20 questions from the North Carolina Driver's Handbook. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What condition must a motor home meet for passengers other than the driver and front seat passengers to be exempt from wearing seat belts?
Answer: It must have at least four specific facilities. The exemption applies only if the motor home is equipped with at least four of the listed facilities, such as cooking or heating.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 45: “Any occupant of a motor home other than the driver and front seat passengers, provided the motor home has at least four of the following facilities: cooking, refrigeration or icebox, self-contained toilet, heating or airconditioning, portable water supply system with a faucet and sink, separate 110-115-volt electrical power supply or an LP gas supply.”
2. What is the minimum amount of behind-the-wheel instruction required in an approved driver education course before applying for a Level One Limited Learner Permit?
Answer: Six hours. The handbook specifies that the driver education course must include at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 14: “You must present a certificate showing you have passed an approved driver education course consisting of at least 30 hours classroom instruction and six hours behind-the wheel instruction that meets North Carolina requirements before you can take the test for a learner permit.”
3. What is the correct procedure if your vehicle stalls on or near railroad tracks?
Answer: Get out immediately and move away from the tracks. The handbook states that because trains take a long distance to stop, drivers must exit the vehicle immediately and move to a safe location away from the tracks.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 64: “If your vehicle stalls on or near the tracks GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.”
4. Under what condition may a driver or passenger with a concealed weapon permit inform the officer about the weapon?
Answer: If they have a concealed weapon permit and a weapon is in the vehicle. The rule states that individuals with a concealed weapon permit must inform the officer if a weapon is present in the vehicle.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 52: “If you or your passenger(s) have a concealed weapon permit and a weapon is in the vehicle, you or your passenger(s) must inform the officer of that fact.”
5. How does a traffic officer typically signal drivers to stop?
Answer: By holding up one hand with the palm facing the vehicle and giving a long blast on the whistle. The handbook specifies that a stop signal involves holding up one hand with the palm facing the vehicle accompanied by a long whistle blast.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 90: “Most traffic officers signal drivers to stop by holding up one hand with the palm facing the vehicle and giving a long blast on the whistle.”
6. When approaching a four-lane roadway without a median separation and a school bus stops for passengers, what must drivers in both directions do?
Answer: All traffic from both directions must stop. The handbook states that on a roadway without a median, all traffic from both directions is required to stop when a school bus stops.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 50: “Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.”
7. How does the handbook advise drivers to adjust their visual scanning as their speed increases?
Answer: Look farther ahead. The handbook provides a direct tip that drivers should increase their forward viewing distance as their speed goes up.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 66: “As your speed increases, look farther ahead.”
8. What is the correct procedure if a driver does not understand an instruction given by the officer?
Answer: Calmly inform the officer and ask them to repeat or explain. Drivers are instructed to calmly communicate their lack of understanding and request clarification from the officer.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 52: “If you do not understand an instruction, calmly inform the officer that you do not understand the instruction and ask them to repeat or explain their instruction.”
9. When two facing vehicles approach an intersection at the same time and one intends to turn left while the other goes straight, who has the right of way?
Answer: The driver traveling straight ahead. The handbook states that the driver proceeding straight has priority over the driver making a left turn.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 59: “Therefore, in this case, the driver who is traveling straight ahead has the right of way.”
10. How should a driver position their arm and hand to signal a right turn using hand signals?
Answer: Hold the arm straight out and the forearm and hand straight up, palm facing forward. The handbook specifies that a right turn is signaled by extending the arm straight out and raising the forearm and hand vertically with the palm facing forward.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 71: “To signal a right turn, hold the arm straight out and the forearm and hand straight up, palm facing forward.”
11. Which group is prohibited from using a cell phone while operating a vehicle on a public street or highway?
Answer: Drivers less than 18 years of age. The handbook specifies that drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to use cell phones while driving, with specific exceptions for emergencies.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 43: “Drivers less than 18 years of age are not permitted to use a cell phone or any additional technology associated with a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle on a public street or highway or public vehicular area while the vehicle is in motion.”
12. When driving in fog and experiencing extreme trouble seeing, from which side should a driver exit the vehicle after stopping?
Answer: The passenger side. The handbook specifically instructs drivers to leave the vehicle from the passenger side to ensure safety when stopped due to poor visibility.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 75: “Leave the vehicle from the passenger side and stay away from the road.”
13. What is the minimum duration a driver must hold a Level Two Limited Provisional License before applying for a Full Provisional License?
Answer: Six months. The handbook clearly specifies a mandatory holding period of at least six months for the Level Two license before upgrading.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 15: “You must hold this license at least six months prior to applying for a Full Provisional License.”
14. Which age group requires proper securing in a child passenger restraint system or seat belt meeting federal standards?
Answer: Passengers younger than 16 years of age. The rule applies to all passengers younger than 16 years of age.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 46: “Every driver transporting one or more passengers younger than 16 years of age must make sure that each passenger under age 16 is properly secured in a child passenger restraint system or a seat belt which meets the federal safety standards that were in effect at the time it was manufactured.”
15. What action is required when a ramp meter signal is displaying a circular red light?
Answer: Stop and wait for the green light. The handbook states that a circular red display requires vehicles to stop, distinguishing it from the green or dark states.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 84: “When a ramp meter is displaying a circular red display, vehicles facing the red light must stop.”
16. According to the handbook, what is the correct procedure for moving vehicles after a crash on a highway if there are no injuries or fatalities?
Answer: Move each vehicle out of the travel lane onto the shoulder if it can be driven safely. The handbook states that vehicles should be moved to the shoulder to clear the travel lane when there are no injuries and the vehicles are drivable.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 80: “If the crash occurred on a main lane, ramp, shoulder, median or adjacent area of the highway and there are no injuries or fatalities, each vehicle should be moved out of the travel lane onto the shoulder of the road provided it can be driven safely under its own power and without causing further damage to the vehicle, other traffic or the roadway.”
17. Who is eligible to serve as a supervising driver for a Level Two Limited Provisional License holder?
Answer: A parent, grandparent, guardian, or a responsible person approved by the parent or guardian. The handbook defines eligible supervising drivers as parents, grandparents, guardians, or approved responsible persons, distinguishing them from general passengers or friends.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 15: “A supervising driver must be a parent, grandparent or guardian of the permit/license holder, or a responsible person approved by the parent or guardian.”
18. How far around a roundabout must a driver travel to make a U-turn?
Answer: Full circle. The handbook lists specific distances for exits, stating that a full circle is required to execute a U-turn.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 61: “Full circle to make a U-turn”
19. On which type of highway is passing restricted to the center lane only?
Answer: Three-lane highways. The handbook specifies that on three-lane highways, passing is permitted only in the center lane when marked for passing.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 57: “On three-lane highways, you must not pass except in the center lane, and then only where the center lane is marked for passing in your direction.”
20. What is the required load strength for each seat belt used to secure a child in an open bed of a pick-up truck under the listed exemptions?
Answer: Not less than 5,000 pounds. The exemption for securing children in open beds requires seat belts that support a load strength of not less than 5,000 pounds.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 48: “If the child is secured or restrained by a seat belt manufactured in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, installed to support a load strength of not less than 5,000 pounds for each belt, and of a type approved by the Commissioner;”