North Carolina Driver License: Speed, Passing, Parking, Intersections and Railroads

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Speed, Passing, Parking, Intersections and Railroads. Free, no account needed.

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1. You're driving slower than the speed limit on a multi-lane highway, and you're not passing, turning left, or avoiding an obstruction. Which lane should you use?

  1. Whichever lane has the lightest traffic
  2. The center lane
  3. The far left lane
  4. The far right lane

Answer: D — The far right lane

Drivers going slower than traffic must stay in the far right lane unless passing, turning left, or avoiding an obstruction.

2. When is it legal to drive on the left side of the road?

  1. Only when following a police escort
  2. Only in special cases such as one-way streets and passing
  3. Only after dark
  4. Whenever the right lane is congested

Answer: B — Only in special cases such as one-way streets and passing

The left side is legal only in special cases such as one-way streets and passing.

3. Traveling at 55 mph under ideal conditions, about how much distance does it take to bring a vehicle to a stop?

  1. About 300 feet
  2. About 110 feet
  3. About 150 feet
  4. About 211 feet

Answer: D — About 211 feet

Even in ideal conditions, a vehicle at 55 mph needs about 211 feet to stop.

4. A driver travels far below the posted speed limit on the open road. What does that create?

  1. No added risk, since a lower speed always means a shorter stopping distance
  2. A much greater chance of causing or being in a crash, especially just past a hilltop or curve
  3. A risk only on roads where a minimum speed limit is posted
  4. No added risk, as long as the driver keeps to the far right lane

Answer: B — A much greater chance of causing or being in a crash, especially just past a hilltop or curve

Vehicles far under the posted speed are much more likely to cause or be in a crash than one at normal speed, especially just past a hilltop or curve.

5. Driving on a rural two-lane road outside any city or town, with no speed limit signs posted, what limit applies?

  1. 35 mph
  2. 55 mph
  3. 45 mph
  4. 70 mph

Answer: B — 55 mph

Unless posted otherwise, the limit outside cities and towns is 55 mph.

6. Approaching a curve in the road, when should you reduce your speed?

  1. After you've exited the curve
  2. Only if another vehicle is oncoming
  3. While turning through the curve
  4. Before entering the curve

Answer: D — Before entering the curve

Slowing before the curve means you won't need to brake while in it.

7. Making a right turn, how should you position your vehicle so another vehicle can't slip in beside you?

  1. Stay in the middle of your lane
  2. Swing wide toward the center of the road first
  3. Hug the right edge
  4. Straddle the lane line

Answer: C — Hug the right edge

Hugging the right edge keeps another vehicle from slipping between you and the curb.

8. Using the two-second following rule, how do you check whether you're far enough behind the vehicle ahead?

  1. Leave exactly two car lengths regardless of speed
  2. Count two seconds after you start braking
  3. Count two seconds from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point until you reach that same point
  4. Wait two seconds after your turn signal before changing lanes

Answer: C — Count two seconds from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point until you reach that same point

The rule is measured as at least two seconds between the vehicle ahead passing a fixed point and you reaching it.

9. Before changing lanes, what must you check that your mirrors alone won't show you?

  1. Nothing more, as long as you signal in advance
  2. The lane you are leaving
  3. The blind spot over your shoulder
  4. The vehicle directly behind you

Answer: C — The blind spot over your shoulder

Checking the blind spot over your shoulder is required in addition to the mirrors before changing lanes.

10. You want to pass the vehicle ahead of you on a two-lane road. What should you do to alert that driver, and what does it legally require of them?

  1. Flash your headlights, which requires them to speed up
  2. Flash your headlights, which has no legal effect on them
  3. Blow the horn, which requires them to pull off the road
  4. Blow the horn, which legally obliges them to help you pass

Answer: D — Blow the horn, which legally obliges them to help you pass

Blowing the horn alerts the driver ahead and legally obliges them to help you pass.

11. Approaching a hill where you can't see more than 300 feet of road ahead, is it legal to pass?

  1. No, passing there is illegal because you can't see at least 500 feet ahead
  2. Yes, as long as you sound the horn first
  3. No, passing near any hill is illegal no matter the sight distance
  4. Yes, 300 feet is enough sight distance to pass safely

Answer: A — No, passing there is illegal because you can't see at least 500 feet ahead

Passing is unsafe and illegal on any curve or hill where you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead, so 300 feet of visibility isn't enough.

12. On which of these roads is it legal to pass another vehicle on the right?

  1. A two-lane road with one lane in each direction
  2. A road with a solid yellow line in your lane
  3. A curve with limited visibility
  4. A one-way street

Answer: D — A one-way street

Passing on the right is illegal except on highways with two lanes each way, one-way streets, past a vehicle in a left-turn lane, or in a lane set aside for right turns.

13. A driver behind you sounds the horn to pass. What should you do?

  1. Speed up slightly so they can't pass
  2. Move left and slow to a stop
  3. Hold your speed and position and ignore it
  4. Move to the right edge and never speed up

Answer: D — Move to the right edge and never speed up

When sounded at by a passing driver, you must move to the right edge and never speed up.

14. Backing out of a parking space, how should you check for what's behind you?

  1. Look over your right shoulder through the back window, not just the mirrors
  2. Rely on the rearview mirror alone
  3. Use only the side mirrors
  4. Look over your left shoulder through the back window

Answer: A — Look over your right shoulder through the back window, not just the mirrors

You should steer with the left hand and look over your right shoulder through the back window, not just the mirrors.

