South Carolina Driver's Permit Practice Exam

How can traffic be blocked?

1. By driving above the speed limit

2. When you drive slower than other traffic

3. By driving with your hazard lights on

4. By stopping in intersections

The correct answer is: When you drive slower than other traffic

Driving slower than other traffic can create a blockage in the flow of vehicles, as it disrupts the expected pace of movement on the road. When a driver moves at a significantly slower speed, it forces other drivers to either slow down or maneuver around the slower vehicle, which can lead to congestion and increase the risk of accidents. A consistent speed that aligns with the flow of traffic is essential for maintaining safety and efficiency on the road. In terms of the other options, driving above the speed limit does not inherently block traffic but can instead contribute to risky driving conditions. Using hazard lights is primarily for indicating a problem with the vehicle or an emergency; while it may cause confusion, it's not a direct cause of blocking traffic. Stopping in intersections can obstruct traffic, but this behavior is often illegal and does not apply in every situation, such as during traffic jams or emergencies. Thus, while those actions may indirectly create issues, they do not embody the same consistent impact on overall traffic flow as driving significantly slower than the surrounding vehicles does.