Massachusetts Traffic Signals practice test

Practice lights, arrows and pedestrian signals, with questions based on the Massachusetts Driver's Manual.

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Sample Traffic Signals questions

The top two lights of a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon are solid red. What must you do?

Stop for pedestrians
Turn right without stopping
Slow to 10 mph
Proceed if you were already moving

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Stop for pedestrians

Solid red on top means stop, because pedestrians are crossing.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon, p. 82

A green bicycle box at a red light is empty. Where must you stop?

Inside the box
At the far edge of the box
Behind the box
Anywhere, since no one is using it

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Behind the box

Drivers stop behind a bicycle box even when it is empty, and wait for the green light.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Bicycle Boxes, p. 116

The top two red lights of a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon begin to flash. What should you do?

Stop, then proceed with caution if clear
Back up behind the stop line
Stay stopped until they go dark
Slow down without stopping

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Stop, then proceed with caution if clear

Flashing reds work like a stop sign, so you stop first and then go carefully if clear.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon, p. 82

A crosswalk's rectangular beacon has amber lights flashing in an irregular pattern. What must you do?

Proceed; it is for trains
Stop for pedestrians
Speed up to clear the crosswalk
Yield only to bicycles

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Stop for pedestrians

Pedestrians activate these beacons, and you must stop while the beacon flashes.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon, p. 82

When may you turn on a flashing yellow arrow?

When there is a gap and your path is clear
Never, it means stop until green
Only after honking your horn
At any time, as oncoming traffic is stopped

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When there is a gap and your path is clear

Oncoming traffic has a green light, so choose an adequate gap and check for pedestrians.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Flashing Yellow Arrow, p. 81

A pedestrian is still in the crosswalk when the countdown timer reaches zero. Who has the right-of-way?

The first vehicle to move
Neither, so all must stop and honk
The pedestrian
You, if your light is green

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The pedestrian

People already in the crosswalk at zero keep the right-of-way.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Pedestrian Signals, p. 82

All lights of a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon are dark. What may you do?

Stop as at a stop sign
Proceed with caution
Stop until the bottom light flashes
Wait for someone to press the button

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Proceed with caution

The beacon only operates when a pedestrian activates it, so dark means proceed with caution.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon, p. 82

Railroad crossing lights begin to flash. How far from the light post or gate must you stop?

At least 50 feet
At least 100 feet
At least 15 feet
At least 5 feet

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At least 15 feet

Stay stopped until the gate rises and the lights stop, even if no train is visible.

Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), Chapter 4, Railroad Crossings, p. 87

You approach a signal flashing red. What should you do?

Stop, then continue when it is safe
Wait until the light turns solid green
Slow down and continue without stopping

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Stop, then continue when it is safe

A flashing red works like a stop sign. You must stop first, but you do not need to wait for a green light.

Source: California Driver's Handbook, Section 7, Laws and Rules of the Road; Texas Driver Handbook, Chapter 5, Traffic Signals, p. 25; Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Chapter 6, Traffic Controls: Flashing Red Light (p. 52); New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, Traffic Control; Illinois Rules of the Road, Chapter 10, Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings: Flashing Lights (p. 77); Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 2, Signals: Flashing Signals; Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Ohio Revised Code 4511.13; Georgia Drivers' Manual, Section 7: Signs, Signals & Markings, Traffic Signals and Signs; North Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Signals (pp. 80-82); What Every Driver Must Know (SOS-133), Chapter 5, Traffic signals, pp. 49-50; New Jersey Driver Manual, Chapter 11, Traffic Signals, p. 212-213; Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), Section 2: Traffic Signals (pp. 5-6); Washington Driver Guide, Chapter 4, 4.11 Traffic light signals: Flashing Red; Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, p. 81; Maryland Driver's Manual, Section 4.A, p. 18; Missouri Driver Guide, Chapter 7, Traffic Signals, PDF p. 46; Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook 2026, Section 5.A Traffic Signals, p. 32; Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Section 3, Roadway and Vehicle Knowledge: Flashing Red Light (p. 35); Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section B, Chapter 3, Traffic Signs and Signals: Protected Arrows, Flashing Red (p. 41); Section B, Chapter 4, Rules of the Road: Stops Required by Law (p. 50); Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, Stopping, p. 41; Chapter 5, Traffic-control signals, p. 66; Alabama Driver Manual, Chapter 6, Traffic Laws, Stopping, PDF p. 63; Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Traffic Signals, PDF p. 39; Kentucky Driver Manual, Section Six, Flashing Lights, PDF p. 43; South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 6, Rules of the Road, Traffic Signals, pp. 6-3-6-4 (PDF pp. 62-63); Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Traffic Signals, Flashing red light, printed p. 7 (PDF p. 10); Oregon Driver Manual 2026-2027, Signs & Traffic Signals, Traffic Signals, p. 15 (PDF p. 23); Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 4, Traffic Signals, p. 26; Connecticut Driver's Manual, Chapter 5, Know the Road, Flashing Lights, p. 45; MDPS Driver's License Manual, PDF p. 39; Kansas Driving Handbook, Section 6, Traffic Signals, PDF p. 35; New Mexico Driver Manual, Traffic Signals, PDF p. 7; Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026), Section Four, Flashing Red Light, PDF p. 70; Montana Driver Manual (Form 25-0100, revised April 2024), Chapter 3, Vehicle Signals, PDF p. 40; South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Rules of the Road, Traffic Signals, PDF p. 32

