South Carolina Following-Distance & Headlight Rules
How far back to follow another vehicle, when to dim high beams for oncoming and following traffic, and the move-over law for emergency vehicles.
- Following-distance rule
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Keep a minimum four-second following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. To check it, watch the rear of the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point such as a sign or pole, and count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four; if you reach the same point before finishing the count, you are too close. Increase your following distance on slippery roads, at night, in fog or inclement weather, behind vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings (transit buses, school buses, hazardous-materials carriers), and behind large vehicles like trucks, buses, RVs, and trailer-towing vehicles.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 8: Safe Driving Tips, p. 8-5 to 8-7
- Dim high beams within (ft): oncoming
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500
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 11: Special Driving Situations, p. 11-1
- Dim high beams within (ft): following
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200
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 11: Special Driving Situations, p. 11-2
- Headlight requirements
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Turn on your headlights during rain, snow, or fog (use low beams to cut glare), when daylight begins to fade, and when driving away from a rising or setting sun. Headlights make your vehicle visible to other roadway users, so use them whenever visibility is reduced. Use low beams when following a vehicle within 200 feet or when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet, and use high beams on dark stretches when no oncoming traffic is present.
- Motorcycle following rule
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When following a motorcyclist, keep a minimum four-second following distance, and more in wet conditions. Motorcycle riders may need to change speed or lane position suddenly to avoid potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement, so the extra cushion gives you time to react.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 10: Sharing the Road, p. 10-7
- Cyclist safe-passing rule
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South Carolina's manual instructs drivers to slow down and allow as much space as possible when approaching or passing a bicyclist, and to consider the bicyclist's speed when passing. The manual does not specify a numeric passing distance such as three feet, nor a full-lane-change requirement.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 7: General Driving, p. 7-16; Section 10, p. 10-3
- Passing a stopped emergency, rescue, or tow vehicle
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When you approach a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, you must slow down significantly, and, if the road has at least four lanes with two going your way, change into a lane that is not next to it when you can do so safely. If changing lanes is impossible or unsafe, keep a safe speed for conditions and pass with caution. S.C. Code 56-5-1538(G) states the duty. It is triggered by a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying alternately flashing red, red and white, blue, or red and blue lights, or amber or yellow warning lights. Subsection (I)(1) defines 'authorized emergency vehicle' for this section as any ambulance, police, fire, RESCUE, RECOVERY, or TOWING vehicle authorized by the State, a county, or a municipality to respond to a traffic incident, so tow and recovery operators are covered; South Carolina has NOT extended the duty to utility, highway maintenance, or waste collection vehicles, nor to an ordinary disabled vehicle showing hazard flashers. Two duties apply at once, and the second is easy to miss: the driver must 'proceed with due caution, significantly reduce the speed of the vehicle, AND' then either change lanes or, if that is impossible or unsafe, maintain a safe speed for road conditions. The statute names no specific number of miles per hour. The lane-change duty applies only on a highway of at least four lanes with at least two proceeding in the approaching driver's direction. Subsection (F) adds a general duty to keep your vehicle under control when approaching or passing an emergency scene or any authorized emergency vehicle stopped on or near the right of way with lights flashing. A violation is the misdemeanor of endangering emergency services personnel or operators of authorized emergency vehicles, punishable by a fine of $300 to $500.
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