NC Permit Practice Test 7

All 20 questions in test 7

Every question below comes from the North Carolina question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. When being passed on a North Carolina road, what must the driver of the vehicle being overtaken do?

   1. Accelerate to keep the other vehicle beside you
   2. Brake hard in the travel lane
   3. Move left to block the passing vehicle
   4. Move to the right edge and never increase speed
   Show answer

   Move to the right edge and never increase speed. When another driver is passing, the handbook requires the overtaken driver to help by moving to the right edge of the road and never increasing speed. Accelerating can prevent the passing maneuver and, if a crash causes injury or property damage, may lead to a misdemeanor. Moving left blocks the pass, while hard braking creates a new hazard. The practical cue is simple: give space on the right and hold or reduce speed. This duty applies when the passing driver signals with the horn and is working to complete the maneuver safely.

2. 2. How should a North Carolina driver steer while backing to keep the fullest view behind the vehicle?

   1. Look through the side window while steering with the right hand
   2. Use both mirrors without turning the head
   3. Use the left hand and look over the right shoulder through the back window
   4. Turn around only after the vehicle begins moving
   Show answer

   Use the left hand and look over the right shoulder through the back window. For backing, the handbook directs the driver to steer with the left hand and look over the right shoulder through the back window. Mirrors alone do not provide the full view the instruction seeks, and looking through the side window or waiting until movement begins can hide children or small objects. Before entering the vehicle, the driver should also check behind it. The cue is left hand on the wheel, right shoulder toward the back window, and a slow controlled movement. This technique is specifically tied to maintaining a full view behind the vehicle.

3. 3. What is the maximum speed for backing a vehicle under the North Carolina handbook’s backing guidance?

   1. Not more than 25 mph
   2. Not more than 5 mph
   3. Not more than 40 mph
   4. Not more than 10 mph
   Show answer

   Not more than 10 mph. The backing guidance says to back very slowly, not more than 10 mph, because a vehicle is harder to control and stop while moving backward. Twenty five and forty miles per hour are plainly too fast for the limited visibility of reversing, while five is not the handbook’s stated maximum. The exam cue is the exact figure ten, paired with the reason that control and stopping are more difficult. Even at or below that ceiling, the driver must check behind the vehicle and maintain a full view rather than rely on speed alone.

4. 4. At a North Carolina roundabout, which road users have priority over a driver approaching the circle?

   1. Only vehicles entering from the right
   2. Approaching vehicles whenever they signal
   3. Vehicles or bicyclists already in the roundabout
   4. Pedestrians outside the marked crosswalk
   Show answer

   Vehicles or bicyclists already in the roundabout. Drivers approaching a roundabout must yield to vehicles or bicyclists already circulating in it. The approaching driver does not gain priority merely by signaling or arriving from a particular side. Pedestrians have their own right to use marked crosswalks, but the handbook’s stated priority for entering traffic is the road users already in the roundabout. A useful cue is yield before entry, then travel counterclockwise and signal when exiting. In a multi lane roundabout, choose the proper lane before entering and do not change lanes inside the circle.

5. 5. If a North Carolina driver is already inside a roundabout when an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and sirens, what should happen?

   1. Stop immediately in the circle
   2. Exit the roundabout first, then pull over for the emergency vehicle
   3. Reverse around the circle to make room
   4. Enter the roundabout again after stopping at the entrance
   Show answer

   Exit the roundabout first, then pull over for the emergency vehicle. A driver already in the roundabout should exit first and then pull over so the emergency vehicle can pass. Stopping in the circle or reversing around it can block circulating traffic and create a collision hazard. The handbook separately says never to enter while an emergency vehicle using lights and sirens is passing through. The cue is to finish the current movement safely, leave the circle, and then yield. Drivers approaching the entrance should wait, while a driver already inside should complete the exit rather than make a sudden stop.

6. 6. Why does the North Carolina handbook warn that passing on the right is risky?

   1. The passing vehicle must always cross a double-solid yellow line
   2. The vehicle being passed may turn right or pull toward the right side
   3. The passing vehicle cannot use a signal on a multilane highway
   4. The vehicle being passed must stop before the maneuver begins
   Show answer

   The vehicle being passed may turn right or pull toward the right side. Passing on the right places the passing vehicle on the blind side of the vehicle being passed. That vehicle may unexpectedly make a right turn or pull toward the right side of the road, creating a collision risk. The other choices invent requirements about yellow lines, stopping, or signal use that are not the handbook’s warning. Before moving right, check the roadway, the other vehicle’s position, and the space ahead. The cue is to remember the hidden side of the vehicle and the possibility of a sudden rightward movement.

7. 7. On a highway with only one lane in your direction, how should you proceed when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with warning lights activated?

