North Carolina DMV Permit Practice Test 5: 50 Questions
Practice Test 5 has 50 multiple-choice questions on North Carolina driving rules, including NC fire hydrant parking, high beam oncoming, high beam following and ABS emergency braking. Each answer is explained as soon as you pick it, and every question is listed with its answer in the study guide below.
More North Carolina Practice Tests
What Practice Test 5 Covers
The questions in this test ask about:
- NC Fire Hydrant Parking
- High Beam Oncoming
- High Beam Following
- ABS Emergency Braking
- DON'T WALK Flashing Pedestrian Signal
- Railroad Without Gates
- Railroad Red Lights Lowered Gates
- Texting While Driving
- Alcohol Effects
- Adult BAC 0.08%
- Under-21 Any Alcohol
- Seat Belt Importance
- Children Safest Position
- Shoulder Drift Recovery
Try 5 Questions from This Test
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You must turn on your headlights in North Carolina:
Show answer
C. From sunset to sunrise and when visibility is poor
Headlights are needed whenever you cannot clearly see the road or other vehicles.
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You may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
Show answer
C. 15 feet
Leaving space around hydrants allows firefighters to connect hoses quickly during an emergency.
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When you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle at night, you should:
Show answer
B. Dim your high beams and use low beams
Dimming your lights helps prevent blinding the other driver.
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When following another vehicle at night, you should switch to low beams when you are within about:
Show answer
A. 200 feet of the vehicle ahead
Low beams help you see while avoiding glare in the mirrors of the driver ahead.
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If your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), you should:
Show answer
B. Apply firm, continuous pressure on the brake pedal in an emergency stop
ABS works best when you press and hold the brake pedal firmly so the system can control wheel lockup.
Complete Study Guide: All 50 Questions with Answers
Every question in Practice Test 5, with the correct answer and an explanation for each.
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Q1. When a traffic signal turns green at an intersection, you should:
Correct answer: Look left and right and proceed only when the intersection is clear
Why: A green light means you may go, but only after making sure the intersection is clear of vehicles and pedestrians.
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Q2. On a two-lane road, a broken yellow center line next to your lane means you may:
Correct answer: Pass another vehicle when it is safe and the lane is clear
Why: A broken yellow line on your side allows passing when you have enough room and no oncoming traffic.
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Q3. A solid white line on the right edge of the road is used to:
Correct answer: Mark the edge of the travel lane
Why: Edge lines help you stay within your lane, especially at night or in bad weather.
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Q4. If you are stopped at an intersection and your view of cross traffic is blocked, you should:
Correct answer: Move forward slowly until you can see and then proceed when safe
Why: Creeping forward carefully lets you see cross traffic while still being able to stop if necessary.
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Q5. You should use your turn signal anytime you:
Correct answer: Change lanes, turn, or enter or leave a roadway
Why: Signals warn other road users about your intentions so they can react safely.
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Q6. When making a right turn, you should:
Correct answer: Turn from the right lane into the right lane, staying close to the curb
Why: Right turns should be made from the lane closest to the right curb into the nearest right lane.
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Q7. When turning left from a two-way street onto a one-way street, you should:
Correct answer: Turn from the lane nearest the center line into the left lane of the one-way street
Why: Turning from and into the correct lanes reduces the chance of conflict with other traffic.
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Q8. If you miss your exit on an interstate, you should:
Correct answer: Continue to the next exit and then adjust your route
Why: Backing up or making U-turns on the interstate is extremely dangerous and illegal.
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Q9. When merging onto an interstate from an acceleration lane, you should:
Correct answer: Match the speed of traffic and merge when there is a safe gap
Why: Using the acceleration lane to reach traffic speed lets you merge smoothly.
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Q10. When exiting an interstate, you should:
Correct answer: Signal early and move into the deceleration lane before reducing speed
Why: Use the deceleration lane to slow down after you have left the main lanes of the interstate.
