Driving Test Practice

North Carolina: Speed & following distance — Part 2 Practice Test

Questions in this part include: “What is a leading cause of traffic crashes?” · “If you cannot see the inside rear-view mirror of the car ahead, what does the manual say about your position?”

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18 questions · About 7 min

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  • Every answer cites its source in the manual
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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 18 questions in this practice test

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  1. As you round a curve, what should you do with your speed?

    A blue car on a straight stretch of a two-lane rural road approaches a curve to the right, as a white car comes out of the curve in the other lane.
    • Gradually decrease it until you are out of the curve
    • Keep it exactly the same and avoid touching the pedals
    • Hold the brake pedal down lightly the whole way around
    • Gradually increase it to maintain traction for good control
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    Correct answer: Gradually increase it to maintain traction for good control

    The manual says to gradually increase speed as you round the curve to keep the traction needed for good control.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 53 · Open this page in the manual

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  2. If you must brake while in a curve, how should you apply the brakes?

    A blue car on a straight stretch of a two-lane rural road approaches a curve to the left, as a white car comes out of the curve in the other lane.
    • Firmly and quickly, then release them completely before exiting
    • Gradually, until you are sure it is safe to keep continuous pressure
    • In short, repeated taps until the vehicle leaves the curve
    • Not at all; take your foot off the accelerator and coast through
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    Correct answer: Gradually, until you are sure it is safe to keep continuous pressure

    The manual says to apply the brakes gradually until it is safe to keep continuous pressure on the brake pedal.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  3. When should you begin to turn the vehicle for a curve?

    A blue car on a straight stretch of a two-lane rural road approaches a curve to the right, as a white car comes out of the curve in the other lane.
    • As soon as the front of your vehicle enters the curve
    • Once the vehicle is halfway around the curve
    • Just before the point where the road begins to turn
    • After the road has started to turn, once you see it
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    Correct answer: Just before the point where the road begins to turn

    You begin turning just prior to the point where the road begins to turn.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  4. Where should you drive while rounding a curve?

    A blue car on a straight stretch of a two-lane rural road approaches a curve to the left, as a white car comes out of the curve in the other lane.
    • On your side of the road, as far to the right as you can
    • In the center of the road, to keep the curve wide
    • On the left side of the road, to cut the curve short
    • On whichever side gives you the straightest path
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    Correct answer: On your side of the road, as far to the right as you can

    The manual says to stay on your side of the road and drive as far to the right as you can.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  5. On a downhill curve, when should you begin to brake compared with a level roadway?

    A road running downhill into a left curve, with a left-curve sign, a steep-hill sign and a guardrail on the outside of the curve; the blue car approaches while a white car comes the other way.
    • Later, since gravity slows the vehicle
    • At the same point you would on a level road
    • Earlier, approaching the curve more slowly
    • Only after you enter the curve
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    Correct answer: Earlier, approaching the curve more slowly

    Because of the pull of gravity, you should brake earlier and approach a downhill curve more slowly.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  6. What is a leading cause of traffic crashes?

    • Following too closely
    • Driving too far to the right
    • Stopping too early at signals
    • Signaling too early before turns
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    Correct answer: Following too closely

    The manual states that following too closely is a leading cause of traffic crashes.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  7. On the open road, how much distance should you keep between you and the vehicle ahead?

    • Enough so that no vehicle could ever pass between you
    • Only one car length, at any speed on the road
    • As little as possible, so the space is never used
    • Enough so that a passing vehicle can safely move into the space
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    Correct answer: Enough so that a passing vehicle can safely move into the space

    On the open road you should leave enough room for a passing vehicle to safely move into and occupy the space.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  8. How much time does the "two-second rule" say to allow between the vehicle ahead passing a given point and your vehicle reaching it?

    A blue car following a red car on a two-lane road, approaching a green roadside sign reading Oak Hill
    • One second
    • Two seconds
    • Four seconds
    • Six seconds
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    Correct answer: Two seconds

    The two-second rule says to allow two seconds between the vehicle ahead passing a point and you reaching it.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 54 · Open this page in the manual

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  9. When driving in heavy city traffic, how can you avoid a rear-end crash by another vehicle?

