I put this in the UK section. But this is the advice they give to all new drivers in the United States from other countries. You know most American cops are good people. But they have a hard job. And this is what you do if they pull you over. A policeman will go to each side of your car. This is just to make sure you're not up to no good. Most people aren't, and they realize that. Relax. Keep your hands on the steering wheel and look straight ahead. Keep your hands where they can see them, and don't make any sudden moves. Women are advised to keep their hands on their purse in their lap. But this is probably good advice in any country.
You need to be very careful. In the US, police shoot and kill more than 1.000 people every year, 30 of them innocent bystander and when they get too excited, they even shoot each other. By comparison, here in the UK, police shoot around 3 people every year and only one innocent guy in the last 4 decades. Even that was at the height of the terrorist attacks on London. The guy was unlucky enough to live in the same house as the terrorists and board a tube train wearing a rucksack. The woman who authorised the shooting, told our daughter that it still haunts her every day of her life. (Our daughter is a London police officer).
And so it should, imv. Slightly off on a tangent; I've often wondered how things in the USA would improve if the training given to police officers, were that of some UK police. Such issues as the restraint of individuals doesn't, in the UK, seem to result in death. The vetting of applicants, too, should be improved - in the UK as much as in the USA.
I'm not making any excuses for the US law enforcement actions but the numbers pale in comparison to other parts of the world such as Brasil or Venezuela. In reality it is very safe in the USA. There are places where one doesn't need to go but over all the country is very safe. I have been stopped by LEO numerous times, all my fault, and have never been close to having a near death experience. Just do what is asked and you will be okay. Many times I have been let go with a warning to do a better job at driving, guns were never drawn.
Is there a highway code or other such publication, for driving when in the USA to minimise the potential for being stopped? There's a few relative 'oddities', when compared to driving in the UK. When I say oddities, they often don't make sense to me in terms of safety or efficient traffic flow. 1. traffic lights on red, you can sometimes turn left/right whilst the light is still red. (It's as if the red can sometimes be a give way sign). (good concept but in UK there's a green 'filter' arrow which confirms easily to those unfamiliar, that they can turn right whilst the red light applies to those wishing to go straight ahead). 2. Traffic light controlled crossroads junction in a city centre, for example: It seems that in the USA, when wishing to turn left, the driver must wait behind the stop line until the road into which he is turning is clear. And, in my limited experience, with heavy traffic, that's not gonna happen soon. In the UK, we are to move into the middle of the junction and wait for a gap in oncoming traffic before then turning. If the lights go back to red, the car in the junction is allowed to turn, so as to clear the junction. Not so in the USA I'm told. Apparently sitting in the middle of the junction is a no-no, in case emergency vehicles need to get past. 3. Similar to #2 and, why is it that when having just turned, the lights on the road I've turned onto can be red for cars, to enable pedestrians to cross? That stifles traffic flow. In UK, the pedestrian part of the traffic lights is co-ordinated with the vehicular aspect so it works seemlessly. 4. In UK, a vehicle on a road has right of way over a vehicle waiting to pull out from a minor road. So I was surprised in CA to see white lines across my lane at a junction, which means I must stop to allow someone from a side road to pull out in front of me. Are those applicable only to California or to the whole USA? Federal or State rules? (Clarity: I'm not saying UK is better than USA. Far from that. Just would like to know so when I'm a tourist, I'm neither getting in someone's way nor attracting the attention of the police).
In parts of Ireland, outside the big cities. At off peak times and overnight, the lights on the main road stay green, while those on smaller streats joining the main road go to flashing amber.You treat the flashing amber as a give way. It has saved a lot of accidents that were previously caused by people rushing to beat the lights. Most of these junctions lead to industrial estates or schools, so they only operate normally at peak times. I have heard that this system is used in other parts of Europe and started in Germany. It makes a lot of sense. It is safer than the 'peak time' lights in the UK, which turn off altogether.
Some oddities in the UK, are, pedestrian crossings with traffic lights, next to the round about so you can't exit the round about, stops traffic flow. Stop on main road when turning into side street if pedestrian's want to cross the side road. Bought in along with ten other amendments in 2022. And illegal cycle lanes by local councils (not 1.5 meters wide). Bus lane's that are 24 hour but don't have 24 hour buses running running 24 hours. Bus lane's that carry fines, but interrupted every 100 yards were you can use them followed by a 100 yards were you can't use them and now one in London let's you back out again, again interrupts flow of traffic. Some motorway's with no hard shoulder, some with and some in Birmingham alternating with hard shoulder and at certain times no hard shoulder. Not so straight forward. I must lol.
Traffic laws are federal. We drive on the right side of the road. We pass in front of cars making similar left hand turns across the intersection White lines are used to separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. Yellow lines are used to separate traffic headed in opposite directions. Do NOT cross into lanes separated by lines that are solid yellow. If the yellow line is broken, cross/pass with caution, but be highly aware of oncoming traffic. Unless otherwise indicated, we are legally allowed to make right turns at red lights. If we're behind a school bus with flashing red lights, we may NOT pass it until the lights have stopped flashing. Carpool/HOV lanes are typically located on the far left side of U.S. freeways. Pedestrians always have the legal right of way. Stop signs (red and octagonal in shape) indicate that we must come to a complete stop at the limit line before continuing through an intersection. Yield signs (red or yellow and triangular in shape) indicate that oncoming traffic has the right of way, and we need to wait for the road to clear before progressing. Signs that indicate where trains cross into automotive traffic are generally marked by an “X" shape and read “Railroad Crossing" or “RR." Speed limits are posted on the sides of roads, and indicate (in miles per hour) the minimum and maximum speeds we're legally allowed to drive in that area. On the freeway, signs above lanes that read “Only" or “Exit Only" indicate that those lanes do not continue on the main freeway, and we will either need to merge or take the exit.
