnswer
- B.Go immediately; you have the right-of-way over everyone
- C.When turning left, oncoming traffic must yield to you
- D.Pedestrians must wait until you have passed
Explanation: Green means go only when it is safe. On a fresh green, scan the intersection before moving; on a stale green, be ready for yellow. A driver turning left on a green must yield to oncoming traffic and wait for a safe gap.
3 of 27 · Traffic signals
The light turns steady yellow as you approach the intersection. What must you do?
- A.Stop before the intersection unless you cannot stop safely in timeAnswer
- B.Speed up to clear the intersection before the red
- C.Continue at the same speed; yellow means proceed with caution
- D.Stop in the middle of the intersection and wait
Explanation: A steady yellow warns that the signal is about to turn red. You must stop before entering the intersection; the only exception is when stopping safely is no longer possible, which is why you should watch for a stale green and decide your stopping point in advance.
4 of 27 · Traffic signals
What does a flashing red light at an intersection mean?
- A.Stop completely, then continue only when it is safeAnswer
- B.Slow down and proceed with caution without stopping
- C.Stop and wait until the light turns green
- D.The signal is broken; ignore it
Explanation: Treat a flashing red light like a stop sign: come to a complete stop, check the intersection, and move into it only when it is clear and safe. It will not turn green.
5 of 27 · Traffic signals
In B.C., what does a flashing green traffic light mean?
- A.A pedestrian-controlled light; go only if the intersection is clearAnswer
- B.An advance left turn; oncoming traffic is stopped
- C.The light is about to turn yellow; speed up
- D.Cross traffic has a green light too, so stop
Explanation: Unlike some other provinces, in B.C. a flashing green light is not an advance turn signal. It marks a pedestrian-controlled intersection: a pedestrian can press a button to turn it yellow and then red, and side-street traffic faces a stop sign. Continue only if the intersection is clear.
6 of 27 · Traffic signals
You are approaching a crosswalk with a flashing green light and see a pedestrian standing beside it. What should you do?
- A.Slow down and be prepared to stop; they have probably pressed the button and the light is about to changeAnswer
- B.Keep your speed; the light is green so you have the right-of-way
- C.Stop in the crosswalk and wave the pedestrian across
- D.Sound your horn so the pedestrian waits
Explanation: Crosswalks with flashing green lights are controlled by pedestrians. A person waiting there is a clue that the light will soon turn yellow and red, so slow down early instead of being caught by the change.
7 of 27 · Traffic signals
What does a flashing yellow light mean?
- A.Slow down and proceed with cautionAnswer
- B.Stop, then proceed when it is safe
- C.Stop and wait for a green light
- D.The lane ahead is closed
Explanation: A flashing yellow light does not require a stop; it tells you to slow down, look carefully and go through with caution. Cross traffic usually faces a flashing red and must stop.
8 of 27 · Traffic signals
You are in a left-turn lane facing a green arrow. What does it tell you?
- A.You may turn in the direction of the arrow; through traffic from the other direction is facing a red lightAnswer
- B.You may turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic
- C.You must go straight through only
- D.You must stop and wait for the round green light
Explanation: A green arrow gives you a protected turn: as long as it is shown, the through traffic you would cross is held by a red light. Still check for pedestrians before you turn.
9 of 27 · Traffic signals
What does a green arrow pointing straight up mean?
- A.Go straight through only; no turn is permittedAnswer
- B.Go straight or turn either way
- C.Turn right only
- D.Stop; the intersection is closed
Explanation: An arrow signal permits only the movement it points to. A straight-ahead green arrow lets through traffic go while turns are held, often because pedestrians or another movement have their own phase.
10 of 27 · Traffic signals
A flashing green left arrow is showing together with a steady red light. What may you do?
- A.Turn left; through traffic must stop for the red lightAnswer
- B.Go straight; the arrow overrides the red light
- C.Nothing; wait for a steady green light
- D.Turn right only
Explanation: The flashing green arrow with a steady red allows the left turn while everything else waits. Drivers going straight or turning right must obey the red light.