A police officer directing traffic waves you through a red light. What should you do?

Follow the officer's direction
Stop and ask the officer to repeat it
Wait until the light turns green

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Follow the officer's direction

An officer's direction takes priority over signs, signals and other traffic rules.

Source: California Driver's Handbook, Section 7, Laws and Rules of the Road (continued); Texas Driver Handbook, Chapter 5, Traffic Signals, p. 25; Official Florida Driver License Handbook, s. 316.072, Florida Statutes; New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, Traffic Control; Illinois Rules of the Road, Chapter 10, Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings: introduction (p. 77); Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.), Section 3111; Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Ohio Revised Code 4511.12; Georgia Drivers' Manual, Section 5: Traffic Laws, 3 Most Basic Traffic Laws; North Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Officers (p. 88); What Every Driver Must Know (SOS-133), Chapter 7, In conclusion, p. 67; New Jersey Driver Manual, Chapter 11, Driver Safety, p. 211; Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), Section 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings (p. 5); Washington Driver Guide, Chapter 4, 4.10 Traffic laws: Traffic control devices; Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, p. 87; Maryland Driver's Manual, Section 4, p. 17; Missouri Driver Guide, Chapter 7, Traffic Officers, PDF p. 45; Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook 2026, Section 5.A Traffic Signals, p. 32; Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Section 3, Roadway and Vehicle Knowledge: Signal Lights (p. 34); Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section B, Chapter 3, Traffic Signs and Signals: Traffic Signs (p. 35); Section B, Chapter 4, Rules of the Road: Obeying Officers (p. 45); Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 5, Traffic officers, p. 71; Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 3, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, Signs, Traffic Lights, and Pavement Markings, PDF p. 27; Chapter 6, Traffic Laws and Regulations, Police Officers, PDF p. 91; Kentucky Driver Manual, Section Six, Traffic Control Devices, PDF p. 42; South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 5, § 56-5-740; Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Traffic Controls, printed p. 7 (PDF p. 10); Oregon Driver Manual 2026-2027, Signs & Traffic Signals, p. 7 (PDF p. 15); Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 4, Traffic Signals, p. 26; Connecticut Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, Road Safety, Right-of-Way, p. 36; NRS 484B.300, NRS 484B.300(1); Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 2, 2.9 Traffic Signals, p. 11; MDPS Driver's License Manual, Traffic Officers, PDF p. 40; Kansas Driving Handbook, Section 6, Traffic Control Devices, PDF p. 34; Idaho Driver's Handbook, Signs, Signals, & Pavement Markings, PDF p. 44; New Mexico Driver Manual, Traffic Control Devices, PDF p. 6; West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter VI, Right-of-Way, PDF p. 59; Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026), Section Four, General Laws, PDF p. 83; Montana Driver Manual (Form 25-0100, revised April 2024), Chapter 4, Laws and Regulations Keep You Safe, PDF p. 47; SDCL 32-28-10, SDCL 32-28-10

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About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026 (cover letter), English PDF, text read in the built-in browser on 2026-11-08 because mass.gov refuses plain downloads; page numbers in sections are the manual's printed numbers (PDF page = printed page + 8) edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.

DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.