An enforcement officer directs your lane through an intersection while your traffic signal is red. Which instruction should you follow?
Correct answer: Follow the officer’s direction while watching for hazards.
The device-obedience rule expressly allows an enforcement officer to direct otherwise. Follow that direction attentively rather than substituting your own stop procedure.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1021(a), officer-direction exception; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
While you are driving on a public highway, an enforcement officer wearing identifying insignia signals you to stop. How should you respond?
Correct answer: Stop promptly and carefully.
The statute requires an operator to stop promptly and carefully when signaled by an enforcement officer wearing identifying insignia. A traffic light or repeated signal is not a prerequisite.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1012(b), prompt and careful stop; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
Your light changes to circular green while another vehicle is still lawfully crossing your intended path in the intersection. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield to the vehicle already lawfully in the intersection.
Circular green permits movement, but drivers must yield to vehicles lawfully within the intersection when the signal appears. Green does not authorize a conflicting entry.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(1)(A), circular green and lawful intersection users; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
The only signal permitting your lane to move is a green left arrow. You want to go straight. What does that arrow authorize?
Correct answer: The indicated left turn, not an otherwise unpermitted straight movement.
A green arrow permits cautious entry for the indicated movement or another movement allowed by a simultaneous signal. The left arrow alone does not permit going straight.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(1)(B), green-arrow movements; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
The circular green signal ahead changes to steady yellow. What is the yellow indication warning you about?
Correct answer: The related green movement is ending and a red signal follows.
Steady yellow warns that the related green signal is ending or that red will be shown immediately afterward. It does not create a new priority or authorize speeding up to enter.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(2)(A), steady yellow warning; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
You face a circular red light. A clearly marked stop line lies before the near-side crosswalk. Where must you stop?
Correct answer: At the marked stop line, before entering the crosswalk.
For circular red, the statute specifies the clearly marked stop line. Its crosswalk alternative applies when there is no marked line; it does not permit rolling past an existing one.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(3)(A), circular-red stopping position; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A steady red right arrow faces your lane, and there is no regulatory sign permitting a right turn on that arrow. May you turn after stopping if the way appears clear?
Correct answer: No. A right turn on that red arrow requires a regulatory sign permitting it.
Vermont’s displayed statute expressly prohibits a right turn facing a red arrow unless a regulatory sign permits the movement. Do not apply the ordinary circular-red exception to this unsigned red arrow.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(3)(B), final sentence, red-arrow qualification; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A right turn is otherwise lawful, you face circular red, and no sign prohibits turning on red. What must you do before completing the turn?
Correct answer: Make the required stop, then yield to lawful crosswalk and intersection users before turning cautiously.
The circular-red exception allows a cautious right turn after the required stop unless a sign prohibits it. The driver still yields to pedestrians lawfully in the adjacent crosswalk and traffic lawfully using the intersection.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(3)(A)–(B), after-stop turn and yielding; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
You face circular red on a one-way street and intend to turn left into another one-way street. The turn is otherwise lawful and no sign prohibits a turn on red. What does the displayed Vermont rule allow?
Correct answer: The left turn after the required stop and yielding to lawful intersection and crosswalk users.
The after-stop exception includes a left turn from a one-way street into a one-way street when no sign prohibits it. It does not create the same permission from a two-way approach.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(a)(3)(A)–(B), one-way-to-one-way left turn; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
An official signal between intersections requires you to stop. There is no sign or pavement marking showing a separate stopping point. Where does the signal rule direct you to stop?
Correct answer: At the signal.
Signals can apply away from intersections. When there is no sign or pavement marking indicating the stopping point, the statute directs the stop at the signal.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1022(b), nonintersection signal and unmarked stopping point; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
At an ordinary road intersection—not a railroad crossing or school-bus encounter—the signal flashes red. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop, then proceed subject to the rules that apply after a stop sign.
An ordinary flashing-red road signal requires a stop and then the rules for proceeding after a stop sign. Railroad and school-bus conduct is expressly governed separately.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1024(a)(1), (b)–(c), flashing red and exclusions; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A yellow signal flashes at an ordinary road intersection. Which response fits that indication?
Correct answer: Proceed only with caution, watching for conflicting movements.
A flashing-yellow road signal permits proceeding through the intersection or past the signal only with caution. It is not a promise that the path is clear.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1024(a)(2), flashing yellow; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A lane-direction signal over a lane displays red. The pavement ahead in that lane appears empty. May you enter it to continue driving?
Correct answer: No. Do not enter or travel in the lane controlled by red.
The overhead lane-control rule prohibits entering or traveling in a lane with a red indication. An empty-looking lane does not cancel that control.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1026, red lane-direction signal; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A driver extends the left hand and arm horizontally from the car. What intention does that signal communicate?
Correct answer: A left turn.
The horizontal hand-and-arm signal from the left side indicates a left turn. This question concerns its meaning, not whether a particular vehicle may omit required signal equipment.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1065(a)(1), left-turn hand signal; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A driver extends the hand and arm upward from the car’s left side. What should you expect?
Correct answer: A right turn.
The upward hand-and-arm signal from the left side indicates a right turn. It is not a passing invitation or a slowdown signal.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1065(a)(2), right-turn hand signal; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
A driver ahead extends the left hand and arm downward. What does that signal mean?
Correct answer: The driver intends to stop or decrease speed.
The downward hand-and-arm signal indicates a stop or decrease in speed. Be ready for the vehicle ahead to slow rather than interpreting it as permission to pass.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1065(a)(3), stop or decrease-speed hand signal; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
In an ordinary passenger-car right turn, with no special lane directions or obstruction, where should you approach and make the turn?
Correct answer: As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or roadway edge.
The ordinary rule places both the approach and right turn as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or roadway edge. This scenario does not involve a specially directed layout.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1061(1), right-turn approach and path; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
At an ordinary intersection, both roads carry two-way traffic. Where should you position your car as you approach to turn left?
Correct answer: In the part of your roadway’s right half nearest its centerline.
For this two-way layout, the left-turn approach is in the part of the right half nearest the centerline. The statute does not authorize moving into the opposing half before the turn.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1061(2), two-way left-turn approach; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
You make a normal left turn from a one-way street into another one-way street with several lanes and no special turn markings. Where should you finish the turn, as nearly as practicable?
Correct answer: In the left-hand lane lawfully available for traffic going your direction.
For a layout involving one-way traffic, the rule directs the left turn into the left-hand lane lawfully available in the direction of travel, as nearly as practicable. It is not permission to sweep across the destination lanes.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1061(3), left-turn destination lane on other than two-way roadways; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗
Near a hillcrest, your car cannot be seen from one approaching direction for 500 feet. May you turn around there to drive in the opposite direction?
Correct answer: No. The hillcrest visibility condition prohibits that turnaround.
A turn to proceed in the opposite direction is prohibited on a curve or near a grade crest when the car cannot be seen by an approaching driver from either direction for 500 feet. A missing sign does not remove that condition.
Source: 23 V.S.A. §1062, curve or grade-crest visibility prohibition; Vermont General Assembly HTML, Title 23 Chapter 013, read October 1, 2026. Publisher states compilation includes the 2025 session and is an unofficial copy of Vermont Statutes Annotated; not all 2026 amendments independently verified. Selected road-law foundation, not a complete DMV handbook. ↗