North Carolina Drivers License Guide

Chapter 5 — Your Dri 1

State of North CarolinaOffice of the Governor

Dear Motorist:North Carolina's driver license program is

designed to protect motorists and pedestrians. Itsgoals are to prevent traffic accidents and toreduce the number of injuries and property loss.

What you learn from this handbook is necessary for safe driving. How well you remem-ber what you learn and how well you put it intodaily practice will enable you to remain a safedriver.

Please remember, the privilege to drivemust be earned. It is a privilege that comes witha great deal of responsibility. We urge you toalways obey our laws and observe the rules ofsafe driving. Your life and the lives of othersdepend on you.

Sincerely,

Mike EasleyGovernor

Lyndo TippettTransportation Secretary

2Driving

State of North CarolinaDepartment of Transportation

Division of Motor VehiclesDear Fellow Motorist:

Safe and responsible driving continues to bevital to the millions of motorists traveling our highways each year. When given the privilege of driving in this state, you must be prepared. Youmust be prepared to accept responsibility foryour life and the lives of others.

Close to 200,000 crashes occur on NorthCarolina’s highways each year. These crashesresult in almost 1,500 deaths. We continue toimprove in this area, but we must do more. Wemust do more to protect ourselves and our families.

This driver handbook suggests many safeand defensive driving techniques while alsopointing out important motor vehicle laws. Whatyou learn from this handbook is necessary for thesafety of all drivers.

While this handbook contains informationyou need to prepare for the driver license exami-nation, it may not answer all of your questions.Please contact your nearest driver license office ifyou need more assistance. You can also find uson the web at www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us.

When you drive safely and obey the rules ofthe road, you can enjoy a lifetime of pleasant andconvenient travel on North Carolina's highways.

Sincerely,

George TatumCommissioner of Motor Vehicles

Driving 3

DMVdirectAccessautomated information by telephone

DMV directAccess is a convenient way toobtain information about driver licenses andvehicle registration from the North CarolinaDepartment of Transportation (NCDOT)Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Dial (919)715 - 7000 from a touch-tone telephone, andaccess information 24 hours a day, seven days aweek.

DMV directAccess gives you the facts about:• driver licenses, learner permits, motor-

cycle license endorsements, commercial d r i v e rlicenses (CDLs) and special identification cards;

• personalized information you shouldknow about points against your driver license,your driving record and the status of your driv-er license;

• medical and vision forms, exam cycles,records and hearings;

• vehicle registration, duplicate titles, lostor stolen license plates, personalized and vanitylicense plates and handicapped placards;

• liability insurance and more.

DMV directAccess also includes informa-tion about driver license and vehicle registrationtaxes and fees. By entering your zip code, thesystem can give you the location of a driverlicense or vehicle registration office in your area.

(919) 715-7000

Other DMV Telephone Listings:

Traffic Records Section . . . . . . . .(919) 861-3062

Customer Service/Citizen Affairs Section . . . . . . . .(919) 861-3059

License & Theft Bureau . . . . . . .(919) 861-3185

International Registration Plan(IRP) Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(919) 861-3720

School Bus andTraffic Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(919) 861-3109

4Driving

DMV On The Web

www.dmv.dot.state.nc.us

The NCDMV web site focuses on providingNorth Carolina’s motoring public with timelyand accurate information regarding NCDMVservices and issues. The site answers all of yourmost frequently asked questions and includesup-to-date directories of all DMV officesstatewide. A simple click of your mouse allowsyou to e-mail us directly from the site. You’llalso find news about hot topics and new legisla-tion affecting North Carolina’s motoring public.Several publications and forms are also availableon-line. Check it out!

Duplicate Driver License/DuplicateIdentification Card on The WebA duplicate driver license/duplicate identifica-tion card may be requested on-line atwww.dmv.dot.state.nc.us., provided that DMVhas your last image on file and a valid socialsecurity number or individual taxpayer identifi-cation number. Click on the Click@DMV logo,then click the “Duplicate Driver License/Duplicate Identification Card” link which takesyou to our “On-line Duplicate” Driver License/Identification Card site. A duplicate driverlicense/identification card may be requested forthe following reasons:

• to replace a lost or stolen license/identificationcard • to change a residence and/or mailing address • to replace a license/identification card that isdefaced or damaged.A fee of $10.00 is charged. At the present time,you may use a Mastercard or Visa credit card ordebit card to pay your fee. A duplicatelicense/identification card with the most recentphoto available in our computer system will bemailed to the customer. Customers with a sus-pended license or outstanding debt with DMVare not eligible for this service.

5

Transportation AlternativesFor many North Carolinians, operating a

vehicle may be too costly, inconvenient or danger-ous. The North Carolina Department ofTransportation wants you to know there aremany transportation alternatives to driving. Inour society, we often overlook our options towalk, ride a bicycle, carpool and use public trans-portation.

Public transportation could be your bestalternative to driving. Some form of public trans-portation is available in most areas of the state. Inthe larger, metropolitan areas there are bus sys-tems that operate on regular routes. Smaller,rural areas may provide coordinated van servicesfor citizens. In either case, public transportationis available and equipped to accommodate dis-abled persons.

To learn more about public transportationoptions in your area, call:

North CarolinaDepartment of TransportationPublic Transportation Division

(919) 733-4713

6 Table of Contentsiving

Table of ContentsChapter 1 — Your License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Getting Your Original License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Types of Licenses, Permits and Certifications . . 11

Regular Licenses, Commercial Licenses, Endorsements,Graduated Licensing, The Provisional Licensee,Restrictions, Requirements

New Residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21North Carolina’s Driver License andIdentification Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Renewal and Duplicate Licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . 23DMV Requires a Full Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Identification Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Voter Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Organ Donor Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Schedule of Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Chapter 2 — Alcohol And The Law . . . . . . . . . . . 27Driving While Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Alcohol and the Young Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chapter 3 — Your Driving Privilege . . . . . . . . . . . 30Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Suspensions and Revocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Driver License Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Chapter 4 — Your Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Driver Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Protecting Yourself and Your Passengers . . . . 41General Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Basic Driving Skills and Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Hazardous Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Chapter 5 — Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings . . . . . . . . 85Traffic Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85Traffic Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Regulatory, Warning and Guide/Informational Pavement Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91Traffic Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Chapter 5 — Your Dri 7

Chapter 6 — Sharing The Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Bicycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95You as a Pedestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Trucks and Other Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Motorcycles and Mopeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Keeping the Road Litter–Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Chapter 7 — How DMV Serves You . . . . . . . . . . 104DMV Mobile Service Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104Driver Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Vehicle Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Property Tax Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108Vehicle Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Table of Content

8 Chapter 1 — Your LicenseDri

Chapter 1

Your LicenseDriving is a legal privilege and responsibili-

ty. It is against the law to drive a motor vehicleon streets and highways without a valid driverlicense. It is also illegal to sit in the driver's seatof a motor vehicle while the engine is running orto steer a motor vehicle while it is being pushedor towed by another vehicle if you do not have avalid driver license.

Getting Your Original LicenseDriver license examiners throughout the

state are trained to test fairly and to give promptand courteous service. Most examining stationsare open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In larger cities andtowns the stations are open Monday throughFriday. Stations in smaller towns may only beopen for certain days each week or one dayevery two weeks. Appointments for driverlicense examinations are available at most offices.Contact your local driver license office.

Learner’s Permit• Learner’s permits are available to persons

age 18 and older.• A Learner’s Permit authorizes the permit

holder to drive a specified type or class of motor vehicle while in possession of the permit.

• The permit holder must, while operating a motor vehicle over the highways, be accom-panied by a person who is licensed to oper-ate the motor vehicle being driven and is seated beside the permit holder.

• A Learner’s Permit is valid for 18 months.

• vision• knowledge of

motor vehiclelaws

• traffic signs• driving skill

(on-road test)

For an original driver license of any type, youwill be tested on:

i Chapter 1 — Your License 9

• Required testing includes vision, traffic signs, and knowledge of motor vehicle laws.

Motorcycle Learner’s Permit• If an applicant is at least 16 years old but

less than 18 years old, the applicant must possess a full provisional license issued by the Division. Parent or guardian’s signature is required.

• If an applicant is 18 years old or older, the applicant must possess a license issued by the Division.

• The Motorcycle Learner’s Permit author-izes a person to operate a motorcycle with-out passengers.

• The Motorcycle Learner’s Permit is valid for18 months.

• Required testing includes vision, traffic signs, and the motorcycle knowledge test.

Each driver license test must be passed separate-ly. Applicants for a regular Class A or B licenseshould study the General Knowledge Chapter ofthe CDL Handbook. Applicants for a CDL ClassA, B or C license should study the requiredchapters of the CDL Handbook. Applicants for aMotorcycle Endorsement or Motorcycle LearnerPermit should study the Motorcycle Handbook.(See pages 11 - 15 for a complete description ofall driver licenses.)

Test Requirements for an Original Driver LicenseVision

Whether you are applying for a learner permit, an original license or a renewal license,your vision must be checked to see that you meetcertain standards. If you need corrective lenses tobring your vision up to the required standards,you must wear the lenses at all times while driv-ing and your license will indicate that you mustwear corrective lenses. The penalty for drivingwithout the proper corrective lenses is the sameas driving without a license.

10 Chapter 1 — Your LicenseDriv

Traffic SignsAll of the information on the traffic signs

test is in this handbook. To pass the signs test,you must identify the traffic signs by color andshape and explain what each means.

Driving KnowledgeThe knowledge test is about traffic laws and

safe driving practices. Oral tests are available,upon request, for those who have difficulty read-ing.

Driving SkillsThe driving test is an on-the-road demonstra-

tion of your driving ability. You must performthis test after you have passed all the other tests.The first time you apply for a license, you musttake the driving test. You might also have to takeit to renew your license. It is not required for alearner permit.

During the on-the-road test, you will begiven an opportunity to perform basic drivingpatterns and to show your ability to drive safelywith traffic.

Health Requirements

Individuals may not be licensed if they sufferfrom a mental or physical problem that might keepthem from driving safely. A person with a disabili-ty may be issued a restricted license provided theproblem does not keep them from driving safely.

Skills observed and graded during the on- the-roaddriving test:

• approaches to intersections, stop signs and traffic signals;

• quick stops — stopping as quickly and safelyas possible when told to do so;

• backing;• stopping, starting, and parking;• use of the clutch (in vehicles with standard

transmissions);

i Chapter 1 — Your License 11

•shifting to a lower gear on adowngrade;

•turn signals and use of the horn;

•turning;•use of lanes;•following another vehicle; •passing and being passed;•yielding right-of-way to

pedestrians and other vehicles;•driving posture; and•three point turnabout.

All applicants for an originaldriver license must take the on-the-road driving test. However,there are some cases when theon-the-road test may not berequired.

Types of Licenses,Permits andCertifications

North Carolina has a regu-lar driver license system and acommercial driver license(CDL). The type of vehicle you will operatedetermines the class of driver license you musthave and the type vehicle in which you musttake the driving skills test. The driving skills testmust be performed in a vehicle representative ofthe class license desired.

Regular LicensesClass A – Required to operate any combinationof vehicles exempt from CDL requirements witha gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is greater than 10,000pounds. Also required for operating any combi-nation of vehicles with a GVWR of less than26,001 pounds, if the vehicle being towed has aGVWR of more than 10,000 pounds.

Tip —Three Point

Turnabout

(1) Start from theextreme right sideof the road. Lookfor other trafficand if clear, give aleft signal and pro-ceed forward slow-ly while turningthe steering wheelto the left. Stopwithin severalinches of the leftcurb or edge of thestreet.(2) Then proceedbackward slowlywhile turning thesteering wheel tothe right. Stopwithin severalinches of the rightcurb or edge of thestreet.(3) Proceed for-ward slowly whileturning the steer-ing wheel to theleft. This shouldcomplete yourturnabout. If not,repeat the aboveprocedures.

12 Chapter 1 — Your LicenseDrivin

Class B – Required to operate any single vehiclewith a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more that isexempt from CDL requirements, or any such vehicle while towing another vehicle with aGVWR of 10,000 pounds or less.Class C – Required to operate any vehicle with aGVWR of less than 26,001 pounds that is exemptfrom CDL requirements and is not towing avehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000pounds. Most drivers need only a Regular Clicense to operate personal automobiles andsmall trucks.

Commercial Licenses (CDLs)A CDL is required for drivers, paid or volunteer, whodrive the following types of vehicles that are designedor used to transport passengers or property:

Class A Motor Vehicle – A vehicle that has a com-bined GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds andincludes as part of the combination a towed unitthat has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds.

Class B Motor Vehicle–

• A single motor vehicle that has a GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds.

• A combination of motor vehicles that includes as part of the combination a towing unit that has a GVWR of at least 26,001 pounds and a towed unit that has a GVWR of less than 10,001 pounds.

Class C Motor Vehicle – A single or combinationof motor vehicles not included in Class A or Bbut meets any of the following descriptions:

• is designed to transport 16 or more passen-gers, including the driver.

• is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded.You do not need a CDL to drive recreational

vehicles, military equipment, fire and/or emer-gency equipment or certain farm vehicles.However, a regular license of the appropriateclass is always required.

A special CDL endorsement is required tohaul hazardous materials, transport passengers,drive school buses and school activity buses, pull

Chapter 1 — Your License 13

double trailers or drive tank vehicles. Additionalinformation about the CDL is in the NorthCarolina Commercial Driver License Handbook.

EndorsementsMotorcycle

A person must have at least a Level III ClassC license with a motorcycle endorsement or amotorcycle learner permit before being entitledto operate a motorcycle on public roads.

School Bus/School Activity BusThe driver of a school bus must be at least 18

years of age, have at least six months driving expe-rience and hold either a Class “B” or Class “C”CDL with an “S” and a “P” Endorsement alongwith a School bus Driver’s Certificate. To obtain ASchool Bus Driver’s Certificate, a person must bespecially trained and pass an examination demon-strating the fitness and competency required tooperate the bus.

The requirements for the driver of a school activitybus are the same except a School Bus Driver’sCertificate is not required.

Graduated LicensingLimited Learner Permit

If you are at least 15 years of age and have com-pleted an approved driver education course thatmeets North Carolina requirements and can presenta Driving Eligibility Certificate (issued by the publicschool system), a high school diploma or its equiva-lent, you may apply for a Level One Limited LearnerPermit to operate vehicles requiring a Class CLicense.

• You must be at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old and reside in North Carolina.

• You must pass written, signs and vision tests.• All passengers must be restrained by seat belt

or child safety seat.• No one except the driver and the supervising

driver are allowed in the front seat.• During the first six months, a Level One per-

mit authorizes you to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. while accompa-nied by your supervising driver.

• Six months from Level One issuance, you are eligible to drive anytime with a supervising driver.

14 Chapter 1 — Your LicenseDrivi

NOTE: Before graduating to Level Two, you must keepthis permit for at least 12 months and have no convic-tions of motor vehicle moving violations or seat beltinfractions within the preceding six months.

Level Two Limited Provisional License• Drivers must be at least 16 years old, but less

than 18.• All passengers must be restrained by seat

belt or child safety seat.• Supervising driver must be seated beside the

driver.• You may drive without supervision from

5 a.m. until 9 p.m. and at any time when driving directly to or from work or any volunteer fire, rescue or EMS (emergency medical service), if you are a member.

• When the license holder is driving the vehi-cle and is not accompanied by the supervisingdriver, there may be no more than one passengerunder 21 years of age in the vehicle. This limitdoes not apply to passengers who are membersof the license holder’s immediate family orwhose primary residence is the same householdas the license holder. However, if a family mem-ber or member of the same household as thelicense holder who is younger than 21 years ofage is a passenger in the vehicle, no other pas-sengers under 21 years of age who are not mem-bers of the license holder’s immediate family ormembers of the license holder’s household, maybe in the vehicle.NOTE: Before graduating to Level Three, you must keepthis license for at least 6 months and have no convictions ofmotor vehicle moving violations or seat belt infractionswithin the preceding six months.

SUPERVISING DRIVER: A supervising driver mustbe a parent, grandparent or guardian of thepermit/license holder, or a responsible personapproved by the parent or guardian. A supervisingdriver must hold a valid driver license and must havebeen licensed for at least five years.

Level Three Full Provisional License

• Upon completion of six months of drivingwith no convictions of moving violations or seatbelt infractions in the preceding six months, youare eligible to receive a Level Three License.


New Residents Between The Ages of 15 and 18 YearsIf you are a new resident moving into North

Carolina and are 15 but less than 18 years oldand have a learner’s permit, a restricted licenseor an unrestricted license, you should contactyour local driver license office to determinewhich type of license or learner’s permit you areeligible to apply for.

The Provisional LicenseeDrivers under age 18 are provisional

licensees. Because these drivers have a muchhigher crash rate, special laws apply to them. Ifyou are a driver under age 18:

• You must present a certificate showing you have passed an approved driver education course that meets North Carolina requirements before you can take the test for a Learner Permit or License.

• The DMV reviews your driving record more closely and may contact you if you have cer-tain types of traffic violations or crashes.

• It is unlawful for a provisional licensee to drive a motor vehicle after or while consuming any amount of alcohol or drugs - a conviction of sucha violation will result in a one-year license revocation.

• A parent or legal guardian must sign for a minor.

RestrictionsFor safety reasons, a driver license may be

limited or restricted in some way. For example, adriver may only be permitted to operate a motorvehicle while using corrective lenses or mechani-cal control devices. If your license is restricted,you must only drive within the limits of therestriction; otherwise you are considered to bedriving without a license.

A disabled person who passes the licenseexamination may be issued a driver license restricted to using equipment necessary to safelyoperate the motor vehicle.

If you are issued a restricted license, youcan be called in for a reexamination before theexpiration date of the license.