   1. Stop completely and remain beside the emergency vehicle
   2. Use the opposite lane at full speed to pass quickly
   3. Maintain the posted speed until the vehicle is no longer visible
   4. Slow to a reduced, safe speed until completely past the emergency vehicle
   Show answer

   Slow to a reduced, safe speed until completely past the emergency vehicle. When a highway has only one lane moving in your direction, North Carolina requires a driver to slow down and travel at a reduced, safe speed until completely past the emergency vehicle. A full stop beside the vehicle is not the stated procedure, while maintaining the posted speed may leave too little room for responders. Using the opposite lane at full speed creates a separate collision risk and ignores the required caution. Reduce speed before reaching the scene, keep control of the vehicle, and continue slowly until the emergency vehicle is fully behind you.

8. 8. When does the North Carolina stop-sign rule for a malfunctioning traffic light not apply?

   1. When a law enforcement officer or another authorized person is directing traffic, or another traffic control device is operating
   2. When the signal has been dark for less than one minute
   3. When the main road has more traffic
   4. When a driver has already entered the intersection
   Show answer

   When a law enforcement officer or another authorized person is directing traffic, or another traffic control device is operating. A failed traffic light is handled as a stop-sign intersection on all approaches, but the handbook identifies exceptions. The stop-sign treatment does not apply when a law enforcement officer or another authorized person is directing traffic, or when another type of traffic control device is operating. Traffic volume, the length of the outage, and a driver’s position do not create exceptions. Before proceeding, look for an officer, an authorized traffic director, or another operating control device that tells drivers how to move.

9. 9. What extra space should a driver allow when a passing vehicle needs to move into the gap ahead?

   1. Enough distance for the passing vehicle to move in safely
   2. No space, because the passing vehicle must remain outside the lane
   3. Exactly one car length regardless of speed
   4. A gap created only after the lead vehicle stops
   Show answer

   Enough distance for the passing vehicle to move in safely. On the open road, a driver should leave enough room between the vehicle ahead and the following vehicle so a passing vehicle can enter the space safely. Closing the gap denies that vehicle a predictable place to return and can force abrupt braking. The handbook’s advice is not a fixed car length, and waiting until the lead vehicle stops is much too late. Look well ahead, maintain a usable cushion, and enlarge it as speed or road conditions change. The concrete cue is a vehicle completing a pass: it should have room to merge without squeezing into your front bumper.

10. 10. When a school bus is displaying its stop signal or flashing red lights, what must an approaching driver do?

    1. Pass after checking that no child is visible
    2. Stop only when following directly behind the bus
    3. Continue if the driver can see the bus driver
    4. Stop and not attempt to pass until the stop signal is withdrawn
    Show answer

    Stop and not attempt to pass until the stop signal is withdrawn. When a school bus displays its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights, an approaching driver must stop and may not attempt to pass. The bus signal, not a visual check for children, controls the movement. Waiting for the signal to be withdrawn is part of the rule, and the bus’s location or the driver’s view does not remove that duty. Treat the flashing red lights as a complete stop command, then remain stopped until the bus has finished the passenger activity and the required signals are no longer active.

11. 11. What must every vehicle in a North Carolina funeral procession display?

    1. Nothing special
    2. High beams only
    3. A flag on the antenna
    4. Headlights on, and hazard warning signals if equipped
    Show answer

    Headlights on, and hazard warning signals if equipped. Every vehicle in a North Carolina funeral procession must have its headlights on, and the hazard warning signals must also be on if the vehicle has them. The operator of the lead vehicle must comply with all traffic control signals, but once the lead vehicle has crossed an intersection lawfully or under an officer's direction, the following vehicles may proceed through without stopping. Other drivers must not cut through the line.

12. 12. How far from a fire truck responding to a fire alarm may a driver drive or park?

    1. Not closer than one block
    2. Not closer than 100 feet
    3. Not closer than one car length
    4. Any distance is allowed after the siren starts
    Show answer

    Not closer than one block. The handbook prohibits driving or parking closer than one block from fire trucks responding to a fire alarm. The distance is not the 100-foot rule that applies near an emergency vehicle stopped to investigate an accident or give assistance. A car length is far shorter than the stated buffer, and the presence of a siren does not authorize stopping beside the truck. Keep the route open for the response, remain outside the one-block boundary, and follow any directions from emergency personnel. The cue is a fire truck actively responding to a fire alarm.

13. 13. How many hours must a North Carolina teen log on the Driving Log before a Level Two license, and how many at night?

    1. At least 40 hours, with 6 at night
    2. At least 50 hours, with 10 at night
    3. At least 60 hours, with at least 10 at night
    4. At least 30 hours, all in daylight
    Show answer

    At least 60 hours, with at least 10 at night. A Level One permit holder receives a Driving Log that must detail a minimum of 60 hours of operation, and at least 10 of those hours must occur during nighttime hours. Daytime driving counts from sunrise to sunset, and nighttime driving is after sunset and before sunrise. Forty and fifty hour totals belong to other states. The completed log is presented when applying for the Level Two license.

