IMSA LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
◉ A cantilever structure would be found in a? Answer: A span wire
signal
◉ What supports the signal heads, signal, cabling, signs, detection
devices, and other fixtures on a span wire signal? Answer:
Messenger wire
◉ Per the MUTCD, what is the melting height of traffic signal over
the roadway? Answer: 15' to the bottom of the signal head and 25'-
6" to the top of the signal head
◉ Per the MUTCD, what horizontal distance must be maintained
from the face of the curb for side of post signal head mounted less
than 15 feet vertically Answer: 2 feet
◉ Per the MUTCD, what is the minimum horizontal mounting
distance of overhead signal heads? Answer: 8 feet
,◉ The efficiency of traffic signals is highly dependent on? Answer:
Vehicle detection
◉ Vehicle detection takes place primarily in what three areas?
Answer: Stock bar, advance, system detection
◉ What is a system detection used for? Answer: Used on the
departure side of intersection to collect traffic data
◉ All vehicle and pedestrian detection system accomplish one thing?
Answer: Send an into traffic controller
◉ Splash over and crosswalks are operational concerns with?
Answer: Loop detection
◉ What detection tech technologies are not affected by weather?
Answer: Loop detection and radar detection
◉ What is the dilemma zone? Answer: Area where a motorist must
decide whether to stop or run the light upon seeing the yellow
indication
,◉ What is the greatest cause of failure for loops? Answer:
Compromise, pavement, second is poor connection to homerun
cable.
◉ A video detection camera should never see? Answer: The sky
above the horizon
◉ What system is used to traffic management to detect the approach
of railroads and ambulances? Answer: Emergency vehicle
preemption
◉ Preemption operates in a hierarchy, what are the first two
priorities 1 and 2? Answer: Railroad and drawbridges
◉ Emergency vehicles have what number of priorities? Answer:
3,4,5,6
◉ What operates on the lower hierarchy 7-10? Answer: Public
transportation, buses, and light rail.
◉ What are four common types of EVP detectors? Answer: GPS,
radio frequency, acoustic and infrared
, ◉ If a damage ped button is not placing a call to the controller what
should you do? Answer: Place the ped on ped recall until repairs can
be made
◉ Ped button shall be located no greater than ______ from the side of
the ramp? Answer: 5 feet
◉ When calculating the ped clearance time how many feet per
second to you use? Answer: 3.5 ft/ sec.
◉ What does it mean when a pet sees a flashing don't walk signal?
Answer: Finish crossing the street if already in the crosswalk
◉ What does RRFB stand for? Answer: Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacon
◉ Where do you install RRFB's? Answer: Unsignalized ped crossing
or mid block crossing
◉ What does HAWK stand for? Answer: High-Intensity Activated
Crosswalk
◉ What type of signal is allowed to be dark if it is sitting in idle?
Answer: HAWK Signal
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
◉ A cantilever structure would be found in a? Answer: A span wire
signal
◉ What supports the signal heads, signal, cabling, signs, detection
devices, and other fixtures on a span wire signal? Answer:
Messenger wire
◉ Per the MUTCD, what is the melting height of traffic signal over
the roadway? Answer: 15' to the bottom of the signal head and 25'-
6" to the top of the signal head
◉ Per the MUTCD, what horizontal distance must be maintained
from the face of the curb for side of post signal head mounted less
than 15 feet vertically Answer: 2 feet
◉ Per the MUTCD, what is the minimum horizontal mounting
distance of overhead signal heads? Answer: 8 feet
,◉ The efficiency of traffic signals is highly dependent on? Answer:
Vehicle detection
◉ Vehicle detection takes place primarily in what three areas?
Answer: Stock bar, advance, system detection
◉ What is a system detection used for? Answer: Used on the
departure side of intersection to collect traffic data
◉ All vehicle and pedestrian detection system accomplish one thing?
Answer: Send an into traffic controller
◉ Splash over and crosswalks are operational concerns with?
Answer: Loop detection
◉ What detection tech technologies are not affected by weather?
Answer: Loop detection and radar detection
◉ What is the dilemma zone? Answer: Area where a motorist must
decide whether to stop or run the light upon seeing the yellow
indication
,◉ What is the greatest cause of failure for loops? Answer:
Compromise, pavement, second is poor connection to homerun
cable.
◉ A video detection camera should never see? Answer: The sky
above the horizon
◉ What system is used to traffic management to detect the approach
of railroads and ambulances? Answer: Emergency vehicle
preemption
◉ Preemption operates in a hierarchy, what are the first two
priorities 1 and 2? Answer: Railroad and drawbridges
◉ Emergency vehicles have what number of priorities? Answer:
3,4,5,6
◉ What operates on the lower hierarchy 7-10? Answer: Public
transportation, buses, and light rail.
◉ What are four common types of EVP detectors? Answer: GPS,
radio frequency, acoustic and infrared
, ◉ If a damage ped button is not placing a call to the controller what
should you do? Answer: Place the ped on ped recall until repairs can
be made
◉ Ped button shall be located no greater than ______ from the side of
the ramp? Answer: 5 feet
◉ When calculating the ped clearance time how many feet per
second to you use? Answer: 3.5 ft/ sec.
◉ What does it mean when a pet sees a flashing don't walk signal?
Answer: Finish crossing the street if already in the crosswalk
◉ What does RRFB stand for? Answer: Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacon
◉ Where do you install RRFB's? Answer: Unsignalized ped crossing
or mid block crossing
◉ What does HAWK stand for? Answer: High-Intensity Activated
Crosswalk
◉ What type of signal is allowed to be dark if it is sitting in idle?
Answer: HAWK Signal
