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Ohio DMV Permit Test Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings Summary

Checked 10/19/26

Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings: key points

  • A flashing red light means stop, then go as if at a stop sign. A flashing yellow light means go with caution.
  • If a signal shows no lights at all, stop and yield as you would at a stop sign.
  • Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions. White lines separate lanes going the same way.
Importance
★★★★☆ (4 / 5)
Weight
About 6 of 20 Traffic Signs and Signals questions (30%)

How to respond to steady and flashing lights, arrows, and dark signals, and what yellow and white lines on the road tell you.

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Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedTraffic Signs and Signals › Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆

Question 1. What must you do at a steady red traffic light?

  1. ① Stop and stay stopped until the light turns green, unless a turn on red is allowed
  2. ② Slow down and go if no one is coming
  3. ③ Stop only if a police officer is present
  4. ④ Go if the car ahead of you went
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Answer: ① Stop and stay stopped until the light turns green, unless a turn on red is allowed

Key point: Steady red: stop and stay stopped

A steady red light means stop at the stop line (or before the crosswalk or intersection) and stay stopped until the light turns green. In Ohio you may turn right on red, or left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop if no sign forbids it.

Wrong choices

  • Slow down and go if no one is coming: A steady red light is not a yield. You must stop.
  • Stop only if a police officer is present: The rule applies at all times, not only when police are present.
  • Go if the car ahead of you went: Each driver must stop for the red light.
Practice questionReviewedTraffic Signs and Signals › Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆

Question 2. What does a steady yellow traffic light mean?

  1. ① The light is about to turn red, so stop if you can do so safely
  2. ② Pedestrians may now cross in front of you
  3. ③ The signal is broken, so treat it as a STOP sign
  4. ④ Speed up to get through before it turns red
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Answer: ① The light is about to turn red, so stop if you can do so safely

Key point: Steady yellow: red is coming, stop if safe

A steady yellow light warns that the green is ending and red is coming next. Stop if you can do so safely. If you are already too close to stop safely, go through with care.

Wrong choices

  • Pedestrians may now cross in front of you: A steady yellow light tells pedestrians not to start crossing.
  • The signal is broken, so treat it as a STOP sign: A broken signal shows no lights or a confusing mix. Steady yellow is a normal warning.
  • Speed up to get through before it turns red: Speeding up to beat the light is dangerous.
Practice questionReviewedTraffic Signs and Signals › Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆

Question 3. What does a flashing red traffic light mean?

  1. ① Slow down and go with caution without stopping
  2. ② Stop and wait for the light to turn green
  3. ③ The light is about to turn green
  4. ④ Stop, then go when safe, just as at a STOP sign
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Answer: ④ Stop, then go when safe, just as at a STOP sign

Key point: Flashing red = STOP sign

A flashing red light means the same as a STOP sign. Come to a full stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and go when it is safe.

Wrong choices

  • Slow down and go with caution without stopping: Going with caution without stopping is what a flashing yellow light allows.
  • Stop and wait for the light to turn green: You do not wait for green. After stopping, go when it is safe.
  • The light is about to turn green: A flashing red light does not mean the light is about to change.
Practice questionReviewedTraffic Signs and Signals › Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆

Question 4. What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?

  1. ① Come to a full stop, then go
  2. ② Stop and wait for a green light
  3. ③ Slow down and go through with caution
  4. ④ The road is closed ahead
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Answer: ③ Slow down and go through with caution

Key point: Flashing yellow: proceed with caution

A flashing yellow light means slow down and go with caution. You do not need to stop, but you must yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection.

Wrong choices

  • Come to a full stop, then go: A full stop is required by a flashing red light, not a flashing yellow light.
  • Stop and wait for a green light: A flashing yellow light does not require you to wait for green.
  • The road is closed ahead: A flashing yellow light does not mean the road is closed.
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Question 5. What do yellow lines on the road separate?

  1. ① Lanes of traffic moving in the same direction
  2. ② Traffic moving in opposite directions
  3. ③ Parking spaces
  4. ④ Bicycle lanes from car lanes
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Answer: ② Traffic moving in opposite directions

Key point: Yellow lines: opposite directions

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions. If you see a yellow line on your left, oncoming traffic is on the other side of it.

