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. If a disabled vehicle is stopped on a highway, how far behind it should emergency flares be placed when available?

   1. Directly beneath the rear bumper
   2. About 20 to 30 feet
   3. At least one mile
   4. About 200 to 300 feet
   Show answer

   About 200 to 300 feet. Emergency flares create an advance warning zone for approaching drivers. The manual recommends placing them about 200 to 300 feet behind a disabled vehicle, giving other road users time to change lanes if necessary. A distance of 20 to 30 feet may leave almost no reaction time, while one mile is far beyond the stated guidance. Placing a flare under the bumper provides no useful warning. First get the vehicle away from traffic when possible, activate the flashers, and only place warnings when doing so can be done safely.

   Study this in the handbook: Avoiding collisions and vehicle malfunctions

2. 2. What is the average perception time for an alert driver, according to the South Carolina manual?

   1. One tenth of a second
   2. 5 seconds
   3. Three quarters of a second to 1 second
   4. 10 seconds
   Show answer

   Three quarters of a second to 1 second. Perception time is the time and distance it takes to recognize you must stop, and the average for an alert driver is three quarters of a second to 1 second. Reaction time, moving your foot from the gas to the brake, takes about the same. Braking distance is added on top; at 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes it can take about 158 feet.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, following distance and signaling

3. 3. A driver age 17 or younger must hold a beginner's permit for how long before applying for a license?

   1. At least 90 days
   2. At least 30 days
   3. At least 180 days
   4. At least one year
   Show answer

   At least 180 days. For a driver who is 17 or younger, the beginner's permit must be held for at least 180 days before an application for a license can be made. The 30-day period belongs to applicants age 18 or older, so it is the most likely mix-up in this question. Ninety days and one year are not the waiting periods stated for this step. A useful memory cue is that the younger applicant waits through 180 days and may apply on day 181 or later, while the adult applicant follows the shorter 30-day rule.

   Study this in the handbook: License classes and the beginner's permit

4. 4. For a driver under 21 in South Carolina, what is the minimum loss of driving privileges after refusing an intoxicant test?

   1. At least three days
   2. At least six months
   3. At least three months
   4. No loss of privileges
   Show answer

   At least six months. Refusing the test causes an immediate loss of driving privileges for at least six months under the manual's under-21 rule. Three months is the minimum tied to registering a BAC of 0.02 percent or greater, so it describes a different event. A three-day period and no suspension understate the consequence. The comparison cue is simple: under 21, a test result at or above 0.02 brings three months, while refusal brings the longer six-month minimum.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, other drugs and implied consent

5. 5. What is one purpose of pavement markings on a South Carolina roadway?

   1. They guarantee that the pavement is dry and free of hazards
   2. They replace every traffic signal at an intersection
   3. They can tell drivers when passing or lane changes are permitted
   4. They identify the registered owner of the vehicle ahead
   Show answer

   They can tell drivers when passing or lane changes are permitted. Road markings do more than decorate the pavement. They divide lanes, communicate when passing or changing lanes is allowed, identify turn lanes, define pedestrian areas, and show where a driver must stop for a sign or signal. They do not replace traffic lights, certify road conditions, or identify another vehicle's owner. When markings are present, read them as part of the traffic-control system. Before crossing a line or using a lane, confirm that the marking permits the movement and that surrounding traffic is clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings, crosswalks and stop lines

6. 6. When should a driver assume that another road user has automatically yielded the right-of-way at an intersection?

   1. Never; consider the situation and circumstances at each intersection
   2. Whenever the driver is traveling on the wider road
   3. Whenever the vehicle is larger
   4. Whenever the driver reaches the intersection quickly
   Show answer

   Never; consider the situation and circumstances at each intersection. The manual warns against assuming automatic priority. Drivers must evaluate the actual situation and circumstances at each intersection, including other vehicles, pedestrians, signs, and traffic signals. Road width, vehicle size, or arrival speed does not create the blanket rule described by the other choices. The useful habit is to reduce speed, scan the intersection, and be prepared to yield even when a driver believes another person should yield first.

   Study this in the handbook: Yielding the right of way

7. 7. What does the winding arrow on the pictured yellow sign warn about?

