MODULE ONE
Objectives: Students will learn traffic laws,
licensing procedures, and driving responsibilities
in North Carolina
Topics covered:
–Level I Limited Learners Permit, a driver’s license,
inspection and registration process, and being a
responsible driver
–Road signs, signals & pavement markings
–Rules and regulations for right-away concepts and
consequences for violating the right-of way
procedures
Graduated License-Level I
Level I Limited Learners Permit — You must be at
least 15, but less than 18 years old—you must
pass a sign test, a 25 question written test, and a
vision test
– The first six months, the driving hours are 5 am—9
pm—must have a supervising driver (parent,
grandparent or guardian) with a valid drivers license
with at least 5 years driving experience
– Six months from getting your Level I Learners Permit —
you are allowed to drive anytime with your supervising
driver
– Before graduating to Level II—you must keep this permit
at least 12 months with no motor vehicle convictions,
seat belt, or cell phone infractions
Level II--Provisional License
To obtain a drivers license, you must be 16
years old, but less than 18, and a resident of
North Carolina
–
Drivers licenses are issued by DMV when you’ve
successfully met all requirements
You may drive without supervision from 5 am
until 9 pm and any time when driving directly to
or from work, or if your are a member of fire,
rescue or EMS
No more than 1 passenger under 21 years when
not accompanied by a supervising driver
No cell phone usage or texting law in North
Carolina bans the use of technology while driving
for all drivers
Level III--Full Provisional License
To graduate to Level III—must be under age 18 and keep
your Level 2 Provisional License for 6 months without
vehicle, seat belt, or mobile phone violation
Time of driving, supervision, and passenger restrictions do
not apply for full provisional licensees
As a provisional licensee—you may have your license
revoked or suspended by:
– missing more than ten consecutive school days
– being assigned to alternative schools; or
– failing to pass minimal required courses
30 days, after a 2nd moving violation within a 12month period
90 days after a 3rd moving violation with a 12-month
period
Commercial Licenses CDLs
Allows a person to drive a large truck, a van
designed for 16 or more passengers, or
transporting hazardous materials
To operate a motorcycle on a public road—you
must have
–
Level III Class C- (Full provisional license) with a
motorcycle endorsement learners permit
To operate a school bus—you must have
–
Class B or C (CDL) with an S certification or Class A,
B, or C CDL with a P endorsement
Licensing Restrictions
Vision Screening—determines adequate vision to operate
vehicles safely
– If glasses or contact lenses are required to drive, you will be
required to wear them and your license will indicate restriction
Restricted license—you must only drive within the limits of the
restriction
Hearing-drivers who are hearing impaired may request a
“hearing impaired” indicator on driver’s license to identify
disability
Mental or Physical—individuals with mental or physical
conditions must provide DMV with a medical statement
– DMV—will evaluate the medical information to determine if a
learner’s permit or driver’s license may be issued or restricted
Financial Responsibilities
Vehicle owners are responsible for maintenance costs to
operate vehicle safety
–
–
North Carolina requires all motor vehicles to be in good working
order (brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors, and
speedometer)
All motor vehicles registered in North Carolina must have a valid
safety inspection sticker, license plate, and vehicle registration
card
Automobile Liability Insurance Coverage-- the minimum
amount required in North Carolina is
–
–
–
–
Bodily injury/death of one person is $30,000
Bodily injury/death of two or more $60,000
Property damage is $25,000
30,000/60,000/25,000
With a learner’s permit—you are covered by your parents’ policy
while driving
Financial Responsibilities (continued)
Uninsured motor vehicle fee—every person
registering an uninsured vehicle will pay a $500.00
fee
– The fee pays when you are the victim of a crash
involving an uninsured vehicle
– The fee does not provide the motorist with any
insurance coverage—if involved in an accident,
the uninsured motorist remains personally liable
All registered vehicles in North Carolina, including
motor cycles/scooters, and mopeds must be
inspected each year by an official motor vehicle
inspection station
Traffic Violations
If you accumulate 7-points on your license—you
will be assigned to a Driver Improvement Clinic—
once completion, 3 points will be deducted from
your record
If you accumulate 8-points within 3 years after
reinstatement—your license can result in a second