14. 14. Before making a right turn, where should a driver position the vehicle?

    1. Close to the right edge of the road
    2. Beside the center line so another vehicle can pass on the right
    3. In the left edge of the roadway regardless of lane markings
    4. Anywhere in the lane because position does not affect turning safety
    Show answer

    Close to the right edge of the road. For a right turn, the handbook advises staying close to the right edge so another vehicle cannot move between the turning vehicle and the curb. The center line position invites an unsafe pass on the right, while the left edge is unrelated to a normal right turn. Reduce speed before turning, signal, and check carefully for motorcycles and bicycles, which can be difficult to see. Position and observation work together to keep the turn contained.

15. 15. Why does the handbook require space between your vehicle and the one ahead?

    1. It prevents every vehicle from passing you on the left
    2. It lets you avoid using turn signals in heavy traffic
    3. It gives time to react if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly
    4. It guarantees that the vehicle ahead will never brake hard
    Show answer

    It gives time to react if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly. Following too closely removes the time needed to react when the vehicle ahead stops suddenly. The handbook also connects adequate space with allowing a passing vehicle to move safely into the gap on an open road. Space cannot prevent every pass or guarantee another driver’s behavior. The useful cue is to watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point and preserve the two second interval, adding more room whenever speed, weather, or traffic makes stopping harder.

16. 16. According to the North Carolina handbook, what share of tropical weather deaths since 1970 came from inland flooding, and what caused half of them?

    1. 10 percent, mostly from wind
    2. 85 percent, with half caused by people driving into known flooded roads
    3. 50 percent, mostly at the coast
    4. 25 percent, mostly from falling trees
    Show answer

    85 percent, with half caused by people driving into known flooded roads. Since 1970, inland flooding has been responsible for 85 percent of deaths associated with tropical weather in North Carolina, and half of those deaths were caused by people driving into known flooded roads. Never drive through standing water on a roadway, because the water level may be much higher than it appears and the road beneath may be gone. Turn around and find another route.

17. 17. When has a North Carolina driver not passed safely?

    1. When the passing driver signals before moving left
    2. When the driver returns to the original lane before meeting oncoming traffic
    3. When the vehicle being passed must slow down to let the driver return to the correct lane
    4. When the passed vehicle maintains its speed
    Show answer

    When the vehicle being passed must slow down to let the driver return to the correct lane. A pass is not safe if the vehicle being passed must slow down so the passing driver can return to the correct lane. That outcome means the passing maneuver was started or completed without enough room, forcing the other driver to compensate. Signaling before moving left is required communication, not evidence of failure. Returning before meeting oncoming traffic is part of completing the maneuver safely, and the passed vehicle maintaining speed does not by itself make the pass unsafe. Leave enough time and distance to finish without making the other driver change speed.

18. 18. How does the North Carolina handbook characterize passing on the right?

    1. It is legal whenever the passing vehicle uses its horn
    2. It is against the law except in specifically permitted areas
    3. It is required on every highway with two lanes
    4. It is legal whenever the vehicle ahead is slower
    Show answer

    It is against the law except in specifically permitted areas. The handbook gives a general prohibition followed by specific exceptions. Passing on the right is against the law unless the location and lane arrangement make it specifically permitted. A horn does not create legal permission, a two-lane highway does not automatically require the maneuver, and a slower vehicle alone does not change the rule. Before moving right, identify an actual exception and confirm that the pass can be completed safely. The useful memory cue is prohibited first, permitted only under a stated roadway condition.

19. 19. What does North Carolina require a driver to do when coming to an intersection, even if the driver has the right of way?

    1. Speed up to clear the intersection first
    2. Slow down
    3. Change lanes while proceeding straight
    4. Stop in every case before crossing
    Show answer

    Slow down. The law requires a driver to slow down at an intersection even when the driver has the right of way. Right of way is not a guarantee that another person will obey a sign or notice the vehicle. Stopping every time is broader than the stated rule, while speeding and changing lanes increase conflict inside the intersection. Reduce speed, scan for vehicles and pedestrians, and be prepared to yield or stop if the developing situation makes that necessary.

20. 20. How often does the North Carolina handbook say tire air pressure must be checked?

    1. At least once each month
    2. Once a year
    3. Only before long trips
    4. Only when the warning light comes on
    Show answer

    At least once each month. The air pressure of tires must be checked at least once each month. Underinflated tires wear out faster and raise the chance of a blowout, while overinflated tires reduce traction and wear the middle of the tread. Proper pressure gives safe handling and better fuel economy. Waiting for a warning light or a long trip leaves tires low for weeks at a time.