South Carolina permit test: following distance & space
Following-distance rules, stopping distance and keeping a space cushion. 4 questions.
What minimum following distance does the South Carolina manual recommend in normal conditions?
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Sample following distance & space questions
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What minimum following distance does the South Carolina manual recommend in normal conditions?
- A 2 seconds
- B 3 seconds
- C 1 second per 10 mph
- D 4 seconds
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D. 4 seconds
Keep at least a 4-second following distance from the vehicle ahead. Increase it on slippery roads, at night, in fog or bad weather, and behind large vehicles.
The car ahead passes a sign. You count 'one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three' and pass the same sign. What does this tell you?
- A You have a safe following distance
- B You need to speed up to keep pace
- C You are following too closely
- D You are too far back and should close up
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C. You are following too closely
Count from when the car ahead passes a fixed point until you reach it. If you pass the point before counting to 'one thousand four,' you are following too closely; slow down and count again.
At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, about how far does it take your brakes to stop the car once you start braking?
- A About 100 feet
- B About 158 feet
- C About 50 feet
- D About 335 feet
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B. About 158 feet
Braking distance at 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes is about 158 feet, and that does not count perception and reaction time. This is why a space cushion matters.
You are driving at night on a road you have never used. How much should you add to your usual following distance?
- A At least two extra seconds
- B Nothing, if your headlights are on high beam
- C At least one extra second
- D At least five extra seconds
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A. At least two extra seconds
At night, add at least one second to your following distance, and at least two additional seconds on unfamiliar roads at night. You can see less in the dark, so you need more time to react.