FullCA · STUDY GUIDE
Road Signs, Signals & Markings
Sign shapes and colors, traffic signals, curb colors, and pavement markings — core permit-test material, shown visually. This guide has 60 questions, each citing the CA manual section it comes from — the first 18 are free to read below.
1 · PAVEMENT MARKINGS
A solid yellow line on your side of the center line means:
- ✓ Do not pass the vehicle ahead if there's one lane in your direction
- · Passing is allowed when clear
- · The lane is for carpools
- · You may drive on either side
A single solid yellow marks the center of two-way traffic: don't pass when the solid line is on your side with one lane in your direction. A broken yellow next to your lane means you may pass when safe.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · Lane Markings, p. 132 · PAVEMENT MARKINGS
You may cross double solid yellow lines only when:
- ✓ Turning into or out of a driveway or private road, making a U-turn, or entering a designated left HOV entrance
- · Passing a slow vehicle
- · Traffic is light
- · Driving downhill
Stay right of double solid yellows except: an HOV lane with a designated left entrance, construction directing you across, or turning left across them into a driveway, private road, or U-turn.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · Double Solid Yellow Lines, p. 133 · PAVEMENT MARKINGS
TWO sets of double solid yellow lines spaced two or more feet apart are:
- ✓ A barrier — never drive on or over them except at designated openings
- · A carpool lane marker
- · A passing zone divider
- · Decorative markings
That spacing makes them a barrier. No driving over it, no left turns or U-turns across it, except at openings provided for that purpose.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · Double Solid Yellow Lines, p. 134 · PAVEMENT MARKINGS
Double solid WHITE lines (common near carpool lanes and ramps) mean:
- ✓ A lane barrier — never change lanes across them
- · Change lanes quickly
- · Buses only
- · The road is one-way
They mark a barrier between a regular lane and a preferential lane like an HOV lane. Wait for a single broken white line to cross.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · Double Solid White Lines, p. 145 · PAVEMENT MARKINGS
Your freeway lane's stripes become large broken lines. This means:
- ✓ The lane is ending or becoming an exit — be prepared to exit or merge
- · You're entering a carpool lane
- · Passing is prohibited
- · The speed limit is dropping
Large broken lines mark ending freeway and street lanes. Look for the sign telling you to exit or merge.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · End of Lane Markings, p. 146 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
May you turn right at a RED ARROW?
- ✓ No — remain stopped until it turns green
- · Yes, after a complete stop
- · Yes, if no sign prohibits it
- · Yes, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Unlike a solid red light (where right turns are allowed after stopping unless posted), a red arrow means no turning at all — wait for green.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · Right Turn Against a Red Arrow, p. 187 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
A left turn at a red light is legal only:
- ✓ From a one-way street onto a one-way street, unless a sign prohibits it
- · From any street onto a one-way street
- · Never in California
- · When no cameras are present
Only from a one-way onto a one-way, after stopping and yielding to everyone with a green — and only where no sign prohibits it.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 6 · Left Turn Against a Red Light, p. 208 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
At a solid red light, you may turn right:
- ✓ After a complete stop at the limit line, yielding to pedestrians — unless NO TURN ON RED is posted
- · Without stopping if clear
- · Never in California
- · Only with a green arrow
Stop at the stop or limit line, yield for pedestrians, then turn right when safe — unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Traffic Signals, p. 339 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
A flashing red signal means:
- ✓ Stop — then go when it is safe
- · The signal is broken; drive through
- · Slow down only
- · Stop and wait for green
Flashing red = STOP, then proceed when safe, like a stop sign. Flashing yellow = proceed with caution; you don't need to stop.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Flashing Red Light, p. 3310 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
A solid yellow light means:
- ✓ Stop if you can do so safely — the light is about to turn red
- · Speed up before the red
- · The same as flashing yellow
- · Pedestrians may cross
Caution: it's about to turn red. Stop if you can safely; if you can't, cross the intersection cautiously.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Solid Yellow Light, p. 3311 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
At a green light, you should still stop for:
- ✓ Any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian still in the intersection
- · Nothing — green means go immediately
- · Cross traffic with a red
- · Vehicles behind you
Green means go — after yielding to anyone still in the intersection. And don't enter unless you can get completely across before the light turns red.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Solid Green Light, p. 3412 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
The traffic light is completely dark. Treat the intersection as:
- ✓ An all-way STOP, then proceed cautiously
- · Open road
- · Yield-controlled
- · Closed — turn around
A dead signal becomes an all-way stop: stop as if STOP signs faced every direction, then go when it's safe.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Traffic Light Not Working, p. 3413 · TRAFFIC SIGNALS
A pedestrian is still crossing as DON'T WALK begins flashing. Drivers must:
- ✓ Yield to the pedestrian — even while the hand is flashing
- · Proceed; the pedestrian lost priority
- · Honk to hurry them
- · Drive around behind them
Flashing DON'T WALK tells pedestrians not to START crossing — but drivers must still yield to anyone already in the crosswalk.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Pedestrian Signals, p. 3514 · TRAFFIC SIGNS
At this sign you must:
- ✓ Make a full stop before the crosswalk or limit line, check all directions, then proceed
- · Slow to 5 mph and roll through if clear
- · Stop only when other cars are present
- · Yield without stopping
Full stop before entering the crosswalk or at the limit line; no line — stop before entering the intersection. Check traffic in all directions before proceeding.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · STOP Sign, p. 3515 · TRAFFIC SIGNS
This sign requires you to:
- ✓ Slow down and be ready to stop for any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian before proceeding
- · Always come to a complete stop
- · Speed up and merge
- · Stop only for trucks
YIELD: slow down, be ready to stop, and let any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before you proceed.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Red YIELD Sign, p. 3516 · TRAFFIC SIGNS
This sign at a road or ramp means:
- ✓ Do not enter — the road carries traffic toward you
- · Parking prohibited
- · Toll road ahead
- · Trucks prohibited
DO NOT ENTER guards ramps and one-way roads. At night, your headlights shining on red reflectors is another sign you're headed the wrong way — back out or turn around safely.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · Red and White Regulatory Signs, p. 3817 · TRAFFIC SIGNS
You've entered a ramp and see a WRONG WAY sign facing you. You should:
- ✓ Back out or turn around when it is safe — you are driving against traffic
- · Continue to the next exit
- · Speed up to clear the ramp
- · Stop and stay where you are
DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs mark roads carrying traffic toward you. When safe, back out or turn around. At night, red road reflectors shining in your headlights confirm it.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · WRONG WAY Sign, p. 3818 · RAILROAD CROSSINGS
This X-shaped sign means you are approaching:
- ✓ A railroad crossing — look, listen, slow down, and prepare to stop
- · A four-way intersection
- · A no-passing zone
- · A school crossing
Look, listen, and slow: let any trains pass before proceeding. Many crossings also post a blue ENS sign with a number to call if a vehicle stalls on the tracks.
📖 CA Manual · Sec. 7 · X-Shaped Sign, p. 38Tip: use your ← and → arrow keys
FullPass is an independent study aid. Questions are reviewed against the cited official CA driver's manual; the state licensing agency remains the final authority.