South Carolina Driver's Permit Practice Exam

If you driver is stopped by police, what is the first thing you should do?

1. Get your license and registration ready

2. Turn off your engine

3. Stay inside the vehicle

4. Reach for your phone to record

The correct answer is: Get your license and registration ready

While preparing your license and registration is certainly important during a traffic stop, the initial action you should take is to turn off your engine. This is crucial for several reasons. First, turning off the engine signals to the police officer that you are complying with the stop and are not intending to drive away. This action helps establish a sense of safety for both the driver and the officer. Moreover, turning off the engine reduces any potential confusion or perceived threat that may arise from the vehicle being operational, especially in a scenario where an officer approaches a vehicle. Once the engine is off, the driver can then safely retrieve their license and registration, which is a necessary step in the process. Staying inside the vehicle is generally advisable, as exiting without the officer's instruction can be seen as a threat. Reaching for your phone could be misinterpreted by the officer as reaching for a weapon, which could escalate the situation. Thus, while having your documents ready is an important part of the process, the priority should be to turn off the engine first.