North Carolina DMV Learner’s Permit Test – Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards highlighting key North Carolina DMV learner-permit concepts, traffic rules, signs, and safe-driving practices discussed in the lecture notes.

Chains or snow tires

Traction devices to use when driving in densely packed snow.

Low-beam headlights

Headlights you should use in heavy snow or fog.

Alcohol-related highway deaths

Account for roughly 38 % of all traffic fatalities.

Driver Improvement Clinic

Course you may attend to remove 3 points after accumulating 7 or more points on your record.

Passing a stopped school bus

Traffic conviction that adds the highest number of points (5) to your driving record.

Secondary roads

Roads with steeper hills and sharper curves than primary roads.

Default city/town speed limit

35 mph unless otherwise posted.

License restoration

Visit a DMV office, pay a restoration fee, and reapply for a license.

Four-way stop right-of-way

Vehicle on the right proceeds first when three cars arrive simultaneously.

Suspension system trouble

Indicated by a vehicle that sways, leans in turns, or bounces continuously.

Breakdown protocol

Pull safely off the road and call law-enforcement for assistance.

Two-second rule

Method for maintaining a safe following distance from the vehicle ahead.

Driving after medication

Determine the drug’s effects before operating a vehicle.

Long trip rest interval

Stop and rest every 100 miles.

Pre-pass check

Look ahead to be sure there is enough room before passing another vehicle.

Steep downhill driving

Shift to a lower gear to control speed.

Running off the roadway

Gradually lift your foot off the gas pedal and steer back safely.

Farm equipment speed

Typically travels 15–20 mph on rural highways.

Traffic circle entry

Yield to vehicles already circulating inside the circle.

Post-crash action

Immediately call law-enforcement officers.

School bus at railroad crossing

Required to make a complete stop at all tracks.

City traffic awareness

Watch for drivers who make sudden stops.

“No-Zone”

Large truck blind spots where cars disappear from a trucker’s view.

Right turn on red

Permitted after a complete stop and if the turn can be made safely unless prohibited by sign.

Under-21 alcohol offense

Aiding/abetting an illegal purchase results in 1-year license revocation.

Immediate BAC revocation level

Blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 % or higher.

Blocked-view road

Stop first, then proceed with caution.

Mirror scan frequency

Check rear-view and side mirrors about every 10 seconds.

Turn-signal distance at 45 mph

Signal at least 200 ft before turning.

Wrong lane for turning

Proceed to the next intersection before making the turn.

Most common highway crash

Rear-end collision.

Following another car at night

Keep low-beam headlights on to avoid glare.

Drying wet brakes

Gently apply brakes while driving slowly.

Railroad crossing approach

Slow down and be ready to stop if necessary.

Red arrow signal

Only the turning-arrow lane must stop; others follow their lights.

Pedestrian night safety

Carry or wear something white when walking along a roadway.

High-beam usage

Use on highways when no oncoming traffic is present.

First slick roads

Happen just after rain or drizzle begins.

Passing farm equipment

Wait until the equipment can pull over; then pass carefully.

Large-truck blind spots

Exist along the sides and directly behind tractor-trailers.

Right-turn setup

Signal and move to the right-hand side of the road before turning.

Shoulder check

Quick glance over your shoulder before changing lanes or turning.

Fatigue on long trips

Stop and rest when tired.

Nighttime bump detection

Watch the vehicle’s tail-lights ahead to judge road surface.

Urban pedestrian fatalities

2 out of 5 people killed in city crashes are pedestrians.

Curve entry speed

Slow down before entering the curve.

Downhill parking wheels

Turn front wheels toward the curb.

Circular orange signal

Indicates caution; light is about to turn red.

Default outside-city speed limit

55 mph unless posted otherwise.

Pedestrian right-of-way (no signals)

Pedestrian crosses first at intersections without traffic lights.

Following distance in bad weather

Increase space behind the car ahead.

Danger of driving too slowly

Especially risky just after cresting a hill where faster traffic approaches from behind.

Missed freeway exit

Continue to the next exit; do not back up or cross the median.

NC point system suspension

12 points within 3 years may result in license loss.

Excessive speeding penalty

License loss for speeding over 70 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Chemical test refusal

Results in 12-month immediate license revocation.

Solid yellow line on your side

No passing allowed from your lane.

Brake failure response

Shift to lower gear, release clutch, apply emergency brake.

Pedestrian green light right-of-way

Pedestrians crossing on green have priority over all vehicles.

Merging onto interstate

Use acceleration lane to match traffic speed, then merge safely.

Exhaust leak hazard

Carbon monoxide can enter passenger compartment.

Proper tire inflation

Important for safe driving and fuel economy.

Bicycle crash location

Most occur in residential areas.

Skid recovery

Steer in the same direction the rear of the car is skidding.

Cyclist vulnerability

Bicyclists can sustain severe injuries when struck.

Blind pedestrian right-of-way

Granted to persons with white cane with red tip or guide dog.

Flashing red signal

Same meaning as a stop sign—stop, then proceed when safe.

Glare from oncoming high beams

Look straight ahead, not directly at the bright lights.

Truck driver blind-spot check

Look over the shoulder to clear side areas.

NC license requirement

Needed when sitting in driver’s seat with engine running on a public roadway.

DUI consequence

Leads to license suspension.

Peak bicycle accident time

Most likely on Saturday at dusk.

Yellow traffic light

Proceed through the intersection cautiously; clear it if already in.

Littering fine

$250 minimum to $1,000 maximum for thrown trash.

Slow down in bad weather

Reduce speed and increase following distance.

City slow driver hazard

Driving too slowly can cause rear-end or lane-change crashes in urban traffic.

Maximum highway speed (NC)

70 mph unless otherwise posted.

Slow drivers

Statistically the most hazardous driver group.

Mirror checks to prevent rear-end

Frequent mirror use helps avoid being hit from behind on interstates.

Intersection crash statistics

Over one-third of fatal crashes occur at intersections.

School zone warning sign

Yellow pentagon depicting children near a school.

Reckless driving

Does not automatically trigger license suspension (unlike certain other offenses).

Emergency vehicle approach

Pull to the right curb and stop completely.

Blind curve horn use

Sound horn when entering a curve with no clear view of oncoming traffic.

Annual vehicle inspection

Required every 12 months in North Carolina.

Passing bicyclist on narrow road

Slow, let oncoming vehicle pass, then overtake the bicycle safely.

Flashing yellow signal

Proceed with caution; no complete stop required.

Flat tire response

Move the vehicle to the roadside shoulder.

Mirror adjustment timing

Set rear-view and side mirrors before driving.

Blind intersection approach

Stop and look carefully for cross traffic.

Country-road vigilance

Watch for slow-moving farm machinery.

Highway breakdown procedure

Move far off the road and raise the hood as a distress signal.

Construction-zone driving

Maintain the pace of traffic unless directed otherwise.

Snow driving speed

Drive more slowly for better control.

Lane change requirement

Check what vehicles in adjacent lanes are doing before moving over.

Regulatory speed-limit sign

White rectangle/square with black border displays the legal speed limit.

No-Passing Zone pennant

Yellow (often referred to as orange) sideways triangle pointing right marks start of a no-passing zone.

Railroad advance warning sign

Round yellow sign with black X and ‘RR’ letters.

Yield sign

Red inverted triangle with white center indicating drivers must give right-of-way.