WA theory test speed limits practice questions

Question 1

You are driving in a built up area in Western Australia and there are no speed limit signs. What is the speed limit?

• 50 km/hCorrect answer
• 60 km/h
• 70 km/h
• 40 km/h

The default limit in a built up area in WA is 50 km/h. A built up area is one with street lighting or buildings at intervals along the road.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Speed limits

Question 2

You are on a country road in Western Australia outside a built up area and there are no speed limit signs. What is the speed limit?

• 110 km/hCorrect answer
• 100 km/h
• 90 km/h
• 130 km/h

Where no sign applies outside a built up area in WA, the default limit is 110 km/h. It is still a maximum, not a target, and gravel or wet surfaces call for much less.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Speed limits

Question 3

What is the speed limit in a Western Australian school zone during the signposted times on school days?

• 40 km/hCorrect answer
• 50 km/h
• 25 km/h
• 60 km/h

School zones in WA are 40 km/h during the times shown on the signs on school days. Children move unpredictably near schools, so the lower limit shortens your stopping distance.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), School zones

Question 4

You are approaching a stationary police car, ambulance or tow truck displaying flashing lights on the roadside. What must you do?

• Slow to 40 km/h, pass with care and do not speed up until well clearCorrect answer
• Maintain the posted speed limit and move over slightly
• Stop completely until the vehicle moves off
• Sound your horn as a warning and continue

People working beside a stopped emergency vehicle have no protection from passing traffic. The 40 km/h rule gives them room and gives you time to react.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Emergency vehicles

Question 5

The posted speed limit on a road is 80 km/h. Heavy rain is falling and visibility is poor. What speed should you drive at?

• A speed well below 80 km/h that suits the conditionsCorrect answer
• Exactly 80 km/h, because that is the legal limit
• 80 km/h unless a warning sign says otherwise
• Whatever speed the traffic around you is doing

The posted limit applies to good conditions. Driving too fast for the conditions is an offence even when you are under the sign.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Speed limits

Question 6

How does higher speed affect the distance you need to stop?

• The higher your speed, the greater the distance needed to stopCorrect answer
• Speed has no effect if your brakes are in good condition
• Stopping distance is the same at any speed with modern tyres
• Higher speed shortens stopping distance because the brakes work harder

Stopping distance is your reaction distance plus your braking distance, and both grow with speed. Small increases in speed add a surprising amount of distance.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Stopping distances

Question 7

You are driving in a shared zone marked with a shared zone sign. What is expected of you?

• Drive at the low posted limit and give way to pedestrians in the zoneCorrect answer
• Drive at the normal built up area limit and sound your horn
• Pedestrians must keep off the roadway at all times
• Cyclists must dismount and walk

In a shared zone people on foot share the roadway with vehicles. You keep to the posted limit shown on the sign and give way to pedestrians.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Shared zones

Question 8

You pass a sign showing 60. Where does that limit start and end?

• It applies for the next kilometre only
• It applies only as far as the next intersection
• It starts at the sign and stays in force until another speed sign changes itCorrect answer
• It applies during daylight hours only

Speed limit signs apply from the sign onwards. Watch for repeater signs and for the sign that returns you to a different limit.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Speed limits

Question 9

What does a yellow sign with a black number beside a curve warning symbol mean?

• It is a legal speed limit that applies through the curve
• It is the minimum speed you must hold through the curve
• It shows the distance in metres to the curve
• It is the recommended safe speed for that curve in good conditionsCorrect answer

Advisory speed signs on a yellow background suggest a safe speed rather than set a legal limit. In rain or on a loaded vehicle you may need less again.

Rule cited: Drive Safe handbook (WA Department of Transport), Signs and signals