North Carolina Driver License: Pedestrians, School Buses, Emergency Vehicles and Police Stops

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Pedestrians, School Buses, Emergency Vehicles and Police Stops. Free, no account needed.

1. At an intersection with no traffic signals, a crosswalk is not painted but lines up with the imaginary extension of the sidewalks on either side. Does a pedestrian crossing there have the right-of-way over vehicles?

No, only painted crosswalks give pedestrians the right-of-way
Yes, unmarked crosswalks carry the same right-of-way as marked ones
Only if the pedestrian is blind
No, the pedestrian must wait for a signal

Answer: B — Yes, unmarked crosswalks carry the same right-of-way as marked ones

Unmarked crosswalks formed by the extension of sidewalks give pedestrians the right-of-way just as marked crosswalks do at intersections without signals.

2. A pedestrian steps into a crosswalk on a green light at a signalized intersection. A driver going the same way wants to turn right into that crosswalk. Who has the right-of-way?

Whichever one entered the crosswalk area first
The driver, because turning vehicles have priority
The pedestrian, even over vehicles that are turning
The pedestrian, but only if a Walk signal is also displayed

Answer: C — The pedestrian, even over vehicles that are turning

Pedestrians crossing on green have the right-of-way over every vehicle, including ones that are turning.

3. A pedestrian is still in the street crossing when the signal changes against them. What must drivers do?

Sound the horn and continue driving
Only wait if the pedestrian is elderly or disabled
Proceed carefully since the signal now favors the driver
Let the pedestrian finish crossing before proceeding

Answer: D — Let the pedestrian finish crossing before proceeding

Drivers must let a pedestrian who is still in the street finish crossing even after the signal changes.

4. A driver is about to back out of a parking space and a pedestrian is walking through the area behind the car. What does the law require of the driver?

Nothing, since backing up has no special requirement
Proceed slowly without any signal
Sound the horn to warn the pedestrian
Wait for the pedestrian to wave the driver on

Answer: C — Sound the horn to warn the pedestrian

The law requires sounding the horn whenever a pedestrian may be affected by a turn, stop, or start from a parked position.

5. A pedestrian carrying a white cane with a red tip is about to cross at an intersection that has no traffic signals. How should an approaching driver treat this pedestrian?

Wait for the pedestrian to signal with the cane before proceeding
Give the pedestrian special consideration
Treat the pedestrian the same as any other, since no signal governs the crossing
Only yield if a guide dog is also present

Answer: B — Give the pedestrian special consideration

A blind pedestrian using a white cane, one with a red tip, or a guide dog gets special consideration at unsignalized intersections.

6. A driver changes lanes without signaling properly, forcing a motorcyclist off the road, and a crash with injury results. What happens to the driver?

Fined only if the motorcyclist files a separate civil claim
Not penalized, because motorcyclists are responsible for their own lane position
Given a verbal warning only, since the motorcyclist could have avoided it
Charged and fined, with a greater penalty because of the crash

Answer: D — Charged and fined, with a greater penalty because of the crash

Failing to signal and forcing a motorcyclist off the road brings a charge and fine, more so if a crash with damage or injury results.

7. What is the maximum speed a school bus may travel?

65 mph
45 mph
55 mph
35 mph

Answer: B — 45 mph

The maximum speed for a school bus is 45 mph.

8. During which hours do school buses run most often?

6 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
8 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
Evenly throughout the day

Answer: C — 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

Buses run mostly from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

9. A school bus ahead has extended its stop arm and activated its flashing red lights to unload children. When may an approaching driver proceed?

Only after the stop arm is withdrawn, the red lights are off, and the bus has started moving
After the last child has stepped off the bus
As soon as the flashing red lights turn off
As soon as the stop arm is withdrawn

Answer: A — Only after the stop arm is withdrawn, the red lights are off, and the bus has started moving

Drivers may not pass until the stop arm is withdrawn, the red lights are off, and the bus has started moving.