Thinking Of Dropping Out?Driver license applicants less than 18 years

old must have a “Driving Eligibility Certificate”,high school diploma or its equivalent to be eligi-ble for a North Carolina driving permit orlicense. The Driving Eligibility Certificate mustbe signed by the applicant’s school administratorwho certifies that the applicant is currentlyenrolled in school and making progress toward ahigh school diploma; or that substantial hardshipwould be placed on the applicant or the appli-cant’s family if he or she does not receive a driv-er license. The steps in graduated license muststill be followed even if the “Driving EligibilityCertificate” is issued due to hardship conditions.North Carolina does not issue a hardship drivingpermit or license.

DMV must revoke the driver’s license of anyperson under age 18 when it receives notice fromthe proper school authority that the person is nolonger eligible for a Driving Eligibility Certificate.This revocation remains in effect until the per-son’s 18th birthday unless a Driving EligibilityCertificate, high school diploma or GEDCertificate is obtained.

Lose Control / Lose Your LicenseA loss of license will occur if a student

receives a suspension for more than 10 consecu-tive days or receives an assignment to an alterna-tive educational setting due to disciplinary actionfor more than 10 consecutive days. This suspen-sion remains in effect for 12 months or until aDriving Eligibility Certificate is obtained.

RequirementsProof of Residency Requirements

For the first time issuance of a NorthCarolina identification card, learner’s permit ordriver’s license, proof of residency is requiredwhich must include name and current NorthCarolina residence address. This is in addition toproof of age and identity requirements.Acceptable documents include: (1) Documents issued by the United StatesGovernment or by the government of anothernation, such as

• Military orders


• Valid passport• Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) documents• Correspondence from Veterans Administration• Matricula Consular from Government of Mexico• Correspondence from the Social Security Administration

(2) Documents issued by the State of NorthCarolina or its political subdivisions (County,city) another State, the Commonwealth of PuertoRico or a U.S. Territory, such as

• Valid North Carolina vehicle registration• Correspondence or a service card from Social Services• Property tax statement• Library card• North Carolina voter registration card

(3) A preprinted bank or other corporate state-ment (Example: Bank statement)(4) A preprinted business letterhead

(5) Documents deemed reliable by the Divisionsuch as

• Apartment lease, housing contract, mortgage statement

• Utility bill (Power bill, cable bill, water bill, etc.) or contract for utility services

• School records signed by school official, including driver education certificates

• Computer generated tax record• Current life, health, property or automobile

insurance policy or binder• Letter from homeless shelter• Document from Social Services• Computer generated check stub

A sworn affidavit may be used ONLY if one ofthe above documents is NOT available. In thecase of a minor, a parent or legal guardian mustsign the affidavit. General Statutes requires a$2.00 fee for execution of an affidavit.

Proof of Age and IdentityIndividuals who are 18 years of age or older

can apply for any type of North Carolina driverlicense and/or motorcycle endorsement. Theremay be additional requirements for individualsapplying for a CDL. Please refer to the CDLHandbook.


The DMV requires proof of your full nameand your social security number (SSN). To proveyour name and age, you may present a valid orexpired North Carolina Driver License, Learner’sPermit or Identification Card.

If you do not have any of these, you must present two documents from the following list.The name must be the same on both documentsand at least one must reflect the date of birth.

The documents cannot come from the samecategory (e.g. two school documents)

1 Driver License or State-Issued IdentificationCard from another state, Puerto Rico, a U.S.territory, or a Canadian province

2 Certified birth certificate issued by a govern-ment agency in the U.S., Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, or Canada or U.S. Report of Consular Birth Abroad

3 Original Social Security Card

4 Official North Carolina School Registrationrecords signed by a school official andDiplomas or GED issued by North Carolinaschools, including secondary schools,community colleges, colleges and universities

5 Unexpired U.S. Military Identification, includ-ing DD-2, DD-214, Common Access Card, and U.S. Military Dependents Card

6 Valid, unexpired Passport from any nation

FORM OF ID ACCEPTED EXPLANATION• A valid, unexpired license/ID

card or learner’s permit witha photo meets the require-ments for one form of ID

• A driver license, learner’spermit or ID card with photowhich has been expired lessthan one year may be usedas one form of identification

• A valid, unexpired driverlicense, learner’s permit orID card without a photo canbe used as one form of identification

No photocopies allowed,unless certified by issuingagency

May not be laminated

Driver Education Certificates,Driving Eligibility Certificatesand report cards are notaccepted as proof of identifica-tion. They are acceptable forproof of residency.

• If from nation other thanUnited States, the passportmust include an unexpiredINS stamp, such as the I-94or I-551.

• A passport with a valid INSor BIS stamp counts as 2documents, since the pass-port is issued by the countryof origin and the immigrationstamp is issued by the U.S.


7 Certified marriage certificate from a Registerof Deeds or appropriate government agencyin the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or Canada.

8 Limited Driving Privilege issued by NorthCarolina

9 Valid, unexpired documents issued by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration Services (BIS)formerly known as Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS)

10 Court documents from U.S. jurisdiction,Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or Canada

11 U.S. Veterans Universal Access Card

Cannot be expired more than1 year

• An expired immigrationdocument may be valid ifaccompanied by a letterfrom US BIS or INSextending the expirationdate (e.g. I-797)

• Primary BIS or INS document must haveapplicant’s photo

• Divorce Decree• Court order for change of

name or gender• Adoption Papers• Certified Court order for

child support

When you successfully receive a NorthCarolina driver license, you will have to surren-der any driver license you have that was issuedby another state.

For an applicant under 18 years of age, theapplication for a learner permit or driver licensemust be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Social Security Number RequirementWhen making application for an identifica-

tion card, learners permit or drivers license, it isrequired by law that you provide DMV with avalid Social Security Number or a valid visaissued by a U.S. Government Agency.

NOTE: A Social Security Number is required ifapplying for a Commercial License or a CommercialLearners Permit.

By law, the DMV may disclose a SocialSecurity Number only as follows:

• For the purpose of administering drivers license laws.

• To the Department of Health and Human Services, Child Support Enforcement Program for the purpose of establishing paternity or child support or enforcing a child support order.

FORM OF ID ACCEPTED EXPLANATION


• To the Department of Revenue for the pur-pose of verifying taxpayer identity.

The Social Security number on an applicationwill be kept confidential and will not be printedon your driver’s license, learner’s permit or iden-tification card.

The following are acceptable documents forproving SSN:

• Social Security Card (but not the metal or plastic card or other reproductions);

• A computer generated W-2 tax form or othercomputer-generated document from the IRSor a state or county revenue department;

• Payroll stub;• Financial statement (bank statement, insur-

ance company statement, brokerage firm statement, etc.) containing the SSN;

• Government issued documents such as U.S. military ID, which shows the SSN; and

• Letter from the Social Security Administration or computer print-out from the Social Security Administration.

Financial Responsibility

The N.C. General Assembly has enacted leg-islation to require some (but not all) driverlicense applicants in North Carolina to submitproof of automobile liability insurance coveragein order to obtain a North Carolina driver's license.


Proof of liability insurance coverage applies to those:• Applying for an original license, including

transfers from out–of–state;• Whose licenses are being restored after revo-

cation or suspension; or• Awarded a “Limited Driving Privilege" by

the court.Certification of liability insurance coverage must besubmitted on DMV Form DL-123, or an original liabili-ty insurance policy, binder or an insurance card andmust come from an insurance company licensed to dobusiness in North Carolina..These documents must show:

• Applicant’s name;• Effective date of policy;• Expiration date; and• Date the policy was issued

Form DL-123, binders and certificates arevalid only for 30 days from the date of issuance.This does not apply to applicants who do notown currently registered motor vehicles and whodo not operate nonfleet private passenger motorvehicles that are owned by other persons. In suchcases it is required that a certification of exemp-tion (DL-123A) be signed at the driver licenseoffice.

The exemption restricts the driver to theoperation of “Fleet Vehicles Only". To removethe restriction the driver must pay a $10.00 feeand submit DMV Form DL-123.

New ResidentsA new resident has 60 days after establish-

ing residence to obtain a North Carolina licenseor learner permit. If you hold a commercial driv-ers license from another jurisdiction and wish tomaintain a commercial license, you must applyfor and receive a North Carolina commerciallicense within 30 days after becoming a resident.

If you must show proof of financial responsibility, and to avoid inconveniences at the

driver license office, obtain Form DL-123 in advance of your visit

from your insurance agent or the driver license office.

22 Chapter 1 — Your License

• You must be at least 15 years of age, and if under age 18 must have completed an approved driver education course.

• Drivers ages 16 or 17 who are new residents of North Carolina and hold a valid unre-stricted driver license from a state that does not require driver education may be issued atemporary driver permit. This permit will allow them to drive until the driver educat-ion course required for driver licensing in North Carolina is completed.

A new resident, 18 years or older, applying for aClass C license is required to take the:

• Knowledge test;• Vision test;• Traffic signs recognition test; and• Driving skills test (if the examiner deems

necessary).

NonresidentsA nonresident of North Carolina is “Any

person whose legal residence is in a state, territo-ry, or jurisdiction other than North Carolina or ina foreign country."

Examples of nonresidents:■ Salesmen whose homes are in other states

who travel through North Carolina.■ Out-of-state college students who intend

to return to their home states upon com-pletion of their educations in NorthCarolina.

■ Members of the armed forces stationed inNorth Carolina who intend to return totheir home states.

■ Spouses of nonresident members of thearmed forces stationed in North Carolina.


North Carolina’s Driver License andIdentification Card

A process called digital imaging is used toobtain and store customer portraits and signa-tures. Along with digital-imaging, the driverlicense/identification card is equipped with a barcode systemthat houses each customer’s person-al data. It can only be accessed by NCDMV, lawenforcement agencies, and other persons withlegal authorization to verify the information onthe card.

Renewal and Duplicate LicensesRenewal

Driver license renewal dates will vary byage due to a new five-year license renewal sched-ule (see page 25).

The DMV will mail you a reminder cardapproximately 60 days before expiration of yourlicense listing the number of years it will bevalid. It is not necessary to have the remindercard in order to renew your driver license. Adriver license may be renewed anytime within180 days prior to expiration. If you do not haveyour current or expired license at renewal, youwill be required to show the examiner two docu-ments of identification as outlined on page 18.

The vision and traffic sign recognition testsare always required for a license renewal.Note: Military personnel, their spouse and dependentchildren who are temporarily residing out of state mayrenew their licenses by mail provided the followingrequirements are met:

• Must have a North Carolina Driver Licensethat has not expired more than one year.

• Must have a color image captured andprocessed by NCDMV in DMV’s image databasethat is accessible to the Division.

• NCDMV must have a record of your SocialSecurity Number.

• Must have a permanent North Carolina veri-fiable residence address.

• A Commercial Driver License cannot berenewed by mail.


Temporary Driver LicenseA resident of North Carolina who has been

residing outside the State for at least 30 continu-ous days may also renew their license by mail.This is a temporary license which expires 60 daysafter the person returns to North Carolina or onthe expiration date shown on the face of thelicense, whichever comes first. The followingrequirements must be met:

• Must have a North Carolina Driver Licensethat has not expired more than one year.

• Must have a color image captured andprocessed by NCDMV in DMV’s image databasethat is accessible to the Division.

• NCDMV must have a record of your SocialSecurity Number.

• Must have a permanent North Carolina veri-fiable residence address.

• A Commercial Driver License cannot berenewed by mail.

DuplicateIf your license is lost or stolen, go to the

nearest driver license office and apply for a dupli-cate. To replace a lost or stolen license, you mustshow the examiner two documents of identifica-tion approved by the DMV. This type transactionmay also be completed online. (See page 4)

Address ChangesA person whose address changes from theaddress stated on a driver license must notify theDivision of the change within 60 days after thechange occurs and obtain a duplicate license. Aperson who does not move, but whose addresschanges due to a governmental action, may notbe charged with violating this law. This typetransaction may also be completed online. (Seepage 4)

Name ChangesA person whose name changes from the namestated on a driver license must notify theDivision of the change within 60 days after thechange occurs and obtain a duplicate driverlicense stating the new name. Name changes canbe completed with:


• A certified marriage certificate issued by a -governmental agency.

• Documented proof from the courts or the Register of Deeds establishing that the namechange was officially accomplished.

• Divorce decrees which include the name change.

DMV Requires aFull Name In an effort to prevent“theft of identity” anderror in motor vehiclerecords, the Divisionof Motor Vehicles nowrequires the use of thefull name for driverlicenses, special identi-fication cards andvehicle registrationtransactions. TheDivision no longeraccepts the use ofnicknames or initialsfor its records. If youhave used nicknames,initials or an incom-plete name in the past,please be prepared toupdate your record onyour next visit to adriver license or vehi-cle registration office.Furthermore, pleasebring the appropriatedocuments to showyour full name. (See page18.)

IdentificationCardsAny resident of NorthCarolina can be issueda special identificationcard. The same proofsof age, identity, resi-dency, and validSocial SecurityNumber are required asfor a driver license.

Phase-in of5-year License

Effective January 1, 1995Age at Years Age at

NextRenewal Renewed Renewal

16 4 2017 3 2018 7 2519 6 2520 5 2521 4 2522 8 3023 7 3024 6 3025 5 3026 4 3027 8 3528 7 3529 6 3530 5 3531 4 3532 8 4033 7 4034 6 4035 5 4036 4 4037 8 4538 7 4539 6 4540 5 4541 4 4542 8 5043 7 5044 6 5045 5 5046 4 5047 8 5548 7 5549 6 5550 5 5551 4 5552 8 6053 7 6054 6 6055 5 6056 4 6057 8 6558 7 6559 6 6560 5 6561 4 65

62 & Over 5 Year Renewal Only


The identification card is valid for five years andexpires on the date of birth.

Voter RegistrationYou may register to vote or make changes

to your current voter registration while applyingfor a N.C. driver license or special identificationcard.

Organ Donor ProgramIf you wish to be an organ donor, you may

indicate your decision on the front of your driverlicense. It is highly recommended that you dis-cuss your wishes with your family and makesure that they are aware of your decision.

Original License, Renewal, ReissuanceApplication Fee N/A $30.00Class A $4.00/yr.* $15.00/yr.*Class B $4.00/yr.* $15.00/yr.*Class C $4.00/yr.* $15.00/yr.*

Motorcycle Endorsement $1.75/yr.* $1.75/yr.*(with regular issuance)

CDL Endorsements N/A $3.00/yr.*

Duplicate License $10.00 $10.00

Permits and Other FeesLearner’s Permit $15.00 $15.00Motorcycle Learner Permit $15.00 $15.00Duplicate $10.00 $10.00Special Identification Card $10.00Restoration Fee $50.00Driving Clinic Fee $50.00Service Fee $50.00DWI Restoration Fee $75.00

Graduated LicensingLimited Learner’s Permit (Level 1) $15.00 N/ALimited Provisional License(Level 2) $15.00 N/AFull Provisional License (Level 3) $4.00 yr.* N/ATemporary Permit $15.00 N/ADuplicate $10.00 N/A

*On January 1, 1995, North Carolina implemented a five-year licenserenewal program. Your license will be renewed for a period of four toeight years, depending on your birthdate. The cost of your license willbe computed based on the yearly charge for the type of license youobtain. Eventually, all drivers will renew their license every fiveyears.

Schedule of Fees Regular CDL

Chapter 2 — Alcohol and the Law 27riving

Chapter 2

Alcohol And The LawEveryone's driving is impaired at a blood/

alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, but manypeople are affected at much lower levels. Researchshows that the risk of being involved in a crashincreases when the alcohol level is 0.05 percent,and at 0.08 percent the risk of causing a fatal crashis even greater.

Driving While ImpairedIn 1983, the North Carolina General

Assembly enacted the Safe Roads Act. This actrepealed all previous laws on drunk driving inNorth Carolina and replaced them with a singleoffense of “Driving While Impaired - DWI.”

If an officer charges you with driving whileimpaired (DWI), you will be asked to take a chemical test of your breath or blood. Refusal toperform any required test will result in theimmediate revocation of your driver license forat least 30 days and an additional, minimum 12-month revocation by the DMV. In certaininstances, after six months of the willful refusalrevocation has elapsed, the judge may issue alimited driving privilege.

If your intoxication test shows an alcoholconcentration of 0.08 percent or more (0.04 ormore, if you are driving a commercial motor vehicle), your driving privilege will be revokedimmediately for a minimum of 30 days.Additionally, the results of your chemical test orthe fact that you refused to take the test will be admissible as evidence in court.

Driving while impaired can be proven in one oftwo ways:

■ by proving the driver's physical or mentalfitness are appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs or a combination of both; or

■ by proving the driver's blood/alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or more.

28 Chapter 2 — Alcohol and the Law

DWI Laws:• allow enforcement agencies to set up road

blocks to check for impaired drivers;• prohibit drivers from consuming any alco-

holic beverage, including beer, while driving;• prohibit the transport of an open container

of any alcoholic beverage if the driver is consuming alcohol or if alcohol is in the dri-ver's body;

• prohibit the possession of alcoholic bever-ages (open or closed) in the passenger areaof a commercial motor vehicle while uponany highway, street or public vehicular area;

• provide for different levels of severity ofpunishment based on the severity of theoffense;

• require persons who are convicted of DWIfor the second time to serve a jail sentence;

• attempt to punish DWI offenders, but alsotry to help them deal with problems theymay have with alcohol;

• require that repeat DWI offenders or personswith high blood/alcohol contents (BACs) bechecked to see if they might have an alcohol problem;

• require persons with lower BACs to attendalcohol safety schools; and

• require anyone convicted of DWI to obtain asubstance abuse assessment prior to the reinstatement of driving privileges.

If You Are Convicted of DWI:First Conviction — Mandatory revocation of your driver license for a period of one year.Second Conviction — Mandatory driver licenserevocation for a period of four years when con-victed of a prior offense which occurred within 3years of the current offense for which the licenseis being revoked.

Third Conviction — Mandatory, permanent driverlicense revocation if at least one of the prior con-victions occurred within the past five years.Fourth Conviction — Mandatory permanent driver license revocation. — The fourth convic-tion is considered a felony if the three prior DWIconvictions occurred within the past seven years.

If you are convicted of DWI while your license is revokedfor an earlier DWI conviction, the court may order your

vehicle seized and sold.

