Speed limits and stopping distance

Key points

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

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Even with ideal conditions, if you are traveling 55 miles per hour your vehicle requires approximately 211 feet to stop completely.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

2. Unless posted otherwise, the limit in cities and towns is 35 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit is 35 mph in cities and towns.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

3. Maximum limits: 35 in cities and towns, 45 for school buses, 55 outside cities and towns and 70 on interstates.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Maximum Speed Limits In cities and towns 35 For school buses 45 For school activity buses 55 Outside cities and towns 55 For interstates 70”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

4. Never drive faster than the posted limit or than is reasonable for conditions.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Never drive faster than the posted speed limit or at a speed that is unreasonable or unwise given the existing conditions.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

5. Driving far below the limit is also dangerous. Observe the posted minimum speed.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “On the other hand, driving below the posted speed limit can also be dangerous. If you must drive slower, you should still observe the posted minimum speed limit.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

6. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead using the two-second rule.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Allow a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you (the “twosecond rule”).”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

7. At 55 mph, a vehicle travels the length of a football field in 3.7 seconds.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “At 55 mph, a vehicle travels the length of a football field in 3.7 seconds.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 40

8. Slow down before a curve so you do not need to brake in it.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Slow down before you enter the curve so that you will not need to brake while you are in the curve;”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 53

Numbers to know

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the North Carolina practice test

1. 1. Unless a different limit is posted, what speed limit applies in North Carolina cities and towns?

   1. 25 mph in cities and towns
   2. 35 mph in cities and towns
   3. 45 mph in cities and towns
   4. 55 mph in cities and towns
   Show answer

   35 mph in cities and towns. The handbook table gives 35 mph as the default maximum in cities and towns unless another limit is posted. A 25 mph limit may appear in a special zone, but it is not the statewide city and town default. Forty five and 55 mph are higher values that may fit other road settings or posted conditions. Check signs first, then remember the unposted municipal baseline as thirty five miles per hour.

2. 2. Where is very slow driving especially dangerous?

   1. Just after the crest of a hill or around a curve
   2. In a parking lot
   3. On a straight road with no traffic
   4. In a school zone during school hours
   Show answer

   Just after the crest of a hill or around a curve. Very slow driving is especially dangerous just after you have passed the crest of a hill or rounded a curve, because faster vehicles can crash into the slower one before they can slow down. Watch for slow-moving vehicles such as heavy trucks or farm vehicles in those places. A vehicle moving considerably below the posted limit is much more likely to be involved in a crash than one moving at a normal speed.

3. 3. You need to drive slower than other traffic. What limit should you still observe?

   1. No limit; any slow speed is legal
   2. The posted minimum speed limit
   3. Half the posted maximum
   4. The school bus speed limit
   Show answer

   The posted minimum speed limit. If you must drive slower than the rest of traffic, you should still observe the posted minimum speed limit. Driving below the posted limit can be dangerous: where it is unsafe to pass, a slow driver forces others to creep along behind or take unnecessary risks trying to pass. If traffic is collecting behind you, it is wise to pull over to the side of the road, stop, and let the vehicles pass.

Source: the North Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.