This eight-sided sign faces your approach. What action does it require?
Correct answer: Bring the vehicle to a complete stop
The red octagon is a stop control. It is not a yield sign or advance warning of a later stop.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF114; Stop sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
What should you understand when approaching this downward-pointing triangular sign?
Correct answer: Give priority to traffic entitled to proceed, stopping if necessary
A yield sign requires giving way to other traffic with priority. A stop may be needed; slowing without yielding is not enough.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF114; Yield sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
You see this sign at the mouth of a road. What does it tell you about entering from here?
Correct answer: Entry in this direction is prohibited
The red circle and white horizontal bar mark a prohibited entry direction. A momentary stop does not give permission to enter.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF116; Do Not Enter sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
What danger is this red rectangular sign warning you about?
Correct answer: Traveling against the permitted traffic direction
Wrong Way warns that you are facing or traveling against traffic. It is not a parking sign or merely an advisory speed change.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF116; Wrong Way sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
Which maneuver is prohibited by the crossed-out curved arrow shown here?
Correct answer: Reversing direction with a U-turn
The red circle and slash prohibit the U-turn shown by the symbol. The sign is not a warning about road curvature.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF116; No U-Turn sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
An island or obstruction is ahead and this sign is posted beside it. Which side does the symbol direct you to use?
Correct answer: Pass to the right of the island or obstruction
The curved arrow directs movement to the right of the island or obstruction. This symbol is different from a Keep Right Except to Pass word sign.
Source: FHWA MUTCD2009 Figure fig2b_10, full long description; R4-7 movement right of island, distinct from R4-16 Keep Right Except to Pass; Washington handbook physical114 caption conflates the two. Design and meaning provenance, not an edition-adoption claim. ↗
What does the diagonal slash over this right-turn arrow mean?
Correct answer: Do not make the indicated right turn
The slash prohibits the maneuver shown. A required turn or a road-curve warning uses a different sign.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF116; No Right Turn sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
What activity should this five-sided sign lead you to anticipate?
Correct answer: School-related pedestrian activity
The pentagon with walking figures identifies school-related activity. The symbol alone does not specify a universal school-zone speed.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; School warning sign. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
The branch in this warning symbol joins the main arrow. What lies ahead?
Correct answer: Traffic entering and merging into your roadway
The joining branch warns of merging traffic. Watch for vehicles entering and adjust safely; the sign does not grant unlimited priority.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Merging traffic warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
In this warning symbol, the line on the right moves inward. What change should drivers expect?
Correct answer: The right lane ends ahead
The diagram warns of a lane reduction on the right. It differs from an added-lane sign, which shows separate lanes continuing.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Right lane ends warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
What roadway change is shown by this sign with a divider ahead between opposing arrows?
Correct answer: A divided highway begins ahead
The divider shown ahead separates opposing roadways. Do not confuse this symbol with the reversed arrangement used for Divided Highway Ends.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Divided highway begins warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
The divider is shown at the lower part of this symbol. What should you expect ahead?
Correct answer: The divided roadway ends ahead
This is Divided Highway Ends. Continue to watch for opposing traffic and follow the road's markings.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Divided highway ends warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
What surface hazard does this car-and-skid-tracks symbol identify?
Correct answer: Reduced traction when the pavement is wet
The symbol warns of slippery wet pavement. It is not an instruction to test tire grip with sudden braking or steering.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Slippery When Wet warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
The pictured clearance warning shows 12 feet 6 inches between vertical arrows. What dimension must be checked against that number?
Correct answer: The vehicle's total height, including its load
The displayed measurement concerns overhead clearance. The illustration's 12 feet 6 inches is an example, not a statewide vehicle-height limit.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Low clearance warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
What road feature is indicated by this truck-on-a-slope symbol?
Correct answer: A steep downhill grade
The sign warns of a steep grade. The truck silhouette helps identify the hill; it does not make the sign relevant only to truck drivers.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Steep hill warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
This arrow bends several times before pointing ahead. What does it warn of?