   
   1. A single right turn at an intersection
   2. A curvy road ahead
   3. A divided highway beginning
   4. A side road entering from the left
   Show answer

   A curvy road ahead. The winding arrow identifies the curvy-road warning in the handbook. Its path distinguishes it from the single right-curve example and from symbols for intersecting roads. The sign warns about the upcoming roadway rather than specifying a destination or commanding a turn onto a side street. Use the shape of the arrow to recognize the condition in advance, then watch the road as it changes direction and maintain control through the curves.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights

8. 8. 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.

   Study this in the handbook: Golf carts, organ donation and other state laws

9. 9. What minimum extra following time is recommended for ordinary night driving, apart from the additional unfamiliar-road adjustment?

   1. No additional time
   2. At least one additional second
   3. At least one-half additional second
   4. Exactly four additional seconds
   Show answer

   At least one additional second. Add at least one second to the following interval for night driving. Darkness calls for more space even on a familiar road. The handbook separately recommends at least two additional seconds on unfamiliar roads at night, so that larger addition belongs to a different condition. Keeping the daytime interval unchanged misses the nighttime adjustment. Treat the extra second as an addition to the ordinary following gap rather than as the entire gap behind the next vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Night driving and work zones

10. 10. Which state's implied consent law applies when a driver is arrested for suspected impaired driving?

    1. The state that issued the driver's license
    2. The state where the arrest occurred
    3. The driver's state of birth
    4. The state where the vehicle was purchased
    Show answer

    The state where the arrest occurred. The manual explains that implied-consent law is applied by the state where the driver was arrested, rather than the state that issued the license. The license-issuing state is the tempting alternative because licensing normally follows the home jurisdiction, but this rule follows the arrest location. Birthplace and vehicle purchase have no role in the stated choice of law. For test questions, identify the arrest state first when an implied-consent issue crosses state lines.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, other drugs and implied consent

11. 11. A South Carolina conditional license holder wants to drive at 9 p.m. in winter. What is required?

    1. A licensed driver who is at least 21 in the vehicle
    2. Nothing, the teen may drive alone
    3. A waiver letter from any teacher
    4. The teen may not drive at all until 6 a.m.
    Show answer

    A licensed driver who is at least 21 in the vehicle. With a conditional or special restricted license, the teen may drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 from 6 p.m., or 8 p.m. during daylight saving time, until midnight. At 9 p.m. in winter that supervision is required. Driving alone ends at 6 p.m. outside daylight saving time. A waiver comes only with a special restricted license and needs school or work and parent letters. A complete ban until morning is too strict.

    Study this in the handbook: Conditional and special restricted licenses

12. 12. A South Carolina driver age 17 or older reaches six points. What does the SCDMV do?

    1. Sends a letter to drive more carefully
    2. Suspends the license for six months
    3. Revokes the license
    4. Requires a new road test
    Show answer

    Sends a letter to drive more carefully. For drivers 17 or older, six or more points bring a warning letter from the SCDMV, and a suspension comes when the total reaches 12 or more. A six-month suspension is the penalty for a driver under 17 who gets six or more points in the first year of licensing. Revocation and a new road test are not the six point response. Points are also cut in half one year after the violation date.

    Study this in the handbook: The point system and losing your license

13. 13. When turning from one of several marked turn lanes, when may you leave that lane?

    1. As soon as you enter the intersection
    2. Halfway through the turn if another lane looks shorter
    3. Whenever the vehicle beside you slows
    4. After the turn is completed
    Show answer

    After the turn is completed. Where more than one lane turns, identify and enter the lane you intend to use, then remain in it until the turn is complete. Cutting across to another turning lane midway does not follow that guidance. The instruction is about keeping a consistent path through the turn, even when an adjacent lane appears more convenient. Finish the turn in the selected lane before considering a separate lane change with its own checks and signal.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, intersections and roundabouts

14. 14. What does this orange diamond work zone sign tell you is ahead?

    
    1. A one lane road ahead
    2. A detour onto another road
    3. A flagger ahead
    4. The end of the work zone
    Show answer

    A one lane road ahead. Work zone signs in South Carolina are generally diamond or rectangular shaped and orange with black letters or symbols. They alert you to work zones ahead and warn you that people are working on or near the roadway. The handbook shows One Lane Road Ahead among these signs, meaning the road will narrow to a single lane ahead. Reduce your speed and be prepared to stop. Flagger Ahead, Workers Ahead, Road Construction Ahead, and Detour are separate work zone signs with their own wording.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, railroad and work zone signs

15. 15. Which action is recommended after a tire suddenly goes flat?

