Turnabouts, parking, lane changes and passing

Key points

1. Before turning, search all corners for controls, pedestrians and vehicles, and signal your intentions.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-1

   “Search all corners for traffic controls, pedestrians, other vehicles, and signal your intentions.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-1

2. At an RCUT, turn right onto the main road, then make a U turn at a one way median opening.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-6

   “the RCUT intersection requires drivers to turn right onto the main road and then make a u-turn maneuver at a one-way median opening”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-6

3. Do not park more than 18 inches from the curb or edge of pavement.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-11

   “Do not park more than 18 inches from the curb or edge of pavement.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-11

4. Parked headed downhill, with or without a curb, turn your wheels to the right, except when parking on the left of a one way street.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-13

   “Headed downhill, with or without curb: turn wheels to the right (except when parking left on a one way- street).”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-13

5. Before changing lanes, check your blind spots.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-14

   “Check your "blind spots," or areas around your vehicle that cannot be seen by other vehicles.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-14

6. Never pass on the shoulder, paved or not.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-15

   “Never pass on the shoulder, whether it is paved or not.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-15

7. When it is safe to pass, signal 100 feet or more before passing.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-16

   “When it is safe to pass, signal your intentions 100 feet or more before passing.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-16

8. When being passed, stay in your lane and keep a constant speed.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-16

   “Stay in your lane. Maintain a constant speed to allow the driver to pass you.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-16

9. Zipper merging can cut traffic backups by as much as 40%.

   Source: Handbook p. 7-17

   “Reducing the overall length of traffic backup by as much as 40%.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 7-17

Numbers to know

3 questions from the South Carolina practice test

1. 1. What should you do before moving into another lane?

   1. Signal only after the lane change is complete
   2. Check mirrors, check the blind spot, signal, and look again
   3. Look only in the inside mirror
   4. Move first, then check whether the gap was large enough
   Show answer

   Check mirrors, check the blind spot, signal, and look again. A safe lane change requires a sequence: check the mirrors, look over your shoulder toward the blind spot, identify a gap, signal, look again, adjust speed, and steer into the lane. A signal announces intent but cannot make an occupied gap safe. Looking only in one mirror misses areas beside the vehicle, and moving before checking reverses the order that protects against a hidden car or motorcycle. Build the habit of a second visual check immediately before steering, because traffic can enter the gap after your first scan.

2. 2. In a South Carolina RCUT intersection, how does a driver make a left-turn or through movement from a cross street?

   1. Cross directly through the median without turning
   2. Turn right onto the main road, then make a U-turn at a one-way median opening
   3. Wait for a four-way stop before turning left normally
   4. Use a bus-only lane to reach the opposite direction
   Show answer

   Turn right onto the main road, then make a U-turn at a one-way median opening. An RCUT removes left-turn and through movements from cross-street approaches. To continue in the desired direction, the driver turns right onto the main road and later makes a U-turn at a one-way median opening. Directly crossing the median and making a conventional left turn describe the movements the design eliminates. The bus-lane option invents a restriction. Look for the sequence right turn, main road, median U-turn when recognizing an RCUT.

3. 3. Before making a turn, what should a driver search for and communicate?

   1. Traffic controls, pedestrians, other vehicles, and the driver's intentions
   2. Only a clear lane behind the vehicle
   3. A parking meter and a fuel station
   4. The nearest highway exit and its distance
   Show answer

   Traffic controls, pedestrians, other vehicles, and the driver's intentions. Before turning, the manual directs drivers to search all corners for traffic controls, pedestrians, and other vehicles, then signal their intentions. Looking only behind the vehicle misses hazards at the corners and along the intended path. Parking meters, fuel stations, and highway exits are not the checklist given for beginning a turn. The practical sequence is to scan the complete turn area, identify people and traffic controls, signal early, and enter the lane closest to the direction of the turn. This creates time to respond before the vehicle changes path.

Source: the South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 7: General Driving. 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.