Your light turns green, but the next block is full. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait until you can clear the intersection.
A green light does not make a blocked intersection safe to enter. Leave the crossing clear until there is room beyond it.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Green signal; printed page 6-3, physical PDF page 61; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
Two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at approximately the same time. One is on your right. Who yields?
Correct answer: You yield to the vehicle on your right.
At an uncontrolled intersection, a driver yields to the vehicle on the right when their arrivals are approximately simultaneous.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-2310; Uncontrolled intersection; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
Before entering a roundabout, you should:
Correct answer: Yield to vehicles already circulating.
Traffic in the roundabout has priority over entering traffic. Enter a suitable gap and follow the counterclockwise traffic flow.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Roundabout entry; printed page 7-7, physical PDF page 81; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
A stopped school bus flashes red across an undivided four-lane road with two traffic lanes in each direction. You are traveling in the opposite direction. Under South Carolina's bus rule:
Correct answer: You are not required to stop, but must watch for children.
South Carolina's opposite-direction exception applies to a road with at least two traffic lanes in each direction. A physical median is not required for that exception.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-2770; Opposite-direction multilane exception; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
You stopped for a school bus's flashing red lights. Under the bus stopping rule, when may you resume, provided the way is safe?
Correct answer: Once the bus moves or its red lights stop.
The required waiting period ends when the bus resumes motion or stops operating its red visual signals. Continue to protect children and other road users.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-2770; Resuming after a bus stop; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
How far in advance must the required signal be given before turning or moving right or left on the roadway?
Correct answer: Continuously for at least the last 100 feet.
South Carolina requires the appropriate signal continuously during at least the last 100 feet before the turn or lateral movement.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-2150; Turn and lateral-movement signal; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
What is a shared center left-turn lane intended for?
Correct answer: Preparing for or making a left turn.
A two-way left-turn lane serves turning movements. It is not an extra through lane or a passing lane.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-2120; Two-way left-turn lane; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
How close may you park to a crosswalk at an intersection?
Correct answer: No closer than 20 feet.
Parking is prohibited within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. Keeping this area clear improves visibility and access.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-2530; Crosswalk parking clearance; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
Before opening your door on the traffic side of a parked car, you must:
Correct answer: Check that opening it will not interfere with moving traffic.
Open a traffic-side door only when it can be done safely without interfering with other traffic. Keep it open no longer than necessary for loading or unloading.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-3822; Opening a car door; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
A car is passing you. What is the appropriate response?
Correct answer: Keep a steady course and do not speed up.
Do not compete with a passing driver. Maintaining your course without accelerating helps the other vehicle complete the pass safely.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Being passed; printed page 7-16, physical PDF page 90; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
Under favorable conditions, what minimum following interval does the South Carolina manual recommend?
Correct answer: At least four seconds.
The manual uses a four-second minimum following interval as a study guideline. Add more time when weather, visibility or traffic makes stopping harder.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Following interval; printed page 8-6, physical PDF page 98; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
What is the safest time to reduce speed for a sharp curve?
Correct answer: Before entering the curve.
Slow before the curve so the tires can use their traction for steering through it. Avoid entering too fast and relying on abrupt braking.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Curve speed; printed page 8-2, physical PDF page 94; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
Which three parts make up total stopping distance?
Correct answer: Perception, reaction and braking distance.
A vehicle travels while you recognize a hazard and react, then travels farther while the brakes slow it. Braking distance alone is not the whole stop.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Total stopping distance; printed page 8-5, physical PDF page 97; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
A tire suddenly blows out while you are moving. What should you do first?
Correct answer: Hold the steering wheel firmly and ease off the accelerator.
Keep the vehicle tracking as steadily as possible and slow gradually. Sudden braking or steering can make the loss of control worse.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Tire blowout; printed page 9-4, physical PDF page 106; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
A motorcycle is using a lane ahead. May you treat the unused part of that lane as your own passing space?
Correct answer: No; allow the motorcycle the full lane.
Motorcycles need room to adjust position around hazards. Do not crowd a rider by trying to share the same lane with your car.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Motorcycle lane space; printed page 10-5, physical PDF page 113; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
What is the minimum age to apply for a regular South Carolina beginner's permit?
Correct answer: 15.
The Class D beginner's permit minimum age is 15. Applicants must also meet the testing, documentation and consent requirements that apply to them.
Source: SCDMV Beginner's Permit page; Age minimum; current requirements reviewed September 21, 2026 (supersede older manual where different). ↗
What minimum beginner's-permit holding period does SCDMV currently list for a first-time applicant age 18 or older?
Correct answer: 30 days.
The current permit page lists 30 days for applicants 18 or older. This differs from the all-ages 180-day statement in the older June 2024 manual.
Source: SCDMV Beginner's Permit page; Adult holding period; current requirements reviewed September 21, 2026 (supersede older manual where different). ↗
Your phone is mounted on the dashboard. May you type a text while driving on a public highway?
Correct answer: No; mounting the phone does not permit typing texts.
The text-use prohibition is separate from the restriction on holding or supporting a phone. A mount does not authorize typing a message while driving.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-3890(B)(2); Mounted texting; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
Which call fits the law's public-safety reporting exception?
Correct answer: Reporting a road hazard to a public safety official.
The exception covers reporting an accident, emergency or safety hazard to a public safety official. An ordinary personal call does not become an emergency report just because it feels urgent.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-5-3890(C)(3); Emergency reporting; current official text reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
At the beginning of the road test, what should you do about your seat belt?
Correct answer: Fasten it before driving.
The manual makes failure to use the seat belt an automatic road-test failure. Make fastening it part of your pre-drive routine.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised June 2024 (currently posted file, not a 2026 edition); Road-test seat belt; printed page 1-12, physical PDF page 17; reviewed September 21, 2026. ↗