Correct answer: A series of curves
Multiple bends indicate a winding road. It is a warning about the road ahead, not permission to cross the centerline.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Winding Road warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
Why is a small red octagon shown inside this yellow warning sign?
Correct answer: A stop control is ahead
The yellow sign gives advance notice of a stop control. Prepare for the actual stopping location ahead.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Stop Ahead warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
A small inverted triangle appears below the arrow in this yellow sign. What control are you approaching?
Correct answer: A yield control ahead
The small triangle represents a yield sign ahead. This advance warning differs from the actual yield control at the junction.
Source: FHWA MUTCD2009 Figure fig2c_06, full long description; W3-2 Yield Ahead. Design and meaning provenance, not an edition-adoption claim. ↗
What does the round yellow sign with an X and two Rs warn you to look for ahead?
Correct answer: A railroad crossing
The round R-X-R sign is an advance railroad-crossing warning. It is not the crossbuck located at the crossing itself.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF121; Railroad advance warning. Illustration uses the matching established FHWA2009 panel, not Washington copyrighted artwork; source and bounded viewport below. ↗
Text-description practice: A One Way sign has an arrow pointing left. Which traffic direction does it identify?
Correct answer: Traffic on that one-way road travels to the left
The arrow gives the permitted direction of travel on the one-way street.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF115; One-way direction. ↗
Text-description practice: A yellow diamond contains a black plus-shaped intersection symbol. What is ahead?
Correct answer: A crossing road on both sides
The plus-shaped symbol warns of a crossroad, not a medical service.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Crossroad warning. ↗
Text-description practice: A yellow warning diamond shows a deer silhouette. What should you be alert for?
Correct answer: Deer entering or crossing the roadway
The animal symbol identifies a wildlife hazard. It does not mean a deer will be visible at the sign every time.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Deer crossing warning. ↗
Text-description practice: A yellow diamond displays a black bicycle. What does it warn drivers to anticipate?
Correct answer: Bicycle activity near or across the roadway
A bicycle on a warning diamond calls attention to bicyclists. A prohibition would use a different regulatory design.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Bicycle warning. ↗
Text-description practice: A yellow warning diamond shows a walking person. What should the driver watch for?
Correct answer: People crossing or entering the roadway nearby
The walking figure warns of pedestrian activity. Be attentive and ready to respond to people entering your path.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Pedestrian warning. ↗
Text-description practice: Two white boards form an X and carry the words Railroad Crossing. What do they identify?
Correct answer: The location of a railroad crossing
The crossbuck identifies a rail crossing. Its presence does not establish that the tracks are unused or that no train is coming.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; Railroad crossbuck. ↗
Text-description practice: A blue roadside sign gives information about fuel, rest areas or a hospital. Which type of information is it providing?
Correct answer: Motorist services
Blue guide signs identify motorist services. Read the symbol or wording for the particular service.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF113; Blue service signs. ↗
Text-description practice: A brown sign points toward a picnic area or a historic site. What is the color normally associated with?
Correct answer: Recreational or cultural destinations
Brown guidance is used for recreational, cultural and historical places, not as a substitute for a stop control.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF113; Brown recreation signs. ↗
Text-description practice: A green sign lists nearby cities with arrows or mileages. What is its main purpose?
Correct answer: Destination and route guidance
Green guide signs help with directions and destinations. Their color does not describe the state of upcoming traffic lights.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF113; Green destination signs. ↗
Text-description practice: A yellow pennant-shaped sign reads No Passing Zone. What restriction does it identify?
Correct answer: A zone where passing is prohibited
The pennant identifies a no-passing zone. It is not a sign granting priority to a passing driver.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF119; No Passing Zone pennant. ↗
Text-description practice: A yellow sign shows traffic joining from the right into a new lane that continues separately. How does it differ from a merge warning?
Correct answer: The joining traffic has an added lane rather than an immediate merge
The added-lane symbol shows the separate lane continuing. Drivers must still observe traffic and any later lane changes.
Source: Washington Driver Guide520-400(R/4/25), Section4.12 Signs; physical PDF120; Added lane warning. ↗
