When visiting or moving to another country, it is always advisable to familiarize yourself with the driving rules. Knowing the driving rules will keep you safe in a new place and contributes to your enjoyment. As you all know, driving is the USA is right-hand side driving. The stirring wheel is on the left side. Cars are automatic. Pretty easy, right? Now let’s see what rules one has to follow while driving.

Making road trips is quite common in the USA. Whether it be a long break or a norma weekend, here people love to do road trips. But when it comes to driving, traffic laws are pretty strict in the USA, and straying from these can lead to something really serious. Getting a ticket from the police is the last thing one can think of as it adds to your credit history. That doesn’t mean that you should be scared and do not drive. Especially if you happen to live in a state like Texas where there is no public transport, then things get tough without knowing how to drive. I got my USA driving license in 2007, 8 months after I came here. Initially, these rules felt little too much in writing. But when put into practice, it wasn’t very hard. So, buckle up.

General points:

• Steering wheels are always situated on the left side of the car.
• Always drive on the right side of the road.
• White lines separate lanes of traffic, traveling the same direction.
• Broken lines means you may change lanes when it is safe.
• Solid white lines indicate – stay in your lane.
• Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposing directions.
• Broken yellow lines mean you can carefully pass, paying attention to oncoming traffic.
• Never cross a solid yellow line (or double yellow line).
• When changing lanes, maintain a decent speed. Slowing down confuses the car coming behind you. I used to make this mistake as it is very obvious for a new driver to get conscious.
• Pedestrians get the upper hand. You must ALWAYS yield to pedestrians.
• Come to a complete stop whenever you see pedestrians trying to cross the street.
• School Bus rules – we have already talked about it.
• Be aware of bicyclists. Often, they share the road with cars and are supposed to also follow general traffic laws.
• Be particularly careful about driving in cities with bike lanes (there us a dedicated thin lane).
• It is mandatory to pull over or stop at an intersection to allow an emergency vehicle to pass you if you see one traveling with lights flashing and/or a siren running.
• Do not overuse your car horn. Horns are used almost exclusively for emergencies or for when you feel unsafe.

 

Road signs and traffic signals:

While many are relatively self-explanatory, some can be more confusing if you haven’t taken the time to study them before you drive.

 

 

-Stop Sign: A red octagonal sign (generally with a white lettered STOP) indicates that you must come to a complete stop at an intersection. We have already talked about the stop sign in letter K post.

-Yield Sign: A white or yellow triangular sign indicates to allow oncoming traffic the right of way.
• You must wait for oncoming traffic to clear before moving ahead, therefore, it is usually appropriate to slow down and check oncoming traffic before progressing.

-Speed Limit: Usually, a large vertical rectangular sign says how fast you may go in miles per hour in a particular area. When approaching a city or an intersection, you must reduce your speed.

-Railroad Crossing: Usually a large X or a pair of crossed train tracks.

 

-Parking/No Parking
• Some spots are only for handicapped drivers. There will be a wheelchair sign. These spots are mostly the first two at the beginning of the row
• A curb painted yellow usually indicates no parking is allowed.

 

Traffic lights: Its mostly the same everywhere except a few.

-A flashing yellow light indicates proceeding with caution.
-It is legal to turn right at a red light unless indicated by a NO TURN ON RED sign.
-Oncoming traffic has the right of way.
-It is not legal to make a left turn at a red light.
-The first-come, first served rule also applies instinctively when traffic lights fail.

 

Safety:

-Always wear a safety belt when driving or riding in a car.
-Younger children must be in car seats or booster seats and cannot ride in the front passenger seat. Rules may vary state to state but are generally similar.
-It is illegal to drink and drive in all 50 states.
-Do not text and drive. Some states prohibit the use of handheld devices.
-Headlights must be used in inclement weather or after sunset. In many states, if you are using the windshield wipers, headlights are also required.
– Do not pick anyone up who is asking for a ride.

 

Now let’s talk about Traffic Tickets.

Traffic tickets can be received for many infractions, including parking violations, speeding, or going through stop signs. Most tickets result in a fine, which is based on the severity of the infraction and local laws. Some tickets may be given without you noticing which they capture through traffic cameras.

 

If pulled over by the police:

-If a police officer asks you to pull over, or is running lights directly behind you, pull over immediately and stop on the side of the road where it is safe to do so. Don’t panic.
-DO NOT get out of the car unless asked to do so by the officer.
-Keep your hands visible and on the steering wheel.
-Keep license in a convenient location and your registration, insurance handy.

 

These are just some of the many laws and regulations you will want to know about when driving in the U.S. These rules may seem overwhelming at the beginning, but when you start practicing it while driving, they become a habit.

 

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z. My theme is “Dollar Nation-Are You Ready to Experience the West through My Eyes?”

You can read the previous posts by clicking on each alphabets.

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