A yellow centerline divides an ordinary two-way road. What does its color tell you about traffic on the other side?
Correct answer: It normally travels in the opposite direction.
Yellow markings separate opposing traffic. The solid or broken pattern provides additional information about passing; color alone does not grant permission to cross.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 34 (PDF page 38); 4J Pavement markings — yellow lines. ↗
At night, a solid white line follows the right edge of your roadway. What does this edge line identify?
Correct answer: The boundary between the roadway and its right shoulder.
A white edge line helps you recognize the right side of the roadway. Do not confuse it with a centerline separating opposing traffic.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 34 (PDF page 38); 4J Pavement markings — white edge line. ↗
The centerline beside your lane is broken yellow. An oncoming car is too close for a safe pass. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stay behind the vehicle ahead until a safe opportunity exists.
A broken yellow line can permit passing, but only when the maneuver is safe. You still need adequate sight distance, space and clearance from oncoming traffic.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 35 (PDF page 39); 4J Pavement markings — dashed yellow line. ↗
A solid yellow line is beside your lane, with a broken yellow line on the opposite side. You want to pass a car traveling at the speed limit. What does your line indicate?
Correct answer: This is a no-passing section for your direction.
With this paired marking, the line nearest your lane controls passing in your direction. A broken line on the other side does not authorize this pass.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 35 (PDF page 39); 4J Pavement markings — solid and dashed yellow lines. ↗
A driveway is on your left across ordinary double yellow centerlines. No sign prohibits the turn. Does the marking itself forbid a safe left turn into that driveway?
Correct answer: No; the handbook permits a driveway turn when it is safe.
The handbook distinguishes a safe driveway turn from passing. Signal, check for traffic and yield; this exception does not give you priority over oncoming vehicles.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 35 (PDF page 39); 4J Pavement markings — driveway turn across double yellow. ↗
Your front bumper would extend over the stop line even if the front tires stayed behind it. Where should you stop for the red signal?
Correct answer: Far enough back to keep the vehicle behind the line.
Use the stop line as the stopping boundary for the vehicle. Keeping only the tires behind it can leave the front of the car projecting into a crossing.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 34 (PDF page 38); 4J Pavement markings — stop line. ↗
A marked pedestrian crosswalk is halfway along a block rather than at a corner. Should you treat it as a pedestrian crossing?
Correct answer: Yes; marked crosswalks can be located between intersections.
Crosswalk markings can identify crossings away from intersections. Look for pedestrians and be ready to yield or stop as required; a midblock location is not a reason to ignore them.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 34 (PDF page 38); 4J Pavement markings — crosswalks between intersections. ↗
You prepare to enter a shared center left-turn lane. A driver approaching from the opposite direction also wants to enter it. What should you remember?
Correct answer: The lane serves left-turning drivers from both directions.
A shared turn lane is not your private lane. Check for opposing drivers entering or already using it and avoid conflicting maneuvers.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 36 (PDF page 40); 4J Pavement markings — shared center left-turn lane. ↗
A white arrow painted in your lane points only left, but you want to go straight. What should you do?
Correct answer: Move to an appropriate lane beforehand if safe, or follow the marked turn.
Pavement arrows identify the movements allowed from a lane. Choose the correct lane early; if you cannot change safely in time, follow the marked movement and adjust your route.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 35 (PDF page 39); 4J Pavement markings — lane-use arrows. ↗
A lane has a diamond marking and a sign limiting use to certain vehicles. How should an ordinary driver decide whether to use it?
Correct answer: Read the sign and make sure the vehicle meets the stated conditions.
A diamond identifies a reserved lane. The accompanying signs explain eligible vehicles, occupancy requirements or times; the symbol does not make it an unrestricted passing lane.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 37 (PDF page 41); 4K Reserved lanes — diamond symbol. ↗
A sign reserves a lane for buses and carpools with at least four occupants on weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. Your car has three people at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Do you qualify?
Correct answer: No; the car is below the posted four-person minimum during restricted hours.
Read the vehicle, occupancy and time conditions together. Three total occupants do not meet a four-person minimum. This example does not determine lane availability outside the displayed hours.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 37 (PDF page 41); 4K Reserved lanes — posted occupancy and hours. ↗
A bicyclist is beside you in a bike lane as you prepare to turn right across it. What is the safe approach?
Correct answer: Yield and position behind the bicyclist before making the turn safely.
Do not create a right-hook conflict by turning across a bicyclist beside you. Check the bike lane, yield and move behind the cyclist when preparing the permitted turn.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 37 (PDF page 41); 4K Reserved lanes — right turn across bicycle lane. ↗
Pairs of broken yellow lines outline a lane whose traffic direction can change. What kind of lane is this?
Correct answer: A reversible lane controlled for different traffic directions.
