North Carolina DMV Permit Test Guide Signs and Route Markers Summary

North Carolina route markers are diamond-shaped. U.S. highways use a shield, and Interstates use a red, white, and blue shield.

Wrong choices

• Shield: The shield is used for U.S. highways and, in red, white, and blue, for Interstates.
• Circle: A circle is not the North Carolina route marker.
• Triangle: The triangle with its point down is the YIELD sign.

Blue and white signs point to services, such as a hospital, a Highway Patrol station, or a telephone.

Wrong choices

• Construction work ahead: Construction work is shown on orange signs.
• Speed limits: Speed limits are shown on white rule signs.
• Railroad crossings: Railroad crossings are shown on yellow round signs and white crossbucks.

Interstate highways are marked by a red, white, and blue shield. U.S. highways use a plain shield, and North Carolina routes use a diamond.

Wrong choices

• U.S. highway: U.S. highways use a shield, but not the red, white, and blue Interstate shield.
• North Carolina secondary road: North Carolina secondary road signs are rectangles.
• County road: This shield is reserved for the Interstate system.

Green guide signs give directions, route numbers, and distances to places. If you are lost, a mileage and direction sign can help you.

Wrong choices

• Warnings about curves: Curves are shown on yellow warning signs.
• Speed limits: Speed limits are shown on white rule signs.
• Where you may not park: Parking rules are shown on rule signs, not green guide signs.

Even-numbered highways generally run east and west. Odd-numbered highways generally run north and south.

Wrong choices

• North and south: North-south routes generally have odd numbers.
• In a circle around a city: Loop routes around cities exist, but even numbers generally mean east-west routes.
• It depends on the county: The numbering pattern is the same in every county.

Do not stop in the road to read a sign, because other drivers may hit you. When it is safe, move to the shoulder, stop, and work out where you are and which way to go.

Wrong choices

• Stop in your lane to read the sign: Stopping in a travel lane can cause a rear-end crash.
• Slow to a crawl in the left lane: Very slow driving in the passing lane is dangerous.
• Back up to the last sign you passed: Backing up on a highway is very dangerous.

Odd-numbered highways generally run north and south, and even-numbered highways generally run east and west.

Wrong choices

• East and west: East-west routes generally have even numbers.
• Only along the coast: Route numbers are used across the whole state, not only the coast.
• Only through cities: Odd numbers are used on rural roads as well as city roads.

This is the Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign, often called the blue sign. It shows the crossing ID number, the railroad name, and a phone number to report an emergency, a stalled vehicle, or broken lights or gates directly to the railroad.

Wrong choices

• Calling to ask when the next train will come: The number is for emergencies and problems, not train schedules.
• Paying a fine for a crossing violation: Fines are not paid through this sign.
• Finding the nearest gas station: Gas stations are shown on blue service signs along highways, not at crossings.

Route markers show which road you are on. In North Carolina, a diamond marks a North Carolina route, a shield marks a U.S. highway, and a red, white, and blue shield marks an Interstate.

Wrong choices

• Both are warning signs: Route markers are guide signs, not warning signs.
• The diamond marks an Interstate and the shield marks a county road: Interstates use a red, white, and blue shield, not a diamond.
• Both mark toll roads: These shapes show the route system, not tolls.

Brown guide signs lead to parks, recreation areas, and places of cultural interest. Green signs give directions, and blue signs show services.

Wrong choices

• A hospital: Hospitals are shown on blue and white service signs.
• A construction zone: Construction zones are marked with orange signs.
• A school crossing: School crossings are marked with five-sided yellow-green signs.