    Heavy city traffic with cars, a bus and a taxi filling the lanes at an intersection with traffic lights, and pedestrians on the sidewalks
    • Stay close behind the vehicle ahead of you
    • Check your rear-view mirror often
    • Brake sooner than everyone else at every corner
    • Keep your eyes fixed only on the road directly ahead
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    Correct answer: Check your rear-view mirror often

    The manual says to check your rear-view mirror often and stay aware of dangerous situations behind you.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  10. When driving in cities, what should you leave around your vehicle?

    A blue car on a busy city street approaching an intersection with traffic lights, crosswalks, parked cars and pedestrians on the sidewalks
    • A gap of exactly one car length
    • A clear lane on both sides at all times
    • A “margin of safety”
    • A gap of one full block
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    Correct answer: A “margin of safety”

    The manual says to give yourself plenty of space to make decisions and leave a “margin of safety” around your vehicle.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  11. When driving in cities, how far ahead should you watch the road?

    A blue car on a busy city street approaching an intersection with traffic lights, crosswalks, parked cars and pedestrians on the sidewalks
    • Far enough to detect possibly dangerous situations earlier
    • Only as far as the vehicle directly in front of you
    • Only as far as the next traffic signal on the street
    • Only far enough to see the taillights of one vehicle
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    Correct answer: Far enough to detect possibly dangerous situations earlier

    Watch the road far enough ahead to detect possibly dangerous situations earlier and take proper defensive actions.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  12. If you cannot see the inside rear-view mirror of the car ahead, what does the manual say about your position?

    • You are driving too fast for the road
    • You are in the safest position to pass
    • You are probably in the driver's blind spot
    • You are following at the proper distance
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    Correct answer: You are probably in the driver's blind spot

    If you cannot see the inside rear-view mirror of the car ahead, you are probably in that driver's blind spot.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  13. When driving in city traffic, what should you never do?

    Heavy city traffic with cars, a bus and a taxi filling the lanes at an intersection with traffic lights, and pedestrians on the sidewalks
    • Signal before changing lanes
    • Weave in and out of traffic
    • Check your mirrors often
    • Plan your lane changes ahead of time
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    Correct answer: Weave in and out of traffic

    The manual says never to weave in and out of traffic; stay in one lane if you can and plan lane changes ahead.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  14. What should you watch for near parked vehicles in a city?

    A blue car on a busy city street approaching an intersection with traffic lights, crosswalks, parked cars and pedestrians on the sidewalks
    • Only vehicles that are idling with their lights turned on at night
    • Drivers who plan to park in the exact space you are passing
    • Only pedestrians who are waiting at a marked crosswalk nearby
    • Vehicles pulling out and pedestrians darting out from between them
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    Correct answer: Vehicles pulling out and pedestrians darting out from between them

    Watch for parked vehicles that might be pulling out and pedestrians who might dart onto the street from between them.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  15. What can parked vehicles block your view of in the city?

    A blue car on a busy city street approaching an intersection with traffic lights, crosswalks, parked cars and pedestrians on the sidewalks
    • Traffic signals but not driveways
    • Only the road signs on the right side
    • Intersecting traffic, driveways and alleys
    • Only the lane markings on the road
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    Correct answer: Intersecting traffic, driveways and alleys

    Parked vehicles can block your view of intersecting traffic, driveways and alleys.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  16. Which is a reason driving on rural roads is often more dangerous than driving in heavy city traffic?

    • Rural roads are always wider and carry more vehicles
    • Rural roads have more traffic signals to watch
    • Rural roads have more cars parked along the edges
    • The lighting is often not as good
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    Correct answer: The lighting is often not as good

    Rural driving is often more dangerous because the road may be narrower, the lighting is often not as good and speeds may be higher.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  17. On rural roads, what may be higher, making them more dangerous than heavy city traffic?

    Two-lane rural road with a broken yellow center line
    • The number of traffic signals
    • The travel speeds
    • The number of pedestrians
    • The amount of traffic
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    Correct answer: The travel speeds

    One reason rural driving is often more dangerous than heavy city traffic is that the travel speeds may be higher.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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  18. How may a rural road compare to a city street, making it more dangerous?

    Two-lane rural road with a broken yellow center line
    • The road may have more lanes
    • The road may not be as wide
    • The road may have more signals
    • The road may be better lit
    Show answer

    Correct answer: The road may not be as wide

    One reason rural roads are often more dangerous than heavy city traffic is that the road may not be as wide.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 63 · Open this page in the manual

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