Chapter 2 — Alcohol and the Law 29riving

Alcohol Concentration RestrictionsAn alcohol concentration restriction will be

required when a license is restored following asuspension for DWI or when a Limited DrivingPrivilege is issued following a DWI conviction.

On the first restoration, the alcohol concen-tration restriction will be 0.04. On a second orsubsequent restoration, the alcohol concentrationrestriction will be 0.00. Additionally, if you areconvicted of Driving While Impaired in a com-mercial motor vehicle, driving after consumingalcohol or drugs while under the age of 21 orfelony death by vehicle the alcohol concentrationrestriction will be 0.00.

Furthermore, a conviction of Driving WhileImpaired with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of0.16 or more, or another conviction within thepast seven years, will require an ignition inter-lock device to be installed on the vehicle.

Alcohol and the Young DriverThe legal age to purchase any alcoholic

beverage in North Carolina is 21. It is against thelaw for any person who is younger than 21 years ofage to purchase or to attempt to purchase alcohol.

The law requires a one-year driver license revocation upon conviction for:

• any underage person who attempts to pur-chase or purchases an alcoholic beverage;

• any underage person who aids or abetsanother who attempts to purchase or purchases an alcoholic beverage;

• any underage person who obtains orattempts to obtain alcoholic beverages byusing or attempting to use a fraudulentdriver license or other I.D. or another per-son's driver license or I.D; or

• any person who permits his or her driverlicense or any other I.D. to be used by anunderage person to purchase or attempt topurchase an alcoholic beverage.

If a driver who is less than 21 years old is convicted for an offense of driving with anyamount of alcohol or drugs in his/her body, his/her license will be revoked for one year.

30 Chapter 3 — Your Driving Privilege

Chapter 3

Your Driving PrivilegePointsDriver License Points

If you are convicted of certain motor vehicleviolations in North Carolina, driver licensepoints are placed against your driving record. Ifyou accumulate seven points, you may beassigned to a Driver Improvement Clinic. Theclinic fee is $50. Upon satisfactory completion ofthe clinic, three points are deducted from yourdriving record. If you accumulate as many astwelve points within a three-year period, yourlicense may be suspended. The accumulation ofeight points within three years following thereinstatement of your license can result in a sec-ond suspension.

If your driver license is suspended by the pointsystem, it may be taken for:

• 60 days for the first suspension;• 6 months for the second; and• 12 months for the third.

When your driving privilege is reinstated,all previous driver license points are canceled. Points are given for the following offenses:

Conviction Point ValuePassing a stopped school bus 5Aggressive driving 5Reckless driving 4Hit and run, property damage only 4Following too closely 4Driving on wrong side of road 4Illegal passing 4Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian pursuant to G.S. 20-158 (b) (2) b. 4Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle motor scooter, or motorcycle 4Running through stop sign 3Speeding in excess of 55 mph 3Failing to yield right of way 3Running through red light 3No driver's license or licenseexpired more than one year 3

Chapter 3 — Your Driving Privilege 31

Failure to stop for siren 3Driving through safety zone 3No liability insurance 3Failure to report accidentwhere such report is required 3Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted school zone speed limit 3Failure to properly restrain a child in arestraint or seat belt 2All other moving violations 2Littering pursuant to G.S. 14-399 when thelittering involves the use of a motor vehicle 1

Schedule of point values for conviction of violations whileoperating a commercial motor vehicle:

Conviction Point ValuePassing stopped school bus 8Rail-highway crossing violation 6Careless and Reckless drivingin violation of G.S.20-140(f) 6Speeding in violation of G.S. 20-141(j3) 6Aggressive driving 6Reckless driving 5Hit and run, property damage only 5Following too close 5Driving on wrong side of road 5Illegal passing 5Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian pursuant to G.S. 20-158 (b) (2) b. 5Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle motor scooter, or motorcycle 5Running through stop sign 4Speeding in excess of 55 miles per hour 4Failing to yield right-of-way 4Running through red light 4No driver’s license or license expired more than one year 4Failure to stop for siren 4Driving through safety zone 4No liability insurance 4Failure to report accident where such report is required 4Speeding in a school zone in excess of theposted school zone speed limit 4

Possessing alcoholic beverage in the passen-ger area of a commercial motor vehicle 4All other moving violations 3Littering pursuant to G.S. 14-399 when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle 1No points shall be assessed for convictions of the following offenses:

Over loads Over length Over width Over heightIllegal parking Carrying concealed weaponImproper platesImproper registrationImproper mufflerImproper display of license plates or dealer’s tagsUnlawful display of emblems and insignia Failure to display current inspection certificate

Any person who commits an offense for whichpoints may be assessed for violations whileoperating a commercial motor vehicle may beassessed double the amount of any fine orpenalty authorized by statute.

Insurance PointsInsurance companies use a different point

system to determine insurance rates. If you haveany questions concerning insurance points, con-tact your insurance agent.

Suspensions and RevocationsIn addition to criminal penalties that the court

might mandate, conviction of certain traffic offens-es will result in the loss of your driving privilege.

Your driving privilege will be revoked for at least30 days if you are convicted of:

• driving any vehicle more than 15 mph over thespeed limit, if you are driving at a speed higherthan 55 mph.

It will be taken for 60 days if you are convicted of:• a second charge of speeding over 55 mph and

more than 15 mph above the speed limit withinone year; or

• speeding plus reckless driving on the sameoccasion.



The DMV can also suspend your license forthe following:

• Two convictions of speeding over 55 mph within a period of 12 months;

• One conviction of speeding over 55 mph andone conviction of reckless driving within ayear;

• A conviction of willful racing with anothermotor vehicle, whether it is pre–arranged or unplanned.

• A suspended court sentence or part of asentence mandating that you must not oper-ate a motor vehicle for a specified period oftime; and/or

• A conviction for speeding over 75 mph.In cases like the above, the DMV may sus-

pend your driving privilege as soon as it receivesthe conviction report from the court. If your driv-ing privilege is revoked, you may have the rightto a hearing in the judicial district where youreside. To request a hearing, call or write to theDMV in Raleigh. You will be notified by mail ofthe time and place for the hearing. At the hearingyou may state any facts that you think shouldentitle you to driving privileges or to a reductionof the suspension period.

If you believe your driving privilege shouldnot have been taken and the hearing gives youno help, you may appeal the DMV’s decisionwithin thirty (30) days to the Superior Court ofthe county where you live. The court will reviewyour case to see if there were proper grounds fortaking your driving privilege.

Offense Suspension TimeManslaughter 1 yearDeath by vehicle 1 yearManslaughter while under the influence of animpairing substance PermanentAssault with a motor vehicle 1 yearFailure to stop and give aid wheninvolved in an accident 1 yearNOTE: If the court makes a finding that a longer periodof revocation is appropriate, the Division must revoke for 2 years.

Speeding in excess of 55 mphand at least 15 mph over the legallimit while attempting to avoid arrest 1 yearPrearranged racing with anothermotor vehicle on the highway *3 yearsWatching, betting on or loaninga car for prearranged racing *3 yearsWillful refusal to submitto a blood or breath test 1 yearTwo charges of reckless drivingcommitted within 12 months 1 yearGetting a license or learner's permitunder false pretense 1 year

Failure to yield right-of-way when entering anintersection, turning at a stop or yield sign, entering a roadway, upon the approach of an emergency vehicle or at a highway constructionor maintenance area when the offense resultsin serious bodily injury.

90 days + $500.00 fine

* When an officer finds that someone has loaned or isoperating a motor vehicle willfully in prearrangedracing, he/she will seize the vehicle. If the person isconvicted, the court may order the vehicle sold at pub-lic auction.

Out-of-State ConvictionConvictions occurring outside North

Carolina may result in your license being sus-pended or revoked just as if the violationsoccurred in this state.

Failure to Appear and/or to Pay a FineYour driving privilege will be revoked

when the DMV receives notification from thecourt that you have failed to appear in court or topay fines for a citation you received in NorthCarolina or another state. In the case of failure toappear and/or to pay a fine, your driving privi-leges remain revoked until the DMV receivesnotice that you have complied with the citation.Complying with the citation does not relieve youof the consequences for the actual offense, if youare convicted.


Provisional Licensee (under age 18)There are other rules that apply to persons

under 18 years of age. If you are a provisionallicensee, your license may be suspended for:

• 30 days, upon conviction of a second moving violation occurring within a 12-month period;

• 90 days, upon conviction of a third movingviolation occurring within a 12-month period; and

• six months, upon conviction of a fourth moving violation occurring within a 12-month period.

Driver License RestorationNorth Carolina law requires that a restora-

tion fee of $50 be paid to the DMV before a sus-pension or revocation can be cleared. (This fee isnot required if the license was taken for medicalor health reasons following a medical evalua-tion.) A $75 restoration fee is required when therevocation results from a DWI conviction. Also, aservice fee of $50 is required upon restoration ofa revoked or suspended driver license unless thelicense was surrendered to the court or mailed tothe DMV before the effective date of the suspen-sion or revocation.For the reinstatement of your driving privilege:

1. visit any driver license office; 2. pay a restoration and/or service fee; 3. reapply for a driver license; and4. take required tests, if any.

Some examples of moving violations:

• passing a stopped school bus;• reckless driving;• hit-and-run;• following too closely;• driving on the wrong side of the road;• illegal passing;• running through a stop sign or red light;• failure to yield right–of–way;• failure to stop for an emergency siren; and• speeding.


36 Chapter 4 — Your DrivingDrivi

Chapter 4

Your DrivingGood driving skills should be developed

and practiced at all times. You should also knowyour physical and mental limitations and notdrive a vehicle when you are too tired or sleepy.When traveling long distances, plan ahead; knowyour route; and be alert to the driving conditions.Your ability to safely operate a motor vehiclemay save your life as well as the lives of others.

Driver SafetyDriver Condition

Your driving is affected by your physicaland mental health. To obtain a driver license, youmust be in good health. If you have health prob-lems that are serious and long-term in nature,they will likely come to the attention of the DMV.More often, health problems are short term, likesuffering from colds, headaches or flu. Youshould remember that any time you are not feel-ing well, your driving is likely to be different.You may be less alert and less responsive thannormal.

Drowsy DrivingDriving while drowsy is a silent killer.

More than 1,550 highway deaths are estimatedto occur annually because of drowsy driving,according to the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration.

Fatigue affects all of us; no one is invinci-ble. However, some motorists are more proneto drive drowsy.

Who is at risk?• Sleep related crashes are most common in

young people - especially men, who feelthey can push themselves harder.

• Adults with young children, especiallynew mothers, often have not had a fullnight's sleep, which could lead to drowsydriving any time of day.

• Shift workers are more likely than thosewho work a regular daytime schedule todrive to or from work drowsy at least afew days a month.

Chapter 4 — Your DrivingD 37

CYMK• People with sleep disorders, such as sleepapnea, narcolepsy and insomnia are also atgreater risk for sleep-related crashes.No matter if you are in one of the above

categories or not, any one who has had lessthan five hours of sleep the night before is fourto five times more likely to crash than someonewho got a full eight hours of rest.

Additionally, someone who has gone with-out sleep for 24 hours has the same poor reac-tions as someone who is legally intoxicated.

Here are some tips to prevent drowsy driv-ing:

• Get at least six hours of good sleep thenight before a trip.

• Stop, pull over to a safe place and take anap if you become sleepy while drivingand are unable to switch drivers.

• Travel at times when you are normallyawake. Our bodies want to rest betweenmidnight and 6 a.m. and then againbetween 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Try to avoidbeing on the road at these times.

• Travel with an awake passenger who cankeep a conversation going.

• Take a break every two hours or every 100miles, sooner if you become sleepy. Takinga short walk or stretching will helpincrease the blood flow and help keep youawake.

• Drink a caffeinated beverage and waitabout 30 minutes for it to enter the blood-stream. But remember, caffeine will helpkeep you awake but not always alert.

Distracted DrivingBeing distracted from, or failing to give

full attention to driving, can lead to poor choic-es when driving, resulting in serious conse-quences.

Types of DistractionsSome causes of distracted driving include

eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone, writ-


CYMK ing, reading, smoking, changing your CDs orradio station, looking at people or objects out-side your vehicle, looking for things inside yourvehicle, talking to passengers, dealing withchildren or pets, applying makeup, shaving,etc. Distractions fall into three categories:1. Physical - Distractions that cause the driver

to take his or her hands off the wheel oreyes off the road such as tuning a radio ordialing a cell phone.

2. Mental - Activities that take the driver'smind off the road such as having a conver-sation or thinking about an emotional event.

3. Combination - Some activities take yourhands, eyes and mind off the task at handsuch as reading a map while driving.

Dealing with DistractionsNo matter what the distraction, inattentive

drivers exhibit similar behavior. Distractionscause drivers to react more slowly to trafficconditions or events, such as a car stopping tomake a left turn or pulling out from a side road.Inattentive drivers fail more often to recognizepotential hazards such as pedestrians or debrisin the road. Also, distractions make it more dif-ficult to conduct preventative or evasive movesto avoid a crash because many distractionsforce a driver to take at least one hand off thesteering wheel. Below are ways to minimize in-vehicle distractions:

• Pre-program your favorite radio stationsfor easy access and make CDs easy toreach.

• Keep your stereo at a volume low enoughso you can hear things outside of yourvehicle such as a siren, horn honking,screeching of tires or others things thatwould lead you to react safely to an emer-gency or hazard.

• Teach children the importance of goodbehavior while in a vehicle. Do not under-estimate how distracting it can be to tendto them in the car.

• Do your personal grooming at home, notin the car.

• Pets should be in a carrier.


CYMK• Designate a front-seat passenger to serveas a "co-pilot," rather than fumble withmaps or navigation systems. If you aredriving alone, map out destinations inadvance.

Dealing with EmotionsEmotions can have a great affect on safe

driving. You may not be able to drive well ifyou are overly worried, excited, afraid ordepressed. If you are angry or excited, giveyourself time to cool off before driving.

Dealing with Cell PhonesCellular telephones can be a lifesaver in an

emergency. However, they also can be distract-ing. Below are some tips to help you avoid let-ting the cell phone become a deadly distractionfor you:

• Use your cell phone only if it is absolutelynecessary.

• If you must use your phone, do so at a safetime and place.

• Ask a passenger in the car to place the callfor you, and, if possible, speak in yourplace.

• Don't feel like you must answer the phonewhen it rings. Let someone leave a mes-sage and you can return the call whenstopped at a safe location.

• Secure your phone in the car so that itdoes not become a projectile in a crash.

FatigueCareful planning can help to make sure you

do not drive when you are too tired. A surprisingnumber of serious crashes occur because a driverfalls asleep at the wheel.

MedicationsPrescriptions and over-the-counter medica-

tions can affect your driving. Before you take anymedication, find out how it will affect you. Try todo as little driving as possible while taking anytype of medication. If you must drive, be espe-cially careful. You may not be as alert as usual.

CYMK


Alcohol

Young DriversWhy do young drivers have such high

crash rates? On the whole, these drivers are veryhealthy. Their vision is good, and their reflexesare excellent. Yet, they are inexperienced drivers.Regardless of how old a beginning driver is, ittakes years to become an experienced driver.During the time available, a driver educationcourse can teach only the most basic skills. Mostof the learning takes place on the highway.

Mature DriversPeople age at different rates, and some peo-

ple in their seventies are more alert than othersin their thirties and forties. Nevertheless, as webecome older we tend to lose some of our abilityto react quickly to driving problems. Our vision,especially our night vision, might become worse.We might have difficulty hearing and becomemore likely to develop medical problems.

Whenever possible, If you are an older driver:

• drive on familiar roads and streets;• drive short distances;• change your driving habits to fit your capa-

bilities; and • avoid heavy and fast–moving traffic.

Remember:

• About 38 percent of all traffic fatalitiesinvolve alcohol.

• Alcohol will first affect your judgement—you may think you can drive safely when you cannot.

• The amount of alcohol in a one-ounce shot of whiskey, five–ounce glass of wineand 12-ounce bottle of beer is the same.

• Black coffee, fresh air and cold showers DO NOT help someone to become moresober — only time will help.

CYMK


Protecting Yourselfand Your Passengers

No one can be completely protected frombeing in a crash. None of us can predict whatother drivers will do.

Seat BeltsEach front seat occupant who is 16 years of

age or older and each driver of a passenger motorvehicle manufactured with seat belts shall have aseat belt properly fastened about his or her bodyat all times when the vehicle is in forward motionon a street or highway in this state.

During an average lifetime of driving,we face about a one-in-three chance of being

seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash.

Exemptions to the seat belt law:• A driver or occupant with a medical or physical con-

dition that prevents appropriate restraint by a safetybelt or with a professionally certified mental phobiaagainst the wearing of vehicle restraints;

• A motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier ofthe United States Postal Service while performingduties as a rural letter carrier and a motor vehicleoperated by a newspaper delivery person while actu-ally engaged in delivery of newspapers along the per-son’s specified route;

• A driver or passenger frequently stopping and leav-ing the vehicle or delivering property from the vehi-cle if the speed of the vehicle between stops does notexceed 20 miles per hour;

• Any vehicle registered and licensed as a property-car-rying vehicle while being used for agricultural orcommercial purposes; and

• A motor vehicle not required to be equipped withseat safety belts under federal law.

Exemptions to the child passenger safe-ty law:

• When the child’s personal needs are being attendedto.

• Situations where all seating positions equipped withchild passenger restraint systems or seat belts areoccupied;

• Vehicles not required by law to be equipped with seatbelts.

