What sharing the road rules are on the Washington permit test?

Washington's sharing the road questions come from its own statutes and the Washington Department of Licensing handbook. QuizLane covers 3 Washington-specific sharing the road items, drawn from 2 distinct source sections, alongside 10 questions on rules that apply in every state.

How many sharing the road questions are on the Washington permit test?

Washington Department of Licensing does not publish a per-topic breakdown. The test as a whole has 40 questions and you need 32 correct (80%) to pass, so sharing the road is worth studying alongside every other topic rather than in isolation.

Are these official Washington DMV sharing the road questions?

No. These are original study questions written against Washington law and the official handbook, each carrying the section it came from. They are not endorsed by Washington Department of Licensing and are not copies of the real exam.

Do I need an account to practice Washington sharing the road questions?

No. Practice starts immediately as a guest. An account is optional and only saves your attempt history across devices.

On a Washington highway divided into separate roadways, a driver meeting a school bus proceeding in the opposite direction:

Must stop only if red lights face them

On a Washington highway with four or more lanes (at least two in your direction), when approaching an emergency or work zone you must proceed with caution, reduce speed, and if the opportunity exists:

Yield the right-of-way by changing lanes or moving away from the lane or shoulder the emergency or work-zone vehicle occupies

Stop in the lane beside the emergency vehicle

Pass on the shoulder at the posted speed

Use only the left turn signal and continue

WASharing the road

Washington sharing the road practice questions

3 questions below test Washington’s own sharing the road law, each with the statute or Washington Department of Licensing handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on sharing the road rules that apply in every state.

The Washington permit knowledge test has 40 questions in total and needs 32 correct (80%) to pass.

Practice sharing the road All Washington topics

Washington law

3 questions on Washington’s own sharing the road rules

These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.

1. On a Washington highway divided into separate roadways, a driver meeting a school bus proceeding in the opposite direction:
- AMust stop only if red lights face them
- BMust always stop
- Need not stop
- DMust slow to 15 mph only
Answer: Need not stop. RCW 46.61.370(2) provides that the driver of a vehicle upon a highway divided into separate roadways need not stop upon meeting a school bus proceeding in the opposite direction that is stopped to receive or discharge school children.
Source: Revised Code of Washington — RCW 46.61.370(2)
2. Washington defines an emergency or work zone, in part, as the adjacent lanes of the roadway within how many feet before and after a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using required signals?
- 200 feet
- B500 feet
- C50 feet
- D100 feet
Answer: 200 feet. RCW 46.61.212 defines an emergency or work zone as the adjacent lanes of the roadway 200 feet before and after listed vehicles, including a stationary authorized emergency vehicle making use of required audible and/or visual signals.
Source: Revised Code of Washington — RCW 46.61.212
3. On a Washington highway with four or more lanes (at least two in your direction), when approaching an emergency or work zone you must proceed with caution, reduce speed, and if the opportunity exists:
- AStop in the lane beside the emergency vehicle
- Yield the right-of-way by changing lanes or moving away from the lane or shoulder the emergency or work-zone vehicle occupies
- CPass on the shoulder at the posted speed
- DUse only the left turn signal and continue
Answer: Yield the right-of-way by changing lanes or moving away from the lane or shoulder the emergency or work-zone vehicle occupies. RCW 46.61.212(2)(a) requires caution, a speed reduction, and—when safety and traffic allow—yielding by making a lane change or moving away from the lane or shoulder occupied by the identified emergency or work-zone vehicle.
Source: Revised Code of Washington — RCW 46.61.212

Sources for the Washington items above

Applies everywhere

Sharing the road rules that hold in every state

A sample of the national sharing the road bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the Washington items above for 13 questions in total.

1. When following a motorcycle you should allow:
- ALess space, since it stops slowly
- More following distance than for a car
- CThe same distance as a truck
- DOnly one car length
Answer: More following distance than for a car. Motorcycles can slow very quickly and may be destabilised by road hazards, so extra space gives you room to respond.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Sharing the road — motorcycles
2. An orange triangle with a red border on the back of a vehicle means it:
- AIs a school vehicle
- BHas an oversize load
- CIs carrying hazardous materials
- Travels well below normal traffic speed
Answer: Travels well below normal traffic speed. The slow-moving vehicle emblem marks farm equipment and similar vehicles. Closing speed is much higher than it appears.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Sharing the road — slow-moving vehicles
3. When passing a bicyclist on a narrow road, you should:
- ASound your horn as you pass
- BExpect the cyclist to ride on the shoulder
- CPass closely so you clear the lane quickly
- Slow down and pass leaving generous space
Answer: Slow down and pass leaving generous space. Cyclists may swerve to avoid debris or a pothole. Slow down, wait for a safe gap, and give as much space as you would another vehicle.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Sharing the road — bicycles

Practice all 13 sharing the road questions

Sharing the road rules in other states

Sharing the road law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.

CaliforniaCA · 3 questions ColoradoCO · 2 questions NevadaNV · 2 questions ArkansasAR · 2 questions GeorgiaGA · 4 questions IllinoisIL · 2 questions IndianaIN · 2 questions IowaIA · 2 questions

Confirm current Washington rules

Statutes and handbooks change. Washington Department of Licensing is authoritative for Washington sharing the road rules and for the permit test itself.

Visit Washington Department of Licensing

Common questions

About Washington sharing the road rules and this practice set.