North Carolina

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of North Carolina. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .15 30 days After 10 days

    Ignition Interlocks

    Mandatory for high BAC (.15 or higher) and repeat convictions

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes Yes

     

  • Autonomous Vehicles

    Authorizes full deployment of AVs without a human operator.

  • Bicyclists and Pedestrians

    Bicycle helmets required for all riders under 16.

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    7 yrs or under and under 80 lbs

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    8-15 yrs or 40-80 lbs in seats without shoulder belts

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    No

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    Yes. Primary law.

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers under 18. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • Zero tolerance for some drugs

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Decriminalized
    • Impaired Driving: None
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    8 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    66 and over: renewal every 5 years

    60 and over: parallel parking not required on road test

     

  • Motorcyclists

    Universal helmet law enacted 1968.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants

    Who Is Covered?

    16 and over

    In What Seat?

    All

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    No state law or programs

    Red Light Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law and city ordinance

    Where Permitted

    Specified jurisdictions

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70
  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    16 years, 6 months

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    15 6

    60 (10) during Learner Stage

    2 (6) during Intermediate Stage

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    16 9 p.m. - 5 a.m. No more than 1 under 21; if passenger under 21 is family, no other non-family passengers under 21