Skip to content
PracticeTestHQ home
Find your state

North Carolina permit test: traffic signals

Steady and flashing signals, arrows, flashing yellow arrows and hybrid beacons. 14 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.

Study this topic as flashcards

Rules to remember9 key traffic signals rulesShow the rules
  1. A steady red arrow means turning traffic must stop. (p. 82, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  2. A green arrow gives you a protected movement in the direction shown. (p. 82, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  3. A circular green lets you go straight or turn, but turning vehicles must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. (p. 82, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  4. Failing to yield to a pedestrian while turning right on red carries a penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $500. (p. 82, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  5. When both movements have green arrows at the same time, U-turning traffic must yield to opposing right-turning traffic. (p. 82, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  6. A steady yellow signal means the light is about to turn red. (p. 82, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  7. When a ramp meter is dark, you may proceed without stopping and enter the freeway by merging or yielding as conditions allow. (p. 84, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  8. At a ramp meter, a steady red means stop and wait for green. (p. 84, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))
  9. During flashing red at a hybrid beacon, stay stopped until pedestrians or emergency vehicles have cleared. (p. 84, North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025) (opens the handbook))

Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.

Loading questions…

Sample traffic signals questions

  1. 1.The light turns yellow as you approach the intersection, and you have plenty of room to stop safely. What should you do?

    • AStop
    • BHonk and go through
    • CSpeed up to beat the red light
    • DKeep going at the same speed
    Show the answer

    ✓ A. Stop

    A steady yellow signal means the light is about to turn red. Stop unless you are too close to stop safely, and never speed up to beat the red.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 82

  2. 2.You are stopped at a steady red light and want to turn right. There is no NO TURN ON RED sign. What must you do?

    • ATurn right without stopping first
    • BTurn only if a police officer waves you on
    • CWait until the light turns green
    • DStop fully, then turn when clear, yielding to all
    Show the answer

    ✓ D. Stop fully, then turn when clear, yielding to all

    Unless a sign forbids it, you may turn right on a steady red after a complete stop, yielding to other traffic and to pedestrians in or about to enter the crosswalk.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 82

  3. 3.You have stopped at a hybrid pedestrian beacon. It changes from steady red to flashing red and the pedestrians have finished crossing. What may you do?

    • AMake a U-turn only
    • BProceed after first coming to a complete stop
    • CSpeed up, since flashing red means hurry
    • DStay stopped until the beacon goes dark
    Show the answer

    ✓ B. Proceed after first coming to a complete stop

    During flashing red at a hybrid beacon, stay stopped until pedestrians or emergency vehicles have cleared. Then, after a complete stop, you may proceed.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 84

  4. 4.You come to an intersection where the traffic lights are dark because of a power outage, and no officer is directing traffic. What should you do?

    • ADrive through without stopping
    • BYield only to cars on your right
    • CTreat it as an all-way stop
    • DHonk and proceed
    Show the answer

    ✓ C. Treat it as an all-way stop

    If a traffic light is not working and no one is directing traffic, treat the intersection as though there is a stop sign on every approach.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 83