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California permit test: road signs and signals questions

You need 80% right to pass the California permit test, per the DMV. DMV test reports give 46 questions if you are under 18 and 36 if you are 18 or older. Our practice tests ask for 38 and 30 right, a little stricter. Test format source

These 10 questions come from FirstTry's California bank, written from the California Driver's Handbook. Pick your answer, then open "Show the answer". Each answer links to the handbook section it comes from.

10 road signs and signals questions

What should you do when you come to a red YIELD sign?

  1. Slow down and be ready to stop to let others pass
  2. Always come to a complete stop
  3. Speed up to merge ahead of other traffic
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Slow down and be ready to stop to let others pass. A YIELD sign means slow down and be ready to stop so vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians can pass before you go.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Signs > Red YIELD Sign

You are driving at night. What tells you that you may be going the wrong way?

  1. The road reflectors shine red in your headlights
  2. The road reflectors shine white in your headlights
  3. Your headlights seem dimmer than usual
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The road reflectors shine red in your headlights. If road reflectors shine red in your headlights, you are going the wrong way. When it is safe, back out or turn around.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Signs > WRONG WAY Sign

What does a round yellow and black sign, or an X-shaped sign, warn you about?

  1. A school zone ahead
  2. A railroad crossing ahead
  3. The end of a divided highway
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A railroad crossing ahead. Both of these shapes warn of a railroad crossing ahead. Slow down, look and listen for trains, and be ready to stop.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Signs > Yellow and Black Circular Sign or X-shaped Sign

What does a 5-sided sign tell you?

  1. A railroad crossing is ahead
  2. Road work is ahead
  3. You are near a school
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You are near a school. The five-sided shape is used for school signs. Slow down near schools and stop for children who are crossing.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Signs > 5-sided Sign

What does a diamond-shaped road sign do?

  1. Tells you the speed limit
  2. Warns you of specific road conditions and dangers ahead
  3. Shows the route number of a highway
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Warns you of specific road conditions and dangers ahead. Diamond-shaped signs warn you of specific road conditions and dangers ahead.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Signs > Diamond-shaped Sign

What should you do at a flashing red traffic light?

  1. Stop, then go when it is safe
  2. Slow down and go through without stopping
  3. Stop and wait for the light to turn green
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Stop, then go when it is safe. A flashing red light means STOP. After you stop, you may go when it is safe.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Traffic Signals > Flashing Red Light

The light turns yellow as you approach an intersection. What should you do?

  1. Speed up to get through before it turns red
  2. Stop if you can do so safely; if not, cross carefully
  3. Stop immediately, even if it is not safe
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Stop if you can do so safely; if not, cross carefully. A yellow light means the light is about to turn red. Stop if you can do it safely; if you cannot, cross the intersection cautiously.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Traffic Signals > Solid Yellow Light

What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?

  1. Slow down and proceed with caution; you do not need to stop
  2. Come to a complete stop before you go
  3. The light is about to turn green
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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.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Traffic Signals > Flashing Yellow Light

You are in a left turn lane facing a flashing yellow arrow. What may you do?

  1. Turn left without yielding, because the turn is protected
  2. Stay stopped until the arrow turns green
  3. Turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic
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Turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic. With a flashing yellow arrow, you may turn, but the turn is not protected, so you must yield to oncoming traffic first.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Traffic Signals > Flashing Yellow Arrow

Your light is green, but traffic is backed up on the other side of the intersection. What should you do?

  1. Enter the intersection and wait inside it
  2. Wait until you can get completely across before entering
  3. Enter, as long as the light is still green
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Wait until you can get completely across before entering. Do not enter an intersection if you cannot get completely across before the light turns red. Blocking an intersection is against the law.

From the handbook: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road > Traffic Control > Traffic Signals > Solid Green Light

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