10. A school bus stops with flashing red lights on a two-lane road that has a center turn lane. A driver is approaching from the opposite direction. What must this driver do?

Stop only if children are visible near the bus
Stop, because traffic from both directions must stop on this type of road
Continue driving since the bus is on the other side of the center turn lane
Only slow down, since the center turn lane separates the directions

Answer: B — Stop, because traffic from both directions must stop on this type of road

On a two-lane road with a center turn lane, traffic from both directions must stop for the bus.

11. A school bus stops with flashing red lights on a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median. A driver is on the opposite side of the median, traveling toward the bus. What must this driver do?

Nothing; only traffic following the bus must stop
Stop completely until the bus resumes moving
Slow to a reduced, safe speed and proceed with caution
Move into a lane away from the median

Answer: A — Nothing; only traffic following the bus must stop

On a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median, only traffic following the bus must stop.

12. An ambulance with lights and siren activated approaches a driver from behind on an ordinary road. What should the driver do?

Maintain speed and allow it to pass on the left
Pull to the left shoulder and stop
Pull to the right curb or edge and stop completely
Stop immediately in the current lane

Answer: C — Pull to the right curb or edge and stop completely

Drivers should pull to the right curb or edge and stop completely, staying stopped until the emergency vehicle passes or an officer waves them on.

13. On a four-lane limited-access highway with a median, an emergency vehicle with lights and siren is on the opposite roadway, going the other way. Must a driver on this side yield?

No, this is the one case where traffic going the opposite way is exempt
Only large trucks are exempt
Yes, all traffic must always yield regardless of direction
Yes, but only by slowing down, not stopping

Answer: A — No, this is the one case where traffic going the opposite way is exempt

All vehicles yield regardless of direction, except traffic going the opposite way on a four-lane limited-access highway with a median.

14. How close may a vehicle be parked to an emergency vehicle that is stopped at a crash scene giving assistance?

No closer than one block
No closer than 12 feet
No closer than 50 feet
No closer than 100 feet

Answer: D — No closer than 100 feet

Parking is prohibited within 100 feet of an emergency vehicle stopped at a crash or giving assistance.

15. A driver approaches a police car parked on the shoulder with warning lights on, about 10 feet from the road, on a highway with two lanes in the driver's direction. What must the driver do?

Stop completely until the police car leaves
Sound the horn to alert the officer
Slow to a reduced, safe speed but stay in the same lane
Move into a lane not next to the vehicle and stay there until clear

Answer: D — Move into a lane not next to the vehicle and stay there until clear

On a road with two or more lanes in the driver's direction, the Move Over law requires moving into a lane not next to the stopped vehicle.

16. A public service vehicle assisting a stranded motorist is parked within 12 feet of the road with warning lights on. A driver is on a road with only one lane in that direction. What must the driver do?

Come to a complete stop until directed to proceed
Slow to a reduced, safe speed until past it
Cross into the oncoming lane to pass safely
No action is required since it is not a police vehicle

Answer: B — Slow to a reduced, safe speed until past it

On a road with only one lane in the driver's direction, the Move Over law requires slowing to a reduced, safe speed until past the vehicle.

17. A driver notices police lights signaling a stop but there is no safe place to pull over immediately. What should the driver do?

Stop immediately in the travel lane
Call 911 and stop wherever currently positioned
Turn on the four-way flashers, slow by about 10 mph, and keep driving lawfully to the nearest safe area
Speed up slightly to reach a safe spot sooner

Answer: C — Turn on the four-way flashers, slow by about 10 mph, and keep driving lawfully to the nearest safe area

Without a safe place at hand, drivers should signal with four-way flashers, slow by about 10 mph, and continue lawfully to the nearest safe area.

18. An unmarked car signals a driver to pull over, and the driver doubts it is really a police officer. What may the driver do?

