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BC Class 6 / 8 Motorcycle overview

BC Class 6 / 8 Motorcycle: Traffic lights, lane signals and road markings

Steady, flashing and arrow traffic lights, the transit priority signal, lane control signals, and yellow, white, reserved lane and other pavement markings.

  • 19 questions
  • Topic drill
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Traffic lights, lane signals and road markings · Question 1Score 0/0

The traffic lights at an intersection are all dark. How should you treat the intersection?

Study reference: Learn to Ride Smart (ICBC, March 2026 edition), Ch. 4 Signs, signals and road markings — Lane control signals, traffic lights, yellow lines, white lines, reserved lane markings, other markings, pp. 42–46

All 19 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. The traffic lights at an intersection are all dark. How should you treat the intersection?

    1. As an uncontrolled intersection
    2. As a yield for traffic on the right only
    3. As a four-way stop
    4. As if your road has the right-of-way

  2. What must you do at a flashing red light?

    1. Stop fully, then go when it is safe
    2. Wait for the light to turn green
    3. Yield only to vehicles on your right
    4. Slow down and go with caution

  3. Why should you avoid riding over freshly painted road markings?

    1. It is allowed only on rural highways
    2. It is illegal and the wet paint is slippery
    3. It voids your motorcycle's insurance
    4. It damages the road's new surface

  4. What does this sign mean?

    A white rectangle with two curved arrows pointing opposite ways and the word ONLY
    1. Two-way traffic begins at the next block
    2. Traffic must merge into one lane
    3. Both lanes ahead must turn left
    4. A shared centre lane for left turns

  5. You see a flashing green arrow pointing left together with a steady red light. What may you do?

    1. Go straight; left turns must wait for green
    2. Nothing until the red turns green
    3. Turn right only after stopping
    4. Turn left; through traffic must stop

  6. What does a flashing yellow light mean?

    1. Slow down and go with caution
    2. Only turning traffic may go
    3. Stop and wait for a green light
    4. The light is about to turn red

  7. What does a yellow line on your left tell you?

    1. Traffic beyond it is coming toward you
    2. The road is a one-way street
    3. Traffic beyond it is going the same way you are
    4. The lane is for turning only

  8. What does a steady white rectangle on a transit priority signal mean?

    1. All traffic may turn right
    2. Motorcycles may go before cars
    3. Only buses may go
    4. Pedestrians may cross diagonally

  9. What does a solid white line between lanes going the same way mean?

    1. Passing is allowed with care
    2. The lane ends ahead
    3. Do not change lanes
    4. Change lanes when safe

  10. A lane control signal over your lane shows a flashing yellow X. What should you do?

    1. Continue in the lane but slow to 40 km/h
    2. Move out of the lane into one with a green arrow
    3. Use the lane only if you are turning left
    4. Stop under the signal and wait for green

  11. There is a broken yellow line and a solid yellow line side by side. When may you pass?

    1. Only at night with your headlight on
    2. Whenever the solid line is on your side
    3. When safe and the broken line is on your side
    4. Never, from either direction of travel

  12. What does a steady green straight-ahead arrow mean?

    1. Go straight after a full stop
    2. Go straight only; no turns
    3. Yield to oncoming traffic
    4. Turn left or right only

  13. The centre line is a double solid yellow line. What does it mean?

    1. No passing
    2. Pass only on motorcycles
    3. The lane is reversible
    4. Pass with extra caution

  14. An overhead lane control signal shows a red X. What does it mean?

    1. The lane ends in 1 km
    2. The lane is for buses only
    3. You may use the lane to pass
    4. Do not ride in that lane

  15. Double broken yellow lines mark a lane. What kind of lane is it?

    1. A reversible lane controlled by lane signals
    2. A passing lane for slow-moving vehicles
    3. A bus-only lane during the rush hours
    4. A two-way left-turn lane for both sides

