California Car / Permit practice question · Signals & Pavement Markings
You approach an intersection where the traffic signals are completely dark and not working. You should:
Answer choices
- Treat it as an all-way (four-way) stop— Correct answer
- Drive through without slowing down
- Treat it as though you have a green light
- Stop and wait until the lights come back on
Why this is the answer
When a traffic signal is not working, stop as if the intersection had STOP signs in all directions. Then go cautiously when it is safe, taking turns using the normal right-of-way rules. Driving through without slowing, or treating it as a green light, risks a crash, so a dark signal is not a green light.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Traffic Signal Lights
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Signals & Pavement Markings questions
- A center lane bordered by a solid yellow line on the outside and a broken yellow line on the inside is meant to be used for:
- A broken (dashed) yellow center line means:
- A steady yellow traffic light means:
- Two solid yellow lines painted down the center of a road mean:
- A solid yellow line on your side of the center of a two-way road means: