20 questions from the North Carolina Driver's Handbook. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What action should a driver take if an approaching vehicle does not dim its headlights?
Answer: Blink your high beams once to remind the driver. The handbook advises blinking high beams once as a method to remind oncoming drivers to dim their lights.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 73: “When an approaching vehicle does not dim its headlights, you can remind the driver by blinking your high beams once;”
2. Which color combination is reserved strictly to identify highway work zones?
Answer: Black letters on orange signs. The handbook specifies that orange signs with black letters are exclusively reserved for identifying work zones.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 72: “The orange signs with messages in black letters are reserved strictly to identify work zones.”
3. What action should you take when being passed by another vehicle if the passing driver blows their horn?
Answer: Move to the right edge of the road. The handbook instructs drivers to move to the right edge of the road when signaled by a horn from a passing vehicle to facilitate the pass.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 57: “If the driver of the passing vehicle blows the horn, move to the right edge of the road.”
4. If a court finds that a longer period of revocation is appropriate than the standard listed, what is the minimum revocation period the division must impose?
Answer: Two years. The note at the end of the list specifies that if a longer period is deemed appropriate, the revocation must be for two years.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 39: “NOTE: If the court makes a finding that a longer period of revocation is appropriate, the division must revoke for two years.”
5. When special pedestrian signals are operating at an intersection, which signal must pedestrians obey?
Answer: The special pedestrian signals rather than regular traffic signals. The handbook states that when special 'Walk' or 'Don't Walk' signals are active, they take precedence over regular traffic signals for pedestrians.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 49: “When these signals are operating, pedestrians must obey them rather than regular traffic signals.”
6. Under what circumstance is a fourth DWI conviction considered a felony?
Answer: If the three prior DWI convictions occurred within the past seven years. The handbook defines the felony status of a fourth conviction based on the timing of the previous three convictions within a seven-year window.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 34: “The fourth conviction is considered a felony if the three prior DWI convictions occurred within the past seven years.”
7. Why do heavy trucks require additional stopping distance when traveling downhill?
Answer: Truck brakes create heat when the truck is traveling downhill. The handbook states that heat generated by brakes during downhill travel necessitates extra stopping distance for large trucks.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 93: “Truck brakes create heat when the truck is traveling downhill. This condition requires additional stopping distance for the truck.”
8. When entering an interstate highway, what is the correct procedure for using the acceleration lane?
Answer: Use the acceleration lane until your vehicle’s speed matches that of the other traffic and then merge safely. The handbook states that drivers must match the speed of existing traffic in the acceleration lane before merging safely.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 66: “When entering the interstate, use the acceleration lane until your vehicle’s speed matches that of the other traffic and then merge safely;”
9. When a school bus stops to receive or discharge passengers, when is another driver allowed to pass the bus?
Answer: Once the mechanical stop signal is withdrawn, lights are off, and the bus starts moving. Drivers must wait until the stop signal is withdrawn, lights are off, and the bus begins moving before attempting to pass.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 49: “the driver of any other vehicle approaching the school bus must stop and not attempt to pass the school bus until the mechanical stop signal is withdrawn, the flashing red lights are turned off and the bus has started to move.”
10. How does alcohol affect a driver's ability to judge distance?
Answer: It reduces the ability to judge how fast you are moving or your distance from other cars. The handbook states that alcohol impairs judgment regarding speed and distance, making it harder to gauge proximity to other objects.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 44: “Reduces your ability to judge how fast you are moving or your distance from other cars, people or objects.”
11. What action should a driver take regarding speed when making a right turn?
Answer: Reduce speed before the turn and accelerate slightly. The instructions for right turns specify reducing speed prior to the maneuver and then applying slight acceleration.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 56: “Reduce the vehicle’s speed before making the turn and then accelerate slightly.”
12. For a vehicle with a manual transmission, which gear should be used when starting to move on snowy or icy roads?
Answer: Second gear or higher. The instructions specify starting in second gear or higher for manual shifts to manage traction on slippery surfaces.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 75: “Start to move in second gear or higher and release the clutch slowly (for manual shifts);”
13. What is the minimum allowable light transmittance percentage for tinted windows during a vehicle inspection?
Answer: No less than 35%. The handbook specifies that window tinting must allow at least 35% of light to pass through.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 104: “The allowable light transmittance for tinted windows is no less than 35%.”
14. What is the minimum age requirement for a person to drive a school bus?
Answer: At least 18 years of age. The handbook states that a school bus driver must be at least 18 years old.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 13: “The driver of a school bus must be at least 18 years of age, have at least six months driving experience and hold either a Class B or Class C CDL with an “S” (school bus) and a “P” (passenger) endorsement along with a School Bus Driver’s Certificate.”
15. At an intersection with combination signals, how is traffic controlled when both arrow and circular signals are displayed?
Answer: Turning traffic follows the arrow, and through traffic follows the circular signal. The handbook specifies that arrow signals control turning movements while circular signals control through movements when both are active.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 83: “When arrow and circular signals are both displayed, turning traffic is controlled by the arrow signals and through traffic is controlled by the circular signals.”
16. Which of the following is listed as an example of a moving violation in the handbook?
Answer: Failure to yield right of way. The handbook lists 'Failure to yield right of way' among the specific examples of moving violations, while the other options are administrative or parking issues not listed in that specific section.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 41: “Some examples of moving violations: • Passing a stopped school bus; • Reckless driving; • Hit-and-run; • Following too closely; • Driving on the wrong side of the road; • Illegal passing; • Running through a stop sign or red light; • Failure to yield right of way;”
17. How is the 'two-second rule' defined in the context of following distance?
Answer: Allow two seconds between the time the vehicle ahead passes a point and your vehicle reaches it. The rule is defined by measuring the time interval between when the leading vehicle passes a fixed point and when the following vehicle reaches that same point.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 56: “The “two-second rule” says that you should allow two seconds between the time the vehicle ahead of you passes a given point and the time your vehicle reaches the same point.”
18. Why might a tractor-trailer appear to be traveling slower than it actually is?
Answer: Because of its large size. The handbook attributes the illusion of slower speed specifically to the large physical size of the vehicle.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 93: “because of its large size, a tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling at a slower speed than it is”
19. When experiencing brake failure in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, what action should be taken?
Answer: Apply the emergency brake and move the gear control lever into the low-range position. The handbook instructs drivers with automatic transmissions to use the emergency brake and shift to low-range during brake failure.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 77: “If the vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission, apply the emergency brake and move the gear control lever into the low-range position.”
20. If a traffic signal changes to yellow or red while a pedestrian is still in the street, what is the driver required to do?
Answer: Allow the pedestrian to complete the crossing safely. The rule mandates that drivers must let pedestrians finish crossing even if the signal turns yellow or red during their transit.
North Carolina Driver's Handbook, page 48: “If a traffic signal changes to yellow or red while any pedestrian remains in the street, drivers must allow the pedestrian to complete the crossing safely.”