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Child Safety

Every driver transporting one or more passen-gers that are less than 16 years of age must make surethat each passenger under age 16 is properly securedin a child passenger restraint system or a seat beltwhich meets the federal safety standards that were ineffect at the time it was manufactured. A child undereight years of age and under 80 pounds in weightmust be properly secured in a weight appropriatechild passenger restraint system. If the vehicle isequipped with an active passenger-side front air bag,and the vehicle has a rear seat, then a child less thanfive years old and less than 40 pounds in weight mustbe properly secured in the rear seat unless the childrestraint system is designed for use with a front airbag system. If there are no available seating positionsin the vehicle that are equipped with a lap and shoul-der belt to properly secure the weight appropriatechild restraint system, a child less than eight years ofage and between 40 and 80 pounds can be restrainedby a properly fitted lap belt only.Child Safety Seats

Each year hundreds of North Carolina childrenare seriously injured or killed in automobile crashes. Infact, the number one threat to the lives of young chil-dren is the automobile accident. Only crash-testedchild safety seats can reduce these senseless tragedies.Since small children cannot make safety choices forthemselves, adults must make sure children are pro-tected every time they ride in cars. Infants and smallchildren must be placed in safety seats that are special-ly designed for them and have been crash–tested.Properly used safety seats could save seven out ofevery ten children who are killed while unrestrained.Always read and follow the manufacturer's instruc-tions for using the safety seat. The best seat for yourchild is a safety seat that is used every time the childrides in a car. It must fit in your car(s) and have a har-ness or shield system that is comfortable for the child.The seat should be one you are able and willing to useevery time an infant or small child rides in your car.Safety seats are often available through low–cost rentalprograms operated by local service groups, hospitalsand health departments.

For information about child safety seats,contact:

UNC, Highway Safety Research Center730 Airport Road, Bolin Creek BuildingCB #3430Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-3430phone: (1-800-672-4527)(in N.C.only)

or (919) 962-2202

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Child Safety Booster Seats and Safety Belts for ChildrenBooster seats that meet federal motor vehicle

safety standards should be used for children who haveoutgrown their standard safety seats until they are bigenough for seat belts. Adult safety belts should not beused for children until they are big enough for the seatbelt to fit correctly. The lap safety belt must fit snuglyacross the child’s hips, not across the stomach. Theshoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt must fall acrossthe shoulder and chest, not across the face or throat. Forshoulder belts that do not fit, belt-positioning boosterseats designed to raise a child up for a proper fit of thelap and shoulder belts are readily available.Automatic Restraints

Equipment may vary from air bags that inflateupon impact to shoulder harnesses that automaticallywrap around occupants. Under the safety belt law, frontseat occupants MUST wear safety belts even if the vehi-cle is equipped with air bags. If the vehicle is equippedwith automatic shoulder harnesses, the lap belt MUSTalso be worn.Children and Air Bags

Air bags save lives. They work best when every-one is buckled and children are properly restrained inthe back seat. Children riding in the front seat can beseriously injured or killed when an air bag comes outin a crash. An air bag is not a soft, billowy pillow. Todo its important job, an air bag comes out of the dash-board at up to 200 miles per hour — faster than theblink of an eye. The force of an air bag can hurt thosewho are too close to it. Drivers can help prevent airbag-related injuries to adults and children by follow-ing these critical safety points:Child Safety Points

• Children 12 and under should ride buckled up ina rear seat.

• Infants in rear-facing child safety seats shouldNEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with apassenger-side air bag. Small children shouldride in a rear seat in child safety seats approvedfor their age and size.

Adult Safety Points• Everyone should buckle-up with both lap

and shoulder belts on every trip. Air bags are supplemental protection devices.

• The lap belt should be worn under the abdomenand low across the hips. The shoulder portionshould come over the collar bone away from theneck and cross over the breast bone. The shoul-der belt in most new cars can be adjusted on theside pillar to improve fit.

• Driver and front passenger seats should bemoved as far back as practical, particularly forshorter-statured people.

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Law on Transporting Children inthe Back of a Pick-up Truck NorthCarolina law prohibits children less than agetwelve from riding in the open bed of a pick-uptruck. (NCGS §20-135.2B) An open bed or opencargo area is a bed or cargo area without perma-nent overhead restraining construction. Theoperator of the vehicle having an open bed oropen cargo is responsible for compliance withthis law. The statute does, however, containsome exemptions. The provisions for propersecurement of children do not apply:

• If an adult is present in the bed or cargo areaof the vehicle and is supervising the child;

• If the child is secured or restrained by aseatbelt manufactured in compliance withFederal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.208, installed to support a load strength ofnot less than 5,000 pounds for each belt, andof a type approved by the Commissioner;

• If an emergency situation exists;

• If the vehicle is being operated in a paradepursuant to a valid permit;

• If the vehicle is being operated in an agri-cultural enterprise; or

• If the vehicle is being operated in a countywhich has no incorporated area with a pop-ulation in excess of 3,500.

Violators are issued tickets and are subjectto a fine of $25.00. Violations of this law havebeen defined as “infractions” and do not incurcourt costs, driver license points or insurancesurcharges.

The following 32 counties are exempt fromthe “pickup truck” law based on the absence ofincorporated areas with populations exceeding3,500: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Bertie,Camden, Caswell, Cherokee, Clay, Currituck,Duplin, Franklin, Gates, Graham, Green, Hyde,Jackson, Jones, Macon, Madison, Mitchell,Montgomery, Northhampton, Pamlico, Pender,Perquimans, Polk, Swain, Tyrrell, Warren,Yadkin, and Yancey.

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General Driving

The Driver and PedestrianWhen you are driving, always yield right of way topedestrians.

• At intersections without traffic signals, pedestrians have the right–of–way if they arein marked crosswalks, or in unmarked cross-walks formed by imaginary lines extendingfrom the sidewalks across the streets.

• At intersections controlled by ordinary trafficsignals, pedestrians must obey the same signals as drivers traveling in the same direction — Pedestrians should not start tocross during a red or yellow signal.

• When crossing with a green signal, pedestri-ans have the right–of–way over all vehicles,including those turning across the paths ofthe pedestrians.

• If a traffic signal changes to yellow or redwhile any pedestrian remains in the street, drivers must allow the pedestrian to com-plete the crossing safely.

At some intersections, special signalsinstruct pedestrians either to “Walk" or “Don'tWalk". When these signals are operating, pedes-trians must obey them rather than regular trafficsignals.

■ Pedestrians crossing with special pedestriansignals have the right–of–way just as theydo while crossing with a green light.

■ If you are moving through an intersectionwith a green signal and a pedestrian startsto cross in your path against the red signal,give a warning with your horn.The law requires drivers to use the horn

whenever a pedestrian may be affected by a turn,stop or start from a parked position. If the pedes-trian does not stop, the driver must. Saving a pedestrian’s life is always worth the driver’s lostright–of–way. The safe driver yields right–of–wayto a pedestrian whether the pedestrian is entitledto it or not.

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Special Considerations for Blind PedestriansThe law gives a blind pedestrian special

consideration at intersections where there are notraffic signals. When the blind pedestrian extendsa white cane or a white cane tipped with red or iswith a guide dog, all vehicles approaching theintersection must come to a full stop. All vehiclesmust remain stopped until the pedestrian hascrossed safely.

Vehicles Requiring SpecialConsiderationSchool buses

The maximum speed limit for a school busis 45 mph. School bus drivers travel more thanhalf a million miles each school day and trans-port almost three-quarters of a million childrenevery morning and afternoon. During the hoursthat school buses are operating (generally 7-9a.m. and 2-4 p.m.), drivers should be especiallycareful. •Divided highway of four lanes or more with amedian separation: When school bus stops forpassengers, only traf-fic following the busmust stop.

•Two-lane road-way: When

school bus stops forpassengers, all trafficfrom both directionsmust stop.

• Four-lane road-way without amedian separation:When school busstops for passengers,all traffic from bothdirections must stop.

STOP

STOP

STOP

STOP

STOP

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• Roadway of fourlanes or more with acenter turning lane:When school bus stopsfor passengers, onlytraffic following the busmust stop.

Children waitingfor the bus or leaving

the bus might dart out into traffic. Even when theschool bus is not in sight, children at a bus stop some-times will run into the street unexpectedly. Always becareful around school buses and school busstops.

Emergency VehiclesPolice cars, ambulances, fire engines and

rescue vehicles with flashing lights and sirens arealways entitled to the right–of–way.

Follow these guidelines when approaching orbeing approached by an emergency vehicle:

1. As the emergency vehicle approaches (fromahead or behind), drive to the right-hand curb oredge of the road and stop completely.

2. Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle haspassed, or until you are directed to move by atraffic officer.

3. Do not park within 100 feet of an emergencyvehicle that has stopped to investigate an acci-dent or to give assistance.

4. Do not drive or park closer than one block fromfire trucks responding to a fire alarm.

5. Never drive a motor vehicle over a fire hose.6. When approaching any authorized emergency

vehicle (Police, fire department, ambulance, res-cue squad, or public service vehicle) that isparked or standing within 12 feet of the roadwaywith the emergency or warning lights activated, a driver is required to do the following:If the highway you are traveling on has at least 2

lanes for traffic heading in the same direction you aretraveling, you must move your vehicle into a lane thatis not the lane nearest the parked or standing emer-gency vehicle. You must continue traveling in thatlane until safely clear of the emergency vehicle.

This applies only if the highway has at least two lanesfor traffic going the same direction you are traveling andyou can change lanes safely and without interfering withother traffic.

STOP

All vehicles, regardless of direction of travel, must yieldright–of–way to an approaching emergency vehicle. This doesnot apply to vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of the

emergency vehicle(s) when traveling on a four-lane limitedaccess highway with a median divider separating the highway

for vehicles traveling in opposite directions.

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If the highway you are traveling on has only 1lane for traffic heading in the same direction you aretraveling, you must slow your speed and drive at areduced, safe speed until you are completely past theemergency vehicle.Suggested procedures for motorists when stoppedby law enforcement officers.

• On a standard dual lane highway, ALWAYSpull to the right and off the travel portion of the high-way.

• On a multiple lane highway, which could betwo, three or more lanes of traffic in the same direc-tion, a driver should pull his vehicle onto the MOSTfeasible shoulder of the highway in a safe manner.

• Upon bringing the vehicle to a stop, the drivershould do the following:

• Remain seated in the vehicle and place the vehicle in the “parked” position, prefer-ably with the vehicle in the “off” position. With power locks and windows more prevalent, the engine may have to be left running.

• Activate your vehicle’s hazard lights or emergency flashers.

• If at night, activate the vehicle’s interior lights.• Turn off your car radio. This will assist in com-

municating with the officer.• Stop talking on your cell phone. This will also

assist in communicating with the officer. • Place both hands on the steering wheel while

the officer is approaching the vehicle.• The passengers should place their hands in

their lap or on their knees, in order to allow the officera clear view of the vehicle.

• Once the officer approaches the vehicle, loweryour window so you can communicate with the officer.Don’ts:1. Do not move around in the vehicle, reach under the

seats or enter the glove box or center console while the officer is approaching the vehicle. Basically, refrain from unnecessary movement.

2. Do not exit the vehicle or have other parties exit the vehicle unless instructed by the officer.

Officers understand and take into consideration manyfactors when stopping drivers. In some cases the viola-tor may continue to drive a short distance until theyreach the first “safe haven” or well-lighted area asdetermined by the law enforcement officer. This dis-tance is based upon the violation committed or the lawenforcement officer’s observation of the motorist’sdriving ability. When proceeding to the first “safehaven” or well-lighted area, the vehicle’s hazard lightsor emergency flashers should be activated.

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Basic Driving Skills and RulesDriving on Your Side of the Road

The law requires you to drive on the rightside of the road. Driving on the left side is legalonly in some cases, such as on one-way streetsand while passing. When you are moving slowerthan the posted speed limit on a multi-lane high-way, drive in the extreme right lane unless youare passing, turning left or avoiding an obstruc-tion.

Adjusting Your Speed to DrivingConditions

The speed at which you drive determinesthe distance required to stop your vehicle.Stopping distance also depends on your reactiontime. Stopping distances are longer at higherspeeds because a vehicle travels farther during thedriver’s reaction time, and it takes more brakingdistance to come to a full stop. Even with idealconditions, if you are traveling 55 miles per houryour vehicle requires approximately 211 feet tostop completely.

Driving at a high speed is more dangerousbecause each additional mile traveled per hourreduces the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.Speed also increases the likelihood that a crashwill result in serious injury or death.

On the other hand, driving below the post-ed speed limit can also be dangerous. If youmust drive slower, you should still observe theminimum speed limit. At places where it isunsafe to pass, the slow driver forces other driv-ers to creep along behind or take unnecessaryrisks while trying to pass. Very slow driving isespecially dangerous just after you have passedthe crest of a hill or rounded a curve. Faster-mov-ing vehicles can crash into the slower vehiclebefore they can slow down. For this reason,watch for slow–moving vehicles such as heavy

Studies show that the vehicle moving at a speed considerably below the posted

limit is much more likely to cause or be involved in a crash than the vehicle

moving at a normal speed.

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trucks or farm vehicles. If traffic is collectingbehind you, it is wise to pull over to the side of theroad, stop and allow the vehicles to pass.

The most important rules about speed are:

• Never drive faster than the posted speedlimit or at a speed that is unreasonable orunwise given the existing conditions.

• Allow a safe distance between you and thevehicle in front of you (the “two second rule").

• The faster you are moving, the farther aheadyou must be able to see to allow enough distance for stopping.

Conditions often change as you drive. Youwill drive through different areas such as opencountry, residential communities and schoolzones. Watch for changing conditions and adjustyour speed accordingly.

Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit is35 mph in cities and towns. Special speed limitsmay be posted for special areas. To be a safedriver, you must often drive slower than theposted limit, but you should never driver faster.

Maximum Speed LimitsIn Cities and Towns 35For School Buses 45For School Activity Buses 55Outside Cities and Towns 55For Interstates 70

Rounding a CurveThe best way to handle a curve:

1. Slow down before you enter the curve sothat you will not need to brake while youare in the curve.

2. Gradually increase your speed to maintainthe traction necessary for good control ofthe vehicle as you round the curve.

3. If you must brake in the curve, apply thebrakes gradually until you are sure it issafe to keep continuous pressure on thebrake pedal.

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4. Begin to turn the vehicle just prior to thepoint where the road begins to turn.

5. Stay on your side of the road and drive asfar to the right as you can.

If you encounter a curve while traveling downhill:

1. consider the pull of gravity;2. shift to a lower gear before moving down-

hill; and3. begin to brake earlier and approach the

curve more slowly than you would on alevel roadway.

TurningReduce the vehicle’s speed before making

the turn and then accelerate slightly. For rightturns, stay close to the right edge of the road, sothat another vehicle cannot move between yourvehicle and the curb.

Motorcycles and bicycles are especially hardto see during a turn. Always give the proper sig-nal and look before turning to make sure that youcan turn safely.

FollowingFollowing too closely is a leading cause of

traffic crashes. Maintain plenty of space betweenyour vehicle and the one ahead. If the vehicleahead stops suddenly, you will need time toreact. On the open road, keep enough distancebetween you and the vehicle ahead so that apassing vehicle can safely move into and occupythe space. Remember to follow the “two secondrule".

Do not turnfrom or enterright hand lane

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Changing LanesOn a highway with multiple lanes of traffic,

check the lane you are changing to, as well as thelane beyond, to be certain that another vehicle isnot planning to move into the same space.

Passing1. Look ahead and behind to determine when

it is safe to pass. 2. If it is safe to pass, signal to alert the drivers

ahead and behind you of your intention sothey can plan their moves accordingly.

3. Give a left turn signal so the driver behindyou will know that you are about to pull outand pass.

4. Blow the horn to signal the driver ahead.

The horn signal places the driver of thevehicle you are passing under a legal obligationto help you to pass. While passing, be sure youhave plenty of room and keep a steady speed.You cannot pass safely unless you can see farenough ahead to insure that you can get back tothe original lane of travel before you meetoncoming traffic. The law requires at least twofeet of clearance between your vehicle and thevehicle or bicycle you are passing. You have not

Important rules about changing lanes:

1. Check the side and rear view mirrors;2. Check over your shoulder to be certain

the blind spot is clear.

3. Signal your intended movement inadvance.

4. Proceed with changing lanes.

The Two-Second RuleThe “two-second rule” says that you should

allow two seconds between the time the vehicleahead of you passes a given point and the time

your vehicle reaches the same point.

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passed safely if the vehicle you have passedmust slow down to allow you back into your cor-rect lane.

Places where passing is always unsafe and usually illegal:

• at intersections in cities and towns or at railroad crossings;

• at marked intersections in rural areas;

• on any curve or hill where the driver cannotsee at least 500 feet ahead;

• wherever there is a solid yellow line in thedriver’s lane;

• wherever there is a double solid yellow line;

• at intersections or crosswalks where a vehi-cle has stopped to allow people to cross thestreet; and

• wherever the driver cannot see that the road isclear of traffic far enough ahead to pass safely.

Passing on the rightPassing on the right is against the law

except in areas where it is specifically permitted.Passing on the right places your vehicle on theblind side of the vehicle you are passing. Thevehicle you are passing could unexpectedlymake a right turn or pull over to the right side ofthe road.

Exceptions where passing on the right is allowed:

• on highways having at least two lanes traveling in each direction;

• on one-way streets where all lanes of trafficmove in the same direction;

• when passing a vehicle that is in the left-turn lane; and/or

• when driving in a lane set aside for rightturns.

On three-lane highways, you must not passexcept in the center lane, and then only wherethe center lane is marked for passing in yourdirection. Exception: When the vehicle in the cen-ter lane is making a left turn.

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When your vehicle is being passedWhen you are being passed, you are

required to help the other driver to pass. If thedriver of the passing vehicle blows the horn,move to the right edge of the road. Neverincrease your speed.

If you increase speed and fail to give wayto a passing vehicle, you will be charged with amisdemeanor if a crash occurs resulting in bod-ily injury or property damage.

Backing

ParkingAlways park on the right side of the road,

except on one-way streets.Before pulling out from a parallel parking

space, check for approaching traffic and give aleft turn signal, unless you are parked on the leftside of a one-way street.If you are driving and notice that a vehicle aheadof you is pulling out from a parallel parkingspace, slow down and be prepared to stop.

Places where you should not park:

• at an intersection or in front of a driveway;

• within 25 feet of the curb line of an intersect-ing street or within 15 feet of the intersectingright–of–way lines if there is no curb;

There are several rules you should follow whenyou must back your vehicle.

