Driver's License Test Prep
North Carolina Practice Defensive Driving

Under the manual's communicating rule, what must happen before you signal a lane change or turn?

  1. A.
    You must first see that the movement can be made safely Correct
  2. B.
    The vehicle behind you must flash its headlights to acknowledge
  3. C.
    You must come to a complete stop in the lane
  4. D.
    You must call out the maneuver to any passenger
The Why

The answer is "You must first see that the movement can be made safely"

The manual tells drivers to confirm the movement is safe first, and only then signal to communicate it. Learners who treat the turn signal as a request for permission reach for choice B, picturing a courtesy flash from the car behind, but the signal is a notice of what you intend, not a negotiation.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

B. The vehicle behind you must flash its headlights to acknowledge

The signal is a notice to others, not a trade confirmed by a response. This answer reads the turn indicator as a request for permission rather than a declaration of intent.

C. You must come to a complete stop in the lane

A full stop is not part of the signaling rule. This answer over-corrects by halting when the rule only requires checking it is safe.

D. You must call out the maneuver to any passenger

Communicating under the rule means signaling other road users, not passengers. This answer reads the word broadly as any kind of conversation inside the car.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in North Carolina. Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, "Defensive Driving - Communicating," p.68..

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