SC Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

Every question below comes from the South Carolina question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. What can pavement markings tell drivers?

   1. When they may pass or change lanes and which lanes to use for turns
   2. The exact speed of every approaching vehicle
   3. Whether a vehicle is properly insured
   4. Which driver owns the roadway
   Show answer

   When they may pass or change lanes and which lanes to use for turns. The manual says pavement markings can tell drivers when they may pass other vehicles or change lanes and which lanes to use for turns. They also divide lanes, define pedestrian walkways, and show where to stop for signs or traffic signals. Markings do not measure another vehicle’s speed, verify insurance, or identify ownership. Before changing position, read the lines and arrows together with signs and traffic conditions. A permissive marking still requires a safe, legal maneuver and a clear view.

2. 2. On a two-lane highway, what must a driver do when a school bus is stopped or preparing to stop with its red or amber lights flashing?

   
   1. Pass slowly if the driver cannot see children near the roadway
   2. Stop for the entire time the bus is stopped or preparing to stop
   3. Stop only when following the bus, never when meeting it
   4. Continue at 15 mph until the bus driver waves
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   Stop for the entire time the bus is stopped or preparing to stop. On any two-lane highway, the stopping duty applies whether you are meeting the school bus or traveling behind it. You must remain stopped while the bus is stopped or preparing to stop with red or amber lights flashing or its stop arm extended. A clear view of children does not cancel the rule, and it is not limited to vehicles behind the bus. Wait until the bus moves or its signals and stop arm no longer indicate the loading stop, then proceed slowly while watching for children.

3. 3. What happens when hydroplaning begins?

   1. The steering tires ride on water over the road
   2. The brakes lock because the pavement is dry
   3. The engine loses power after a tire heats up
   4. The vehicle gains traction from pooled water
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   The steering tires ride on water over the road. Hydroplaning occurs when the steering tires ride on a layer of water above the road, reducing the tire contact needed for steering and braking. The claim about locked brakes confuses a traction problem with a braking-system fault, and an overheated tire is unrelated. When rain or puddles create this risk, slow down before traction disappears. Avoid abrupt steering or braking, and give yourself more room to respond. The key cue is water between tire and pavement, which can make the vehicle feel light or unresponsive even though the tires have not failed.

4. 4. Which South Carolina applicants are exempt from the vision screening when renewing?

   1. Active duty military presenting a Leave and Earning Statement dated within 31 days and a valid military ID
   2. Anyone over 65
   3. Anyone renewing online
   4. Commercial drivers
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   Active duty military presenting a Leave and Earning Statement dated within 31 days and a valid military ID. Effective May 18, 2024, active duty military personnel are exempt from the vision screening requirement when they provide a Leave and Earning Statement dated within 31 days of completing the transaction along with a non expired military ID. Those renewing by mail or online send copies of the documents. Everyone else passes a screening or provides a vision certificate dated within 36 months.

5. 5. What must a person have to drive a golf cart on a South Carolina public road?

   1. Only parental permission at any age
   2. A beginner's permit at age 14
   3. A valid driver's license and age of at least 16
   4. A commercial driver license at age 18
   Show answer

   A valid driver's license and age of at least 16. South Carolina sets two basic driver conditions for a golf cart: the operator must be at least 16 and must hold a valid driver's license. A beginner's permit does not replace the license requirement, and parental approval cannot lower the age threshold. A commercial credential is not the stated standard. Before driving, also confirm that the cart carries its required permit or registration decal and that the route meets the manual's daytime road and distance restrictions.

6. 6. What does the abbreviation DUAC mean in the South Carolina manual?

   1. Driving Under an Automatic Citation
   2. Driving with an Unlawful Alcohol Concentration
   3. Departmental Unlicensed Automobile Check
   4. Driver Use and Accident Control
   Show answer

   Driving with an Unlawful Alcohol Concentration. DUAC expands to Driving with an Unlawful Alcohol Concentration. It is named alongside DUI in the manual's discussion of alcohol-related suspensions. The other phrases are invented expansions and do not identify an alcohol-concentration offense. When reading a question about the abbreviation, connect the word concentration to the measured alcohol level rather than treating DUAC as a general traffic citation or an administrative inspection.

7. 7. At what minimum age may a qualified driver receive a South Carolina conditional license?