Wrong choices

  • Lanes of traffic moving in the same direction: Lanes moving in the same direction are separated by white lines.
  • Parking spaces: Parking spaces are usually marked with white lines.
  • Bicycle lanes from car lanes: Bicycle lanes are marked with white lines and bicycle symbols.
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Question 6. What does a double solid yellow center line mean?

  1. ① Passing is allowed only for traffic on the right side
  2. ② Passing is allowed for traffic on both sides
  3. ③ No passing in either direction
  4. ④ The road is one way
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Answer: ③ No passing in either direction

Key point: Double solid yellow: no passing either way

A double solid yellow line means passing is not allowed in either direction. Do not cross it to pass. You may cross it only to turn left into a driveway or road when it is safe.

Wrong choices

  • Passing is allowed only for traffic on the right side: Neither side may pass across a double solid yellow line.
  • Passing is allowed for traffic on both sides: Passing would be allowed only where the line on your side is broken.
  • The road is one way: A yellow center line means traffic moves in both directions.
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Question 7. What do white lines between lanes tell you?

  1. ① The lanes are for buses only
  2. ② Passing is never allowed
  3. ③ The lanes carry traffic moving in opposite directions
  4. ④ The lanes carry traffic moving in the same direction
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Answer: ④ The lanes carry traffic moving in the same direction

Key point: White lane lines: same direction

White lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. A broken white line means you may change lanes when it is safe. A solid white line means lane changes are discouraged.

Wrong choices

  • The lanes are for buses only: Bus-only lanes are marked with signs and words. Plain white lines do not mean bus only.
  • Passing is never allowed: Broken white lines allow lane changes when safe.
  • The lanes carry traffic moving in opposite directions: Opposite directions are separated by yellow lines.
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Question 8. You reach an intersection where the traffic signal shows no lights at all. What must you do?

  1. ① Slow down, but do not stop unless you see a police officer
  2. ② Go through without slowing, because the signal is off
  3. ③ Turn around and find another route
  4. ④ Stop, yield to traffic in or near the intersection, and go when safe, as at a STOP sign
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Answer: ④ Stop, yield to traffic in or near the intersection, and go when safe, as at a STOP sign

Key point: Dark signal: stop and yield as at a STOP sign

Ohio law says that when a signal shows no lights (or a confusing mix of lights), you must stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection edge, yield to vehicles in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard, and then go with care. Treat it like a STOP sign.

Wrong choices

  • Slow down, but do not stop unless you see a police officer: You must stop even if no officer is there.
  • Go through without slowing, because the signal is off: A dark signal does not give you the right of way.
  • Turn around and find another route: You do not need to turn around. Stop, yield, and then continue.
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Question 9. What does a steady green arrow signal mean?

  1. ① The arrow is about to turn red, so stop
  2. ② You may turn only after coming to a full stop
  3. ③ You may move in the direction of the arrow, still yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection
  4. ④ You must wait until oncoming traffic has a red light before turning
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Answer: ③ You may move in the direction of the arrow, still yielding to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully in the intersection

Key point: Green arrow: go the way of the arrow, with care

A steady green arrow allows you to make the movement shown by the arrow. You must still yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to vehicles already in the intersection.

Wrong choices

  • The arrow is about to turn red, so stop: A steady yellow arrow, not a green one, warns that the arrow is ending.
  • You may turn only after coming to a full stop: A full stop is not required on a green arrow.
  • You must wait until oncoming traffic has a red light before turning: You do not have to watch for the oncoming light. The green arrow already gives you the turn.
Practice questionReviewedTraffic Signs and Signals › Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆

Question 10. You want to turn left and the signal shows a flashing yellow arrow. What should you do?

  1. ① Turn left right away, because you have the right of way
  2. ② Go straight only, because left turns are not allowed
  3. ③ Turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
  4. ④ Stop and wait for a steady green arrow
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Answer: ③ Turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

Key point: Flashing yellow arrow: turn only after yielding

A flashing yellow arrow allows the turn with caution. You must yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be a hazard and to pedestrians in the crosswalk, then turn when it is safe.

Wrong choices

  • Turn left right away, because you have the right of way: A flashing yellow arrow does not give you the right of way.
  • Go straight only, because left turns are not allowed: Left turns are allowed after yielding.
  • Stop and wait for a steady green arrow: You may turn without waiting for a green arrow if it is safe.

Test yourself.

Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings: 5 questions →Traffic Signs and Signals: 5 questions →

Written by AI · Not yet reviewed by staff