North Carolina Permit Test (DMV Knowledge Test) — All Questions

22 questions

Traffic Signs & Signals

A red, eight-sided sign means:

  • a.Slow down and yield
  • b.Come to a complete stop, then go when it is safe
  • c.Merge to the right
  • d.Stop only for pedestrians

The red octagon is a STOP sign; stop fully at the line or crosswalk before proceeding. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, signs)

Traffic Signs & Signals

A yellow diamond-shaped sign is used to:

  • a.Give directions to a city
  • b.State the speed limit
  • c.Mark a hospital
  • d.Warn of a hazard or condition ahead

Diamond-shaped yellow signs warn of hazards or changes in the road ahead. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Traffic Signs & Signals

An upside-down (downward-pointing) triangle sign means:

  • a.Yield the right of way
  • b.Stop and remain stopped
  • c.No entry
  • d.One-way traffic

The downward triangle is a YIELD sign; slow down and give the right of way, stopping if necessary. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, signs)

Traffic Signs & Signals

A solid white line along the edge or between lanes indicates:

  • a.Traffic moving in opposite directions
  • b.You may pass freely
  • c.A lane you should not cross unless necessary or to change lanes when broken
  • d.The road is closed

White lines separate lanes moving the same direction; a solid white line discourages lane changes, while a broken white line may be crossed when safe. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, markings)

Traffic Signs & Signals

A flashing yellow traffic signal means:

  • a.Stop completely, as at a stop sign
  • b.Slow down and proceed with caution
  • c.The signal is out of service
  • d.Turn left only

A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed carefully; a flashing red means stop as at a stop sign. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, signals)

Rules of the Road & Right of Way

At a four-way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the right of way goes to:

  • a.The vehicle on the left
  • b.The faster vehicle
  • c.The vehicle on the right
  • d.The larger vehicle

When two vehicles reach a four-way stop together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, right of way)

Rules of the Road & Right of Way

When turning left at an intersection on a green light with no arrow, you must:

  • a.Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn when safe
  • b.Turn ahead of oncoming cars
  • c.Wait for a red light to turn
  • d.Stop in the intersection until traffic clears from behind

A green light permits a left turn only after you yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Rules of the Road & Right of Way

You approach a stopped school bus with flashing red lights on a two-lane road. You must:

  • a.Pass on the left slowly
  • b.Continue if no children are seen
  • c.Sound your horn and go around
  • d.Stop and remain stopped until the bus moves or the lights stop flashing

On a two-lane road, all traffic must stop for a school bus loading or unloading children with red lights flashing. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, school buses)

Rules of the Road & Right of Way

An emergency vehicle approaches with siren and flashing lights. You should:

  • a.Stop immediately in your lane
  • b.Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes
  • c.Speed up to clear the way
  • d.Move to the left lane and continue

Yield to emergency vehicles by pulling to the right and stopping until they pass. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Rules of the Road & Right of Way

When entering a roundabout, you should:

  • a.Yield to vehicles already in the circle and enter on a gap
  • b.Stop inside the circle for merging cars
  • c.Enter to the left of center
  • d.Never yield once you signal

Traffic already circulating in a roundabout has the right of way; yield at entry and drive counterclockwise. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Safe Driving & Sharing the Road

In good conditions, a safe following distance is at least:

  • a.One car length
  • b.A three-second gap behind the vehicle ahead
  • c.Half a second
  • d.Ten feet at any speed

The three-second rule gives time to react; increase it in rain, fog, or heavy traffic. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, safe driving)

Safe Driving & Sharing the Road

Before changing lanes, a driver should:

  • a.Rely on mirrors alone
  • b.Change first and signal afterward
  • c.Signal, check mirrors, and glance over the shoulder at the blind spot
  • d.Speed up to close any gap

Mirrors leave blind spots, so signal and look over your shoulder before moving over. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Safe Driving & Sharing the Road

When sharing the road with a bicyclist, you should:

  • a.Pass as closely as possible
  • b.Expect the cyclist to ride on the sidewalk
  • c.Honk to make the cyclist move
  • d.Give a safe distance when passing and treat the cyclist as a road user

Bicyclists have a legal right to the road; pass at a safe distance and watch for them at intersections. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, sharing the road)

Safe Driving & Sharing the Road

North Carolina's Move Over Law requires drivers to:

  • a.Move over a lane if possible, or slow down, for stopped emergency and utility vehicles with flashing lights
  • b.Stop behind every parked car
  • c.Move over only for fire trucks
  • d.Speed past stopped vehicles

North Carolina requires moving over a lane when safe, or slowing down, for stopped emergency, law-enforcement, and utility vehicles displaying flashing lights. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Speed & Driving Conditions

A posted speed limit is:

  • a.The minimum speed you must drive
  • b.The maximum allowed under ideal conditions
  • c.A speed you may exceed in dry weather
  • d.Only enforced in school zones

Posted limits are maximums for ideal conditions; slow down when weather, traffic, or road surface require it. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, speed)

Speed & Driving Conditions

When it begins to rain after a dry spell, the road is often most slippery because:

  • a.Water washes the road clean
  • b.Rain cools the tires
  • c.Water mixes with oil and dust to form a slick film
  • d.Rain increases traction

Early rain lifts oil and dust into a slippery film, so reduce speed and increase following distance. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, driving conditions)

Speed & Driving Conditions

If your vehicle begins to hydroplane on a wet road, you should:

  • a.Ease off the gas and steer straight until the tires regain grip
  • b.Brake hard immediately
  • c.Accelerate to push through the water
  • d.Turn sharply toward the shoulder

In a hydroplane, avoid hard braking or steering; ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Alcohol, Drugs & North Carolina Licensing

In North Carolina, a driver age 21 or older is legally impaired at a BAC of:

  • a.0.05 or higher
  • b.0.10 or higher
  • c.0.08 or higher
  • d.0.12 or higher

North Carolina's adult per se limit is 0.08; driving at or above it is impaired driving (DWI). (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, alcohol and driving)

Alcohol, Drugs & North Carolina Licensing

For drivers under age 21 in North Carolina, the legal limit for alcohol is:

  • a.0.08
  • b.0.05
  • c.0.02
  • d.Zero tolerance — any measurable amount is a violation

North Carolina has zero tolerance for drivers under 21; driving after any drinking is unlawful. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook)

Alcohol, Drugs & North Carolina Licensing

In North Carolina's Graduated Licensing System, the first stage held by a new teen driver is:

  • a.Level 1, a Limited Learner Permit requiring a supervising adult at all times
  • b.Level 3, full unrestricted license
  • c.A commercial license
  • d.A motorcycle endorsement

Level 1 (Limited Learner Permit) requires a supervising licensed adult in the front seat whenever the teen drives. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, GDL)

Alcohol, Drugs & North Carolina Licensing

A North Carolina teen with a Level 2 Limited Provisional License may generally drive unsupervised:

  • a.At any hour of the day or night
  • b.During daytime hours, with nighttime driving restricted except for work or with supervision
  • c.Only on interstates
  • d.Only with three passengers

Level 2 allows unsupervised daytime driving but limits nighttime driving and the number of passengers under 21. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, GDL)

Alcohol, Drugs & North Carolina Licensing

Under North Carolina's implied consent law, refusing a lawful breath or chemical test can result in:

  • a.No consequences
  • b.A warning only
  • c.Revocation of your driving privilege
  • d.A discount on fines

By driving in North Carolina you consent to chemical testing; refusing a lawful test leads to revocation of your license, separate from any DWI charge. (North Carolina Driver's Handbook, implied consent)

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