   1. At least 18
   2. At least 14
   3. At least 16 and one-half
   4. At least 15 and one-half
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   At least 15 and one-half. The conditional-license stage is available once the applicant is at least 15 and one-half but still under 16, provided the other listed requirements are met. Fourteen is below the stated age, while 16 and one-half and 18 miss the earlier graduated-license stage. The applicant must also pass the vision and skills tests. A helpful study cue is that the half-year age belongs to the conditional license for a 15-year-old, not to the regular license stage.

8. 8. In a South Carolina work zone, what must a driver do when a person with a sign or flag gives traffic instructions?

   1. Follow the instruction only if a police officer is also present
   2. Follow the person's direction to travel, slow down, or stop
   3. Ignore the person and follow the vehicle ahead
   4. Continue at the posted speed until a traffic signal changes
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   Follow the person's direction to travel, slow down, or stop. A person controlling traffic in a work zone may use a sign or flag to direct travel, require a slower pace, or order a stop. The instruction is part of the temporary traffic control, so drivers must obey it just as they would obey a posted work zone device. Waiting for a police officer is not a condition in the rule. Continuing at the posted speed can be unsafe when workers have narrowed the roadway or created a sudden stop. Watch the worker's signal, adjust promptly, and proceed only when directed.

9. 9. What posted speed limit applies to the secondary streets and highways where South Carolina golf carts may operate?

   1. Any posted speed
   2. Forty-five miles an hour or less
   3. Fifty-five miles an hour or less
   4. Thirty-five miles an hour or less
   Show answer

   Thirty-five miles an hour or less. Golf carts may use only secondary streets and highways with posted speed limits of 35 miles an hour or less. A 45 or 55 mile limit exceeds the manual's ceiling, and an unrestricted route ignores the road-type and speed condition. This restriction is separate from the four-mile daytime distance rule and the driver's license requirement. Check both the road classification and the posted number before entering the roadway.

10. 10. When approaching any intersection, what search should a South Carolina driver make?

    1. Look only for the traffic signal
    2. Look only to the right after entering
    3. Check for controls, cross traffic, pedestrians, roadway conditions, and limited visibility
    4. Accelerate before checking for pedestrians
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    Check for controls, cross traffic, pedestrians, roadway conditions, and limited visibility. At every intersection, reduce speed and search broadly. The manual identifies traffic controls, oncoming and cross traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists, roadway condition, and areas where visibility is limited. Looking only for a signal or only to one side can miss a person or vehicle that does not obey the expected control. Accelerating first reduces the time available to respond. The practical cue is a complete scan before entry, with extra caution after stopping and before moving again.

11. 11. What should a driver do after seeing a warning sign for a possible hazard ahead?

    
    1. Accelerate to clear the area before the hazard
    2. Slow down and be prepared to stop
    3. Pass without checking because the sign gives priority
    4. Stop only after reaching the hazard
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    Slow down and be prepared to stop. The manual says warning signs may tell drivers to slow down and be prepared to stop when a hazard or special roadway situation lies ahead. The instruction applies before reaching the hazard, giving the driver time to assess traffic and roadway conditions. Accelerating reduces that margin, and a warning sign does not grant passing priority. Waiting until the hazard is reached is also too late for a controlled response. Use the sign as an advance cue, adjust speed smoothly, and keep a clear path for stopping.

12. 12. Your vehicle is stuck in snow on a South Carolina road. What does the manual suggest to regain traction?

    1. Spin the wheels at full throttle
    2. Pour water on the tires
    3. Let air out of all four tires
    4. Clear snow from the wheels and pour sand, cat litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels
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    Clear snow from the wheels and pour sand, cat litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels. If you are stuck in snow, use a shovel to clear snow from the wheels and underside of the car, then pour sand, cat litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels to help get traction, or place cardboard, newspaper or brush under them. Spinning the wheels only digs the vehicle in deeper. If the vehicle skids, ease off the accelerator and steer where you want to go.

13. 13. For hand to hand steering, where does the South Carolina manual say each hand should work on the wheel?

    1. Both hands crossing over the top
    2. The left hand only at 12 o'clock
    3. Either hand anywhere on the wheel
    4. The left hand between 11 and 8 o'clock and the right hand between 1 and 8 o'clock, whichever way you turn
    Show answer

    The left hand between 11 and 8 o'clock and the right hand between 1 and 8 o'clock, whichever way you turn. In hand to hand steering, the driver uses the area on the wheel between 11 and 8 o'clock with the left hand and between 1 and 8 o'clock with the right hand, regardless of the direction of the turn. The hands never cross over the top, which maintains stability, reduces steering reversals and keeps arms clear of the air bag. Reverse the process to straighten out.