suspension
If your drivers license is suspended by the point
system, it may be taken for
– 1st offense--60 days
– 2nd offense-- 6 months
– 3rd offense--12 months
License—Suspension/Revoked
Driving privilege will be revoked for at least—
– 30 days if convicted of:
Driving more than 15 mph over the speed limit, while the speed limit is
at least 55 mph
– 60 days if convicted of:
A second charge of speeding over 55 mph and more than 15
mph above the speed limit within one year
Speeding plus reckless driving on the same occasion
Driving privilege will be suspended for:
– Two convictions of speeding over 55 mph in the same year
– One conviction of speeding over 55 and one conviction of reckless
driving in the same year
– A conviction of speeding over 75 mph
– A suspended court sentence mandating that you must not operate
a motor vehicle for a specified period of time
– **ANY OUT OF STATE CONVICTIONS MAY RESULT IN LICENSE
REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION**
Traffic Offenses
Penalty points are assigned for the following:
– 5 points—Passing a stopped school bus loading or
unloading children
– 5 points—Aggressive Driving
– 4 points—Reckless Driving, hit and run, and property
damage only
– 3 points—Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrians,
bicyclist, or motor scooters
– 3 points—Running through stop sign, speeding through
a school zone, failure to yield the right of way, running a
red light, no driver’s license or license expired more
than one year, and failure to stop for a siren
Traffic Offenses—Commercial Motor Vehicle
Penalty points are assigned for the following:
– 8 points—Passing a stopped school bus
– 6 points—Careless and reckless driving violation,
aggressive and reckless driving
– 5 points—Hit and run property damage only, following
too close, driving on the wrong side of road, failure to
yield right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclist, and motor
scooter riders
– 4 points—Running through a stop sign, speeding in
excess of 55 mph, speeding through a school zone,
running through a red light, no driver license or expired
for more than one year, failure to stop for a siren, and
driving through safety zones
Alcohol and the Law
One drink can impair a persons driving ability
At .08 percent blood/alcohol concentration
(BAC), everyone’s driving ability is impaired, and
the risk of causing a fatal crash is high
–
Safe Roads Act: drivers younger than 21 will lose their
driving privileges for one year if they have any amount
of BAC.
“Implied Consent” – You MUST submit to a chemical test for
alcohol and other drugs if requested when driving on North
Carolina’s public roadways; if you refuse, your license is
automatically taken for a minimum of 30 days
–
The penalty for a provisional license holder who is
convicted of consuming or having consumed alcohol
or drugs is loss of license for one year
Alcohol and the Law
It is against the law for any person who is younger
than 21 to purchase or attempt to purchase
alcohol
– When young drivers less than 21 are convicted of
driving with any amount of alcohol or drugs, their
licenses will be revoked for one year
Road Signs
Steep grade
Regulatory signs
Railroad Crossings
Warning Signs
School crossing signs are fluorescent
optic yellow
Road Signs -- page 2
Constructions Signs (orange) –the fine for
speeding in a work zone may be up to 250.00
A green arrow indicates
a protected turn lane
A flashing amber light means to proceed with
caution
Stop and remain stopped
on red light
Road Signs – page 3
A cross buck is the same as a yield sign
– Trains have the right of way—they cannot stop
Keep right
No Passing (double yellow lines)
Broken yellow lines indicate two way traffic,
passing with caution
Road Signs – page 4
Broken white line means to pass with caution and
one way traffic
Bike or bus lane and HOV lane
Left turn only (reserved lane)
Yield Rules—when two cars reach the
intersections at the same time, the car on the left
must yield to the driver on the right
Road Sign Colors
Red—stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way signs
Blue—motorist services signs (including police
services and rest areas
Yellow—general warning of what is ahead signs
Orange—construction and maintenance work area
signs
Green—guide information, such as direction or
guidance signs
White—regulatory signs that display speed limits
and other regulations
School Buses, Emergency Vehicles, Pedestrians
School bus--the maximum speed limit is 45 mph
You must STOP when a school bus is loading or
discharging passengers
– You may pass a stopped school bus only if there is a
median between you and bus
When an emergency vehicle approaches you using its
siren, you must pull over to allow a clear path
– Do not park within 100 feet of an emergency vehicle