  16. What does a yellow left-turn arrow mean?

    1. Oncoming traffic must now stop and let you go first
    2. Turn left only after a full stop
    3. You may still turn left freely
    4. The arrow is about to end; stop if you can

  17. In B.C., what does a flashing green light usually mean?

    1. Pedestrians must wait to cross
    2. You have a protected left turn
    3. The light will stay green for one minute
    4. The light is pedestrian-controlled; go if clear

  18. What should you do at a painted island?

    1. Use it as a left-turn waiting area
    2. Ride over it if the lane is blocked
    3. Keep to its right; don't ride on or over it
    4. Park on it for a short stop

  19. What does a steady yellow light mean?

    1. Speed up to clear the intersection
    2. Go on if no pedestrians are crossing
    3. Stop only if you are turning left
    4. Stop unless you can't stop safely

Traffic lights, lane signals and road markings: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Lane control signals

  • Lane control signals hang over lanes and show which lanes are open.
  • A green arrow means you may ride in the lane; a red X means do not ride in it.
  • A flashing yellow X means move out of the lane and into one with a green arrow.
  • If the signals over every lane are flashing yellow, slow down and go with caution.

Traffic lights

  • In general, red means stop, yellow means caution and green means go; flashing lights and arrows change the meaning.
  • In some places green arrows flash and in others they do not.
  • Steady red: stop; after a full stop you may turn right, or turn left onto a one-way street, unless a sign forbids it.
  • Steady yellow: slow down and stop before the intersection unless you cannot stop safely in time.
  • Steady green: go only if the intersection is clear.
  • Flashing red: stop, then go only when it is safe.
  • Flashing yellow: slow down and go with caution.
  • Flashing green: a pedestrian-controlled light; go only if the intersection is clear.
  • Green arrow: turn the way the arrow points.
  • Green straight-ahead arrow: no turns; go straight through only.
  • Flashing green arrow with a steady green light: you may turn the way of the arrow or go straight.
  • Flashing green arrow with a steady red light: left turns allowed; through traffic must stop for the red.
  • Yellow arrow: the advance left-turn signal is about to change; slow down and stop unless you cannot stop safely.
  • Transit priority signal: a steady white rectangle; only buses may go on it.
  • If traffic lights fail (dark or all flashing), treat the intersection as a four-way stop (p. 49).

Road markings

  • Road markings warn or direct you; they are painted on the road, curbs or other surfaces.
  • It is illegal to ride over freshly painted, wet pavement markings.

Yellow lines

  • Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions; with a yellow line on your left, traffic on the other side is coming toward you.
  • Broken yellow line: passing is allowed when it is safe.
  • Broken line beside a solid line: you may pass only when it is safe and the broken line is on your side.
  • Double solid yellow line: no passing.
  • Single solid yellow line: passing is allowed but with extra caution (p. 60 calls passing over it risky).
  • Double broken yellow lines: a reversible lane; lane control signals show whether you may use it.
  • Two-way left-turn lane: shared by traffic from both directions for left turns; the markings can also be drawn with the solid lines inside the broken ones.

White lines

  • White lines separate lanes going the same way; they also mark crosswalks, stopping positions and the right shoulder of highways.
  • Solid white line: do not change lanes.
  • Broken white line: you may change lanes when it is safe.
  • Stop line: stop before the line.
  • Crosswalk lines: stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.
  • Some pedestrian-activated crosswalks have lights in the pavement; stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Reserved lane and other markings

  • HOV lanes are marked with thick solid or broken lines and white diamonds.
  • Reserved lane markings: extra signs or markings say which vehicles may use the lane.
  • Bicycle lane: for cyclists only; marked with a bicycle outline and sometimes a diamond; cyclists ride the same direction as the traffic beside them.
  • Arrow markings in a lane: e.g., vehicles in this lane must turn left, or must go straight or turn left.
  • Painted island: keep to the right of it and do not ride on or over it.

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