Driver's License Test Prep
Pennsylvania Practice Traffic Lights

According to the manual, which statement about a vertical traffic light is correct?

  1. A.
    Yellow is at the top
  2. B.
    Red is at the top Correct
  3. C.
    Green is at the top
  4. D.
    Red is on the left
The Why

The answer is "Red is at the top"

The manual places red at the top of a vertical signal, with green at the bottom. Answer D takes the horizontal red-on-the-left rule and applies it to a signal the manual stacks top-to-bottom.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

A. Yellow is at the top

Yellow sits in the middle of a vertical signal, not the top. This answer slots yellow at the top on the assumption that the caution color must lead the stack as a warning to drivers.

C. Green is at the top

Green sits at the bottom of a vertical signal, not the top. This answer flips the top-to-bottom order because 'go' feels like it should sit up top where drivers look first.

D. Red is on the left

Red on the left is the horizontal-arrangement rule, not the vertical arrangement the question asks about. This answer takes the separate horizontal-arrangement rule and applies it to a vertical signal that stacks top-to-bottom.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Traffic Lights in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Driver Manual, "Signals," p.7..

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