NC DMV Permit Test flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Octagon sign shape

An eight-sided red sign always means come to a complete stop, then proceed only when the way is clear; it appears at intersections and at railroad crossings.

Pennant sign

A yellow pennant-shaped sign marks the beginning of a no-passing zone on a two-lane road and is mounted on the left side of the roadway facing you.

Flashing yellow signal

A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution. It does not require a stop and often warns of a hazardous intersection or crosswalk.

Right turn on red

In North Carolina you may turn right after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it, but you must yield to pedestrians and to cross traffic first.

Orange work zone signs

Orange diamond or rectangular signs mark construction and maintenance zones, where speeds are reduced and fines for moving violations are doubled when workers are present.

Four-way stop order

The first vehicle to arrive proceeds first. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

Left turn right-of-way

A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk, waiting for a safe gap before completing the turn.

School bus red lights

On an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus showing flashing red lights until the lights stop flashing or the bus moves.

Move Over law

When an emergency, law enforcement, or utility vehicle is stopped with lights on, move over one lane or slow down if a lane change is unsafe.

North Carolina speed limits

Unless posted otherwise, the maximum is 35 mph inside cities and towns, 55 mph on rural roads, and 70 mph on interstate highways.

Two-second following rule

When the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object, count at least two seconds before your front bumper reaches that same object.

Scan 12 seconds ahead

Look about 12 to 15 seconds down the road, roughly one city block at town speeds, so hazards are spotted before a sudden reaction is needed.

Increase following distance when

Add at least one second in rain, darkness, or at higher speeds, and two or more seconds in fog or heavy rain when stopping distances grow.

Overdriving your headlights

Never drive faster than you can stop within the distance your headlights show. Low beams reveal about 160 feet, so faster speeds outrun your visibility.

Space cushion rule

A practical guideline is keeping about one car length of gap for each 10 mph of speed, plus an open escape route on at least one side.

NC legal BAC limit

In North Carolina a driver 21 or older is legally impaired at 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration; commercial drivers are impaired at 0.04 percent.

Zero tolerance under 21

A driver under 21 with an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or higher commits a DWI offense and faces license suspension even without other evidence of impairment.

Implied consent law

Driving in North Carolina means you consent to breath or blood testing; refusing a test revokes your license for at least one year.

Alcohol elimination rate

The body clears roughly one standard drink per hour. Coffee, food, and cold showers may increase alertness but do not lower blood alcohol concentration.

Open container law

It is illegal to keep an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle on a North Carolina public road, regardless of who is driving.

Headlights with wipers

North Carolina requires headlights whenever windshield wipers are in use, and from sunset to sunrise or whenever visibility is greatly reduced.

Minimum tire tread

Tires must have at least 2/32 inch of tread depth; less tread raises hydroplaning risk and lengthens stopping distance on wet pavement.

Child restraint requirement

A child younger than 8 years old and under 80 pounds must ride in a federally approved child safety seat or booster seat, preferably in the rear.

Horn audibility standard

Every vehicle must have a horn that can be heard from at least 200 feet away; the horn is a warning device, not a way to show frustration.

Motorcycle lane rights

A motorcycle is entitled to the entire lane width. No vehicle may share a lane with a motorcycle or ride two abreast alongside it.

Two feet bicycle clearance

When passing a bicycle in North Carolina, move left to leave at least two feet of clearance and do not return to the lane until safely past.

Truck blind spots

Large trucks have blind spots directly behind, in front, and on both sides. If you cannot see the driver's mirror, the driver cannot see you.

Pedestrian in crosswalk

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and may not pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

Fog driving lights

In fog use low beam headlights, not high beams, because high beams reflect off the fog and reduce visibility; slow down and add following distance.

Hydroplaning response

Hydroplaning means tires ride on water and lose pavement contact. Ease off the accelerator and avoid hard braking or steering until traction returns.

Black ice locations

Black ice forms first on bridges, overpasses, and shaded stretches of road, especially when temperatures are near or just above freezing.

First minutes of rain

Roads are most slippery during the first 10 to 15 minutes of rain, when water mixes with accumulated oil and dust before washing away.