Key points
Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day to stay alert.
Source: Handbook p. 3-3
“Get adequate sleep most people need 7 to 9 hours per day to maintain proper alertness throughout their awake hours.”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-3Plan to stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours on long trips.
Source: Handbook p. 3-3
“Plan to stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips.”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-3If you feel tired, pull off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap.
Source: Handbook p. 3-3
“If you start feeling tired stop driving and pull off at the next exit or rest area to take a 15 to 20 minute nap”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-3Mental activities that take your mind off driving are as dangerous as looking away.
Source: Handbook p. 3-4
“Mental activities that take your mind away from driving are just as dangerous.”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-4Drivers must not physically hold or support a mobile device with any part of the body.
Source: Handbook p. 3-5
“Physically hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of their body”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-5Earpieces and wrist worn devices for voice calls are still allowed.
Source: Handbook p. 3-5
“This law does not restrict the use of earpieces or wrist worn devices for the purpose of conducting voicebased communications.”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-5A first hands free violation is a $100 fine. Later ones are $200 and two points.
Source: Handbook p. 3-5
“Penalties for violating the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act: • First Offense: $100 fine • Second and Subsequent Offenses: $200 fine and two points on your driving record”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-5Aggressive driving includes speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes and not signaling.
Source: Handbook p. 3-5
“Some behaviors typically associated with aggressive driving include speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, improperly (or not) signaling”
South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3-5
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 7 to 9 hours | sleep most people need each day | Handbook p. 3-3 |
| 100 miles or 2 hours | how often to stop on long trips | Handbook p. 3-3 |
| 15 to 20 minutes | length of a nap when you feel tired | Handbook p. 3-3 |
| $100; $200 and 2 points | first and later hands free violations | Handbook p. 3-5 |
3 questions from the South Carolina practice test
1. How much sleep does the South Carolina manual say most people need to stay alert while driving?
- 4 to 5 hours
- At least 12 hours
- 3 hours plus coffee
- 7 to 9 hours per day
Show answer
7 to 9 hours per day. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day to maintain proper alertness throughout their waking hours, so get adequate sleep before a trip. Plan to stop about every 100 miles or two hours on long drives, arrange a travel companion to watch your driving, and check medication labels for drowsiness warnings. If you feel tired, pull off and nap.
2. How often does the South Carolina manual say to stop on a long trip?
- Every 500 miles
- About every 100 miles or 2 hours
- Only for fuel
- Every 30 minutes
Show answer
About every 100 miles or 2 hours. Plan to stop about every 100 miles or two hours during long trips. Combined with 7 to 9 hours of sleep beforehand and a travel companion to watch your driving, the regular breaks keep fatigue from building. If you start feeling tired, pull off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap or find a place to sleep for the night.
3. When operating a motor vehicle in South Carolina, what cellphone use is unlawful under the general distracted-driving rule?
- Speaking to a passenger while the vehicle is moving
- Using a hands-free voice call through an earpiece
- Listening to navigation directions through the vehicle speakers
- Using a wireless electronic communication device when it requires either hand
Show answer
Using a wireless electronic communication device when it requires either hand. South Carolina makes it unlawful to use a wireless electronic communication device while operating a motor vehicle when the use requires either hand. The earpiece choice describes a hands-free voice communication that the later hands-free law does not restrict. Navigation audio and ordinary conversation with a passenger do not match the prohibited device handling described here. The concrete cue is physical involvement: if the communication requires a hand on the wireless device, it creates the condition the rule addresses, even if the driver intends to use it only briefly.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with safe driving questions from the free South Carolina practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 3: Be in Shape to Drive. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.