South Carolina · Handbook chapter 2 · 3 min read

South Carolina's vision standard, fatigue, the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act and its fines, aggressive driving, emotions, older drivers, littering, golf carts and other state laws.

Why this chapter matters

Most crashes start with the driver, not the car. The manual's Sections 2 and 3 cover how to be fit to drive, the hands-free law and a few South Carolina laws that often appear on the test.

Vision

• The minimum standard is 20/40 corrected in one eye.
• If you need glasses or contacts to meet it, a restriction goes on your license and you must always wear them when driving.
• Avoid dark or tinted lenses at night.
• A vision certificate from an eye care professional is valid for 36 months.

Fatigue

• Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep.
• On long trips, plan a stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours.
• If you feel tired, pull off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap, or stop for the night. The best cure is plenty of rest.

Distractions and the hands-free law

While driving on a public road you must not:

• hold or support a phone or other mobile device with any part of your body;
• read, write or send texts, emails or app messages;
• watch videos, games or video calls.

Earpieces and wrist-worn devices for voice calls are allowed.

Also avoid arguments, eating, and loose pets: put pets in a carrier or kennel.

Aggressive driving and emotions

• Aggressive driving is intentionally endangering people or property: speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, not signaling and ignoring signals.
• If you are angry or upset, cool off first, leave early, or let someone else drive.

Older drivers

Warning signs include needing several tries to parallel park, glare that bothers you for a long time, other cars always passing you, and missing STOP signs. If two or three apply, it may be time to change your driving habits and talk to a doctor.

State laws to know

• Littering is illegal, and cigarette butts count as litter. Keep a litter bag in the car.
• Golf carts: driver at least 16 with a valid license; cart must carry an SCDMV decal; daytime only, within four miles of the registered address (or a gated community gate), on roads posted 35 mph or less.
• Selective Service: men under 26 complete a supplement when applying.
• Organ donors get a red heart on the card.
• An unsecured load is a misdemeanor: a load is secure only when nothing can slide, shift, fall, sift or blow off.