1. Before entering your vehicle, checkbehind it for small objects or children —once you are in the driver's seat, it is hardto see them;

2. To maintain a full view of what is behindthe vehicle, steer with your left hand andlook over your right shoulder through theback window — do not depend on mirrorsalone or looking through the side window;

3. Back very slowly, not more than 10 mph— your vehicle is harder to control and tostop when it is backing.

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• on a crosswalk, sidewalk or bridge;

• within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or entranceto a fire station;

• on the paved or primary–travel portion ofany highway — parking on the shoulder isalso against the law unless the parked vehi-cle can be seen by approaching drivers fromboth directions for a distance of at least 200feet;

• on the roadway side of another vehicle (double parking);

• where there are no-parking signs;

• within one block of a fire or fire truck in citylimits or within 400 feet of a fire or fire truck outside the city;

• anywhere within the right–of–way of aninterstate highway, except in designated parking areas or in cases of emergencies;and

• parking spaces designated for handicappeduse unless your vehicle is displaying a handicapped license plate or placard.

Special Driving SituationsIntersections, Roads, Streets and Highways

An intersection is any place where two ormore roads meet or cross each other. Crashesoccur most frequently at intersections, and theyare considered the most dangerous places on astreet or highway. More than one-third of fataltraffic crashes involving motor vehicles occur atintersections.

On four-lane highways separated by a medi-an of more than 30 feet, each crossing constitutes aseparate intersection. The law requires that youslow down when you come to an intersection,even if you have the right–of–way. In intersections without traffic signs or signals, theright-of-way rules state that:

• the vehicle already in the intersection hasthe right–of–way ahead of any vehicle thathas not yet entered;

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• when two or more vehicles reach an inter-section at the same time, the vehicle to theright has the right–of–way;

• a vehicle with the right–of–way may movestraight ahead or, if legal and after signal-ing, turn right or left; and

• even with the right–of–way, be careful toavoid hitting other vehicles and pedestrians.

When two facing vehicles approach anintersection at the same time, the right-of-wayrules are not much help. Both drivers can movestraight ahead or turn right. If one driver is goingstraight while the other wants to turn left, thedriver who wants to turn must wait. The driverwho wants to turn left must give the proper sig-nal and wait until the turn can be made safely.Therefore, in this case, the driver who is travelingstraight ahead has the right–of–way. Neverchange lanes while you are moving straightahead through an intersection.

Right–of–way at intersectionsWhen you approach an intersection with a

stop sign, you must come to a complete stop andyield to the traffic on the through- street. Do notmove ahead or turn until you can proceed safely.

Drive with caution at intersections with traf-fic signals and wait until the signal permits youto turn or to move straight ahead.

A traffic circle is a specially designed inter-section. All vehicles in a traffic circle travel to theright. You drive around the circle in a counter-clockwise direction until you come to the road orstreet where you want to turn. You leave the traf-fic circle by making a right turn. If there is more

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than one lane in the circle, be sure you are in theoutside lane before you come to the place whereyou intend to exit the circle. Look and signalbefore you turn or change lanes. Never make aright turn from an inside lane. An entire trafficcircle is an intersection. Vehicles already in thecircle have the right–of–way.

When exiting a private driveway, stop andyield to all other vehicles and pedestrians. Atunmarked intersections where it is hard to see inall directions, stop and then move forward slow-ly and cautiously.

InterchangesMany intersections may have roads crossing

each other at different levels. These are inter-changes and the method of turning at these spe-cially designed intersections may vary. As youapproach an interchange, slow down and give careful attention to the signs that direct youabout how to make the turn.

Railroad Crossing Safety

A yellow and black “RR" sign indicates thatyou are approaching a railroad crossing. As youapproach the tracks, look both ways and listenbecause you may have to stop. Trains canapproach a crossing at any time. If there is a stopsign, you must come to a full stop before crossing.

A railroad crossbuck sign is used at the crossing itself. A smaller sign below the cross-buck indicates if there is more than one track.Many crossings have flashing red lights or flash-ing red lights with gates. If the warning signalactivates, you must stop before the gates loweracross your side of the road. It is unlawful to movethrough a railroad crossing when the gates arelowered.

As you approach a railroad crossing, you must:• slow your speed;• keep alert; and• watch for the railroad crossing signal.

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Remember these railroad crossing rules:

• When flashing red lights are used withcrossbuck signs at the railroad crossing, youmust STOP, just as you would stop for anyflashing red traffic signal.

• If you are waiting for a train to pass, bepatient.

• Do not proceed to move immediately afterthe train has passed — there may be anothertrain moving in the opposite direction fromor following the first train.

• Always wait until the red lights havestopped flashing before moving ahead.

• Be prepared to stop for vehicles that muststop at crossings, such as school buses,motor vehicles carrying passengers for-hireor vehicles transporting explosives or haz-ardous materials (these vehicles are markedwith placard signs).

• If you happen to be crossing the tracks andthe warning lights begin flashing or gatesstart to come down, do not stop, KEEPMOVING! The warning signals will allowenough time for you to finish drivingthrough the crossing before the train arrives.The gate on the far side of the tracks will notblock you in. If you stop and try to back up,your vehicle may stall.

• Crossing gates will not trap you, but stop-ping traffic might. Be sure the traffic aheadof you will not stop and block you in onthe tracks.

• If your vehicle is blocked in or stalls on therailroad track, make sure everyone vacatesthe vehicle immediately.

— Post a lookout in each direction of thetrack to see if a train is approaching.

— If there is no train in sight, attempt topush the vehicle clear of the tracks or torestart it (if stalled).

Never move onto a railroad track unless you are certain

you can drive across safely.

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With rail traffic increasing throughoutNorth Carolina, it is more important than ever topractice safety at railroad crossings. Some trainsrequire more than a mile for stopping distance.Trains cannot stop quickly, but your vehicle can.

Bicycle LanesWhen a bicycle lane or bike path

travels on or adjacent to the roadway, please payspecial attention to bicyclists as you approachand move through an intersection. Because bicy-clists ride to the right of motor vehicle traffic, ahigh potential exists for a crash between the bicy-clist who is moving straight ahead through theintersection and the motorist who is turning right.

City DrivingDriving in cities and towns can pose prob-

lems for some drivers. Traffic is often heavy inurban areas. Watch for approaching traffic at sidestreets. When driving in heavy traffic, be alert fordrivers who make quick stops. To avoid arear–end crash by another vehicle, check yourrear view mirror often and stay aware of danger-ous situations that might exist behind you. If youintend to make a turn and find that you are notin the proper lane, continue to the next intersec-tion and turn there.

Other rules to follow when driving in cities:• Give yourself plenty of space to make

decisions — leave a “margin of safety"around your vehicle.

• Communicate your intended movements toother drivers.

• Watch the road far enough ahead of you todetect possibly dangerous situations earlierand to take proper defensive actions.

• Avoid driving side-by-side, especially inanother driver's blind spot — if you cannotsee the inside rear view mirror of the carahead, you are probably in the driver’sblind spot.

Remember, no vehicleis worth a human life.

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• Never “weave” in and out of traffic — stayin one lane if you can and plan lane changesahead of time.

• Be prepared to apply the brakes.

• Watch for parked vehicles that might bepulling out and pedestrians who might dartonto the street from between parked vehi-cles. Parked vehicles can also block yourview of intersecting traffic, driveways andalleys.

• On a one–way street, use the center lane(s)for through–travel and the outside lanes forturning.

Open RoadsRural highways can be narrow two-lane

roads or multi-lane highways. Driving on ruralroads is often more dangerous than driving inheavy city traffic because:

• the road may not be as wide;• the lighting is often not as good; and/or• the travel speeds may be higher

Secondary RoadsA paved secondary road is not always

designed for heavy traffic or regular highwayspeed. Most secondary roads are built for localtransportation, and not for main highways. Onthese roads, hills are likely to be more steep andcurves are likely to be more sharp than on pri-mary roads. Sight distances are often very short.Secondary roads cannot be traveled safely atspeeds that would be proper for primary highways.

Funeral Processions

• Every vehicle in a funeral procession musthave its headlights on, and the hazardwarning signals must also be on, if soequipped.

• The operator of the lead vehicle must com-ply with all traffic-control signals. But whenthe lead vehicle has crossed the intersectionin accordance with the traffic-control sign orsignal, or when directed to do so by a lawenforcement officer or funeral director, orwhen being led by a law enforcement vehi-cle, all vehicles in the funeral processionmay proceed through the intersection with-

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out stopping while using extra care towardsother vehicles or pedestrians.

• All vehicles in a funeral procession must bedriven on the right side of the road andshall follow the vehicle ahead as closely asreasonable and prudent.

• The driver of a vehicle going in the oppositedirection as a funeral procession may yieldto the procession. If the driver chooses toyield, the driver must do so by reducingspeed, or by stopping completely off theroadway so that drivers of other vehiclesproceeding in the opposite direction of theprocession can continue to travel withoutleaving their lane of traffic.

• The driver of a vehicle traveling in the samedirection as the funeral procession shall notpass or attempt to pass the funeral proces-sion, except that the operator of such a vehi-cle may pass a funeral procession when thehighway has been marked for two or morelanes of moving traffic in the same directionof the funeral procession.

• The driver of a vehicle shall not knowinglydrive between vehicles in a funeral proces-sion. When a funeral procession is proceed-ing through a red light, the driver of a vehi-cle that is not in the procession shall notenter the intersection even if facing a green-light, unless it can be done safely and with-out crossing the path of the procession.

Interstate HighwaysInterstate highways are safer roads because

they have separate traffic lanes for vehicles mov-ing in opposite directions and fewer placeswhere traffic can enter and exit. Also, Interstatesdo not have railroad crossings, sharp curves, stopsigns or traffic signals.

When driving on an interstate, follow these rules:

• Plan your trip in advance.

• Be sure to check the vehicle’s water, oil, tiresand gas before leaving on your trip.

• Decide in advance where you must enterand exit the highway.

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• When entering the interstate, use the accel-eration lane until your vehicle’s speedmatches that of the other traffic and thenmerge safely.

• Keep to the right, use the left lane(s) for passing.

• Do not tailgate.

• Keep a safe following distance for the speedyou are traveling — one of the most fre-quent types of crashes on an interstate high-way is the rear–end crash — use the “twosecond rule". (see page 49)

• Remember that faster speeds require greaterstopping distances and times.

• Stop at indicated rest areas frequently, preferably at least once every 100 miles.

• Never stop in the travel lane.

Remember these tips when you drive:

• As your speed increases, look fartherahead.

• Give particular attention to hidden intersections and driveways.

• Watch for warning signs that signalchanges in the road.

• Watch for other vehicles, especially over-sized and slow-moving ones.

• Maintain a safe following distance.

• Use the vehicle’s headlights when visibilitybecomes poor.

• Be especially alert to oncoming vehiclesbecause they are only a few feet away onsome two-lane, undivided highways.

• If you see a line of vehicles approaching,watch for drivers who might be trying topass.

• Always have a possible “escape route" toavoid colliding with an oncoming vehicle.

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• If a vehicle breakdown forces you to stop,move far off the road. Tie a white cloth onthe radio aerial or left door handle and raisethe hood. If the breakdown occurs at night,engage the vehicle’s emergency flashers orparking lights. If you are a driver who spotsa vehicle breakdown, immediately contactthe Highway Patrol or local law enforcement.

• When leaving the highway, signal your turnwell in advance, and without slowingdown, enter the deceleration lane. Proceedat the posted exit speed limit.

• Keep aware of vehicles in the lanes next toyou.

Traffic moves much faster on the inter-state than on an ordinary highway. It is danger-ous to drive very far below the posted speedlimit. Follow the flow of traffic if you can do sowithout speeding. Crashes are more likely to occurwhen a vehicle moves significantly slower than theflow of the traffic.

Entering and Exiting the InterstateA dangerous error made by drivers on an

interstate is to attempt to leave the highway aftermissing an exit. If you miss an exit, do not slowdown, back up or try to turn around. Proceed tothe next exit and leave the highway there instead.You can always find a service or side street toreturn to your intended exit.

Many interstate highways have cloverleafintersections. A cloverleaf intersection occurswhere a bridge takes one road over another roadand all turns are right turns.

If you enter an interstate headed in the wrongdirection, pull over to the right shoulder of the

road and stop. When the way is clear, turnaround and head in the proper direction (Avoid

this error by watching for DO NOT ENTER signs.)

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Safe Driving Tips• Plan ahead.• Allow time for frequent rest stops.• Stop, get out of the vehicle and move

around at least once every 100 miles.• When you feel sleepy, stop and rest or have

something to eat.• Constantly scan the road ahead, however

do not look at any one object for more thana few seconds at a time and never stare into the distance.

• Use the rear view and side view mirrors fre-quently to reduce the chance of your vehiclebeing hit from the rear.

• Slow your speed any time you see a situa-tion that might be dangerous.

• Do not impair your view through the windshield or windows (an official inspec-tion sticker and a current city decal, used inplace of a city license plate, are allowed atthe lower driver’s corner of the windshield).

• Load your vehicle so that the driver’s viewof the road will not be blocked.

• Do not eat, drink, smoke or use a cell phonewhile driving.

• Except to make a hand signal, no driver orpassenger should ever place an arm, heador foot outside a moving vehicle.

To drive safely, your vehicle must be equipped with specific items that should

be in good working order.

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LightsMake sure all the lights on your vehicle work.

• When you engage the high–beam head-lights at night, you should be able to see aperson who is 200 feet away. When usingthe low–beam headlights, you should beable to see someone who is 75 feet away.

• When headlights are improperly adjusted,they can shine in the eyes of approachingdrivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Vehiclevibration can cause the headlights tobecome out of adjustment.

• It is a good practice to routinely check andadjust the headlights.

• Overloading the rear of your vehicle maycause the front of your vehicle to tilt andproduce an uncomfortable and sometimeshazardous headlight glare for oncomingdrivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

• Taillights must be red in color and visiblefor at least 500 feet.

• The law requires a white light shining onthe license plate to make the numbers visi-ble for at least 50 feet.

• All motor vehicles produced since 1955must have red or amber lights that engagewhen the brakes or turn signals are used —these lights may be combined with the tail-lights or may be separated, and they mustbe visible for at least 100 feet in normal day-light.

• Because hand signals are difficult to see atnight, it is very important that a vehicle’slights have clean lenses and stay in properworking order.

MirrorsCheck and adjust the mirrors before you begin to

drive. The rear view mirror should show what isdirectly behind you. Adjust the side mirrors to showthe scene to the left and right rear of the vehicle. Themirrors should barely reflect the side of the vehicle.

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Brakes• Every motor vehicle that operates on a public

roadway must be equipped with brakes to adequately control the movement of,stop and hold the vehicle.

• All vehicles should have originally equippedbrakes in good working condition — having twoseparate means of applying the brakes.

• The brake pedal should be at least one-third of its original distance from the floor when fullydepressed. If it is not, you must have the brakeschecked and, if necessary, repaired.

• If the pedal gradually lowers under the pressure of your foot, you must have thehydraulic system checked.

• Brakes that squeak when you depress the brakepedal can indicate a problem — have themchecked — do not risk a possible loss of thebrakes.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock brakes can help improve vehicle stabil-

ity (Avoiding spin-outs), steerability, (Directing thevehicle where the driver wants it to go) and stoppingcapability (Distance needed to stop the vehicle).

With ABS, it is important to brake hard andkeep firm and steady pressure on the brake pedalwhile stopping. Pumping the brake pedal or releas-ing the steady pressure on the brake pedal willreduce the effectiveness of the ABS.

AUTO THEFT PREVENTIONTo help prevent auto theft, never leave the key in

the ignition switch of an unattended vehicle. Shownbelow is helpful information pertaining to vehicleswith steering lock devices.

Be Cautious with vehicles with Steering-LockDevices. Never turn your ignition key to the lock posi-tion while the vehicle is in motion. That will cause thesteering to lock and, quite possibly, loss of control ofthe vehicle.

Steering Lock OperationThe Transmission Park System Park. Shift the trans-mission into the “park” position. Turn key to LOCKand remove.

The Two-Hand Button System Park. This systemrequires two hands. Depress button below the steeringcolumn. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The Lever System Park. Depress lever located nearthe ignition. Turn key to LOCK and remove.

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The One-Hand Button System Park. Depress buttonlocated near the ignition, Turn key to LOCK andremove..

The Push-In System Park. Turn key to off, push in.Turn key to LOCK and remove.

The Turn and Remove System Park. Turn key toLOCK and remove.

1992 Automobile Safety Foundation

TiresEvery vehicle operated on the streets and high-

ways of North Carolina must be equipped with tiresthat are safe for the operation of the vehicle and do notexpose the public to needless hazards. Tires are con-sidered unsafe if they are cut, cracked or worn so as toexpose the tire cord, or when they have visible treadseparation, chunking or less than two thirty-secondsinch tread depth.

Tires are important for stopping your vehicle.Never drive on smooth tires or tires that have fabricshowing. Tires without enough air wear out morequickly. Also, tires without enough air increasethe likelihood of a blowout. Over-inflated tiresreduce traction and wear heavily on the middle ofthe tread.

The air pressure of tires must be checked atleast once every week. For safe driving and fueleconomy, tires should have the right amount ofair. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation.The best time to check air pressure is when thetires are cool. If you do not have an air pressuregauge, you can take your vehicle to a nearbyservice station or auto center to have it checked.

Horns and Sirens

Only law enforcement and emergency vehiclesmay have emergency lights or sirens.

• Every licensed motor vehicle must beequipped with a horn in good working order.

• The horn must be loud enough to be heardfor at least 200 feet, and it must not make anyunreasonably loud or harsh sound.

• If the horn fails, have it repaired right away.

• The horn must be used as a reasonable warn-ing device. You should not use the hornunnecessarily or unreasonably.

