Cruising Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard? Don’t do it too early or blow your horn too much

It may be an idyllic southern thing to ride in the back of a pickup truck, but unless you’re over the age of 15, it’s illegal to do in South Carolina.

It’s just one of many state and area traffic laws that you may not be familiar with when traveling in Horry County.

However, that law doesn’t apply if it’s a hayride or parade, while hunting or the vehicle is being operated less than 36 mph.

That’s probably a good thing for drivers along Ocean Boulevard in downtown Myrtle Beach, who can often be seen cruising in the back of trucks along the main drag, which has a speed limit of 25 mph.

And speaking of cruising, it is not allowed from 2 to 6 a.m. between 3rd and 21st avenues North on Ocean Boulevard from May 1 through Labor Day.

The city’s definition of cruising is when a vehicle passes a traffic control point, which may be established by the police department, two or more times in any two-hour period.

Also, keep in mind that while you’re cruising, checking out the sites of the boulevard, you need to keep your sounds under control.

You could get in trouble in Myrtle Beach for using your vehicle’s horn too much. The law says it’s unlawful for any person to unnecessarily blow any horn or unnecessarily use any other sound signal.

Excessively revving your engines? That’s a no-no too.

And remember that driving in the left lane except when passing a vehicle is also against state law. And, it annoys your fellow drivers when you do it.

South Carolina Highway Patrol conducted a Twitter poll in June that asked for people’s top pet peeves of South Carolina drivers. The top three were 1) Driving in the left lane; 2) Distracted driving/texting; and 3) No turn signals.

Which leads us to the next state law, don’t text while driving.

Here’s some other laws you may not know about:

• When planning to turn, you need to signal before you slow down. According to state law, a driver should put on their turn signal at least 100 feet before making a turn. Those traveling behind you will thank you for it.

• Rain is a common occurrence in the Grand Strand. It’s not unusual to have sun one minute and showers the next. So if your windshield wipers must be turned on, so does your lights. Even in the daytime. State law says that any time a driver’s windshield wipers are in use as a result of rain, sleet or snow, your headlights must be on as well.

• Golf carts can only be driven during daylight hours. That means you should leave time to get home before sundown. In addition, you can only drive a golf cart on secondary highways and streets where the speed limit is 35 mph or less. That means you should probably stay off of Kings Highway and U.S. 501.