North Carolina Drivers Education Practice

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards based on the North Carolina Drivers Ed Practice exam covering rules of the road, safety procedures, and legal penalties.

Driver License Requirements

A driver license is required for sitting in the driver's seat of a car while the engine is running or steering a car while it is being pushed or towed.

Chemical Test Refusal Penalty

If a law enforcement officer swears a driver refused a legal chemical test, the Division of Motor Vehicles must revoke the driver's license for at least $12$ months.

Point System Warning Letter

A driver is sent a warning letter when they accumulate $4$ points within $3$ years.

Point System License Loss

A driver who gets $12$ points within $3$ years may lose their license.

Driver Improvement Clinic

Satisfactory completion of this clinic allows a driver with a total of $7$ points to have $3$ points deducted.

Highest Number of Points Conviction

Passing a stopped school bus unloading children carries the highest number of points.

Specific Speeding Revocation

A driver will lose their license if convicted of speeding more than $75\text{ mph}$ in a $55\text{ mph}$ zone.

Restoring a Revoked License

A person must obtain permission from the Driver License Section in Raleigh to reapply, go to a driver license office, pay a restoration fee, and reapply.

Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities

Roughly half ($50$%) of all traffic fatalities involve a drunken person.

City Pedestrian Accident Statistics

In cities, $2$ out of $5$ people killed in motor vehicle accidents are pedestrians.

Walking at Night Without Sidewalks

You should walk on the left, facing traffic, and wear or carry something white.

Unmarked Intersection Right-of-Way

If there are no traffic lights/signs, the right-of-way belongs to the pedestrian attempting to cross the path of a driver.

Safe Driving Mirror Habits

A safe driver frequently checks the rear-view and side mirrors to avoid being hit in the rear and to stay alert.

Long-Trip Safety Habits

To avoid sleepiness, open a window for fresh air and avoid looking at any one thing for more than a few seconds.

Slow Driver Hazard

Studies show that slow drivers are a serious traffic hazard, especially just after passing the crest of a hill or rounding a curve.

City Speed Limit

Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit inside a city is $35\text{ mph}$.

Outside City Speed Limit

The speed limit outside a city is $55\text{ mph}$ unless otherwise posted.

Rounding a Curve Behavior

When rounding a curve, a car tends to move to the outside of the curve; drivers should not brake in the sharpest part.

Mountain/Hill Driving Technique

To reduce speed or maintain control while going down a steep hill or pulling a trailer, a driver should use a lower gear.

Passing on a Two-Lane Road

A driver should sound their horn to signal intention to the driver ahead and give a left turn signal.

Legal Passing on the Right

Passing on the right is legal on a $4$-lane highway with $2$-lanes in each direction or on a one-way street.

Backing Speed Limit

When backing your car, you should move at no more than $10\text{ mph}$.

Most Frequent Accident Location

Highway accidents occur most frequently at intersections.

Unmarked Blind Intersection Procedure

A driver should stop at the intersection and move forward slowly.

Common Interstate Accident Type

The most frequent type of accident on interstate highways is a rear-end collision.

Interstate Breakdown Procedure

A driver should raise the hood and tie a white handkerchief to the left door handle.

Nighttime Headlight Blinding Hazards

A driver may be temporarily blinded by the glare of other headlights or the flame from a match used to light a cigarette.

Low-Beam Usage Situations

Low beams should be used at night in the city, in foggy or misty weather, and when following another car.

Initial Rain Hazard

Roads are especially slick just after it begins to rain or drizzle because the moisture loosens oil and gravel.

Fog and Snow Driving Lights

Drivers should use low-beam headlights when driving through heavy fog or heavy snowstorms during the day.

Hard Packed Snow Traction

The best way to get good traction on hard packed snow is to put chains on your tires.

Manual Transmission Slippery Surface Pull-away

Drivers should start in second or high gear to pull away from a slippery surface.

Wet Brake Recovery

Wet brakes can be dried by slowing down and pressing the gas pedal while keeping light pressure on the brake pedal.

Blowout Steering Procedure

If a blowout occurs at high speed, the driver should grip the steering wheel firmly to keep the car from swerving.

Off-Road Recovery Technique

If a vehicle runs onto the shoulder, the driver should take their foot off the gas pedal gradually.

Skid Correction Procedure

A driver should reduce pressure on the gas pedal and turn the steering wheel in the direction in which the rear end is skidding.

Flashing Yellow Signal

A flashing yellow traffic signal means to slow down and proceed with caution.

Diamond-Shaped Traffic Sign

This sign is used to warn drivers of hazards (like deer crossings) and means to slow down and drive with care.

Highway Work Zone Color Scheme

The main color for signs in highway work zones is orange.

Blind Pedestrian Consideration

Law gives special consideration to a blind pedestrian if they hold out a white cane or have a guide dog.

Required Vehicle Equipment

North Carolina requires all cars to have a muffler and license plate lights.

Brake Problem Symptom

Brakes need checking if there is a squeaking noise when the brake pedal is stepped on.

Siren Regulations

Only law enforcement and emergency vehicles may have sirens.

Exhaust System Definition

The system that carries harmful fumes from the engine to the rear of the car and releases them.

Leaky Exhaust System Danger

It should be repaired because it may allow dangerous fumes to enter the car.

Suspension System Failure Symptoms

A car that pitches and tosses in normal driving or leans heavily in turns is likely to have suspension trouble.

Five-Lane Street School Bus Rule

If a bus stops in the far right lane, only lanes going in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.

Full-Size Public School Bus Speed Limit

The maximum speed limit for a full-size public school bus in North Carolina is $45\text{ mph}$.

Alcohol and Body Weight

A heavier person needs to drink more than a lighter person to reach the same $BAC$ because alcohol mixes with body fluids.

Alcohol Elimination Method

Only the liver can eliminate alcohol; coffee cannot neutralize its effects.

Alcohol's Effect on Vision

Alcohol causes the eyes to tend to stare at a point rather than scanning actively.

Standard Alcohol Serving Content

$12$ ounces of beer ($360\text{ ml}$), $4$ ounces of wine ($150\text{ ml}$), and $1.5$ ounces of spirits ($45\text{ ml}$) all contain approximately $0.6$ ounces ($18\text{ ml}$) of alcohol.

Food and Alcohol Consumption

Eating before drinking causes alcohol to enter the bloodstream at a slower pace.

Underage Drink-Driving Convocation

A $20$-year-old driver convicted of driving after drinking gets a $1$-year revocation.

Refusal of Chemical Test Revocation

Refusing a test results in an immediate $30$-day revocation plus an extra $12$ months added by the DMV.

DWI Conviction During Prior Revocation

If convicted of DWI while the license is already revoked for a prior DWI, the car may be seized and sold, and the person may be imprisoned.

Third DWI Conviction Penalty

A driver convicted of a third DWI gets a permanent revocation and imprisonment from $14$ days to $24$ months.

Fourth DWI Conviction Penalty

A person convicted of DWI for the $4$th time in $7$ years may be imprisoned from $1$ to $3$ years.