Drive directly to the nearest police station without stopping
Flash the headlights to signal doubt
Refuse to stop under any circumstances
Call 911 before pulling over to give their name and location

Answer: D — Call 911 before pulling over to give their name and location

If a driver doubts an unmarked car is a real officer, they may call 911 before pulling over to report their name and location.

19. During a traffic stop, what is a driver in North Carolina required by law to provide?

Identify themselves and produce license and registration
Answers to every question the officer asks
A full account of where they are traveling to and from
Only a license; registration is optional

Answer: A — Identify themselves and produce license and registration

State law requires drivers to identify themselves and produce license and registration; further questions are optional.

20. A driver holding a concealed-carry permit has a handgun in the vehicle during a traffic stop. What is required?

The driver must tell the officer a weapon is in the vehicle
The driver need not mention it if the permit is valid
The driver must hand the weapon to the officer immediately
The driver must place the weapon in the trunk before the officer approaches

Answer: A — The driver must tell the officer a weapon is in the vehicle

A concealed-carry permit holder must tell the officer a weapon is in the vehicle.

21. A driver is stopped by police at night. What should the driver do with the vehicle's interior lights?

Flash them on and off
Leave them as they were
Turn them on
Turn them off

Answer: C — Turn them on

Drivers should turn on the interior lights at night once stopped.

22. Under what conditions do most crashes with slow-moving farm equipment tend to happen?

At night in fog or heavy rain
On wet roads during storms
Only on unpaved gravel roads
On clear days on dry pavement

Answer: D — On clear days on dry pavement

Most crashes with farm equipment happen on clear days on dry pavement.

23. A driver is following a piece of farm equipment that signals a left turn. What dangerous mistake should the driver avoid?

Passing only on the right shoulder
Braking hard directly behind it
Mistaking the left-turn signal for a wave-through and attempting to pass
Assuming the equipment will pull off the road immediately

Answer: C — Mistaking the left-turn signal for a wave-through and attempting to pass

Drivers sometimes mistake the equipment operator's left-turn signal for a wave-through and try to pass, causing sideswipe or angle crashes.

24. Is it legal to pass farm equipment in a no-passing zone?

Only legal on rural roads
Yes, as long as there is enough visibility
Yes, because farm equipment moves slowly
No, it is illegal and dangerous

Answer: D — No, it is illegal and dangerous

Passing farm equipment in a no-passing zone is illegal and dangerous, partly because the equipment may be wider than it looks and can block the view of oncoming traffic.

25. How far behind must farm equipment's red rear light or reflectors be visible?

1,000 feet
500 feet
200 feet
100 feet

Answer: B — 500 feet

Farm equipment must show a red light visible 500 feet behind, or two red reflectors at least four inches across.

26. What must every vehicle in a funeral procession run?

Hazard lights only
Headlights and hazard lights
Headlights only, no hazards
High-beam headlights

Answer: B — Headlights and hazard lights

Every vehicle in a procession runs its headlights and hazard lights.

27. A driver is traveling in the same direction as a funeral procession on a road with only one lane in that direction. May the driver pass the procession?

No, passing is not allowed except where the road has two or more lanes in that direction
Only the last vehicle in the procession may be passed
Yes, using a turn signal to alert other vehicles
Yes, if the procession is moving below the speed limit

Answer: A — No, passing is not allowed except where the road has two or more lanes in that direction

A driver going the same way may not pass a funeral procession except where the road has two or more lanes in that direction.

28. A funeral procession is going through a red light on the cross street while a driver has a green light on the road they are traveling. What should the driver do?

Wait for the entire procession to pass no matter what
Proceed normally, since the driver has the green light
Proceed only if waved through by police
Not enter the intersection unless able to do so without crossing the procession's path

Answer: D — Not enter the intersection unless able to do so without crossing the procession's path

When a procession is going through a red light, drivers with the green must not enter unless they can do so without crossing its path.