14. 14. How far from the curb may a South Carolina driver park?

    
    1. Up to 3 feet
    2. Up to 12 inches
    3. No more than 18 inches from the curb or edge of pavement
    4. Any distance if the wheels are turned
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    No more than 18 inches from the curb or edge of pavement. When parking along the roadway, park as far from the flow of traffic as possible and do not park more than 18 inches from the curb or edge of pavement. Check for signs and painted curbs that prohibit or limit parking, and never leave the vehicle where it becomes an obstruction. A car parked far from the curb narrows the lane for everyone.

15. 15. How much sleep does the South Carolina manual say most people need to stay alert while driving?

    1. 4 to 5 hours
    2. At least 12 hours
    3. 3 hours plus coffee
    4. 7 to 9 hours per day
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    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.

16. 16. What does a minimum following distance of four seconds provide a driver?

    
    1. More time to react to other roadway users
    2. Permission to ignore speed limits
    3. A guarantee that a collision cannot occur
    4. A reason to drive beside another vehicle
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    More time to react to other roadway users. Maintaining at least four seconds behind the vehicle ahead creates a space cushion that gives the driver more time to adjust and react to other roadway users. It does not excuse speeding or guarantee that every collision is impossible. Driving alongside another vehicle concerns side space and blind spots, not the forward gap. To apply the rule, watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point, count to one thousand four, and reduce speed if you reach that point sooner. The count is a practical check, not a license to stop paying attention.

17. 17. What must a driver do at a flashing red traffic light before entering the intersection?

    1. Wait for the signal to become a steady green
    2. Slow down without stopping if the road looks clear
    3. Make a complete stop and then follow the stop-sign procedure
    4. Accelerate through before cross traffic arrives
    Show answer

    Make a complete stop and then follow the stop-sign procedure. A flashing red signal requires a complete stop behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection before entry. The driver then looks both ways and yields when applicable, using the same procedure as at a stop sign. Merely slowing is insufficient, and waiting for a steady green invents a requirement not stated for this signal. Accelerating through reverses the safety instruction. Treat the flashing red as a stop sign in your mental checklist: stop fully, scan both directions, yield, and proceed only when the way is clear.

18. 18. Which type of information can South Carolina guide signs provide?

    1. Only penalties for traffic violations
    2. Only warnings about slippery pavement
    3. Directions to cities, towns, roads, and roadway services
    4. The driver's blood alcohol concentration
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    Directions to cities, towns, roads, and roadway services. Guide signs direct drivers to intersecting roads, cities, towns, and points of interest. They can also help locate hospitals, service stations, restaurants, and hotels. Slippery pavement belongs to warning information, traffic penalties belong to law enforcement or regulatory material, and a driver's blood alcohol concentration is unrelated to roadway signs. The cue is navigation: use green, brown, or blue guide information to stay oriented and find a destination or service along the route.

19. 19. What does a South Carolina special restricted license with a waiver permit a 16-year-old to do?

    1. Drive alone until midnight for qualifying work or activities
    2. Drive alone throughout the entire night
    3. Carry any number of under-21 passengers
    4. Drive without a license during school hours
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    Drive alone until midnight for qualifying work or activities. The waiver expands the permitted solo period until midnight when the teen works or participates in certain extracurricular activities. It does not authorize driving after midnight, remove the license requirement, or eliminate passenger restrictions. The phrase until midnight is the crucial boundary. When reviewing this provision, separate the waiver from ordinary unrestricted privileges: it creates a limited exception tied to qualifying activities and still stops before the overnight hours.

20. 20. What does the pictured SPEED LIMIT sign indicate?

    
    1. A suggested speed that may be exceeded whenever traffic is light
    2. The maximum legal speed allowed in ideal conditions
    3. The minimum speed required on the roadway
    4. The speed permitted only for emergency vehicles
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    The maximum legal speed allowed in ideal conditions. A black and white SPEED LIMIT sign states the maximum legal speed for ideal conditions. It is not merely an advisory recommendation, and it does not establish a minimum or an emergency-only speed. Poor weather, congestion, visibility, or road work may require a driver to travel below the posted number. Read the sign as an upper boundary, then choose a safe speed for what is actually happening around the vehicle. The number is a limit, not a target.