South Carolina driving lesson · Basic Driving Skills
Backing up
A 3-minute lesson from the South Carolina course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Your vehicle is much harder to control in reverse, and the area right behind it is hidden from the driver's seat. Back up slowly, looking where you're going the whole time.
Backing up safely:
Check behind the vehicle before you get in
Put your foot on the brake and shift to reverse
Grasp the wheel at 12 o'clock with your left hand
Put your right arm on the back of the passenger seat and look through the rear window
Occasionally check mirrors and the rearview camera, if you have one
Accelerate gently and smoothly, keeping your speed slow
Steer slightly in the direction the rear of the vehicle should move
If turning while backing, make quick checks to the front and sides
Keep looking to the rear until you come to a complete stop
You're backing out of your driveway. Walk behind the car first to check for kids or bikes. Then brake, shift to reverse, left hand at 12 o'clock, right arm over the passenger seat, and look out the rear window as you creep back.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Before getting into your vehicle to back up, you should:
Only check your mirrors from inside
Look behind it for children
Adjust your side mirrors
Turn on your headlights
Answer: Look behind it for children
Check behind the vehicle before you get in, because children and small objects cannot be seen from the driver's seat.