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Muffler and Exhaust SystemEvery motor vehicle must have a muffler

that is in good working order. The muffler filterssmoke and excessive noise. One function of theexhaust system is to take harmful fumes from theengine to the rear of the vehicle to be released.Check your exhaust system often to be sure it isnot leaking. A leak in the exhaust system canallow poisonous carbon monoxide gas to enterthe passenger compartment of the vehicle.Carbon monoxide poisoning often can be fatal,and even small amounts can cause you tobecome sleepy or unconscious and lose control ofthe vehicle. For this reason, it is suggested thatyou keep a window open about one inch at alltimes.

Suspension SystemIf a vehicle sways freely, leans heavily to

one side during a turn or seems to bounce con-tinuously, there may be a problem with the sus-pension system. Have a mechanic inspect thesuspension system, including shock absorbers,and immediately correct any defects. A faultysuspension system can cause you to lose controlof the vehicle.

Emergency Warning FlashersVehicles are equipped with an emergency

warning device that flashes all four turn signallights. These flashers can be used as a warningby any vehicle to signal other drivers of a possi-ble danger or that a vehicle is stopped or dis-abled.

Defensive Driving

Driving involves two important types of skills:

• skills that enable the driver to drive defensively and to avoid a crash in spiteof driving errors by others; and

• skills for the basic rules about turning, passing, backing and parking the vehicle.

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Defensive Driving SkillsSome skills used for driving defensively include:◆ ScanningWhat you see is important for defensive driving.

• Good drivers try to see 10 to 15 secondsahead on the roadway (about one cityblock). By looking ahead, you might avoidlast minute moves such as sudden stops orquick lane changes.

• About every 10 seconds check the mirrors tosee if any vehicle is following too closely

• When changing lanes, backing, slowingdown or driving down a long hill, it isimportant to check for traffic from behindthe car and in your blind spots.

• While checking the mirrors, do not takeyour eyes off the road for more than aninstant. The vehicle in front of you couldstop suddenly.

• Always leave yourself an “out”.Although mirrors are useful, you should

remember they do not show the full picture.Mirrors leave “blind" spots in your field ofvision. “Blind" spots are the areas near the leftand right rear corners of the vehicle that you can-not see using the mirrors from the driver’s per-spective. Therefore, before you make any lanechanges or turns, quickly turn your head andlook over your shoulder to see what is in theblind spot. Additional blind spots can be createdby glaring lights, dirty windshields, vehiclesparked too closely to an intersection, bushesand/or buildings. In these cases, ease your vehi-cle forward until you can see clearly. Avoid driv-ing in other drivers’ blind spots where it is moredifficult for them to see you.◆ Communicating

Communicating means letting others knowwhat you plan to do early enough to avoid acrash. Any time you plan to slow down, stop,turn, change lanes or pull away from the curb,you should signal your intention. Be in the habitof signalling your movements even when you donot see others on the road. Before you signal, youmust first see that your movement can be madesafely.

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◆ Hand Signals

◆ FlashersFlashing light signals for turns are legal sub-

stitutes for hand signals, but there are timeswhen they are hard to see. In late afternoon andearly morning, the lenses may reflect sunlight,making it difficult to tell whether the signals areflashing. At night a flashing light signal is mucheasier to see than a hand signal. Use the type ofsignal you believe will communicate best. Agood rule is to use both hand signals and flash-ing light signals in the daytime, especially in thelate afternoon or early morning when the sun isbright and low in the sky. The flashing light sig-nal is sufficient at night.

Signal at least the last 100 feet before turn-ing or stopping. If the speed limit is 45 mph ormore, signal at least the last 200 feet before turn-ing. The faster you are driving, the farther aheadyou should signal.

Keeping a Margin of SafetyAllow a margin of safety around you by

staying clear of other vehicles. Make sure there isenough room ahead and behind to pass or stopsafely.

Drive at a steady speed, and signal well inadvance whenever you are slowing down orstopping to warn other drivers from followingtoo closely. If another vehicle follows you tooclosely, move to another lane and signal for thedriver to pass you. Stay in the middle of the laneand leave space on both sides of your vehicle.Allow ample room between your vehicle, parkedvehicles and oncoming traffic.

Hand signals are given from the driver's window,using the left arm and hand:

• To signal a left turn, hold the arm andhand straight out and point the first finger.

• To signal a right turn, hold the armstraight out and the forearm and handstraight up, palm facing forward.

• To signal stopping and slowing down,point the arm and hand down, palm facingback.

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◆ AdjustingIn situations when you have to deal with

two or more unavoidable dangers at the sametime, adjust by giving the most room to thegreatest or most–likely danger. Suppose thereare approaching vehicles to your left and a childon a bicycle to your right. The child is most like-ly to make a sudden move, so give the childmore room. This may mean moving closer to theoncoming vehicles. If the dangers are equallyhazardous, such as oncoming vehicles andparked vehicles, you should stop and allow theoncoming vehicles to pass safely before proceed-ing.

Hazardous Driving

Work ZonesA street or highway work zone warns of

construction or maintenance activities that are onor adjacent to the road used by vehicles. Thework zone may or may not actually interferewith the normal traffic flow, but it will usuallycontain activities that may tend to draw the dri-ver's attention or otherwise distract a driver fromtraffic. It is very important to STAY ALERT inwork zones and to be prepared at all times toreact safely to unexpected conditions.

It is unlawful to drive a motor vehiclegreater than the speed limit that is set and post-ed while driving in a work zone. A highwaywork zone is the area between the first sign thatindicates the beginning of a work zone and thelast sign that indicates the end of a work zone.The penalty for speeding in a work zone is$250.00 if a sign is posted at the beginning of the

Adjusting to road conditions is the key to successful driving.

• You should be able to judge dangerous conditions and adjust your drivingaccordingly.

• Most importantly, you should knowwhen conditions are too dangerous to risk driving at all.

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work zone listing the penalty. This penalty isrequired in addition to any other penaltiesassessed for the speeding conviction.

A highwaywork zone can beeasily identifiedby unique orangewarning signsimmediately pre-ceding the workzone. The orangesigns with mes-sages in black letters are reserved strictly to iden-tify work zones. In addition to alerting drivers asthey approach and enter work zones, black–on–orange signs are used within the work zoneto convey specific information and directions todrivers as they travel through the work zone.Remember, black–on–orange signs identify workzones.

Examples of typical work zone signs

ONE LANE

ROAD

1500 FT

ROAD

CLOSED

1500 FT

ROAD

CONSTRUCTION

1500 FT

DETOUR

Work Zone

STAY ALERT

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The “flagger" sign warns drivers of con-struction or maintenance on the road aheadwhere a flagger wearing an orange vest is sta-tioned at the site to control traffic. The flaggeruses a “STOP/SLOW" paddle to either stop traf-fic or allow traffic to proceed. When you see the“Flagger" sign, STAY ALERT and be prepared tostop.

Warning signs alert drivers of unusual fea-tures or conditions that they are about toencounter.

How should you react to work zone warning signs?

• Recognize that when you see black-on-orange signs, you are about to enter a workzone and should STAY ALERT.

• Advance work zone signs may require youto take some action like shifting your vehicleto another lane.

• When you are required to take action, black-on-orange signs will convey the message far in advance, so you will haveenough time to take the action.

• Do not wait until the last minute to takeaction — the signs provide sufficient timefor the driver to react without impedingtraffic.

Driving slower than the surrounding traf-fic is a major cause of rear–end crashes in workzones. In the work zone, driving areas may beconfined, and there may be no maneuveringspace or escape route for vehicles that unex-pectedly approach a slow-moving vehicleahead. Traffic control devices such as barri-cades, cones, drums, flaggers, etc., are used inwork zones to guide and direct drivers safelythrough the work zone.

STOP

To StopTraffic

TrafficProceed

SLOW

To AlertAnd SlowTraffic

SLOW

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Night DrivingNight driving is much more dangerous than daytime driving because:

• you cannot see as well at night;• there are more impaired drivers on the road

at night;• drivers tend to be tired and less alert at

night;• a driver can be blinded by the headlights of

oncoming vehicles; and• dirty windshields and poor lights can cause

problems for some drivers.Tips for nighttime driving:

• The law requires use of headlights fromsunset to sunrise and when visibility is 400feet or less.

• When you drive at night in a city, use low-beam headlights. On the open road, usehigh-beam headlights unless you areapproaching or following another vehicle.

Remember:• When an approaching vehicle does not dim

its headlights, you can remind the driver byblinking your high-beams once.

• If the driver still does not dim the lights,keep your lights on low–beam.

• Stay on the right side of the road and usethe edge of the road as a guide.

• Reduce speed and watch the road as farahead as possible, looking slightly to theright so you will not be looking directly intothe headlights of oncoming traffic.

When driving through a work zone:

• STAY ALERT: Equipment and personnelare working very close to the roadway.

• Obey the signs.• Maintain a steady speed consistent with

the traffic flow unless otherwise directed.• Do not slow your speed abruptly, which

can create a hazard for the traffic behindyou.

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• At night, never drive at a speed at whichyou cannot stop within the distance you cansee on the road ahead.

• Keep a lookout at all times — bright head-lights from another vehicle make it difficultto see beyond their source.

Sun GlareSunlight, either direct or reflected, poses a

dangerous driving situation for drivers. Toreduce this problem, adjust your sun visor andwear sun glasses. If these do not help, stop on theroadside until you can drive safely.

RainRain reduces visibility and makes pavement

dangerous. You may be able to see only a fewfeet ahead; therefore you should drive moreslowly than usual, and you must use your head-lights and windshield wipers. Stopping distanceson slippery pavement increases from two to tentimes farther than on dry pavement; therefore,slow down and allow yourself at least twice thenormal following distance.

Roads are more dangerous just after therain has begun to fall, especially if it has notrained for a while. For the first 10 to 15 min-utes, the rain combines with oil from asphaltand vehicles, and with dirt, dust and rubber tocreate a slick surface. You should drive withextreme caution. Drive at least five to ten milesper hour slower on wet pavement than youwould on dry pavement. You must also be pre-pared if your vehicle hydroplanes.

HydroplaningHydroplaning occurs when a thin sheet of

water gets between the road surface and a vehi-cle’s tires, causing them to lose contact with theroad. The vehicle then begins a skatinglike move-ment across the road. Hydroplaning can start atspeeds as low as 30 miles per hour and in waterlittle more than 1/8 inch deep.

When parking on or along a highway at night:• Turn on your emergency flashers.• Never leave your headlights on when you park

at night — they can blind the drivers of oncom-ing vehicles.

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When your speed increases, so do thechances of hydroplaning. Your ability to stop, oreven slow your vehicle, is greatly reduced. Onceyou begin to hydroplane, any sudden jerking ofthe wheel or even a strong gust of wind can sendyou into an uncontrollable skid that can result ina crash. If you do begin to hydroplane, take yourfoot off the gas pedal. Resist your instinct to usethe brakes. Keep your steering wheel straightand let the car’s momentum decrease until thetires grip the road again and you regain control.

Before going out in rainy weather, checkyour tires. Tires with deep, open treads allowwater to escape and help prevent hydroplaning atmoderate speeds. Tires with worn tread and thosethat are underinflated have less grip on the roadsurface, increasing your chance of hydroplaning.To properly handle skids, it is better to have tirepressure on the high side, rather than the low side,of the manufacturer’s specifications.

Be alert to warning signs of standing wateron the roadway, which can lead to hydroplaning.These include visible reflections on the surface ofthe water; “dimples” created by rain drops asthey hit the water; a “slushing” sound made byyour tires; and a “loose” feeling in your steeringwheel. If you are driving after a rainstorm hasjust ended, continue to be cautious. Rain leavespuddles in the road for several hours, sometimeseven days after the showers stop, that can causeyour car to hydroplane.

Never use your cruise control when it israining or after it has been raining. If you hap-pen to run into standing water and your vehiclestarts to hydroplane, the time that it takes to turnoff the cruise control or tap the brake pedal torelease it, could mean the difference in maintain-ing or losing control of your vehicle.

Driving in Flood Conditions:Inland flooding is responsible for 85% of

deaths in North Carolina since 1970 associatedwith tropical weather. Half of these deaths werecaused by driving into known flooded roads.

• Never drive through standing water on aroadway. The water level may be muchhigher than it appears and it is possible thatpart of the roadway may be washed away.

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• Take precautions whenever you see watermoving across a roadway during or afterheavy rains or during flooding conditions.Your vehicle may stall and be swept off theroadway into deeper waters. There has beenreports that 6 inches of fast moving watercan sweep a car off the highway and 12inches of fast moving water can float a caror cause it to turn over.

Windshield Wipers/Headlights

All North Carolina motorists are required touse headlights whenever they are using wind-shield wipers due to inclement weather.

Fog

If you have extreme trouble seeing, you need to:

• pull far off the roadway;

• stop, secure the vehicle and turn on its emergency flashers; and

• leave the vehicle from the passenger sideand stay away from the road.

Snow and IceSnow and ice make roads very slippery,

especially when the temperature is at or belowfreezing. Hard–packed snow increases the dangerof skidding. As you drive, watch for shady spots,bridges and overpasses since these places areoften the first to freeze as the temperature drops.If you must drive during a snowstorm, reducespeed, use windshield wipers and turn on the lowbeam headlights. It is recommended that youreduce speed by more than half for packed snowand slow to a crawl on ice. Use chains if necessaryfor better traction, but do not forget that evenchains and snow tires can slide on ice and packed

If you must drive during fog:

• turn on the low beam headlights;

• reduce your driving speed and be alertfor taillights of the vehicle in front of you;and

• watch for the vehicles behind you.

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snow. You cannot start, stop or maneuver quicklyin these conditions. Watch for other drivers, espe-cially those who do not have their vehicles undercontrol.

EmergenciesIt is important to know what to do if you

have a mechanical problem or if some unusualsituation occurs. Most importantly, do not panic,but react promptly and appropriately to theemergency. Below are some tips and suggestionsfor dealing with emergency situations.

Brake Failure• Shift into a lower gear, release the clutch

pedal (for manual transmissions) and applythe emergency brake.

• If the vehicle is equipped with automatictransmission, apply the emergency brakeand move the gear control lever into the low-range position.

This could cause damage to the emergencybrake and the transmission, but under the cir-cumstances of brake failure there is no betterchoice.

When you are starting or stopping on snowy oricy roads:

• increase your speed slowly;

• get the “feel of the road" by testing yoursteering control and the braking friction;

• start to move in second gear or higherand release the clutch slowly (for manualshifts);

• allow at least three times the normal stop-ping distance as you begin to slow down;

• (when you stop) keep your foot off thebrake and let the engine slow the vehicle;and

• maintain extra distance between yourselfand the vehicle in front of you.

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Wet BrakesYou can help to dry the brakes by:

• driving a short distance; and• applying light pressure to the brake pedal.

The heat generated by the friction of thebrakes will evaporate the water from the brakelinings.

To prevent excessive wear on brakes whenmoving down a long hill or steep grade, use alower gear instead of the brake pedal to controlspeed. It is best to shift to the lower gear at thetop of the hill before you descend.

Gas Pedal SticksIf your gas pedal sticks:

• tap the gas pedal to try to unstick the throttlelinkage or lift the pedal with your foot;

• shift to neutral and apply firm pressure tothe brakes without locking the wheels;and/or

• find a safe place to move the vehicle completely off the road.

Blowouts

If you begin to feel a bumpy ride whenthere is no obvious reason, stop and check yourtires. You can tell a blowout by a loud noise andby the way the vehicle begins to swerve.

If a blowout occurs:

• hold the steering wheel tightly and try tokeep the vehicle straight on your side of the road;

• reduce speed by lifting your foot from theaccelerator;

• do not apply the brakes until the enginehas slowed the vehicle enough to allowyou to maintain control of the vehicle;and

• find a safe place to move the vehicle completely off the road.

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Use caution before changing a flat tire.

• Move the vehicle completely off the road.

• Set the parking brake and use emergencyflares (if you have them) to warn other drivers.

• Direct all passengers to leave the vehicle bythe passenger side. Never allow passengersto remain in the vehicle during a tirechange. Move passengers off the road orshoulder — do not allow them to stand infront or to the rear of the vehicle.

• Turn on the emergency flashers and parking lights.

• Block the wheels to prevent the vehicle fromrolling.

BreakdownsDo not attempt to make repairs on a vehicle

while it is in an area exposed to other traffic. Aska passing driver to get help for you by callingany law enforcement agency.

Unusual EmergenciesAn approaching vehicle that crosses the centerline into the path of your vehicle is a danger.Youshould:

What you should do if your vehicle breaks down:

• Exit the main part of the road — move thevehicle completely onto the shoulder ofthe road.

• Make sure you leave the vehicle by the passenger side, and do not allow passen-gers to remain in the vehicle.

• Stand off the road and away from thevehicle — do not stand in front or to therear of the vehicle.

• If you need help, tie a white cloth to theleft door handle or the radio aerial andraise the hood of the vehicle.

• If it’s dark, turn on the parking lights oremergency flashers. Always have flash-lights or flares in your vehicle for emer-gencies.

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• reduce speed immediately;

• sound your horn; and

• keep to the right even if this means runningoff the road.

Tips to follow if your vehicle runs off the pavementand onto the shoulder:

• Do not immediately apply the brakes or tryto turn back; you could skid, lose control or overturn.

• Slowly remove your foot from the accelera-tor and steer straight ahead.

• Allow the engine to slow the vehicle.

• When the vehicle is stopped or nearlystopped, check for approaching traffic and ifit’s safe, gradually drive back onto the road.

SkidsCertain roadway conditions such as wet

roads, ice and packed snow are more likely tocause skids.

To avoid skidding when driving with these roadway conditions:

• reduce speed gradually;

• start to move in second or high gear andslowly release the clutch (manual transmis-sion) or use second gear (automatic trans-mission); and

• pump the brakes gently to slow the vehicledown. Pumping your brakes gives the tiresbetter traction.

NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system(ABS), you should NOT pump the brakes. You should keep firm,steady pressure on the brake pedal. Pumping the brakes will disen-gage or turn off the ABS.

