On which side of a North Carolina road is the yellow pennant no-passing sign placed?
- The right side
- The left side
- Over the center of the road
Show the answer
The left side
The pennant is on the left and points to the start of the no-passing zone.
North Carolina Road Signs practice test
Practice what signs mean and what to do when you see them: 87 questions based on the North Carolina Driver Handbook, 9 of them on North Carolina's own rules.
Key North Carolina facts: Road Signs
- A five-sided sign warns of a school zone or school crossing. Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Signs (pp. 83-85)
- The yellow pennant sign stands on the left side of the road and points to where a no-passing zone starts. Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Signs (pp. 83-85)
- Black-on-orange diamond signs warn of construction or maintenance areas. Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Signs (pp. 83-85)
- A STOP AHEAD sign is placed well before a stop sign when a curve or objects hide it. Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Signs (pp. 83-85)
- North Carolina route markers are diamond shaped. Chapter 5, Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings: Traffic Signs (pp. 83-85)
Sample Road Signs questions
What does a five-sided sign warn North Carolina drivers about?
- A school zone or school crossing
- A railroad crossing just ahead
- A no-passing zone just ahead
Show the answer
A school zone or school crossing
Watch closely for children where you see this pentagon. Speed limits are often lower there during certain school hours.
You need time to read a guide sign on a North Carolina road. What should you do?
- Move to the shoulder when it is safe
- Stop in the road for a moment
- Back up to read the sign again
Show the answer
Move to the shoulder when it is safe
Do not stop in the middle of the road. Wait on the shoulder until you have worked out your route.
Which way does an odd-numbered highway in North Carolina generally run?
- North and south
- East and west
- In a loop around a city
Show the answer
North and south
Odd numbers generally mean north-south routes. Even numbers generally mean east-west routes.
What do blue and white signs show on North Carolina roads?
- A work zone or flagger ahead
- A nearby hospital, patrol station or telephone
- A school zone or crossing ahead
Show the answer
A nearby hospital, patrol station or telephone
Blue and white guide signs mark these nearby services.
What does a black-on-orange diamond sign tell you on a North Carolina road?
- A tourist attraction is ahead
- A construction or maintenance area is ahead
- A hospital is nearby
Show the answer
A construction or maintenance area is ahead
Orange with black messages is reserved for work areas, so drive with extra care.
Why does North Carolina post a STOP AHEAD sign before an intersection?
- The intersection has no traffic at night
- The stop sign applies only at certain hours
- A curve or object blocks the view of the stop sign
Show the answer
A curve or object blocks the view of the stop sign
It stands far ahead of a stop sign that drivers can't see in time because of a curve or other objects.
What must you do on the North Carolina traffic signs test?
- Name the year each sign was first put in use
- Draw each sign from memory on a blank sheet
- Identify signs by color and shape and explain them
Show the answer
Identify signs by color and shape and explain them
The test covers regulatory and warning signs, identified by color and shape, with an explanation of each.
Source: NCDMV Driver License Tests page, Driver License Tests
What shape is a North Carolina state route marker?
- A circle
- A diamond
- A shield
Show the answer
A diamond
State route markers are diamonds. U.S. highway markers are shields.
What does this sign warn you about?
- Traffic is circling around a closed road
- A U-turn is required ahead
- A roundabout ahead
Show the answer
A roundabout ahead
Slow down and be ready to give way to traffic already in the roundabout.
Source: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition, Section 2C.41
More North Carolina practice
- Full practice testAll topics, as in the knowledge test
- Right-of-WayWho goes first at intersections, crosswalks and roundabouts31 questions, 18 on North Carolina rules
- Traffic SignalsLights, arrows and pedestrian signals33 questions, 11 on North Carolina rules
- Lanes & TurnsLane markings, turns, passing and merging32 questions, 17 on North Carolina rules
- Speed LimitsLimits and how to adjust your speed23 questions, 10 on North Carolina rules
- ParkingCurb colors, hills and where you can't park18 questions, 8 on North Carolina rules
- Safe DrivingFollowing distance, weather, night driving and sharing the road64 questions, 18 on North Carolina rules
- Alcohol & DrugsBlood alcohol limits, DUI rules and medication26 questions, 8 on North Carolina rules
- EmergenciesBreakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings28 questions, 10 on North Carolina rules
- License RulesPermits, restrictions for new drivers and points27 questions, 27 on North Carolina rules
- Insurance & CollisionsRequired coverage and what to do after a crash21 questions, 8 on North Carolina rules
- Phones & DistractionPhone rules and other distractions17 questions, 6 on North Carolina rules
About these questions
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025 (printed 09/25; PDF file updated September 2026) edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.
DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.