Road rules

Road Rules, Illustrated

These are the situations the written test asks about, each one drawn from above and explained: the rule, the mistake it catches, and a real practice question. Reading a rule is one thing; seeing the intersection is what makes it stick.

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Every driver

Rules for every driver

Right of way, signals, hills, crossings, and emergencies: the situations every permit test draws.

Top-down urban intersection where a red car waits beside a bicycle lane while a cyclist continues straight on the car's rightRight Turns Across a Bike LaneTested in 3 statesTop-down two-lane road with a broken yellow center line beside a northbound red car and a solid yellow center line beside a southbound navy carBroken and Solid Yellow LinesTested in 4 statesTop-down five-lane road where a red northbound car waits in the shared center turn lane before a left-side drivewayThe Center Left-Turn LaneTested in 4 statesTop-down two-lane road where cars in both directions are stopped on their right shoulders while a northbound ambulance approachesPulling Over for Emergency VehiclesTested in 5 statesDriver-eye view of a red car stopped behind the line at an intersection while the red signal lens flashesFlashing Red SignalsTested in 6 statesTop-down four-way stop where a red northbound car and a navy westbound car on its right wait behind their stop linesFour-Way Stop Right of WayTested in 2 statesHigh-angle road diagram where a navy car stays centered in its lane while its front-right tire is visibly deflated and shedding small tread fragmentsFront Tire BlowoutsTested in 8 statesHigh-angle wet-road scene where a red car remains inside its lane while standing water and spray show reduced tire contactHydroplaningTested in 4 statesTop-down roadway where two same-direction lanes merge into one with three cars spaced apartWhen Two Lanes Merge Into OneTested in 2 statesTop-down four-way intersection with a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk and cars stopped before itYielding at CrosswalksTested in 6 statesAerial railroad crossing where a red car waits before two tracks because three queued cars leave no clearance on the far sideNever Stop on the TracksTested in 8 statesHigh-angle residential street where a ball has rolled between two parked vehicles as a partially hidden child waits on the sidewalk and a navy car approachesResidential Streets and Hidden ChildrenTested in 2 statesAerial view of a red car aligned with a rural road while its two right wheels travel on the gravel shoulderWhen Your Wheels Drop Off the PavementTested in 5 statesTop-down single-lane roundabout where a red car waits at the south yield line while a navy car travels counterclockwise insideEntering a RoundaboutTested in 6 statesAerial view of a school bus stopped with red lights and stop arm active while cars wait in both directions on a two-lane roadStopping for School BusesTested in 6 statesTop-down uncontrolled intersection where a red northbound car intends to turn left across the path of a navy southbound car continuing straightLeft Turns at Uncontrolled IntersectionsTested in 1 stateHigh-angle view of a blue car parked uphill beside a right-side curb with its front wheels turned left toward the travel laneParking on HillsTested in 4 statesAerial view of a work zone where a high-visibility flagger holds a stop paddle toward a car before a cone taper and closed laneObeying the FlaggerTested in 4 states
Motorcycle License

Motorcycle technique

Lane position, surface hazards, and the crashes riders are actually in, from the state motorcycle manuals.

Top-down two-lane roadway with a motorcycle riding beside the right rear quarter of a car that is preparing to change rightMotorcycles in Blind SpotsTested in 4 statesTop-down view of a helmeted motorcyclist positioned in the correct lane before a broad right curveMotorcycle Lane Position in CurvesTested in 10 statesHigh aerial view of an upright helmeted motorcyclist approaching a box that blocks the right half of the lane while the left side remains clearSwerving Around Debris on a MotorcycleTested in 8 statesTop-down view of a helmeted motorcyclist riding straight within the right-hand lane toward railroad tracks crossing the road diagonallyCrossing Angled Railroad Tracks on a MotorcycleTested in 19 statesHigh aerial view of an upright helmeted motorcyclist in the right-hand lane approaching a loose dog at the right shoulderWhen a Dog Chases Your MotorcycleTested in 8 statesTop-down two-lane road with a helmeted motorcyclist following a blue car and four numbered timing markers between themThe Following-Distance CountTested in 6 statesTop-down intersection where a helmeted northbound motorcyclist approaches while an oncoming red car waits to turn left across the rider's pathThe Left-Turning CarTested in 14 statesTop-down two-lane road where an upright helmeted motorcyclist approaches a loose gravel patch covering part of the right-hand laneLoose Gravel on a MotorcycleTested in 11 statesTop-down urban street with three curbside parked cars, an open driver-side door on the red car, and a helmeted motorcyclist maintaining space in the adjacent laneThe Door ZoneTested in 15 statesTop-down single travel lane with four helmeted motorcyclists spaced in alternating left and right lane positionsRiding in Staggered FormationTested in 12 states
CDL

Commercial vehicle rules

Clearance, grades, tank loads, and turning geometry, the judgment the CDL knowledge test checks.

High aerial view of a tall white box truck stopped on a one-way single-lane access road before a low underpass and striped clearance barLow-Clearance UnderpassesTested in 8 statesTop-down commercial truck stopped behind a white stop line before a railroad crossing, with a passenger car waiting behindRailroad Crossings in a Commercial VehicleTested in 9 statesHigh aerial view of a tractor-trailer descending a mountain highway beside an uphill gravel emergency escape rampRunaway Truck RampsTested in 7 statesHigh aerial view of a silver tractor-tanker centered on a one-way highway ramp before a tightening right-hand curveTankers on Curves and RampsTested in 18 statesAerial intersection where a semi-truck turns right while a red car occupies the dangerous space between its trailer and the curbA Truck's Wide Right TurnTested in 17 states

See these questions in a real test

Every scenario here comes from the practice banks: pick your state, choose a length, and the illustrated questions arrive mixed with everything else the manual covers.

Choose your state