11 of 27 · Traffic signals
The flashing green arrow goes out and only the steady green light remains. Can you still turn left?
- A.Yes, but you must yield to pedestrians and oncoming trafficAnswer
- B.No; you must wait for the next green arrow
- C.Yes, and oncoming traffic must yield to you
- D.Only if no vehicle is behind you
Explanation: When the advance arrow is on the regular traffic light, the end of the arrow ends the protection, not the permission. You may still turn left on the green, but now you must wait for a safe gap in oncoming traffic and let pedestrians cross.
12 of 27 · Traffic signals
What does a yellow arrow mean?
- A.The advance left-turn signal is about to change; stop before the intersection unless you cannot stop safelyAnswer
- B.Turn left now with extra caution
- C.Left turns are prohibited at all times
- D.The signal is malfunctioning
Explanation: A yellow arrow works like a steady yellow light for the turning lane: the protected turn is ending. Stop before the intersection unless you are too close to stop safely, and wait for the next arrow or a green light.
13 of 27 · Traffic signals
A steady white rectangular light is showing at an intersection. Who may go on this signal?
- A.Only busesAnswer
- B.All vehicles in the curb lane
- C.Pedestrians only
- D.Any vehicle turning right
Explanation: The transit priority signal lets a bus move ahead of other traffic, for example to pull out of a stop or into a reserved lane. Other drivers wait for their own light, even if the bus beside them is moving.
14 of 27 · Traffic signals
This lane control signal is displayed over the lane you are in. What does it mean?
- A.Do not drive in this laneAnswer
- B.This lane is open for driving
- C.This lane is for left turns only
- D.Slow down and proceed with caution in this lane
Explanation: Lane control signals hang over each lane of a bridge, tunnel or reversible-lane road to show which lanes are open. This signal closes the lane, perhaps because it is carrying oncoming traffic: move out of it as soon as it is safe.
15 of 27 · Traffic signals
The lane control signals over all of the lanes are flashing yellow. What should you do?
- A.Slow down and proceed with cautionAnswer
- B.Stop and wait for a green arrow
- C.Move to the far-left lane
- D.Turn around; the road is closed
Explanation: A flashing yellow lane signal over one lane tells you to move out of it into a lane showing a green arrow. When every lane is flashing yellow there is nowhere to move to, so the message becomes: slow down and drive through carefully.
16 of 27 · Traffic signals
As you approach a green light, the pedestrian signal changes from the white walking figure to an orange hand. What is that a clue of?
- A.The green light is stale and about to turn yellowAnswer
- B.The light has just turned green
- C.Pedestrians may now start crossing
- D.The traffic light is out of order
Explanation: In many areas the crosswalk signal changes to the orange hand, or counts down, just before the traffic light turns yellow. Use it as a clue that the green is stale and decide your point of no return before you reach the intersection.
17 of 27 · Traffic signals
The traffic lights at an intersection have stopped working, or all of them are flashing. How should you treat the intersection?
- A.Like a four-way stopAnswer
- B.As an uncontrolled intersection where nobody needs to stop
- C.Go through; the main road has the right-of-way
- D.Wait until the lights are repaired
Explanation: When the lights go out or all of them flash, every driver stops and the four-way stop rules apply: the first to arrive and stop goes first, and if two arrive together the one on the right goes first. If a traffic control person is directing traffic, follow their directions instead.
18 of 27 · Pavement markings
What do yellow lines painted on the road divide?
- A.Traffic moving in opposite directionsAnswer
- B.Lanes of traffic moving in the same direction
- C.The roadway from the shoulder
- D.Parking spaces from the travel lane
Explanation: If there is a yellow line to your left, traffic on the other side of it is coming toward you. White lines, by contrast, separate lanes going the same way and mark crosswalks, stop lines and shoulders.
