North Carolina: Seat belts & child safety — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “For a provisional licensee, who must have a safety belt properly fastened when the vehicle is in motion?” · “Which vehicle is exempt from the seat belt law when used for the stated purpose?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "North Carolina Driver Handbook" (Revised May 2025), North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV).
All 21 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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When you are driving with a Level One permit, all passengers must be restrained by:
- A seat belt only
- A child safety seat only
- Nothing if they sit in the back seat
- A seat belt or child safety seat
Show answer
Correct answer: A seat belt or child safety seat
The manual says all passengers must be restrained by seat belt or child safety seat.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 12 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 12)
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For a provisional licensee, who must have a safety belt properly fastened when the vehicle is in motion?
- Only the driver of the vehicle
- Only occupants of the front seat
- Only passengers under age 18
- Every person occupying the vehicle
Show answer
Correct answer: Every person occupying the vehicle
The manual says every person occupying a vehicle in motion must have a safety belt properly fastened.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 14 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 14)
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During an average lifetime of driving, what chance do we face of being seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash, according to the manual?
- About one in ten
- About one in two
- About one in twenty
- About one in three
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Correct answer: About one in three
The manual states that during an average lifetime of driving we face about a one-in-three chance of being seriously injured or killed in a crash.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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Under North Carolina's seat belt law, when must the driver and all passengers of a vehicle with seat belts have them fastened?
- At all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway
- Only when driving on highways with a speed limit above 45 mph
- Only when driving outside city limits or on open country roads
- Only when children under age 16 are riding in the same vehicle
Show answer
Correct answer: At all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway
The manual says the driver and all passengers must have a seat belt properly fastened at all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway in this state.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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Must occupants wear seat belts if the vehicle is equipped with air bags?
- No, air bags give enough protection
- Only the driver must wear one
- Yes, all occupants must wear seat belts
- Only occupants under age 16 must wear one
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Correct answer: Yes, all occupants must wear seat belts
The manual says that under the seat belt law all occupants MUST wear seat belts even if the vehicle is equipped with air bags.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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If a vehicle is equipped with automatic shoulder harnesses, what else must be worn?
- A booster seat
- The lap belt
- A second shoulder harness
- Nothing else
Show answer
Correct answer: The lap belt
The manual says that if the vehicle has automatic shoulder harnesses, the lap belt MUST also be worn.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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Which of these is listed as an exemption to the seat belt law?
- A driver who is only traveling a short distance on local streets close to home
- A passenger sitting in the back seat of a passenger car on a short trip
- A driver who is running late and is in a great hurry to reach a destination
- An occupant of a noncommercial vehicle with a medical condition preventing restraint
Show answer
Correct answer: An occupant of a noncommercial vehicle with a medical condition preventing restraint
The manual lists an exemption for a driver or occupant of a noncommercial vehicle with a medical or physical condition that prevents appropriate restraint by a seat belt.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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Which of these drivers is exempt from the seat belt law while doing the described work?
- A rural letter carrier of the U.S. Postal Service while performing carrier duties
- A taxi driver who is working a full shift at any time of the day or night
- A student driver who is taking a driving lesson from a licensed instructor
- A driver who is traveling on a local road with a posted speed limit of 25 mph
Show answer
Correct answer: A rural letter carrier of the U.S. Postal Service while performing carrier duties
The manual exempts a motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier of the United States Postal Service while performing rural letter carrier duties.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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A driver or passenger who frequently stops and leaves the vehicle or delivers property from it is exempt from the seat belt law if the vehicle's speed between stops does not exceed what?
- 10 miles per hour
- 35 miles per hour
- 20 miles per hour
- 45 miles per hour
Show answer
Correct answer: 20 miles per hour
The manual gives this exemption only if the speed of the vehicle between stops does not exceed 20 miles per hour.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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Which vehicle is exempt from the seat belt law when used for the stated purpose?