Reversible lanes change their permitted direction to manage traffic. Read the lane-control signals before entering; the markings do not allow simultaneous opposing use.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 36 (PDF page 40); 4J Pavement markings — reversible lanes. ↗
On a reversible roadway, the signal facing your direction shows a red X while a signal facing opposing traffic permits movement. What should you do?
Correct answer: Keep out of that lane in your direction.
A reversible lane can be open in one direction and closed in the other. Follow the signal facing your own approach, not the one displayed to opposing traffic.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 36 (PDF page 40); 4J Pavement markings — directional lane controls. ↗
Your turn arrow changes from green to steady yellow before you enter the intersection. You have room to stop safely. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop before entering because the protected turn phase is ending.
A steady yellow arrow warns that the turn signal is changing. Stop when you can do so safely; it is different from a flashing yellow arrow that allows a yielding turn.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 33 (PDF page 37); 4I Traffic signals — steady yellow arrow. ↗
The colors of a standard vertical three-light signal are difficult for you to distinguish. Where is its red light positioned?
Correct answer: At the top of the signal.
On the standard vertical arrangement, red is above yellow and green. Position is an additional recognition cue, not a substitute for paying attention to the signal.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 32 (PDF page 36); 4I Traffic signals — vertical signal order. ↗
A red turn arrow is flashing and no officer is directing traffic. What must you do before making that turn?
Correct answer: Stop completely, then proceed only when the turn is safe.
A flashing red arrow requires a complete stop followed by yielding before a safe turn. It does not provide the protected movement of a green arrow.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 32 (PDF page 36); 4I Traffic signals — flashing red arrow. ↗
A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR appears ahead of the tracks. What does it warn you about?
Correct answer: A railroad crossing ahead that requires your attention.
This advance warning sign alerts you before a rail crossing. Reduce speed as appropriate and look for tracks, warning devices and trains; the sign does not grant priority to road traffic.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 30 (PDF page 34); 4H Railroad crossing warnings — advance warning. ↗
A plaque under a railroad crossbuck reads “3 TRACKS.” What information should guide your crossing decision?
Correct answer: There are three tracks to check for trains before crossing safely.
The plaque gives the number of tracks. A train clearing one track does not prove the others are clear; look for traffic on every track.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 30 (PDF page 34); 4H Railroad crossing warnings — multiple tracks sign. ↗
A long train has just cleared one of several tracks, but it still blocks your view of another track. What is the danger?
Correct answer: Another train may be hidden behind the first one.
At multiple-track crossings, one train can hide another traveling in either direction. Wait until you can see clearly and all crossing warnings allow a safe movement.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 31 (PDF page 35); 4H Railroad crossing warnings — second train. ↗
After reaching safety from a railroad-crossing emergency, you see the blue-and-white emergency sign. Its telephone number connects you to whom?
Correct answer: The railroad’s emergency contact for that crossing.
The ENS sign provides the railroad contact needed to report a crossing emergency. Describe the danger and provide the crossing identification shown on the sign.
Source: Federal Railroad Administration official guidance; Emergency Notification System signs — railroad contact; reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You call the railroad about a dangerous obstruction at a crossing. Which detail from the blue ENS sign helps identify the exact crossing?
Correct answer: Its U.S. DOT crossing identification number.
The crossing inventory number identifies that crossing. Give it along with the nature of the emergency instead of relying solely on a possibly unfamiliar local road name.
Source: Federal Railroad Administration official guidance; Emergency Notification System signs — crossing inventory number; reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
Your car stalls on railroad tracks. No train is visible yet. What should you do first?
Correct answer: Get everyone out immediately and well away from the car and tracks.
Leave the vehicle and tracks immediately, even when you cannot see a train. From safety, call the ENS number; if the sign is not visible, call 911.
Source: NHTSA official guidance; If your vehicle stalls or gets stuck on railroad tracks; reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You have stopped safely near a crossing and believe its warning equipment is malfunctioning. What is the appropriate reporting step?
Correct answer: Use the posted railroad emergency number to report the problem.
The blue-and-white sign provides a contact for crossing hazards, including warning-device problems. A suspected malfunction is not permission to ignore a gate or other active warning.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 31 (PDF page 35); 4H Railroad crossing warnings — malfunction reporting. ↗
You are driving a manual-transmission vehicle toward railroad tracks. When should you select a gear suitable for completing the crossing?
Correct answer: Before entering the tracks so you do not need to shift on them.
Choose the gear before crossing and keep moving smoothly across the tracks when it is safe to enter. Avoid a gear change that could interrupt power and leave you stopped in danger.
Source: Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, BDS126, 2026; printed page 30 (PDF page 34); 4H Railroad crossing warnings — gear selection. ↗
