Vermont permit test: traffic lights
Steady and flashing traffic lights and arrows. 13 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.
Rules to remember10 key traffic lights rulesShow the rules
- If a signal is dark, as in a power failure, stop as if there were stop signs in all directions. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- A police officer may direct you through a red light. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- Right on red is usually allowed, but only after a complete stop, scanning the intersection and yielding to pedestrians and other vehicles. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- A yellow light warns that red is coming. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- For an emergency vehicle with flashing lights or a siren from any direction, pull over to the right and stop until it has passed. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- Near a stopped police or emergency vehicle, slow down; on a four-lane highway you must also change lanes if you can do so safely. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- On a green light, drivers turning left must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles. (p. 32, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- A solid red arrow means stop and wait; do not enter the intersection to turn while it is shown. (p. 33, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- A flashing yellow arrow lets you turn left after yielding to all oncoming traffic, which has a green light, and to pedestrians in the crosswalk. (p. 33, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
- At a flashing yellow, slow down, scan the intersection, yield to oncoming vehicles before turning left, and go with caution. (p. 33, Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) (opens the handbook))
Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.
Sample traffic lights questions
1.What should you do at a flashing red traffic light?
- AStop, then go after yielding
- BStop and wait for green
- CSpeed up through the intersection
- DSlow down and go with caution
Show the answer
✓ A. Stop, then go after yielding
A flashing red light works like a stop sign: stop, then go after yielding to pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles.
2.The left-turn arrow is solid red. What must drivers turning left do?
- ATurn after yielding to traffic
- BTurn if no cars are coming
- CStop and wait
- DTurn only after a full stop
Show the answer
✓ C. Stop and wait
A solid red arrow means stop and wait; do not enter the intersection to turn while it is shown.
3.The left-turn arrow turns solid yellow. What does it mean?
- AThe arrow is about to turn red
- BOncoming traffic must stop for you
- CYield, then turn at any time
- DTurn now; you have the right of way
Show the answer
✓ A. The arrow is about to turn red
A solid yellow arrow means the left-turn signal is about to change to red; prepare to stop or finish the turn if already legally in the intersection.
4.What does a solid green arrow for left turns mean?
- AOnly buses may turn left
- BLeft turns have the right of way
- CThe arrow will turn red at once
- DYield to oncoming cars before turning
Show the answer
✓ B. Left turns have the right of way
With a solid green arrow, your left turn has the right of way because oncoming traffic has a red light.