If you find yourself in a skid:

• Ease your foot off the accelerator.

• Turn the steering wheel in the directionthe rear of the vehicle is skidding.

• As soon as the vehicle’s path begins tostraighten, turn the steering wheel backthe other way so you will not over–steer.

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Safe Driving Around FarmEquipment

The agricultural industry is one of thelargest employers in North Carolina. Slow-mov-ing agricultural equipment can be found in allparts of the state, including suburban areas.Caution should be taken when sharing the roadwith farm equipment.

Most of the crashes that involve farm equip-ment occur on a clear day, during daylighthours, and/or on a dry surface that is paved.Typical crashes with farm equipment includesideswipes and angle crashes.

These types of crashes typically occur whilefarm equipment is turning left and another vehi-cle attempts to pass. In some cases, a machineryoperator uses a left hand signal, and drivers maymistake this as a sign for them to pass. When thefarm machinery slows to make the turn, thevehicle following attempts to pass and crasheswith the equipment. It is important to know thatmany farm machinery operators use hand sig-nals to warn other drivers when they are turningor stopping.

When sharing the road with farm equip-ment, you must obey the rules of the road. It isillegal and very dangerous to pass farm equip-ment in a no passing zone. Farm equipment maybe wider than what is visible from behind andmay require ample space in both lanes.Furthermore, it may also be difficult to see trafficapproaching in the opposite direction.

The key to safety when sharing the roadwith farm equipment is to be patient. If farmequipment is causing a delay in traffic, the oper-ator should move off the road at the nearestpractical location and allow the traffic to pass.This is the only advisable time to pass farmequipment on public roads.

During the harvesting and planting seasons,farmers work longer hours and are often on theroad in the early morning and evening hours.Farm equipment is required to have one frontwhite light as well as a rear red light that is visi-ble for up to 500 feet. Two red reflectors that areat least four inches in diameter can replace therear red light.

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Remember, when approaching farm equip-ment the closure time is much quicker becauseof the slow speed of the equipment. Alwaysapproach farm equipment with care.

Farm equipment is legally entitled to trav-el on most roads in North Carolina (exceptinterstates).

CrashesIf a crash seems likely:

• sound the horn;

• keep to the right;

• turn away from oncoming traffic, even ifyou must leave the road; and/or

• drive off the road, into an open field if possible.

If you are about to be hit from the rear, and thereare no vehicles in front of you:

• press the accelerator and move away as quickly as possible;

• be ready to apply your brakes if there is noroom to move;

• brace yourself between the steering wheeland the seat; and

• press the back of your head firmly againstthe head rest.

If you are about to be hit from the side:

• keep a tight grip on the steering wheel; and

• prepare to turn fast so that you can try tocontrol the vehicle.

If you are about to be hit from the front:

• use your arms and hands to protect yourface from breaking glass; and

• throw yourself against the seat to keep fromhitting the steering wheel or windshield.

In the event you are involved in a crash:

• You must stop the vehicle immediately — ifyou do not stop, you have violated the law.

• Take precautions to prevent further crashesat the scene.

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• Do whatever you can to help those whohave been injured.

• Try to insure that someone informs a lawenforcement officer immediately.

You are required by law to make an imme-diate report to the nearest law enforcement offi-cer or agency of any crash when any person iskilled or injured or the total damage to vehiclesand other property appears to amount to $1,000or more. Failure to make the report may resultin prosecution, and your driver license could besuspended. You should also report any crash toyour insurance company. In certain cases,North Carolina law also requires the driver of avehicle involved in a reportable crash to pro-vide proof of financial responsibility (liabilityinsurance) on forms provided by the Divisionof Motor Vehicles. These forms must be com-pleted and filed with the DMV.

Three things you MUST do if involved in a crash:

• Provide your name, address, driverlicense number, vehicle registration num-ber and the name of your vehicle insur-ance company.

• Be sure to obtain the same informationfrom others who were involved in the crash.

• If you do not know the occupants of theother vehicle or the owner of damagedproperty, write down all the informationyou can gather and give it to the nearestlaw enforcement officer.

The law protects persons who stop and render aid at the scene of an accident from civil liability except for intentional

wrongdoing or unruly conduct.

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Chapter 5 — Signals and Signsn 85

Chapter 5

Signals, Signs andPavement Markings

Traffic signals, signs and markings are usedfor traffic control to provide a smooth, orderlyflow of traffic. It is important to understand theirmeanings.

Traffic SignalsThe traffic signal is used to control traffic andpedestrians at some intersections and mid-block crosswalks.

• A circular green signal means “go”, but leftturning traffic is “unprotected” and mustyield the right–of–way to oncoming traffic.

• A circular yellow signal means “caution”and indicates that the signal is about to turnred. Stop for a yellow signal unless you aretoo close to the intersection to stop safely -in that case, drive cautiously through theintersection. Never speed up for a yellowsignal to “beat” the red signal.

• A circular red signal means “STOP”. Unlessthere is a sign indicating ‘NO TURN ONRED”, a right turn can be made after com-ing to a”complete stop. All vehicles turningright shall yield the right of way to othertraffic and pedestrians using the intersectionand to pedestrians in reasonably close prox-imity to the intersection and who are start-ing to cross in front of the traffic that isrequired to stop at the red light. Failure toyield to a pedestrian under these circum-stances will result in a penalty of not morethan $500.00 and not less than $100.00.

86DrChapter 5 — Signals and Signsiving

CYMKArrow signals are also important traffic sig-nals.

• A green arrow means that you have a “protected” turning movement with noother conflicting traffic in the intersectionexcept U-turn traffic that should yield to allother traffic entering the intersection.

• A red arrow means turning traffic muststop.

• A yellow arrow indicates that the “protect-ed” green arrow signal is about to turn to a regular circular green signal, circular red signal or red arrow signal.

Some traffic signals have a combination of“protected” turn arrow signals and “unprotect-ed" circular signals based on traffic demand. Atthese intersections, both through-traffic and turn-ing traffic are controlled by circular signals if noarrow signal is displayed. When arrow and cir-cular signals are both displayed, turning traffic iscontrolled by the arrow signals and through traf-fic is controlled by the circular signals. Below areexamples of combination signal displays youmay see.

Yellow Arrow Green Arrow Yellow ArrowYellow ArrowGreen Arrow

Red Arrow Yellow Arrow Green Arrow

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Flashing SignalsThe flashing red signal has the same mean-

ing as the stop sign: Stop and do not proceed tomove until you can enter the intersection withoutinterfering with approaching traffic. The flashingyellow signal has the same meaning as a warningsign. Slow down and proceed with caution.

Traffic SignsShape and color make it possible to recog-

nize the various kinds of highway signs at aglance.

Traffic signs are divided into threetypes:

1. Regulatory SignsThe eight-sided (or

octagonal) sign is the stopsign. The word “STOP” isprinted in white on a redbackground. The octagonalshape is used for stop signs only. The stop sign isusually posted six to 50 feet from the intersection.When you approach this sign, the law requiresyou to come to a FULL stop. Do not proceed tomove again until you are sure the way is clear.

When a stop sign, stoplight, flashing light,or other traffic-control device requires a vehicleto stop at an intersection, the driver must stop atthe appropriately marked stop line. If there is nostop line or marked crosswalk, the driver muststop before entering the intersection wherehe/she has a view of the intersecting street.

The yield sign is triangular shaped with thepoint at the bottom. This sign is red and white

with the word “YIELD" inlarge letters at the top.When you approach the

yield sign, you must slowdown and yield the

right–of–way. Your need tostop depends on the traffic on

the intersecting street. To avoidinterfering with that traffic, you must stop andwait for it to pass.

STOP

YIELD


CYMKRectangular andsquare–shaped signs, whichare normally black and whiteor red and white, are alsoused to show speed limits andother regulations. These signswill also have messages such

as “NO U-TURN" or“KEEP RIGHTEXCEPT TOPASS." Failureto obey thesesigns is unsafe

as well as a violation of thetraffic laws.The handi-capped

parking sign indicates that aspace is reserved for personswho qualify for and are display-ing a handicapped license plateor a dashboard placard.

2. Warning SignsThe pennant–shaped yellow warning sign

emphasizes, rather than replaces, the rectangularregulatory “DO NOT PASS" sign. The pennant islocated on the left side of the road and points to

the beginning of the no-passing zone (solidyellow line in your lane).

Diamond–shaped signsare also caution or warningsigns. They are nor-

mally black on yel-low, but when they are

black on orange, they warn ofconditions for constructionor maintenance areas. Whenyou see one of these signs,drive with extra care. One of themost important caution signs is the“STOP AHEAD" sign. It is placed far ahead of a

EXCEPTTO PASS

KEEPRIGHT

ONE WAY

RESERVEDPARKING

NOPASSINGZONE

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stop sign when the driver’s view of the stop signis blocked by a curve or other objects.

Diamond–shaped caution or warning signsthat are orange with black messages warn aboutconstruction or maintenance areas. Highwaywork zones are covered in more detail in Chapter4 — Your Driving.

Samples of caution or warning signs

A circular sign, with a black crossand the black letters “RR" on a yel-low background, gives advancewarning of a railroad crossing.When you see this sign, slow down.

Stop if necessary to besure you can safely

clear the crossing.At the railroad crossing

itself is the railroad crossingcrossbuck sign. The words

“RAILROAD CROSSING"are printed in black on the

white crosspieces. If there aremultiple tracks at the crossing,

they are shown on a signbelow the crossbuck. Youmust stop at a railroadcrossing whenever a flag-

man, signal or gate indicatesan approaching train. You must

R R

CROSSING

RAILROAD3

TRACKS

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remain stopped until the gate lifts or the signal orflagman indicates that it is safe to proceed. Takethe time to check twice in each direction beforecrossing a railroad track.

The five-sided (or pentagon) sign warns of aschool zone or a schoolcrossing. You should be especially watchful for chil-dren in these areas. In manyschool zones, the speedlimit is reduced during certain school hours.

3. Guide/Informational SignsGuide/informational signs give directions,

routes, distances and indicate services.

Interstate, U.S. and N.C. highways are numbered and marked.

• Odd-numbered highways generally runnorth and south.

• Even-numbered highwaysgenerally run east and west.

• Route markers for U.S.highways are in the shapeof a shield.

• North Carolina route markersare diamond shaped.

• N.C. secondaryroad signs are rec-tangular in shape.

• Interstate high-ways are marked bya red, white andblue shield.

• Signs indicating a nearby hospital,highway patrol sta-

tion or telephone are blueand white.

27

301

INTERSTATE

40

1003

H

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• Guide signs, alsorectangular in shape,may be green, brownor blue. They provide directions and dis-tances. If you are lost,a mileage and direc-tional sign can helpyou.

Do notendangerother driversby stoppingin the middleof the road toread a sign.When safe todo so, moveto the shoul-der of theroad and wait until you have figured out whereyou are and which route you should take.

Pavement MarkingsYellow lines separate travel lanes moving in

opposite directions. White lines separate travellanes moving in the same direction. A yellowskipped or broken line is used as the center line on atwo–lane, two–way road where passing with careis permitted in both directions. When continuous,double, solid, yellow lines are the center linesyou cannot cross them to pass in either direction.On a two–lane road, passing with care is permit-ted if the skipped yellow line is in your lane.

Single, solid, white lines are used asright–edge lines along the roadway and for guid-ing traffic traveling in the same direction. Single,

High Point

Charlotte

EAST

6

40

220

EXIT 122

E X I T

44

RESTAREA

PILOT MOUNTAIN

STATE PARK

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solid, yellow lines are used as left–edge lines ondivided highways. If you see the reverse, you aretraveling in the wrong direction.

On certain multi–lane highways, a specialcenter lane is reserved exclusively for two-way leftturn movements in both directions. The two–wayleft turn lane must not be used for passing anothervehicle or for the purpose of merging into traffic.The marking for this type of lane is shown by thediagram below.

White and yellow pavement “markers" arereflective devices used in the pavement toimprove the visibility of marking lines at nightwhen the road is wet. Red markers indicatewrong–way movements for motorists.

Traffic OfficersUnder special circumstances, an officer may

be directing the flow of traffic. If so, obey the offi-cer’s hand signals instead of the normal trafficsignals or signs. Most traffic officers signal driv-ers to stop by holding up one hand with the palmfacing the vehicle and giving a long blast on thewhistle. The officer signals drivers to start or tokeep moving by motioning with the hand andgiving a series of short blasts on the whistle. Atnight, the traffic officer may signal by using aflashlight.

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Regulatory Signs

STOPYIELD

SPEEDLIMIT

50

NOTURNS

KEEPOFF

MEDIAN

DO NOT

ENTER

SLOWERTRAFFIC

KEEPRIGHT

PASSWITHCARE

DONOT

PASS

ONLY

ONEHOUR

PARKING9AM - 7PM

BUSSTOP

PARKINGNO

EMERGENCYPARKING

ONLY

LEFT LANEMUST

TURN LEFTONLY

ONEWAY

RESERVEDPARKING

ONE WAY

No Bicycles Left Turn Only Thru & Left

No Left Turn Keep RightKeep Left

No Right Turn Double Left TurnsNo U Turns

CROSSINGRAIL

ROAD

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Warning Signs

T

""

Signal Ahead Merging Traffic Lane Drop Divided Highway

Right Turn Curve Right

Winding Road Stop Ahead

Side Road

CattleCrossing

FarmMachinery

HillDividedHighway Ends

Two WayTraffic

SlipperyWhen Wet

School SchoolCrossing

RailroadCrossing

Side Road Cross RoadBikeCrossing

DeerCrossing

LowClearance

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Chapter 6 — Sharing the Road 95

Chapter 6

Sharing the RoadOur streets and highways are becoming

more crowded every day. Therefore, it is neces-sary that you, as a driver or pedestrian, knowand practice the rules of the road. You shouldalways be aware of the traffic around you and beprepared for emergency situations.

BicyclesBicycle riding is an important means of

transportation, particularly for traveling to andfrom work and school. Because bicycles are vehi-cles, bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws asother drivers.

Bicyclists usually ride on the right side ofthe lane, but are entitled to the use of a full lane.

Pass With CareA bicyclist staying to the right in their lane

is accommodating the following drivers by mak-ing it easier to see when it is safe to pass, andeasier to execute the pass. Drivers wishing topass a bicyclist may do so only when there isabundant clearance and no oncoming traffic is inthe opposing lane. When passing a bicyclist,always remember the bicyclist is entitled to theuse of the full lane.

Go With The FlowIt is especially important for bicyclists to

Go With The Flow, NOT against the flow. Rideright, with the traffic, NOT facing traffic.Motorists often do not look in the direction ofbicyclists riding the wrong way.

Like drivers, bicyclists must:• ride on the right side of the road;• stop for stop signs and red lights; and• give hand signals.

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96r Chapter 6 — Sharing the RoadDiving

Be VisibleVisibility is important during both daylight

hours and at night. During the daylight, avoidbeing obscured by other vehicles. At night, thelaw requires that a bicycle be equipped with alight on the front visible for a distance of at least300 feet and a red light or reflector on the rearvisible for a distance for at least 200 feet.

Think BikeBicyclists can be expected on all roads

except where expressly prohibited. Bicycles arenarrow and typically operate at the right of thelane, so may be obscured and difficult to detect.Avoid the Left Cross, Drive Out, and RightHook types of potential collisions shownbelow.

Children on bicycles can be unpredictable.Be certain your child has been instructed abouthow to ride a bicycle properly and knows thenecessary signs, signals and rules.

All bicycle riders and passengers under theage of 16 must wear an approved protective bicy-cle helmet and must be seated on a saddle seat.

A passenger weighing less than 40 poundsor less than 40 inches in height must be seated ina bicycle restraining seat.

Left Cross Right HookDrive Out

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For more information about bicycle riding skillsfor yourself and your child, write to:North Carolina Department of TransportationBicycle ProgramP. O. Box 25201Raleigh, NC 27611-5201or call (919) 733-2804

You as a PedestrianAs drivers, we must watch out for pedestri-

ans on the roadway. In cities, about two of everyfive persons killed by motor vehicle crashes arepedestrians; in rural areas, the rate is about oneof every 10. Most of the pedestrians killed are children, elderly persons or those who have beendrinking alcoholic beverages. When you are apedestrian, do all you can to make yourself visi-ble and to help drivers to prevent crashes.

Trucks and Other VehiclesIt is more difficult to drive a large truck than a pas-senger car for the following reasons:

• Heavy trucks cannot gain speed as quicklyas cars, especially while traveling uphill.However, because of its large size, a tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling at aslower speed than it is.

Pedestrians should always:

• walk on the left side of the road facingtraffic;

• wear or carry something white — do notassume that drivers can see you;

• do everything you can to make yourself visible to drivers;

• be ready to move out of the way in case adriver cannot see you; and

• at night, remember that it is more difficultfor drivers to see you — use a flashlight.

Sharing the RoadDiving

CYMK• Large trucks require additional turning

room because their rear wheels do not fol-low the path of their front wheels. When fol-lowing a tractor-trailer, observe its turn sig-nals before trying to pass. If it appears to bestarting a left turn, check to see which wayhe’s signaling before you attempt to pass.

• Truck brakes create heat when the truck istraveling downhill. This condition requiresadditional stopping distance for the truck.

When driving beside large trucks or anylarge vehicle, the wind currents created by thelarger vehicle may affect your steering. Give thetruck plenty of room. When following largetrucks, your vision may be blocked. Use cautionwhile attempting to pass these vehicles.

No-ZonesMany motorists falsely assume that truckers

can see the road better because they sit twice ashigh as the driver of a car. However, truckers stillhave serious blind spots or NO-ZONES intowhich a car can disappear from view—up to 20feet in front of the cab, on either side of the trac-tor-trailer, particularly alongside the cab, and upto 200 feet in the rear. (see diagram)

Motorists lingering in the NO-ZONES hamperthe trucker’s ability to take evasive action toavoid a dangerous situation. An excellent rule ofthumb for motorists sharing the road with a trac-tor-trailer is, “if you can’t see the truck driver inhis side view mirror, he can’t see you.”

