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Traffic Control — New York Driver's License Practice Test

Traffic ControlQuestion 1 of 30

41 questions in this topic · 30 drawn at random this round

Which of the following is an authorized person who can direct traffic?

NY Driver's Manual

All questions are based on the official New York State Driver's Manual. Study the relevant section to reinforce your knowledge.

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This New York Driver's License Traffic Control practice set has 41 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation. You need 70% on the real New York Driver's License knowledge test to pass.

Topic overview

This chapter teaches the three ways traffic is controlled: signs, signals, and pavement markings. It groups signs by shape and color — regulation, warning, work area, destination, route, and service signs — so you can identify a sign's purpose at a glance, even before reading its text.

The most heavily tested material covers what each traffic light color and arrow means — including flashing red, flashing yellow, and lane-use control lights above the roadway — along with reading pavement markings such as edge lines, the different lane-line patterns, and stop or crosswalk lines. Questions also test the rule that a traffic officer's direction always overrides a sign, signal, or marking.

A common mistake is assuming right turns on red are always allowed — New York City restricts this unless a sign specifically permits it, and a red arrow never allows a turn regardless of location. Another is confusing lane-use control lights: a flashing yellow "X" means the lane is for turning only, while a steady yellow "X" means to move out of that lane, not to proceed with caution.

How can I tell a warning sign from a regulation sign just by looking at it?

Shape and color are the giveaway. Regulation signs are normally white rectangles with black or red lettering and tell you what you must or must not do; warning signs are normally yellow diamonds with black symbols and alert you to a hazard ahead — no need to read the text to know which category you're looking at.

If a traffic light is broken, what am I supposed to do?

Treat the intersection as if it had a stop sign: come to a full stop, then proceed according to the normal right-of-way rules, unless a traffic officer is present and directing traffic — their instructions always take priority.

What's the difference between a broken lane line and a solid one?

A broken line generally means you may pass or change lanes when it's safe to do so; a solid line on your side means you may not cross it except in limited situations like turning into a driveway. When a solid and broken line run together, only the driver on the broken-line side may pass.

Written from the official New York State Driver's Manual — Traffic Control ↗· Last checked: 2026-07-10· Reviewed by the PassPrep editorial team· How we verify →

Sample questions

Three questions from the Traffic Control bank with the correct answer and an explanation. The practice quiz above draws 30 questions at random from the same bank.

  1. What do regulation signs normally look like?

    • White rectangles with black (and sometimes red) letters or symbols — Correct answer
    • Yellow diamonds with black symbols
    • Green ovals with white letters
    • Orange octagons with white symbols

    Explanation: Regulation signs are normally white rectangles with black letters or symbols, though some also use red letters.

    Handbook: Traffic Control — Regulation Signs

  2. What is the normal color and shape of a warning sign?

    • Yellow and diamond-shaped with black letters or symbols — Correct answer
    • White and rectangular with black letters
    • Blue and square with white symbols
    • Red and round with white letters

    Explanation: Warning signs are normally yellow and diamond-shaped, with black letters or symbols, alerting you to a hazard or special rule ahead.

    Handbook: Traffic Control — Warning Signs

  3. What color are destination (guide) signs?

    • Green with white letters and symbols — Correct answer
    • Blue with white letters and symbols
    • Yellow with black letters and symbols
    • Orange with black letters and symbols

    Explanation: Destination and guide signs are green with white letters and symbols, showing the direction and distance to locations.

    Handbook: Traffic Control — Destination Signs