19 of 27 · Pavement markings
A broken yellow line separates your lane from oncoming traffic. What does it allow?
- A.Passing, when it is safeAnswer
- B.No passing in either direction
- C.Passing only during daylight
- D.Driving on either side of the line
Explanation: A broken yellow line means passing is allowed when it is safe: you may cross it to pass, provided you have a clear view far enough ahead and can return to your lane before meeting oncoming traffic.
20 of 27 · Pavement markings
The yellow centre line is solid on your side and broken on the other side. May you pass?
- A.No; you may pass only when the broken line is on your sideAnswer
- B.Yes, whenever the road ahead is clear
- C.Yes, but only at night
- D.Yes, if the vehicle ahead is driving slowly
Explanation: With a broken and a solid line together, the line nearest you is the one that applies. A solid line on your side means passing is not allowed from your direction, usually because sight distance is too short; drivers on the broken-line side may pass when safe.
21 of 27 · Pavement markings
What does a double solid yellow line in the centre of the road mean?
- A.No passing is allowedAnswer
- B.Passing is allowed with extra caution
- C.The lane beside you is reversible
- D.The centre lane is shared for left turns
Explanation: Two solid yellow lines mean neither direction may pass. Note the B.C. distinction: a single solid yellow line allows passing with extra caution, but a double solid line does not.
22 of 27 · Pavement markings
In B.C., what does a single solid yellow centre line mean?
- A.Passing is allowed with extra cautionAnswer
- B.No passing at any time
- C.The lane is reserved for buses
- D.Passing is allowed on the right only
Explanation: This is a B.C. rule that surprises many learners: a single solid yellow line does not ban passing, it warns you to pass only with extra caution. It is the double solid line that means no passing.
23 of 27 · Pavement markings
What does a double broken yellow line on each side of a lane mark?
- A.A reversible lane; a lane control signal shows whether you may use itAnswer
- B.A bicycle lane
- C.A no-passing zone
- D.A passing lane for slow traffic
Explanation: A reversible lane carries traffic in one direction at some times and the other direction at other times. Never enter it on the strength of the markings alone: look at the lane control signal overhead to see whether it is open to you.
24 of 27 · Pavement markings
A centre lane is marked with a solid yellow line on the outside and a broken yellow line on the inside of each edge. What is it for?
- A.Left turns by drivers travelling in either directionAnswer
- B.Passing slower vehicles in either direction
- C.Through traffic that wants to avoid the curb lanes
- D.Parking while loading or unloading
Explanation: This is a two-way left-turn lane, handy for turning left in the middle of a block. Vehicles from the opposite direction use the same lane to turn left, so enter it only when there is enough space and watch for them.
25 of 27 · Pavement markings
What does a solid white line between two lanes mean?
- A.Do not change lanesAnswer
- B.Lane changing is allowed when safe
- C.The lanes carry traffic in opposite directions
- D.The lane beside it is reserved for buses
Explanation: White lines separate lanes going the same way. A broken white line lets you change lanes when safe; a solid one, such as the line beside a freeway acceleration lane, tells you to stay in your lane.
26 of 27 · Pavement markings
What does a white diamond painted on the road surface mark?
- A.A reserved lane, such as a bus or HOV laneAnswer
- B.A pedestrian crossing
- C.A no-stopping zone
- D.A railway crossing ahead
Explanation: The white diamond is the mark of a reserved lane. Signs over or beside the lane say which vehicles may use it, such as buses, HOVs or bicycles, and when the restriction applies.
27 of 27 · Pavement markings
You come to a painted island on the road. What must you do?
- A.Keep to the right of it and do not drive on or over itAnswer
- B.Use it to pass a slower vehicle
- C.Stop on it while waiting for a gap to turn
- D.Drive over it to make a left turn
Explanation: A painted island separates or channels traffic just as a raised island would. Treat it as solid: keep to the right of it and never drive on or across it. Remember too that it is illegal to drive over freshly painted, wet pavement markings.