Roadwise States North Carolina Driving lessons Drowsy & distracted driving North Carolina driving lesson · Driver Safety & Protecting Passengers
Drowsy & distracted driving A 3-minute lesson from the North Carolina course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Driver Safety & Protecting Passengers
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 22, 23 Your first job behind the wheel is getting everyone there safely, which takes full attention. At 55 mph a car covers a football field in 3.7 seconds, so there's no time for a "mini" snooze or a glance at your phone.
3.7 seconds Time to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
Drowsy-driving crashes are often serious and happen most often on high-speed rural highways when the driver is alone.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Warning signs of drowsy driving: You can't remember the last few miles driven You hit a rumble strip or drift from your lane You yawn repeatedly You have difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open Handbook p. 22 ↗ Preventing drowsy driving: Get a full night of rest before driving; if you get tired, stop A short nap (15 to 45 minutes) and caffeine help only temporarily Get out of the car at least every 2 hours to stretch and walk briskly Set a limit of 300-400 miles of driving per day Avoid medications that cause drowsiness Handbook p. 22 ↗ Distracted driving Any activity that could divert your attention from the primary task of driving.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Types of distraction: Texting and using a cell phone Eating and drinking Talking to passengers Grooming Reading, including maps; using a navigation system Watching a video; adjusting a radio, CD or MP3 player Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
Distracted drivers react more slowly, miss hazards like pedestrians or debris, and often have at least one hand off the wheel.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ NC cell phone laws: No one may use a cell phone for email or texting while driving on a public street, highway or vehicular area Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while the vehicle is moving (exception: calling 911 in an emergency) No one may drive a school bus while using a cell phone or other mobile-device technology Handbook p. 22 ↗ Cell phone safety tips: Use it only if absolutely necessary: emergencies, or contacting a parent, guardian or spouse If you must use it, do so at a safe time and place Ask a passenger to place the call and speak for you Let calls go to voicemail and call back once safely stopped Secure the phone so it doesn't become a projectile in a crash Handbook p. 23 ↗ Put it into practice
Three hours into a trip you catch yourself drifting onto the rumble strip. Take the next exit, get out and walk around, or take a 15–45 minute nap. Caffeine helps only for a while; the real fix is rest.
A useful reminder The texting ban applies to every driver, not just teens. Only the total phone ban is age-based (under 18).
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
At 55 mph, about how long does it take a vehicle to travel the length of a football field? 3.7 seconds 1 second 10 seconds 7 seconds Answer: 3.7 seconds
At 55 mph, a vehicle travels the length of a football field in about 3.7 seconds — no time for a mini snooze.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Which activity is unlawful while operating a vehicle on a public street in North Carolina? Talking to a passenger Texting or emailing on a cell phone Adjusting the radio Drinking water Answer: Texting or emailing on a cell phone
It is unlawful to use a cell phone for email or text messages while operating a vehicle on a public street.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ When may a driver under 18 legally use a cell phone while driving? Anytime, if using a hands-free device Only after Level Two GDL Emergency calls to 911 or a parent Anytime on roads posted under 35 mph Answer: Emergency calls to 911 or a parent
Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while driving except to call listed emergency contacts.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Who is prohibited from using a cell phone while operating their vehicle, regardless of age? A taxi driver A driver over age 65 A delivery truck driver A school bus driver Answer: A school bus driver
No person shall operate a school bus while using a cell phone or related mobile technology.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ According to the handbook, what is a warning sign of drowsy driving? You check your mirrors often You can't recall the last few miles You are driving below the speed limit Your passengers are talking Answer: You can't recall the last few miles
Warning signs include not remembering the last few miles driven, hitting a rumble strip, or repeated yawning.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ What is a recommended way to prevent drowsy driving on a long trip? Set a limit of 500–600 miles per day Stop every 4 hours to stretch and walk Stop every 2 hours to stretch and walk Open all the windows and keep driving Answer: Stop every 2 hours to stretch and walk
Tips include stopping regularly, getting out of the car every 2 hours to stretch and walk.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Previous lesson Provisional licensee suspensions & license restoration Next lesson Seat belts & child restraint laws More in Driver Safety & Protecting Passengers About the source Roadwise’s North Carolina course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 22, 23. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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