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Q11. If you are driving in the left lane on a multi-lane highway and another vehicle comes up behind you wanting to go faster, you should:
Correct answer: Move to the right lane when it is safe and let the other driver pass
Why: The left lane is usually for passing. Move right so faster traffic can safely get by.
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Q12. Before changing lanes, you should always:
Correct answer: Check mirrors, signal, and quickly check your blind spot
Why: Checking mirrors and blind spots helps you be sure the lane is clear before moving.
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Q13. The best way to avoid last-minute moves when driving is to:
Correct answer: Look 10 to 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle
Why: Looking far ahead helps you spot problems early and gives you time to react smoothly.
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Q14. You are following a car on an open North Carolina road when it passes a road sign. Under the two-second rule, when should your car reach that same sign?
Correct answer: No sooner than two seconds later
Why: The two-second rule says to allow two seconds between the time the vehicle ahead passes a point and the time your vehicle reaches the same point.
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Q15. If you feel that another driver is following you too closely (tailgating), you should:
Correct answer: Gradually slow down and, when safe, change lanes to let them pass
Why: Creating space and letting the tailgater pass is safer than reacting aggressively.
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Q16. When driving at night, you should increase your following distance because:
Correct answer: It is harder to see hazards and judge distances in the dark
Why: Night driving reduces visibility, so more space gives you extra time to react.
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Q17. You should use high-beam headlights only:
Correct answer: On open roads at night when no other vehicles are nearby
Why: High beams help you see farther on dark, open roads but create glare for other drivers.
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Q18. If oncoming headlights are blinding you at night, you should:
Correct answer: Look toward the right edge of your lane and drive carefully
Why: Looking slightly to the right side of your lane reduces glare and helps you stay on course.
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Q19. When driving in fog, you should:
Correct answer: Use low-beam headlights and reduce speed
Why: Low beams cause less glare and help you see the road and other vehicles better in fog.
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Q20. If your vehicle starts to skid on a slippery road, you should:
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go
Why: Steering gently toward your intended path and avoiding sudden braking helps you regain control.
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Q21. Hydroplaning occurs when:
Correct answer: Your tires ride on a film of water and lose contact with the road
Why: When tires cannot cut through water, they can slide on top of it and lose traction.
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Q22. To reduce the risk of hydroplaning in heavy rain, you should:
Correct answer: Slow down and avoid sudden steering or braking
Why: Reducing speed and driving smoothly makes it less likely your tires will lose contact with the road.
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Q23. If your brakes suddenly fail while driving, you should first:
Correct answer: Pump the brake pedal and shift to a lower gear
Why: Pumping may restore some braking pressure, and downshifting helps slow the vehicle.
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Q24. If a tire suddenly blows out, you should:
Correct answer: Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and allow the vehicle to slow down
Why: Sudden braking or swerving after a blowout can cause a complete loss of control.
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Q25. When you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle at night, you should:
Correct answer: Dim your high beams and use low beams
Why: Dimming your lights helps prevent blinding the other driver.
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Q26. When following another vehicle at night, you should switch to low beams when you are within about:
Correct answer: 200 feet of the vehicle ahead
Why: Low beams help you see while avoiding glare in the mirrors of the driver ahead.
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Q27. You must turn on your headlights in North Carolina:
Correct answer: From sunset to sunrise and when visibility is poor
Why: Headlights are needed whenever you cannot clearly see the road or other vehicles.
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Q28. If your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), you should:
Correct answer: Apply firm, continuous pressure on the brake pedal in an emergency stop
Why: ABS works best when you press and hold the brake pedal firmly so the system can control wheel lockup.
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Q29. The main purpose of a safe following distance is to:
Correct answer: Give you time to react and stop if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops
Why: Leaving space in front of you is one of the best ways to avoid rear-end collisions.
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Q30. You must yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles with lights and siren on by:
Correct answer: Pulling as close as possible to the right edge of the road and stopping
Why: Moving right and stopping gives emergency vehicles a clear path through traffic.
