Driving in the United States – Traffic Rules

If this is your first time in the United States and you plan to rent a car during your visit, there are several rules of the road that you should be aware of. Please note that the penalties for disobedience can be severe.

• Familiarize yourself with the controls of the rental car. If you are from Europe, many of the controls may be on or around the steering wheel and not on the dash.
• Stop in BOTH directions for any school bus with flashing lights. This rule is strictly enforced in all states and the penalties can be severe, not to mention the risk of injury to a child.
• Don’t drink alcohol (or use drugs) and drive. Make sure someone in your group is the “designated driver” who doesn’t drink. US courts impose increasingly harsh penalties on drunk drivers. Also, don’t keep (or keep) open bottles of alcohol, including beer, in the car. If you are pulled over by a police or state trooper officer, any open bottles will get you a ticket, and you may even be asked to get out of the car and take a breathalyzer test.
• Pass only on the left.
• At a stop sign, drivers proceed in the order they arrived at the intersection. If there is a tie, the vehicle to your right has the right of way; or the driver traveling straight ahead if someone is turning on a head-on approach.
• As noted, a lower speed limit generally applies in front of schools when there are flashing warning lights on a sign. This rule is strictly enforced in all states. Drive slowly (25 mph) in neighborhoods.
• With regard to highway driving, the legal speed limit is posted on signs and is usually between 55 and 75 miles per hour.
• Cars already in a roundabout (or roundabout, as it is known in different parts of the country) have the right of way.
• Pedestrian stop at a crosswalk. Pedestrian crossings are implied by four-way intersections.
• It is acceptable to turn right on a red signal after stopping (unless there is a specific restriction posted at the intersection). Make sure the path is clear of pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
• In urban areas, be careful not to block intersections (with or without traffic lights) when traffic backs up. This is called “blocking the box” and you will get a ticket if there is a police officer nearby.
• Watch out for angry and erratic drivers. If someone is following closely, let them pass. Don’t do anything that causes “rage at the wheel.”
• Always have your driver’s license and proof of auto insurance with you.
• Most gas stations require you to pay before you fill up, even if no sign is displayed.
• Plan your trip. Route numbers and final destination signs are different from the signs in Europe.
• If you get lost, park in a commercial area or rest stop and ask for directions.
• Do not turn on your headlights to “yield” to another driver as you would at home, as this is not recognized in the US.

Driving laws vary depending on the municipality you visit. Review the traffic laws of each one for your personal safety as well as that of other drivers.