The thing that you should know when it comes to road laws is the fact that road rules in the United States vary from state to state. But for someone who’s not from the country, driving shouldn’t be a tight affair, especially if they’re from Europe as the signs are near identical. There are still some differences that you should be aware of.
The judicial system in America is extremely strict, and hence, the compensation fees can be extremely high. That is why you need to have insurance as even the slightest of contacts can destroy your life.
1. First come, first served at crossroads
When there are no traffic lights, the first vehicle to reach is generally allowed to go first. You also need to stop, rather than slow down, wherever there are stop signs. In the case of several cars in an intersection, make sure to keep track of who goes first and wait for your turn. This is the rule wherever there are no traffic lights.
2. Right lane is reserved for right turns
Make sure to give way for traffic to go right at a red light by not blocking the road. When there is a no right run sign specifically in the surrounding, it is an exception. This can also be in the form of a no right turn red light.
3. Speed Limit
The speed limit of each state, town or county is different from each other although most of them are in between 90km/h to 120km/h. If you approach a city or an intersection, it is advisable to slow down. Make sure you drive slowly in a school zone.
4. U-turns
The roads in the US are mostly divided into two, three or four parts with each section divided by a U-turn. These are kept for the driver’s convenience. But keep in mind that drivers from both sides use the same gap to get to the other side which is why it is important to drive with care when you’d like to take a U-turn. There are some areas where U-turns are prohibited. These areas will have a sign to help you.
5. Lanes and passing other vehicles
In double-lane roads, the lane to the left is reserved for overtaking whereas the lane to the right is reserved for slow moving traffic. But that is only what is on paper. People overtake wherever there is an option. In a three-lane road, the rightmost lane is reserved for trucks or vehicles that’d like to leave the highway.