15. What's the fastest you should back up a vehicle?

  1. 10 mph
  2. 5 mph
  3. 20 mph
  4. 15 mph

Answer: A — 10 mph

You should back no faster than 10 mph.

16. Parking near a corner where the intersecting street has a curb, how close to that curb line can you legally park?

  1. No closer than 50 feet
  2. No closer than 15 feet
  3. No closer than 25 feet
  4. No closer than 100 feet

Answer: C — No closer than 25 feet

Parking is prohibited within 25 feet of the curb line of an intersecting street (15 feet applies only where there's no curb).

17. Two vehicles reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same moment, approaching from different directions. Who has the right-of-way?

  1. The vehicle going straight, regardless of position
  2. The larger vehicle
  3. The vehicle on the right
  4. The vehicle on the left

Answer: C — The vehicle on the right

Vehicles arriving together at an uncontrolled intersection yield to the vehicle on the right.

18. Two vehicles face each other at an intersection with no signs or signals. One wants to turn left; the other is going straight. Who has the right-of-way?

  1. The vehicle on the right
  2. The turning driver, once they signal
  3. Whichever vehicle arrived first
  4. The driver going straight

Answer: D — The driver going straight

The turning driver must signal and wait; the driver going straight has the right-of-way.

19. Pulling out of a private driveway onto a street, what must you do?

  1. Slow down, but you have the right-of-way over cross traffic
  2. Proceed if no vehicles are within 100 feet
  3. Stop and yield to everyone
  4. Yield only to vehicles already on the street

Answer: C — Stop and yield to everyone

Leaving a private driveway, you must stop and yield to everyone.

20. Entering a roundabout, who has the right-of-way?

  1. Vehicles about to exit
  2. Vehicles entering, since they're merging
  3. Vehicles and bicyclists already circulating
  4. The largest vehicle in the roundabout

Answer: C — Vehicles and bicyclists already circulating

Entering drivers must yield to vehicles and bicyclists already circulating, who do not yield to them.

21. In a single-lane roundabout, you intend to turn left. About how far around the circle do you travel before exiting?

  1. Halfway
  2. A quarter of the way
  3. Three-quarters of the way
  4. All the way around

Answer: C — Three-quarters of the way

A left turn in a single-lane roundabout means going three-quarters of the way around.

22. You're already inside a roundabout when an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren. What should you do?

  1. Reverse to let it pass
  2. Stop immediately wherever you are
  3. Exit the roundabout first, then pull over
  4. Speed up to clear the roundabout before it arrives

Answer: C — Exit the roundabout first, then pull over

If already inside the roundabout, you should exit first, then pull over for the emergency vehicle.

23. A warning signal is active at a railroad crossing ahead. How far from the nearest rail should you stop?

  1. Within 100 feet but not less than 50 feet
  2. Exactly 25 feet
  3. At least 5 feet but no more than 15 feet
  4. Within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet

Answer: D — Within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet

You should stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail.

24. At a railroad crossing, who has the right-of-way between an approaching train and an ambulance responding to an emergency?

  1. Whichever arrives first
  2. The ambulance, if using lights and sirens
  3. The train, always
  4. The ambulance, always

Answer: C — The train, always

The train always has the right-of-way, even over police, fire, and ambulances.

25. You are already on a railroad crossing when the warning lights begin flashing and the gate starts to come down. What should you do?

  1. Back up off the crossing
  2. Stop where you are and sound your horn
  3. Keep moving until you are clear of the tracks
  4. Stop and wait for the gate to rise

Answer: C — Keep moving until you are clear of the tracks

If lights or gates activate while you're already on the crossing, keep moving; the gates are flexible and cannot trap you, but stopped traffic ahead can.

26. Your vehicle stalls on the tracks with a train approaching. What should you do first?

  1. Keep trying to restart the engine
  2. Get out immediately and move away from the tracks
  3. Try to push the vehicle off the tracks
  4. Stay inside and call for help

Answer: B — Get out immediately and move away from the tracks

If you stall on or near the tracks, get out immediately and walk quickly along the road away from the tracks before calling for help.

27. Turning right across a bike lane, what should you watch for?

  1. A bicyclist going straight through
  2. A bicyclist turning left
  3. Oncoming traffic only
  4. Pedestrians only

Answer: A — A bicyclist going straight through

You should watch for a bicyclist going straight as you turn right across the bike lane.

28. Entering an interstate from the acceleration lane, what should you do before merging?

  1. Move directly into the leftmost lane
  2. Merge at a low, cautious speed
  3. Match the speed of highway traffic
  4. Stop and wait for a large gap

Answer: C — Match the speed of highway traffic

The acceleration lane is used to match speed with highway traffic before merging.

29. Your vehicle breaks down on the interstate at night. Besides moving off the road and using your flashers, what should you do to signal for help?

  1. Tie a white cloth to the aerial or left door handle
  2. Stand behind the vehicle waving your arms
  3. Leave your high beams on
  4. Place flares in the travel lane

Answer: A — Tie a white cloth to the aerial or left door handle

You should tie a white cloth to the aerial or left door handle, raise the hood, and use flashers at night.

30. You realize you've just passed the exit you meant to take on the interstate. What should you do?

  1. Carefully back up to the exit
  2. Stop on the shoulder and wait for a gap to reverse
  3. Take the next exit
  4. Slow down and look for a place to turn around

Answer: C — Take the next exit

If you miss an exit, never slow, back up, or turn around; take the next one.

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