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South Carolina driving lesson · Special Driving Situations

Rural road driving

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.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Special Driving Situations
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
130, 131

Rural roads have hazards you rarely see in town: loose surfaces, no shoulders, one-lane bridges and blind corners. Stay alert, watch for warning signs, and obey the speed limit.

Rural road conditions

Rural road conditions
ConditionWhat to do
Gravel or dirt roadSlow down, add following distance; you may skid stopping
Narrow roadSlow down, center in lane, watch oncoming drivers
Narrow or single-lane bridgeTake turns; first to the bridge generally goes first
Open grating or steel bridgeSlow down, add following distance, grip wheel firmly
Blind cornersAlways slow down and be prepared to stop
Uncontrolled intersectionSlow down and be prepared to stop for traffic
Handbook p. 130 ↗

Know the rule

Rural roads are generally narrower and may have ditches or drop-offs instead of shoulders. Oncoming traffic may try to share your lane.

Handbook p. 130 ↗

Know the rule

Traction is reduced on gravel or dirt, and open bridge gratings or steel bridges can also reduce traction.

Handbook p. 130 ↗

Know the rule

On narrow or single-lane bridges, take turns. Generally, the first driver to the bridge has the right-of-way.

Handbook p. 130 ↗

Blind corner

A street corner you can't see around. On rural roads they're created by wooded areas, crops growing in fields, and steep hills.

Handbook p. 130 ↗

Know the rule

Some rural intersections have no yield or stop signs and can be very dangerous. Slow down and be prepared to stop for crossing or oncoming traffic.

Handbook p. 131 ↗

Put it into practice

You approach a single-lane bridge and a pickup reaches the other end first. Stop and let it cross before you go. The first driver to the bridge generally has the right-of-way.

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.

On gravel or dirt roads, you should:
  1. Maintain highway speed
  2. Decrease following distance
  3. Use cruise control
  4. Reduce speed and increase following distance

Answer: Reduce speed and increase following distance

On gravel or dirt roads, reduce your speed and increase your following distance since traction is reduced.

Handbook p. 130 ↗
On narrow rural roads without shoulders, you should:
  1. Center your vehicle in your lane and watch for oncoming traffic
  2. Drive as close to the edge as possible
  3. Straddle the center line for visibility
  4. Increase your speed to pass quickly

Answer: Center your vehicle in your lane and watch for oncoming traffic

Reduce your speed, center your vehicle in your lane, and watch for oncoming traffic that may share your lane.

Handbook p. 130 ↗
On a narrow or single-lane bridge, who generally has the right-of-way?
  1. The larger vehicle
  2. The first to arrive
  3. The vehicle traveling downhill
  4. The vehicle traveling uphill

Answer: The first to arrive

Take turns crossing a bridge; generally the first driver to the bridge has the right-of-way.

Handbook p. 130 ↗
Open bridge gratings or steel bridges can:
  1. Improve your traction
  2. Have no effect on handling
  3. Reduce your traction
  4. Only affect motorcycles

Answer: Reduce your traction

Open bridge gratings or steel bridges can reduce your traction, so reduce speed and increase following distance.

Handbook p. 130 ↗
Blind corners on rural roads can be created by:
  1. Narrow lanes and gravel
  2. Ditches and drop-offs
  3. Open steel bridge gratings
  4. Wooded areas, crops, and steep hills

Answer: Wooded areas, crops, and steep hills

Blind corners can be created by wooded areas, crops growing in fields, and steep hills.

Handbook p. 130 ↗
When approaching an uncontrolled rural intersection, you should:
  1. Slow and be ready to stop
  2. Maintain your speed since no signs are present
  3. Assume you have the right-of-way
  4. Accelerate to clear the intersection quickly

Answer: Slow and be ready to stop

When approaching an uncontrolled rural intersection, slow down and be prepared to stop for crossing or oncoming traffic.

Handbook p. 131 ↗
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