North Carolina Driver License: Signals, Signs and Markings

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Signals, Signs and Markings. Free, no account needed.

1. A traffic light turns from green to yellow just as a driver reaches an intersection, too close to stop safely. What should the driver do?

Reverse back from the intersection
Speed up to clear the intersection before it turns red
Continue through the intersection without speeding up
Stop immediately wherever the vehicle happens to be

Answer: C — Continue through the intersection without speeding up

The circular yellow signal means stop unless too close to stop safely, but a driver in that position should never speed up to beat the light.

2. After stopping completely at a red light, a driver turning right fails to yield to a pedestrian who has already stepped into the crosswalk. What fine does this carry?

$500 to $2,000
$250 to $1,000
$100 to $500
$50 to $250

Answer: C — $100 to $500

Failing to yield to a pedestrian in or entering the crosswalk during a right turn on red carries a fine of $100 to $500.

3. A driver making a U-turn and an oncoming driver turning right both face green arrows at the same time. Who must yield?

The right-turning driver yields to the U-turning traffic
The U-turning driver yields to the right-turning traffic
Neither yields, since both arrows are protected
Whichever driver arrived first has the right of way

Answer: B — The U-turning driver yields to the right-turning traffic

Even though both movements have a green arrow, the U-turning driver must yield to opposing right-turning traffic.

4. A traffic signal at an intersection has completely failed and shows no light in any direction, with no officer present. How should drivers treat the intersection?

Slow and proceed with caution, as if a warning sign were posted
Wait where stopped until an officer arrives
The road with more lanes has the right of way
Stop, as if a stop sign were posted on every approach

Answer: D — Stop, as if a stop sign were posted on every approach

A dark, failed signal is treated as a stop sign on every approach.

5. A left-turn signal shows a flashing yellow arrow. What must a driver do to complete the turn?

Turn immediately, since the movement is fully protected
Turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
The turn is not allowed until the arrow becomes solid yellow
Stop and wait for a solid green arrow before turning

Answer: B — Turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

A flashing yellow arrow permits the turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, unlike a solid green arrow which needs no yielding.

6. Approaching an intersection, at roughly what distance before it should a driver expect a stop sign to be posted?

50 to 100 feet
1 to 5 feet
100 to 200 feet
6 to 50 feet

Answer: D — 6 to 50 feet

Stop signs are usually posted 6 to 50 feet before the intersection they control.

7. Traffic ahead is backed up right at a railroad crossing and there is not enough room to clear the tracks. What must a driver do?

Wait before the tracks until there is room to clear them completely
Move onto the tracks and wait there for the traffic ahead to clear
Reverse away from the crossing to find another route
Follow the vehicle ahead onto the crossing as long as no train is in sight

Answer: A — Wait before the tracks until there is room to clear them completely

A driver must never stop on a railroad crossing, so they should hold back until there is room to clear the tracks entirely.

8. A diamond-shaped sign shows a black symbol on an orange background. What does it warn of?

A school zone ahead
Construction or maintenance work ahead
A general road hazard, such as a curve or crossing
A railroad crossing ahead

Answer: B — Construction or maintenance work ahead

Diamond warning signs are normally black on yellow for general hazards, but black on orange specifically warns of construction or maintenance.

9. A highway is identified by an odd route number. Which direction does it generally run?

North and south
It depends on whether it is an interstate or a U.S. route
East and west
Odd numbers mark a secondary road, not a direction

Answer: A — North and south

Odd-numbered highways generally run north and south, while even-numbered highways run east and west.

10. A two-lane road has a double solid yellow center line. Can a driver cross it to pass another vehicle?

No, passing is not allowed in either direction
Yes, but only when passing a slower vehicle
Only the driver with better visibility of oncoming traffic may cross
Yes, from either side, as long as the way is clear

Answer: A — No, passing is not allowed in either direction

Double solid yellow lines may not be crossed to pass in either direction.

11. At night, a driver notices a reflective pavement marker glowing red. What does that indicate?

The driver is approaching a railroad crossing
The driver is approaching a fire hydrant or water supply
The driver is nearing the edge of a divided highway
The driver is traveling the wrong way

Answer: D — The driver is traveling the wrong way

Red reflective markers face wrong-way drivers, warning them they are traveling against traffic.

12. A traffic officer raises a hand, palm toward oncoming drivers, and gives a long whistle blast. What does this mean?

Proceed with caution, yielding to cross traffic
Stop
Go or keep moving
Slow down and prepare to stop

Answer: B — Stop

A raised hand with a long whistle blast from a traffic officer means stop; a waving motion with short blasts means go.

13. What must a driver do when reaching this sign?

Slow to the posted limit and proceed if clear
Slow down and yield to cross traffic, stopping only if necessary
Come to a full stop and go only when the way is clear
Stop only if another vehicle is approaching

Answer: C — Come to a full stop and go only when the way is clear

This is the stop sign: come to a full stop at the marked line and go only when the way is clear.

14. What does this sign tell a driver?

The minimum speed required on this road
The recommended safe speed for an upcoming curve
A reduced speed that applies only while lights are flashing
The maximum legal speed on this road

Answer: D — The maximum legal speed on this road

This sign posts the maximum legal speed for that stretch of road.

15. A driver is in a lane marked with this sign. What must they do at the intersection?

Turn right only if no other sign says otherwise farther ahead
Yield to traffic already in the right lane before turning
Merge right before the lane ends ahead
Turn right; going straight or left from this lane is not allowed

Answer: D — Turn right; going straight or left from this lane is not allowed

This lane is marked right-turn-only, so the driver must turn right.

