North Carolina: Sharing the road — Part 2 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Because bicycles are vehicles, which laws must bicyclists obey?” · “Who must wear an approved protective bicycle helmet?”
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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 17 questions in this practice test
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Because bicycles are vehicles, which laws must bicyclists obey?
- Only the traffic laws that apply to pedestrians on the roadway
- The same traffic laws as drivers, but not the DWI laws
- Only the laws about stopping for stop signs and red lights
- The same traffic laws as other drivers, including DWI laws
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Correct answer: The same traffic laws as other drivers, including DWI laws
Bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws as other drivers, including DWI laws.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 89 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 89)
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What should motorists expect and understand about bicyclists in the roadway?
- Bicyclists may need to use the full travel lane
- Bicyclists must stay on the paved shoulder at all times
- Bicyclists may ride only in bicycle lanes when one is provided
- Bicyclists may use the travel lane only on roads without shoulders
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Correct answer: Bicyclists may need to use the full travel lane
Motorists should expect bicyclists in the roadway and understand they may need to use the full travel lane.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 89 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 89)
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When may a driver pass a bicyclist?
- Only when the bicyclist has moved onto the shoulder
- Only after sounding your horn to warn the bicyclist
- Only with abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic
- Only when the bicyclist is riding in a marked bicycle lane
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Correct answer: Only with abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic
Drivers may pass a bicyclist only when there is abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic in the opposing lane.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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What is the safest way to pass a bicyclist?
- Stay in your lane and pass slowly
- Change lanes
- Sound your horn and pass as quickly as possible
- Wait until the bicyclist moves onto the shoulder
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Correct answer: Change lanes
The manual says the safest way to pass a bicyclist is to change lanes.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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In which direction should bicyclists ride relative to traffic?
- Facing traffic, so drivers can see them
- Facing traffic when they ride on the shoulder
- In either direction, if they stay near the edge
- With the flow of traffic, not facing it
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Correct answer: With the flow of traffic, not facing it
Bicyclists should ride right, with the traffic, and not facing traffic.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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At night, the law requires a bicycle to have a light on the front visible for what distance?
- At least 300 feet
- At least 100 feet
- At least 200 feet
- At least 500 feet
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Correct answer: At least 300 feet
The law requires a front light visible for a distance of at least 300 feet at night.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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At night, the law requires a red light or reflector on the rear of a bicycle visible for what distance?
- At least 100 feet
- At least 300 feet
- At least 200 feet
- At least 500 feet
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Correct answer: At least 200 feet
The law requires a red rear light or reflector visible for a distance of at least 200 feet.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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Who must wear an approved protective bicycle helmet?
- All bicycle riders and passengers under age 18
- All bicycle riders and passengers under age 16
- Only bicycle riders under age 12
- Only bicycle passengers under age 16
Show answer
Correct answer: All bicycle riders and passengers under age 16
All bicycle riders and passengers under age 16 must wear an approved protective bicycle helmet.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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When must a bicycle passenger be seated in a bicycle restraining seat?
- When the passenger weighs less than 60 pounds or is less than 48 inches tall
- When the passenger weighs less than 30 pounds or is less than 36 inches tall
- When the passenger weighs less than 50 pounds or is less than 44 inches tall
- When the passenger weighs less than 40 pounds or is less than 40 inches tall
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Correct answer: When the passenger weighs less than 40 pounds or is less than 40 inches tall
A passenger under 40 pounds or under 40 inches in height must use a bicycle restraining seat.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 90)
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How do heavy trucks compare with cars in gaining speed?
- They gain speed faster, especially uphill
- They cannot gain speed as quickly, especially uphill
- They gain speed at the same rate, but stop more slowly
- They gain speed faster, especially downhill
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Correct answer: They cannot gain speed as quickly, especially uphill
Heavy trucks cannot gain speed as quickly as cars, especially while traveling uphill.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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Because of its large size, how does a tractor-trailer often appear to be traveling?
- At a faster speed than it really is
- At the same speed as nearby cars
- Farther away than it really is
- At a slower speed than it really is
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Correct answer: At a slower speed than it really is
A tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling more slowly than it actually is.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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Why do large trucks require additional turning room?
- Their rear wheels do not follow the path of their front wheels
- Their front wheels turn more slowly than the wheels of a car
- Their drivers sit twice as high as the driver of a car
- Their brakes create heat when they travel in city traffic
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Correct answer: Their rear wheels do not follow the path of their front wheels
The rear wheels of a large truck do not follow the path of its front wheels, so it needs extra turning room.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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When following a tractor-trailer that appears to be starting a left turn, what should you check before you try to pass?
- Whether the truck’s brake lights are on
- Whether the truck is in the right-hand lane
- Which way the driver is signaling
- How fast the truck is traveling
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Correct answer: Which way the driver is signaling
Before passing a truck that seems to be starting a left turn, check which way the driver is signaling.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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Why do trucks need additional stopping distance when traveling downhill?
- Their tires lose traction on downgrades
- Their brakes create heat when going downhill
- Their engines cannot slow the vehicle
- Their drivers cannot see the road ahead
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Correct answer: Their brakes create heat when going downhill
Truck brakes create heat on downhill travel, which requires additional stopping distance.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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What may affect your steering when you drive beside large trucks or any large vehicle?
- Heat from the truck’s engine
- Exhaust fumes from the truck
- The shadow of the truck on the road
- Wind currents from the larger vehicle
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Correct answer: Wind currents from the larger vehicle
Wind currents created by a larger vehicle may affect your steering, so give the truck plenty of room.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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What may happen when you follow large trucks?
- Your vision may be blocked
- Your headlights may not work
- Your vehicle may lose traction
- Your speedometer may read incorrectly
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Correct answer: Your vision may be blocked
When following large trucks your vision may be blocked, so use caution when passing.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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How high above the driver of a car do truck drivers sit, according to the manual?
- Three times as high
- One and a half times as high
- Twice as high
- Four times as high
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Correct answer: Twice as high
Truckers sit twice as high as the driver of a car, but they still have serious blind spots.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)