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North Carolina driving lesson · Defensive Driving & Hazards

Work zones, night driving & sun glare

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.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Defensive Driving & Hazards
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
36, 37, 38

Work zones and darkness both shrink your margin for error. Construction narrows lanes and distracts you, and at night you see less while more drivers are tired or impaired. Know when conditions are too dangerous to drive at all.

Highway work zone

The area between the first sign marking the start of a work zone and the last sign marking its end.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

It's unlawful to exceed the posted work zone speed limit. If a sign at the start lists a penalty, it's added to any other speeding penalty.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

Orange signs with black letters are reserved strictly for work zones. They give instructions far enough ahead to act without waiting until the last minute.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

The Flagger sign warns of a flagger in an orange vest with a STOP/SLOW paddle ahead. Stay alert and be ready to stop.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

Driving slower than surrounding traffic is a major cause of rear-end crashes in work zones, where there may be no escape route.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

Headlights are required from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is 400 feet or less. Use low beams in cities; on the open road use high beams unless approaching or following another vehicle.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
400 feet

Visibility at or below which headlights are required

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Night driving is more dangerous because:

  • You can't see as well
  • There are more impaired drivers
  • Drivers are tired and less alert
  • Oncoming headlights can blind you
  • Dirty windshields and poor lights cause problems
Handbook p. 37 ↗

Night driving tips:

  • If an oncoming driver doesn't dim, blink your high beams once; if still not, keep yours low
  • Stay right and use the road edge as a guide, looking slightly right of oncoming lights
  • Never drive faster than you can stop within the distance you can see
  • Parked on a highway, use flashers; never leave headlights on when parked at night
Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

For sun glare, adjust your visor and wear sunglasses. If that doesn't help, stop on the roadside until you can drive safely.

Handbook p. 38 ↗

Put it into practice

An oncoming car keeps its high beams on. Flash your high beams once as a reminder. If it still doesn't dim, keep your lights on low and look toward the right edge of the road until it passes.

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.

What is unlawful regarding speed in a highway work zone?
  1. Driving at the posted speed limit
  2. Driving below the posted speed limit
  3. Driving faster than the posted speed limit
  4. Slowing down when you see orange signs

Answer: Driving faster than the posted speed limit

It is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle greater than the posted speed limit while driving in a work zone.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
What color scheme is reserved strictly for identifying work zones?
  1. Black-on-yellow signs
  2. Red-on-white signs
  3. Blue-on-white signs
  4. Black-on-orange signs

Answer: Black-on-orange signs

The orange signs with black messages are reserved strictly to identify work zones.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
When must headlights be used, based on visibility, regardless of the time of day?
  1. Whenever visibility is 400 feet or less
  2. Whenever visibility is 1,000 feet or less
  3. Only in a declared state of emergency
  4. Only on interstates

Answer: Whenever visibility is 400 feet or less

The law requires headlight use from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is 400 feet or less.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
When driving on the open road at night, when should you use high-beam headlights?
  1. Only inside city limits
  2. Unless approaching or following another vehicle
  3. Never, low beams are always required
  4. Only during fog

Answer: Unless approaching or following another vehicle

On the open road, use high-beam headlights unless you are approaching or following another vehicle.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
What is a major cause of rear-end crashes specifically in work zones?
  1. Driving exactly at the posted limit
  2. Using turn signals too early
  3. Driving slower than the surrounding traffic
  4. Following the two-second rule

Answer: Driving slower than the surrounding traffic

Driving slower than the surrounding traffic is a major cause of rear-end crashes in work zones.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
What does the "Flagger" sign warn drivers about?
  1. A school crossing guard ahead
  2. A railroad crossing ahead
  3. A detour around a closed road
  4. A flagger controlling traffic ahead

Answer: A flagger controlling traffic ahead

The Flagger sign warns of construction or maintenance where a flagger controls traffic with a STOP/SLOW paddle.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
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