CA DMV WRITTEN TEST 2026 STUDY
GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ What does a red arrow mean? Answer: A red arrow means "STOP."
Remain stopped until the green signal or green arrow appears. Do not
turn against a red arrow.
◉ What does a flashing red traffic signal mean? Answer: A flashing red
traffic signal means "STOP." After stopping, you may proceed when it is
safe. Observe the right-of-way rules.
◉ What does a yellow arrow mean? Answer: A yellow arrow means the
"protected" turning time period is ending. Be prepared to obey the next
traffic signal light, which could be the green or red traffic signal light or
red arrow.
◉ What does a flashing yellow arrow mean? Answer: Turns are
permitted (unprotected), but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and
pedestrians and then proceed with caution.
◉ What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean? Answer: "PROCEED
WITH CAUTION."
,◉ True or False: When you have a solid green light, you can proceed
whether or not there are any vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians in the
intersection. Answer: False. At a solid green light, you must give the
right-of way to any vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians in the intersection.
If you are turning left, make the turn only if you have enough space to
complete the turn before creating a hazard for any oncoming vehicle,
bicyclist, or pedestrian.
◉ What does a green arrow mean? Answer: You may go as you have a
"protected turn," where oncoming traffic is stopped by a red traffic
signal light. You must turn in the direction the arrow is pointing after
you yield to any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian in the intersection.
◉ What do you do if a traffic signal light is not working? Answer: Treat
the intersection as if it were a 4-way stop.
◉ What is a pedestrian phase or scramble? Answer: This is a series of
crisscross, diagonal crosswalks that allow pedestrians to cross in any
direction at the same time, even diagonally. All vehicle traffic must stop
during the scramble phase.
◉ Where do you stop at a stop sign? Answer: Stop at the white limit line
(or before entering the crosswalk). If there is no limit line, stop before
entering the intersection.
◉ True or False: A yield sign means you must slow down and be ready
stop to let any vehicle pass before you proceed, but does not extend to
,bicyclists or pedestrians. Answer: False. A yield sign means you must
slow
down and be ready to stop, if necessary, to let any vehicle,
bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before you proceed.
◉ True or False: You must follow instructions on any square red and
white regulatory sign. Answer: True. For example, "DO NOT ENTER"
or "WRONG WAY" signs.
◉ True or False: A sign that has a red circle with a red line through it
means that you are approaching a railroad crossing. Answer: False: A
sign that has a red circle with a red line through it always
indicates "NO." A yellow and black circular sign or an x-shaped sign
indicates
that you are approaching a railroad crossing.
◉ What do you do at a railroad crossing? Answer: You must look,
listen, slow down, and prepare to stop, if necessary. Let any
trains pass before you proceed. Many railroad crossings will
also have a blue and white sign to indicate what to do if there
is an emergency on or near the tracks, or if your vehicle has
stalled on the tracks.
◉ What do you do if you see a 5-sided sign? Answer: Because you are
near a school, stop if children are in the crosswalk.
, ◉ What does a 4-sided diamond-shaped sign warn you of? Answer:
Specific road conditions and dangers ahead
◉ What does a white rectangular sign indicate? Answer: You must obey
important rules (e.g., One Way, Speed Limit, Keep Right, etc.).
◉ True or False: You have to obey all warning signs regardless of their
shape or color. Answer: True.
◉ True or False: You should yield your right of way to any car,
bicyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian when it would help to prevent
collisions. Answer: True.
◉ What is a pedestrian? Answer: A person on foot or who uses roller
skates, a skateboard, a wheelchair, etc. (not a bicycle).
◉ True or False: You should not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk
because a pedestrian you cannot see may be crossing the street. Answer:
True.
◉ True or False: You can stop in a crosswalk if needed. Answer: False.
Do not stop in a crosswalk because it places pedestrians in danger.
GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ What does a red arrow mean? Answer: A red arrow means "STOP."
Remain stopped until the green signal or green arrow appears. Do not
turn against a red arrow.
◉ What does a flashing red traffic signal mean? Answer: A flashing red
traffic signal means "STOP." After stopping, you may proceed when it is
safe. Observe the right-of-way rules.
◉ What does a yellow arrow mean? Answer: A yellow arrow means the
"protected" turning time period is ending. Be prepared to obey the next
traffic signal light, which could be the green or red traffic signal light or
red arrow.
◉ What does a flashing yellow arrow mean? Answer: Turns are
permitted (unprotected), but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and
pedestrians and then proceed with caution.
◉ What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean? Answer: "PROCEED
WITH CAUTION."
,◉ True or False: When you have a solid green light, you can proceed
whether or not there are any vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians in the
intersection. Answer: False. At a solid green light, you must give the
right-of way to any vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians in the intersection.
If you are turning left, make the turn only if you have enough space to
complete the turn before creating a hazard for any oncoming vehicle,
bicyclist, or pedestrian.
◉ What does a green arrow mean? Answer: You may go as you have a
"protected turn," where oncoming traffic is stopped by a red traffic
signal light. You must turn in the direction the arrow is pointing after
you yield to any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian in the intersection.
◉ What do you do if a traffic signal light is not working? Answer: Treat
the intersection as if it were a 4-way stop.
◉ What is a pedestrian phase or scramble? Answer: This is a series of
crisscross, diagonal crosswalks that allow pedestrians to cross in any
direction at the same time, even diagonally. All vehicle traffic must stop
during the scramble phase.
◉ Where do you stop at a stop sign? Answer: Stop at the white limit line
(or before entering the crosswalk). If there is no limit line, stop before
entering the intersection.
◉ True or False: A yield sign means you must slow down and be ready
stop to let any vehicle pass before you proceed, but does not extend to
,bicyclists or pedestrians. Answer: False. A yield sign means you must
slow
down and be ready to stop, if necessary, to let any vehicle,
bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before you proceed.
◉ True or False: You must follow instructions on any square red and
white regulatory sign. Answer: True. For example, "DO NOT ENTER"
or "WRONG WAY" signs.
◉ True or False: A sign that has a red circle with a red line through it
means that you are approaching a railroad crossing. Answer: False: A
sign that has a red circle with a red line through it always
indicates "NO." A yellow and black circular sign or an x-shaped sign
indicates
that you are approaching a railroad crossing.
◉ What do you do at a railroad crossing? Answer: You must look,
listen, slow down, and prepare to stop, if necessary. Let any
trains pass before you proceed. Many railroad crossings will
also have a blue and white sign to indicate what to do if there
is an emergency on or near the tracks, or if your vehicle has
stalled on the tracks.
◉ What do you do if you see a 5-sided sign? Answer: Because you are
near a school, stop if children are in the crosswalk.
, ◉ What does a 4-sided diamond-shaped sign warn you of? Answer:
Specific road conditions and dangers ahead
◉ What does a white rectangular sign indicate? Answer: You must obey
important rules (e.g., One Way, Speed Limit, Keep Right, etc.).
◉ True or False: You have to obey all warning signs regardless of their
shape or color. Answer: True.
◉ True or False: You should yield your right of way to any car,
bicyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian when it would help to prevent
collisions. Answer: True.
◉ What is a pedestrian? Answer: A person on foot or who uses roller
skates, a skateboard, a wheelchair, etc. (not a bicycle).
◉ True or False: You should not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk
because a pedestrian you cannot see may be crossing the street. Answer:
True.
◉ True or False: You can stop in a crosswalk if needed. Answer: False.
Do not stop in a crosswalk because it places pedestrians in danger.