- A passenger car that is being driven to a farm market by a farm family
- A property-carrying vehicle used for agricultural purposes in intrastate commerce
- A pickup truck that is being driven to a hardware store on a weekend
- A van that is being used to carry workers between two job sites daily
Show answer
Correct answer: A property-carrying vehicle used for agricultural purposes in intrastate commerce
The manual exempts any vehicle registered and licensed as a property-carrying vehicle while being used for agricultural purposes in intrastate commerce.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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An occupant of a motor home other than the driver and front seat passengers is exempt from the seat belt law if the motor home has at least how many of the listed facilities?
- Two
- Three
- Six
- Four
Show answer
Correct answer: Four
The manual says the exemption applies provided the motor home has at least four of the listed facilities, such as cooking, refrigeration, toilet, heating, water supply or electrical power.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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According to the manual, what is the number one threat to the lives of young children?
- The automobile accident
- Fires inside the home
- Accidental drowning at home
- Falls inside the house
Show answer
Correct answer: The automobile accident
The manual states that the number one threat to the lives of young children is the automobile accident.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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According to the manual, which child safety seats can reduce crash tragedies?
- Any seat with a padded cushion
- Any seat sold in a store
- Only crash-tested child safety seats
- Only seats that are new and unused
Show answer
Correct answer: Only crash-tested child safety seats
The manual says only crash-tested child safety seats can reduce these tragedies.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 43 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 43)
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Properly used safety seats could save how many out of every 10 children who are killed while unrestrained?
- Three
- Seven
- Five
- Nine
Show answer
Correct answer: Seven
The manual states that properly used safety seats could save seven out of every 10 children who are killed while unrestrained.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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According to the manual, which safety seat is the best seat for your child?
- The most expensive seat available
- The largest seat that fits in the vehicle
- A seat that the child can buckle without help
- One that is used every time the child rides in a car
Show answer
Correct answer: One that is used every time the child rides in a car
The manual says the best seat for your child is a safety seat that is used every time the child rides in a car.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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Every driver transporting passengers younger than what age must make sure each is properly secured in a child passenger restraint system or seat belt?
- 16 years
- 8 years
- 12 years
- 18 years
Show answer
Correct answer: 16 years
The manual says every driver transporting passengers younger than 16 must make sure each is properly secured in a child restraint system or seat belt.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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A child under age 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds must be properly secured in what?
- An adult seat belt with a folded blanket under the child
- An adult shoulder belt worn across the chest only
- A weight appropriate child passenger restraint system
- An adult lap belt worn snugly across the hips only
Show answer
Correct answer: A weight appropriate child passenger restraint system
The manual says a child under age 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds must be properly secured in a weight appropriate child passenger restraint system.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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If a vehicle has an active passenger-side front air bag and a rear seat, which child must be properly secured in the rear seat unless the restraint system is designed for use with a front air bag?
- A child under age 3 and weighing less than 30 pounds
- A child under age 5 and weighing less than 40 pounds
- A child under age 6 and weighing less than 50 pounds
- A child under age 10 and weighing less than 100 pounds
Show answer
Correct answer: A child under age 5 and weighing less than 40 pounds
The manual says a child under age 5 and weighing less than 40 pounds must be secured in the rear seat in that situation.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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If no seating position has a lap and shoulder belt to secure the child restraint system, what can restrain a child under age 8 who weighs between 40 and 80 pounds?
- A shoulder belt only
- An adult holding the child in the seat
- Nothing, because no restraint is possible
- A properly fitted lap belt only
Show answer
Correct answer: A properly fitted lap belt only
The manual says such a child can be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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For which children does the manual say booster seats that meet federal standards should be used?
- Children who have outgrown standard safety seats, until big enough for seat belts
- Only infants who are less than one year of age and riding in the rear
- Only children who are riding in the front passenger seat of a vehicle
- Only children who are too tired to sit up straight in a standard seat
Show answer
Correct answer: Children who have outgrown standard safety seats, until big enough for seat belts
The manual says booster seats should be used for children who have outgrown their standard safety seats until they are big enough for seat belts.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)
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Where must a lap seat belt fit on a child?
- Loosely across the stomach, with room to move
- High across the ribs, close to the shoulder belt
- Snugly across the hips, not across the stomach
- Across the thighs only, below the child's hips
Show answer
Correct answer: Snugly across the hips, not across the stomach
The manual says the lap seat belt must fit snugly across the child's hips, not across the stomach.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 44 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 44)