What color must clearance lamps mounted on the rear or side near the rear of a vehicle be?

Clearance lamps that are mounted on the rear or side near the rear of a vehicle must be red. This color requirement is in place to ensure that other drivers can easily identify the rear of a vehicle, thus enhancing safety on the road. Red is universally associated with caution and stop signals, making it an appropriate choice for indicating the back of a vehicle.

Other colors such as yellow, green, and blue do not serve the same function in the context of vehicle lighting. Yellow is typically used for warning signals or lights on the front or sides, while green and blue have specific applications that do not pertain to clearance lamps, and their use would not effectively communicate the necessary information about a vehicle’s position on the road. The standardization of lamp colors helps maintain consistency and understanding among drivers, contributing to safer driving conditions.