Under North Carolina's provisional licensing rules, when may a driver under 18 use a cell phone while driving?
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A.
Only for emergency calls, or to reach a parent, guardian or spouse Correct
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B.
Only for hands-free calls to any number
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C.
Only while the vehicle is moving slower than 25 miles per hour
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D.
Only after the first six months of licensure
The answer is "Only for emergency calls, or to reach a parent, guardian or spouse"
For a driver under 18, the manual bans cell-phone use behind the wheel and carves out two exceptions: emergency calls to an emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or a health clinic; an ambulance company or service; a fire department; or a law enforcement agency; and any call to a parent, legal guardian or spouse, which does not have to be an emergency. The restriction continues the whole time the driver is under 18, including after upgrading to a Level Three Full Provisional License. Option B is the trap for drivers who assume North Carolina's adult hands-free allowance extends down to provisional holders the way it does in several neighboring states.
The traps in the wrong answers
B. Only for hands-free calls to any number
Hands-free calling is not carved out for drivers under 18; the ban covers all cell-phone use behind the wheel. This answer imports the adult hands-free allowance, which North Carolina does not extend to a provisional licensee.
C. Only while the vehicle is moving slower than 25 miles per hour
The under-18 ban applies whenever the vehicle is in motion, at any speed; the statute sets no low-speed exception. This answer invents a speed-based allowance.
D. Only after the first six months of licensure
The phone ban stays in force the entire time the driver is under 18, including after upgrading to a Level Three Full Provisional License. This answer confuses the phone ban with the six-month holding period that governs the next license upgrade.
This question tests your knowledge of Graduated Licensing in North Carolina. Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, "Level Two Limited Provisional License," p.13..
Related North Carolina questions
- You hold a Level Two Limited Provisional License. Apart from direct trips to or from work or a qualifying volunteer fire, rescue, or EMS call, during what hours may you drive without supervision? →
- A supervising driver for a Level One or Level Two licensee must have been licensed for at least how many years? →
- How long must you hold a Level Two Limited Provisional License before applying for a Full Provisional License? →
- When driving unsupervised on a Level Two Limited Provisional License, with no under-21 household members in the vehicle, how many non-household passengers under 21 may you carry (setting aside the narrow school-transport exception)? →
- To hold a Level Two Limited Provisional License in North Carolina, a driver must be within what age range? →
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