SC DMV Permit Sharing the Road Safely 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the safest following distance behind a large semi-truck in normal conditions?
- 1 second
- 2 seconds
- 4 or more seconds (Correct answer)
- One car length
Correct answer: 4 or more seconds
Following a large truck requires at least 4 seconds of following distance because trucks take much longer to stop than cars.
Question 2: When a truck is making a wide right turn in SC, drivers should:
- Squeeze through on the right side
- Wait and not try to pass on either side (Correct answer)
- Pass on the left while the truck turns
- Honk to let the truck know you are there
Correct answer: Wait and not try to pass on either side
Large trucks require wide turning radius and may swing left before turning right — never pass during a truck's wide turn.
Question 3: What does it mean if you cannot see a truck driver's mirrors while following the truck?
- You are in a safe following distance
- You are in the truck's blind spot (Correct answer)
- The truck driver can see you in their side mirrors
- You are following too far back
Correct answer: You are in the truck's blind spot
If you cannot see the truck's mirrors, the driver cannot see your vehicle — you are in a dangerous blind spot.
Question 4: Motorcycles are more vulnerable in crashes because:
- They travel faster than other vehicles
- They lack the physical protection of a car body (Correct answer)
- They have worse brakes than cars
- They are harder to control at low speeds
Correct answer: They lack the physical protection of a car body
Motorcyclists have no metal body to absorb crash forces, making them far more vulnerable to serious injury in collisions.
Question 5: On SC roads, cyclists are permitted to:
- Ride two abreast on any road
- Ride on interstate highways
- Use the full lane on roads without a bike lane (Correct answer)
- Ride on the sidewalk in all areas
Correct answer: Use the full lane on roads without a bike lane
When no bike lane is present, SC cyclists may use the full traffic lane and are entitled to the same road rights as motor vehicles.
Question 6: When a pedestrian is using a white cane or guide dog in SC, it means:
- The pedestrian has the right of way only at crosswalks
- The pedestrian is blind or visually impaired and always has the right of way (Correct answer)
- The pedestrian must wait for a walk signal
- Drivers must honk to alert the pedestrian
Correct answer: The pedestrian is blind or visually impaired and always has the right of way
A white cane or guide dog signals a visually impaired pedestrian who has the absolute right of way regardless of signals or location.
SC DMV Permit Sharing the Road Safely 2
What is the safest following distance behind a large semi-truck in normal conditions?