Recreational Vehicles and Trailers• Most recreational vehicles, including motor

homes, campers and travel trailers, are longer,higher and wider than passenger cars.


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• Recreational vehicles and trailers accelerateand stop more slowly than cars and requiremore room for turning.

• Visibility is a major problem with recreation-al vehicles — remember that the closer youare as you approach a recreational vehicle,the more it will block your field of vision.

• Drivers of recreational vehicles can losesight of you because their blind spots aremuch larger than those of cars.

Towing a trailer or boat requires specialskill, as well as consideration on the part of eachdriver.

Motorcycles and MopedsThere is no question that a motorcycle or

moped is more difficult to see than a car. Yetthese vehicles have the right to use the highwayand must be given consideration. There havebeen steady increases in the uses of motorcyclesand mopeds. Drivers share the road with motorcy-cles and mopeds, and they must be especiallycareful to look for them and to observe these pre-cautions:

• Give the motorcyclist or moped rider thesame right of way consideration as youwould for the driver of any other vehicle.

• Motorcycles are entitled to the full width oftheir lane — To pass a motorcycle, you mustchange lanes and pass in the same manneras you would for a larger motor vehicle.

• A moped should travel using the right sideof the lane — To pass a moped, you muststay at least two feet to the left.

When you approach a vehicle towing a trailer:

• watch for any sway or possible hazards,such as crosswinds or slippery curves;

• be aware that sudden braking mightcause the trailer to jackknife; and

• use extreme caution while passing a trail-er and the towing vehicle — it may takeyou a half–mile of clear roadway to safelypass.


CYMK• You must leave any cyclist sufficient room

when you pass so that your vehicle’s wind-stream cannot cause the rider to lose control.

Be especially watchful for motorcycles andmopeds while turning or changing lanes at inter-sections or entering the road from a driveway.Mopeds and motorcycles are difficult to see, andthey can be entirely hidden by your blindspots. Inmany left–turn situations it is even more difficultto see the motorcycle or moped. Look out formotorcycles and mopeds, as well as other vehicles,before you turn, change lanes or proceed to move.

Motorcycles

About two-thirds of motorcycle crashes inNorth Carolina involve a car. In most of thesecrashes, the driver of the car is at fault. The driv-er usually claims he or she did not see the motor-cycle. Because the motorcycle offers little or noprotection to the rider, the motorcyclist often isseriously injured or killed.

Things to remember when you encounter acyclist:

• Never crowd the motorcycle or moped —following too closely does not allowenough reaction time in the case of anemergency.

• Allow a greater following distance whenroad surfaces are slippery — it is easierfor the motorcycle or moped to become unstable because it has only two wheelsin contact with the road surface.

• Always allow the cyclist plenty of room tomaneuver, especially at railroad crossingsor on rough and uneven roadways — ifthe crossing is rough or at an angle, therider might need to slow down to cross.

• Steel bridge expansion joints, metal grat-ing on bridges and other metal surfacesare hazardous for cyclists — leave plentyof space between yourself and the cyclist.


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Many small motorcycles do not acceleraterapidly and may not maintain speed going uphillor against a headwind. Stopping distances formotorcycles are also different. Most can stopmore quickly than cars, but motorcycles stopmore slowly when there is a second rider orwhen they are traveling on poor road surfaceswhere sudden braking could lead to a fall.

On the road, a cyclist traveling ahead of youcould lose control when materials such as sand,gravel, wet leaves or water are on the pavement.Be aware of conditions that may cause a motor-cyclist to fall. Watch out for motorcycles thatwobble or jerk while starting to move, or cyclistswho hesitate while making traffic decisions.These are signs of a beginning cyclist, so allowplenty of room.

MopedsNorth Carolina law defines a moped as a

vehicle with two or three wheels with a motorof no more than 50 cubic centimeters of pistondisplacement and no external shifting device.Legally, a moped’s top speed cannot exceed 30mph. Although some mopeds on the markethave top speeds higher than the 30 mph limit,they are illegal for use in North Carolina. Besure you know a moped’s size and maximumspeed before you buy it. Otherwise, you maynot be able to operate it legally.

In North Carolina you must be at least 16years old to operate a moped on a public road-way or public vehicular area. The same DWIlaws that apply to the drivers of other motorvehicles also apply to moped operators. Whenriding a moped on a public roadway you mustfollow all the rules of the road.In addition, you should follow the rules for riding amoped listed below:

• Stay out of traffic, as much as possible.

• Try to find routes that are not traveledheavily.

• Keep your distance — in every situationleave a reasonable amount of space betweenyou and the other vehicle.

• Keep to the right of your lane — give your-self as much space as you can.


CYMK• Because you will probably be moving more

slowly than the other traffic, other driverswill want to pass you — Stay out of theirway, as much as possible.

• Do not share lanes with other vehicles.

• At an intersection, never “squeeze” betweenparked cars and moving traffic.

• Make sure other drivers can see you —wear light or brightly colored clothing.

• If possible, install electric turn signals onyour moped. Otherwise, be sure to usehand signals when you turn or stop.

• Look as far ahead as possible.

• Anytime you cross the path of traffic, slowdown, stop and look carefully before youproceed to move.

• Be sure to look over your shoulder beforeyou move into traffic and always be carefularound parked cars.

• Protect your body — wear protective cloth-ing that covers your body and always wearshoes.

• Moped riders are required by law to wear ahelmet if riding on a public road or publicvehicular area.

Fuel Economy

To observe some of the basic concepts of fuel economy:

• Drive at a moderate, steady speed.

• Keep your vehicle in good mechanicalcondition.

• Maintain the correct tire pressure.

• Avoid quick starts and stops.

• Plan your trip to reduce the total miles traveled.


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Keeping theRoad Litter–Free

In North Carolina, littering is illegal. When lit-ter is thrown from or blown from a vehicle, thedriver of the vehicle is held responsible. If convict-ed, the minimum fine is $250.00, and the maxi-mum fine is $1,000.00. Any second or subsequentoffense within three years after the date of a prioroffense is punishable by a fine of not less than$500.00 nor more than $2,000.00, if convicted.Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) Program

The North Carolina Department ofTransportation began the Adopt-A-HighwayProgram in April 1988. More than 7,000 volunteer groups have adopted approximately15,000 miles of state–maintained roadsides, mak-ing North Carolina's Adopt–A–Highway pro-gram the largest of its kind in the nation.

To join the program, a civic, business, socialor family group agrees to pick up litter at leastfour times a year along a two–mile section ofstate–maintained roadway. The Department ofTransportation furnishes most groups with twosets of signs. These signs identify the adoptedstretch of roadside and recognize the group’scontribution. In addition, the NCDOT providessafety vests and training for each volunteer.

A recycling component has been added tothe Adopt-A-Highway program. Since February1990, volunteer groups have been asked to recy-cle as much of the litter they pick up as they areable. By recycling, Adopt-A-Highway volunteersare making an even greater contribution to theircommunities' environments.

The tremendous success of the Adopt-A-Highway program shows the great pride NorthCarolinians have in the beauty of their state. Pleaseshow your appreciation for these volunteers byobeying North Carolina's laws against littering.

For more information about the Adopt-A-Highway program write to:

NC Department of TransportationBeautification Programs1540 MSCRaleigh, N.C. 27699-15401or call (919)715-3188


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104 Chapter 7 — How DMV Serves YouDriving

Chapter 7

How DMV Serves YouThe Division of Motor Vehicles is responsi-

ble for promoting highway safety and servingthe citizens of North Carolina through driverlicense, vehicle registration and vehicle inspec-tion programs.

DMV Mobile Service CentersBringing driver license services to a town NearYou...

Expanding and improving customer servic-es to North Carolinians is a DMV goal. In keep-ing with that goal, DMV has equipped threemobile units with the latest driver license tech-nology and turned them into Mobile ServiceCenters (MSCs). The units offer the same servic-es as permanent, full-time sites eliminating con-gestion at those locations. DMV is now deliver-ing driver license services to areas where peoplepreviously had to drive 30 or 40 miles to thenearest DMV office.

You can do the following when visiting a MSC:• Take the driver license knowledge and skills

tests.• Receive an original driver license.• Receive a duplicate driver license.• Take the commercial driver license knowl-

edge test. (The skills test is not available at thesesites.)

• Receive a commercial driver license.• Update your driver information.• Obtain a photo identification card.

Driver RecordsYou may obtain a copy of your driving

record upon prepayment of the required fees bywriting to or visiting DMV headquarters at:

NC Department of TransportationDivision of Motor VehiclesDriver License Section1100 New Bern AvenueRaleigh, N.C. 27697-0001The Driver Privacy Protection Act Request

Form (DL-DPPA-I), available at DMVHeadquarters and on the DMV website, must

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Chapter 7 — How DMV Serves You 105

be completed before your driving record can beobtained. The form can be obtained atwww.dmv.dot.state.nc.us/driverlicense/forms/.FEES:$11 for certified copy of record$8 for limited extract up to 3 years$8 for complete extract

Three and seven-year driver license recordchecks normally are used for insurance and employ-ment purposes. A certified driver license recordcheck usually is required for court appearances.

Make checks payable to NCDMV.

Mail form DL-DPPA-I along with a check for theappropriate amount to:

NC Division of Motor VehiclesDriver License MVR Unit3113 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, N.C. 27699-3113

Vehicle Registration

Except for owners of mopeds, exempt farmvehicles and exempt road construction equipment,every vehicle owner must register his or her motorvehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Upon receipt of the application for motor vehicle registration:

• The DMV will issue a registration card, cer-tificate of title, registration plate (licenseplate) and validation stickers to the owner.

• The registration card should be kept in the vehicle at all times and must always be available to show a law enforcement officerupon request.

• The license plate will show the unique num-ber that has been assigned to the vehicle; theexpiration date of the registration; and thatthe vehicle is registered in North Carolina.

• The license plate must be displayed asrequired by law.

To register a vehicle:

• the owner must complete the required application forms; and

• pay the appropriate registration fee.

ow DMV Serves YouDriving

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Insurance and Financial Responsibility In addition to proof of ownership, North

Carolina law requires that before a motor vehiclecan be licensed, the owner must certify that thevehicle is covered by liability insurance; cash orbond deposited with the State Treasurer; or a certificate of self-insurance. This law is enacted toinsure that the costs of a crash are paid by thosewho are responsible.

The required amount of liability insurancecoverage for a commercial motor vehicle is$750,000.00.

Remember these things when registering a vehi-cle:

• Before a vehicle can be registered inNorth Carolina, the DMV requires properproof of ownership.

• For new vehicles, the manufacturer's certificate of origin is the official transferdocument.

• If you purchase a used vehicle which has already been registered, you must presentthe certificate of title properly assigned bythe former owner.

• To register a used vehicle for the first timein North Carolina, you must present thetitle from the state where the vehicle was formerly registered.

• If the used vehicle is from a non-title state, you must present the current vehicleregistration card with a properly notarizedtransfer of ownership on the back or a nota-rized bill of sale from the former ownerand the former owner's proof of purchase.

The minimum amount of liability insurancerequired is:

• $30,000 for injuries to any one person in a crash;

• $60,000 for all personal injuries in a crash;and

• $25,000 for all property damage in a crash.


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If the DMV is notified that a vehicle owneris operating a motor vehicle without proper lia-bility insurance, the vehicle’s license plate mightbe revoked for 30 days unless proof of insurance coverage can be furnished.

North Carolina law requires the owner ofevery registered vehicle to maintain continuous liability insurance coverage. The company provid-ing the insurance must be licensed to do businessin North Carolina. Liability insurance policies areeffective at 12:01 a.m. on the date of issuance,remain in effect for a period of six months andexpire at 12:01 a.m., six months later. In NorthCarolina there is no grace period for coverage.

Vehicle Registration RenewalUpon expiration of vehicle registration, the

vehicle’s owner must renew the registration by submitting a renewal application and paying theappropriate registration fee. Upon payment ofthe appropriate fee, the DMV will issue licenseplate stickers to indicate the new period of validregistration. The DMV uses a staggered vehicleregistration system. This method of registrationstaggers registration renewals over twelvemonths of the year.

Transfer of a Motor VehicleWhen a motor vehicle owner wishes to

transfer his interest in the vehicle to someoneelse, reassignment of ownership should be madeby using section “A” on side two of the certifi-cate of title. In order for the transfer to be valid,the reassignment must be made in the presenceof a Notary Public and the actual delivery of thevehicle to the new owner must be made.

Transfer of License PlatesLicense plates can be transferred from one

vehicle to another of the same category providedownership is in the same name and insurance coverage has been continuous.

To avoid a fine or penalty, surrender a vehicle’s valid license plate prior to the termi-nation or cancellation of liability insurance.


CYMKReplacement of Lost Titleor Registration Card

If a certificate of title is lost or stolen, a duplicate title may be obtained by completing anapplication for duplicate title and paying theappropriate fee. A duplicate title cannot beissued until 15 days after the application and feeare received by the DMV. Application forms areavailable at any local DMV vehicle registrationoffice.

A duplicate registration card can beobtained with payment of the appropriate fee.Application forms are available at any local DMVvehicle registration office.

Property Tax LawThe property tax system requires counties to

assess the values of motor vehicles registered withDMV and to prepare tax bills. Three months afterthe motor vehicle’s registration renewal date, thevehicle owner will receive a tax bill which ispayable on the first day of the following month.

The property tax law calls for counties tocharge interest for overdue accounts. Recent leg-islation now allows counties to block the licenseplate (registration) renewal for any vehicle forwhich the owner owes an overdue property tax.

A county tax collector can place a “block”on the registration of any vehicle for which prop-erty tax payment is overdue. If a county places a“block” on the vehicle registration, the DMV isunable to renew the license plate for that vehicleuntil the owner presents the DMV with a stan-dardized paid tax receipt.

The DMV is not involved in establishing thevalue of a vehicle for property tax purposes. It furnishes a record of the make and model of theregistered vehicle, and the local county assess-ment office determines the tax accordingly.

The new law covers all motor vehicles except:

• vehicles exempt from registration by NorthCarolina law;

• manufactured homes;


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• mobile classrooms and offices;

• semi-trailers registered on a multi-yearbasis;

• motor vehicles owned or leased by publicservice companies; and

• vehicles in confidential status.

North Carolina residents who have not registered their vehicles or who have notrenewed their vehicle registrations are requiredto list their vehicles with their county of resi-dence by January 31 of each year.

Change of name or addressIf you change your name or address, you

must notify the DMV within 60 days by writing to:NC Division of Motor VehiclesVehicle Registration3145 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, N.C. 27699-3145.

Change of name/address forms are available at anylocal DMV office.

Vehicle InspectionAll motor vehicles registered in North

Carolina must be inspected annually for mechan-ical safety. The DMV oversees the inspectionprocess. The objective of the inspection is to makesure the motoring public is safe.

A North Carolina vehicle safety inspectionis required within 10 days of receiving a NorthCarolina license plate or by the last day of themonth printed on the inspection window sticker.

The North Carolina vehicle inspection canbe performed at any of the 7,500 licensed inspec-tion stations throughout the state. Most servicestations, automobile dealerships and vehiclerepair garages are licensed inspection stations.

If a vehicle fails the safety inspection, it can-not be operated beyond the expiration date onthe current sticker. However, the owner willhave 30 days to repair any safety defects andqualify for a re-inspection at no additional cost,


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provided the owner repairs the defects and pres-ents a receipt of the initial inspection at the sameinspection station. If the inspection sticker expiresafter the initial inspection but before re-inspec-tion, the owner may request a single-trip permitfrom the DMV to drive the vehicle to the inspec-tion station for re-inspection.

Emissions InspectionThe emissions inspection is performed in

conjunction with the annual safety inspection.Diesel-powered vehicles and motorcycles areexempt. Vehicles that fail the initial inspection quali-fy for re-inspection within 30 days at no addition-al charge, provided the owner repairs the defectsand presents a receipt of the initial inspection.

• brakes• lights• horns• steering

mechanism• windshield

wipers

• turn signals• tires• rear view

mirrors• exhaust system• window tint

Inspection items include:

• Alamance• Buncombe• Cabarrus• Catawba• Chatham• Cleveland• Cumberland• Davidson• Durham• Forsyth• Franklin• Gaston• Granville• Guilford

• Harnett• Iredell• Johnston• Lee• Lincoln• Mecklenburg• Moore• Orange• Randolph• Rockingham• Rowan• Stanly• Union• Wake

Any motor vehicle less than 25-years old and reg-istered in these counties must pass an annualemissions inspection:


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New counties will be added to the emissions testingprogram according to the following schedule:

• January 1, 2005 - Edgecombe, Lenoir,Nash, Pitt, Robeson, Wayne and Wilson.

• July 1, 2005 - Burke, Caldwell,Haywood, Henderson, Rutherford,Stokes, Surry and Wilkes.

If your motor vehicle is required to undergo emis-sions inspection, and the vehicle owner fails to passa Safety & Emissions Inspection within four monthsof the existing inspection sticker, the vehicle owneris subject to a civil penalty and will be unable torenew the registration until the vehicle passes anemissions inspection.

Window TintingVehicles with after-factory window tinting

must pass the 35 percent visible light requirementduring an annual vehicle safety inspection.

In addition to the annual safety inspectionfee, there is an additional charge for any vehiclethat has an after-factory tint. If you have any ques-tions about window tinting, contact your nearestDMV License & Theft Office, or call (919) 861-3185.


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Division of Motor Vehicles

112 Notesper 5 ur Dri

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Chapter 5 — Your Dri

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Motor vehicle laws are subject to change by the NorthCarolina General Assembly. Revised April 2006

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120Driving


North Carolina Department of Transportation

1100 New Bern Avenue

Raleigh, North Carolina 27697-0001

ww w.dmv.dot.state.nc.us

500,000 copies of this publication were printed at an estimated cost of$135,830.00 or 27¢ a copy.

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121Driving

Division of Motor VehiclesNorth Carolina

Department of Transportation

Driver’sHandbook