Traffic signals — Vermont Permit Test

Traffic signals control the right of way and keep traffic flowing smoothly. If a signal light is dark, as in a power failure, stop as if there are stop signs in all directions.

A dark signal tells nobody anything, so every driver has to behave as though the intersection were unsignalled.

If a signal light is dark, as in a power failure, stop as if there are stop signs in all directions.

When a traffic signal is out of order and flashing yellow or red, you must obey that signal.

A flashing signal is still a working instruction, and it is the one the intersection is being run on.

When a traffic signal is out of order and flashes yellow or red, you must obey that signal.

At a red light, stop before reaching either the stop line or the crosswalk, whichever comes first, and wait until the light is green.

Stopping past the line puts your hood in the crosswalk, where somebody is about to be walking.

Stop before reaching either the stop line or the crosswalk, whichever comes first, and wait until the light is green

A green arrow signal may come on while the red light is still displayed, and you may proceed in the direction of the green arrow.

The arrow is giving your movement its own clear phase, which is why the rest of the intersection is still held.

Green arrow signals may come on while the red light is displayed, you may proceed in the direction of the green arrow

Right turns at circular red lights are usually allowed, but only after the driver has stopped completely, scanned the intersection and yielded to pedestrians and other vehicles.

The turn is a favor the law does you, and it is conditional on a real stop and a real look.

only after the driver has stopped completely, scanned the intersection and yielded the right of way to pedestrians and other vehicles

A police officer may direct you through a red light, and you should follow the officer's directions with caution.

An officer can see what the signal cannot, which is why their instruction outranks the light.

A police officer may direct you through a red light. You should follow the officer’s directions, with caution.

A yellow light warns that the light is about to turn red. If you are too close to the intersection to stop safely, proceed with caution through it.

A hard stop on yellow invites the car behind into your trunk, so the rule looks at whether a safe stop is still possible.

If you are too close to the intersection to stop safely, proceed with caution through the intersection.

You may proceed on a green light if it is safe to do so, but a driver turning left must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles.

Green gives you the intersection, not the oncoming lane, and the left turn crosses that lane.

But, if you are turning left you must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles.

What should a driver do at a signal that has gone dark?

Stop as if there were stop signs in all directions. A dark signal tells nobody anything, so every driver has to behave as though the intersection were unsignalled. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.31: “If a signal light is dark, as in a power failure, stop as if there are stop signs in all directions.”