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Q31. If you are stopped at a red light and an emergency vehicle with lights and siren approaches from behind, you should:
Correct answer: Remain stopped unless directed otherwise and let the vehicle go around
Why: Do not move into an intersection against a red light unless a police officer directs you.
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Q32. When you see a yield sign as you enter a highway merge area, you must:
Correct answer: Slow down and be prepared to stop if needed to let highway traffic go first
Why: Traffic already on the highway has the right-of-way. You must wait for a safe opening.
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Q33. A pedestrian begins to cross the street after the DON'T WALK signal starts flashing. You should:
Correct answer: Allow the pedestrian to finish crossing
Why: Drivers must yield to pedestrians already in the crosswalk.
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Q34. When parking uphill with a curb, you should:
Correct answer: Turn your front wheels away from the curb
Why: Turning away from the curb lets the wheel rest against the curb if the vehicle rolls back.
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Q35. When parking downhill with a curb, you should:
Correct answer: Turn your front wheels toward the curb
Why: Turning the wheels toward the curb helps prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic.
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Q36. You may not park your vehicle:
Correct answer: In front of a public or private driveway
Why: Blocking a driveway can prevent someone from entering or leaving and is against the law.
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Q37. You may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
Correct answer: 15 feet
Why: Leaving space around hydrants allows firefighters to connect hoses quickly during an emergency.
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Q38. When approaching a railroad crossing without signals or gates, you should:
Correct answer: Slow down, look, and listen for trains before crossing
Why: Always be sure there is no train coming before you drive over the tracks.
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Q39. If red lights are flashing at a railroad crossing and the gate is lowered, you must:
Correct answer: Stop and remain stopped until the lights stop and the gate is fully raised
Why: Flashing lights and gates mean a train is near. Never go around lowered gates.
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Q40. Texting while driving is dangerous because it:
Correct answer: Takes your eyes, hands, and mind away from driving
Why: Texting is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving and is illegal.
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Q41. Alcohol affects drivers by:
Correct answer: Reducing judgment, coordination, and reaction time
Why: Even small amounts of alcohol can slow reactions and make it harder to make safe decisions.
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Q42. For drivers age 21 and older, it is illegal to drive in North Carolina with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:
Correct answer: 0.08% or higher
Why: A BAC of 0.08% is the legal limit in most states for adult drivers.
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Q43. For drivers under 21, any measurable amount of alcohol in the system while driving is:
Correct answer: Illegal under zero-tolerance rules
Why: Underage drivers are not allowed to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system.
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Q44. If you plan to drink alcohol, the safest decision is to:
Correct answer: Arrange for a sober driver, use transit, or stay where you are
Why: The only safe choice is not to drive after drinking. Plan another way to get home.
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Q45. Seat belts are important because they:
Correct answer: Help keep you inside the vehicle and reduce injury in a crash
Why: Seat belts greatly reduce the risk of serious injury or death in most crashes.
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Q46. Children are safest in a vehicle when they are:
Correct answer: Properly secured in the back seat in a child safety seat or booster when appropriate
Why: The back seat with the right child restraint offers the best protection for children.
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Q47. If your vehicle begins to drift off the pavement onto the shoulder, you should:
Correct answer: Grip the wheel, ease off the gas, and gently steer back onto the road when safe
Why: Sudden steering or braking on the shoulder can cause a skid or rollover. Re-enter the roadway gradually.
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Q48. If your vehicle is involved in a crash with no injuries and minor damage, you should:
Correct answer: Move your vehicle out of the traffic lane if possible and exchange information
Why: Moving out of traffic when possible helps prevent additional crashes and is usually required by law.
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Q49. When you are backing out of a parking space, you should:
Correct answer: Turn and look through the rear window while backing slowly
Why: Turning and looking behind you gives the best view of pedestrians, vehicles, and other hazards.
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Q50. If you begin to feel tired while driving on a long trip, you should:
Correct answer: Exit the road at a safe place and rest or switch drivers
Why: The only real cure for drowsiness is rest. Stopping before you fall asleep at the wheel prevents crashes.