Washington CDL — General Knowledge practice
Washington CDL — General Knowledge: Right-of-Way practice test
Who goes first at intersections, four-way stops, roundabouts, and crosswalks, and how to yield to pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
12 questions · pass with 10 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
Study questions with answers
12 sample Right-of-Way questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
Show all 12 questions with answers
1. You approach an emergency vehicle stopped with its lights on at the roadside. Under the move-over law, what should you do first if it is safe?
Correct answer: Move into a lane not next to the emergency vehicle
Where safe, you should slow down and change into a lane that is not next to the stopped emergency vehicle or work zone.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Hazardous Roads)
2. Before you start across a road or through an intersection in a large vehicle, what must you be sure of?
Correct answer: That you can clear the road before traffic reaches you
Because of slow acceleration, make sure you can get all the way across before oncoming traffic reaches you.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space Needed to Cross or Enter Traffic)
3. At the advance warning sign for a public railroad crossing, which vehicles are always required to stop?
Correct answer: All passenger-carrying and hazmat-carrying vehicles
At these crossings, passenger-carrying and hazmat-carrying vehicles are required to stop, not just slow down.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Warning Signs and Devices)
4. At a crossing equipped with gates and flashing lights, when may you proceed across the tracks?
Correct answer: When the gates are up and the lights stop flashing
Remain stopped until the gates go all the way up and the lights have stopped flashing, then proceed when it is safe.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Warning Signs and Devices)
5. At a crossing with two sets of tracks, why must you be especially careful after one train has passed?
Correct answer: A second train may be hidden behind the first
A train on one track can hide a second train on the other track, so check both directions before starting across.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driving Procedures)
6. When making a left turn at an intersection, where should the front of your vehicle be before you begin turning?
Correct answer: At the center of the intersection
Reach the center of the intersection before starting your left turn; turning too soon can let the left side of your vehicle hit another vehicle due to off-tracking.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space for Turns)
7. You are climbing a grade behind another slow vehicle. When should you attempt to pass it?
Correct answer: Only if you can complete the pass quickly and safely
Going uphill you should not pass another slow vehicle unless you can get around it quickly and safely.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space Behind)
8. You are approaching a railroad crossing and a train is coming. Why should you never try to beat the train across?
Correct answer: It is very hard to judge an approaching train's speed
You should never race a train to a crossing because it is extremely difficult to judge the speed of an approaching train.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driving Procedures)
9. You are approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, but traffic makes changing lanes unsafe. What should you do?
Correct answer: Slow down and proceed carefully in your lane
If a lane change is not safe, you should slow down and proceed with caution at a speed appropriate for conditions.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Hazardous Roads)
10. Compared with a car, why does a large commercial vehicle need a bigger gap to cross or enter traffic?
Correct answer: Because it accelerates slowly and needs more room
Because large vehicles accelerate slowly and take up more space, they need a much larger gap in traffic than a car would.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space Needed to Cross or Enter Traffic)
11. To complete a right turn you must swing into the oncoming lane, and a vehicle is approaching. What should you do?
Correct answer: Give them room to pass or stop, but do not back up
Give the oncoming vehicle room to go by or stop; do not back up for them because you might hit someone behind you.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space for Turns)
12. There are two left-turn lanes at an intersection. Which one should a large vehicle use?
Correct answer: The right-hand turn lane
Take the right-hand turn lane; starting in the inside lane may force you to swing right to complete the turn.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space for Turns)
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