16. A driver is in the center lane of a road marked with this sign. What is that lane for?

Through traffic only, when the outer lanes are congested
Passing slower traffic before returning to the right lane
Left turns only, from either direction of travel
Left turns from one direction only; oncoming traffic uses another lane

Answer: C — Left turns only, from either direction of travel

This center lane is reserved only for left turns made from either direction of travel, never for passing or merging.

17. What does this sign tell a driver approaching a road or ramp?

No trucks may enter this road
The road ahead is closed for construction
Enter only if turning right immediately
Do not enter; entering here would put you against the flow of traffic

Answer: D — Do not enter; entering here would put you against the flow of traffic

This sign forbids entry because entering would mean driving the wrong way against traffic.

18. What does this sign indicate about the road ahead?

The road divides ahead into two one-way roads
Two-way traffic resumes ahead
Traffic on this road moves only in the direction shown
Traffic may not enter this road at all

Answer: C — Traffic on this road moves only in the direction shown

This sign marks a one-way road, where traffic moves only in the direction of the arrow.

19. What must a driver do at this sign?

Proceed if no gate is present, regardless of any signal
Yield to any train, stopping if a signal, gate or flagger shows one is coming
Slow down and listen, since this sign only warns of a crossing ahead
Stop only if a train can already be seen approaching

Answer: B — Yield to any train, stopping if a signal, gate or flagger shows one is coming

At the crossbuck itself, a driver yields to any train and stops whenever a signal, gate or flagger indicates one is coming.

20. What does this sign warn a driver to expect?

A single sharp turn to the right only
A sharp turn to the right, followed by a sharp turn to the left
The road ends ahead, requiring a turn in either direction
A series of curves in alternating directions

Answer: B — A sharp turn to the right, followed by a sharp turn to the left

This sign warns that the road turns sharply right, then sharply left.

21. What does this sign tell a driver about the road ahead?

The road ends ahead; the driver must turn left or right
The road splits into two directions ahead
The road curves sharply in the direction shown
Traffic merges from both directions ahead

Answer: A — The road ends ahead; the driver must turn left or right

This large two-direction arrow marks a road that ends ahead, forcing a turn left or right.

22. What does this sign warn a driver of?

Another road crosses straight through ahead
The road ahead ends in a T-intersection
Traffic merging from the right lane ahead
A road entering from the right ahead

Answer: D — A road entering from the right ahead

This side road sign warns that another road enters from the right ahead.

23. What should a driver do on seeing this sign?

Yield to cross traffic at the next intersection
Slow down and prepare to stop for a stop sign ahead
Come to a complete stop at this sign itself
Slow down for a traffic signal ahead

Answer: B — Slow down and prepare to stop for a stop sign ahead

This sign warns of a stop sign ahead, often hidden by a curve or obstruction, so the driver should slow and prepare to stop.

24. A driver is in the right lane of a highway marked with this sign. What must they do?

Continue in the right lane, since a lane is being added
Prepare to exit the highway
Merge left, since the right lane ends ahead
Move right to let merging traffic in

Answer: C — Merge left, since the right lane ends ahead

This sign warns that the right lane ends ahead, so traffic in it must merge left.

25. What does this sign tell a driver about the road ahead?

Two-way traffic resumes; keep right of the center line
The road narrows to a single lane ahead
A divided highway begins; keep right of the divider
The road splits into two separate highways

Answer: A — Two-way traffic resumes; keep right of the center line

This sign marks the end of a divided highway, where two-way traffic resumes and drivers must keep right of the center line.

26. A driver's tire drops off the pavement onto the shoulder where this sign was posted. What should they do?

Brake hard and pull fully off the road before the shoulder gives way
Steer sharply to return to the pavement as quickly as possible
Avoid braking hard or jerking the wheel while easing back onto the road
Come to a complete stop before attempting to return to the road

Answer: C — Avoid braking hard or jerking the wheel while easing back onto the road

This sign warns of a soft shoulder, where a driver whose tire drops off should avoid braking hard or jerking the wheel.

27. What does this sign warn a driver of?

Pedestrians may cross the road ahead
Bicycles may cross the road ahead
A shared-use path runs alongside the road ahead
Deer frequently cross the road ahead

Answer: B — Bicycles may cross the road ahead

This sign warns that bicycles may cross the road ahead.

28. What must a driver do on seeing this sign?

Not enter if the vehicle is wider than the width shown
Reduce speed because the bridge ahead is narrow
Not enter if the vehicle is taller than the height shown
Not enter if the vehicle is heavier than the weight shown

Answer: C — Not enter if the vehicle is taller than the height shown

This low clearance sign warns not to enter if the vehicle is taller than the posted height.

29. What does this sign mark, and what should a driver watch for?

A pedestrian crossing with no reduced speed limit
A school zone or crossing; watch for children and reduced speed limits
A playground with no vehicle access
A speed limit that applies only while lights are flashing

Answer: B — A school zone or crossing; watch for children and reduced speed limits

This pentagon-shaped sign marks a school zone or crossing, where drivers should watch for children and reduced limits.

30. A driver is in a highway lane marked with this sign. What does it mean?

This lane leaves the highway at the upcoming exit
This lane is an added lane merging onto the highway
This lane requires a toll to continue
This lane continues on the highway; the exit is in another lane

Answer: A — This lane leaves the highway at the upcoming exit

An Exit Only sign marks a lane that leaves the highway at the exit ahead, rather than continuing on the mainline.