    1. Stop in the travel lane and wait for help
    2. Brake hard and turn sharply toward the shoulder
    3. Accelerate until the tire regains pressure
    4. Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight
    Show answer

    Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight. A sudden loss of tire air can make the vehicle pull or wobble. A firm grip and a straight path reduce the chance of a panic correction while the driver begins a gradual slowdown. Hard braking and a sharp turn can upset the vehicle, and acceleration cannot restore a flat tire. Stopping in the lane exposes the vehicle to traffic. The cue is control first, then ease off the accelerator and move to a safe place.

    Study this in the handbook: Avoiding collisions and vehicle malfunctions

16. 16. What is the maximum recommended speed for most vehicle and trailer combinations in South Carolina?

    1. 70 mph
    2. 45 mph
    3. 55 mph
    4. The posted limit plus 5
    Show answer

    55 mph. Drive more slowly when towing. The maximum recommended speed for most vehicle and trailer combinations is 55 mph, which saves fuel and reduces the chance of losing control, and you must never exceed the posted limit. Reduce speed further when conditions worsen, allow extra space behind the vehicle ahead, and have plenty of clear highway ahead before passing, because a towing vehicle needs more time and distance to pass. Never pass on hills or curves while towing.

    Study this in the handbook: Rural roads, winter driving and trailers

17. 17. What testing is required when a South Carolina driver's license has been expired for more than nine months?

    1. Vision, knowledge, and skills tests
    2. Only a vision screening
    3. Only the knowledge test
    4. No testing if the address is unchanged
    Show answer

    Vision, knowledge, and skills tests. An expiration longer than nine months requires a branch visit and three tests: vision, knowledge, and skills. A vision-only or knowledge-only response leaves out required parts of the process. The no-testing option confuses an unchanged address with eligibility to renew without tests. Keep the threshold in mind as a switch: nine months or less permits branch renewal without testing, but more than nine months activates the full testing requirement.

    Study this in the handbook: Knowledge and skills tests, moving and renewal

18. 18. If moving into another lane is unsafe near a stopped authorized emergency vehicle, how should a South Carolina driver proceed?

    
    1. Keep the original speed because a lane change is unavailable
    2. Slow down and proceed cautiously at a safe speed for traffic conditions
    3. Stop in the travel lane until the emergency vehicle leaves
    4. Accelerate past the scene before another vehicle approaches
    Show answer

    Slow down and proceed cautiously at a safe speed for traffic conditions. The alternative to an unsafe lane change is not to keep speed or stop in the roadway. The driver should slow down and continue with caution at a speed suited to the traffic conditions. That preserves room to react while avoiding a maneuver that could create a second collision. Accelerating past the scene defeats the protective purpose of the law. When the lane change cannot be made safely, reduce speed first, then scan for workers, equipment, and nearby traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, traffic stops and the Move Over Law

19. 19. What should you do if a trailer begins to sway while being towed?

    1. Brake hard and steer against each swing
    2. Accelerate sharply to pull the trailer straight
    3. Steer straight and reduce speed gradually without braking
    4. Swerve onto the shoulder immediately
    Show answer

    Steer straight and reduce speed gradually without braking. If a trailer sways, hold a straight course and reduce speed gradually without braking. Countering each swing with a sharp steering movement does not follow that instruction. Trailer loading also matters: the handbook places sixty percent of cargo weight near the towing vehicle and forty percent at the rear. That loading guidance helps explain why a badly distributed load can create sway, but once movement begins the immediate response is controlled slowing and straight steering.

    Study this in the handbook: Rural roads, winter driving and trailers

20. 20. A yellow curve warning sign has a speed plaque mounted below it. What does that speed tell you?

    
    1. The minimum speed for the rest of the highway
    2. The new legal speed limit for the next mile
    3. The speed at which you must merge
    4. The advisory speed for going around the curve
    Show answer

    The advisory speed for going around the curve. South Carolina shows Advisory Speed Around Curve among its common warning signs. The speed on the yellow plaque is the advised speed for going around the curve ahead. Warning signs like this one are yellow with black symbols and tell you to slow down and be prepared for a special situation on the road. The legal maximum is shown on black and white speed limit signs, which give the maximum legal speed in ideal conditions. Slow to the advised speed before you enter the curve.