Useful stuff @MeAgain. :thumbsup: Yeh; some stupid stuff in the UK too. I can't help but wonder if some of the new elements aren't more about frustrating the motorist so much that they use their car less, than anything to do with sense.
I doubt this applies everywhere because I have only been pulled over in 2 counties within my own state but I have never had 2 policemen come to my vehicle. Where I am, there is only one officer per police car. Keeping your hands in clear view, typically on the steering wheel is good, I would not recommend keeping them on your purse as this could make the officer think you have a weapon in there, if you are a passenger you could just keep your hands on your lap. You should probably look at the officer, if you don't they will probably assume you're trying to hide something. Try to behave normally and respectfully, most times things will be just fine. All the horror stories you see on the news, do happen unfortunately, and more often than they should but I wouldn't say it is typical. Most traffic stops are fairly uneventful, you get off with a warning or a ticket. In some cases, if there are other problems you may be arrested, in which case DO NOT Resist! You have a better chance of fighting whatever the charge is in court if you don't have a slew of other charges heaped on top of it because you fought with the officer or tried to run away. Sadly, there are still instances, usually involving young men of color, where they could do everything correctly and it still all goes wrong. Actually, they are state mandated but they do conform to most of the same standards. Each state has its own driver's manual, testing and licensing authorities. When traveling from state to state, it is a good idea to see if there are different laws you need to adhere to but most people don't. There are also rules that are supposed to be followed that pretty much everyone ignores, including cops. For instance, passing on the right when someone in front of you is trying to make a left turn. The few people I have seen that actually adhere to that rule usually end up infuriating other motorists because it holds up the flow of traffic. In front of a bus in oncoming traffic as well. All lanes of traffic must stop for buses unless there is a divider between them. Do you have minimum speeds as well where you are? Here we only have maximum speed limits listed but there is a fine of $300 if you get pulled over for going too slow, there is no specified number for what constitutes "too slow," just if you are impeding the flow of traffic, then you are deemed as going too slow. You can never make a left on red because it would cross the flow of traffic making the light essentially pointless. In most cases you can make a right on red if you come to a complete stop and the traffic with the right of way is clear, you can't do this when there is a sign posted that says "No Right On Red." There are often green arrows pointing left for busier intersections that still allow left turns (some don't and require you to use the right lane to make a U turn or take a jug handle). If there is no sign stating "Left On Green Arrow Only" then you can still turn left if the traffic is clear when there is a green light without the arrow still on. There are different variations depending on the intersection of whether or not you have a main red or green light while the green arrow is lit. It sounds complicated but it's not hard, you just need to be alert and read the signs and signals properly. Generally only when there is a "Left on Green arrow only" sign would this apply. Most of the time people do wait in the intersection for the traffic to clear and if it doesn't they turn after the light has changed. I have never encountered this but it could apply to areas where they have higher pedestrian traffic. Motorists have to realize that they are not the only ones using the roadways. I have never been to CA but it sounds like a crosswalk, in which case you are only stopping when pedestrians need to cross not to let other cars in. There are some instances, usually close to a stop sign or light that it will have a sign that says "Do not block intersection" but that is so that people can still turn on to or get out of that street while the cross traffic is at a standstill. Most of the driver's manuals for each state are now available for free online in PDF format, so if you are traveling you could always download the one for the state you are visiting and review it before you go. California Driver's Handbook, incase you ever go back.
You are correct in your synopsis of most US traffic laws, good job….However enforcement of traffic laws has dwindled in Washington State to almost zilch. And driver behavior has deteriorated correspondingly. Speeding, running red lights and illegal left turns are common on every trip I take. I can’t remember the last time I have seen a driver pulled over for a traffic violation. Worse, excessive speed is leading to steady increase in traffic fatalities. After years of declining fatalities, a benefit of safer vehicles, the level of traffic fatalities has increased so much in the last few years it is back to the level of 20 or 30 years ago. Scary. Especially for those of us in the old farts club whose efforts must increase accordingly. Our police effort is devoted more and more to violent crimes and the increase in traffic fatalities is happening in many states.
Marvellous, Moon Goddess. Thank you, especially for the link. A response to two issues; pedestrian lighting at junctions; give way turning left; white line across lane. 1. I agree that many/most motorists need to accept that they are not the only ones using a road. However, the lighting for the pedestrians is, in the uk, incorporated into the light's cycle. So, the cars will all stop for a period of time and pedestrians can cross with ease. The main road of the junction will then be allowed to flow. Then they will be stopped and the less major road will then flow. Left and right turning will may also be included in that lighting sequence with, for example, both lines of left turners (right turners in the UK), being given their own period of green light, within the cycle. My issue is with a left turn and immediately on exiting the junction, there's another red light just for pedestrians. Only one/two cars may fit in that queue without backing up the junction they have just exited. I'll try to recall where the junction was and post a link to google maps. I think it was in Santa Monica somewhere. 2. The give way turning left/right, yes, I was confusing. Got mixed up with converting my brain from right hand drive to LHD. 3. Nope, its not a crosswalk.I've just checked on Maps and noticed it's a junction with both roads having a thick stop line and the word stop written on the surface, though I don't recall there being the word stop written on the surface back then otherwise I wouldn't have been confused. Anyway it still feels odd to be required to stop when it's clear there's no other traffic. This link should show all roads with stop line. Google Maps And why, just a short distance further along, only the side road is required to stop. Google Maps
Yes, I meant to say that in the main the traffic laws are uniform across the states. There are differences such as the use of cell phones and radar detectors, traveling in the right lane except to pass, age requirements for licenses, vehicle inspections, etc. Minimum speed limits may be implemented in my state if it is determined that traffic impediment would occur otherwise. However it is against the law to impede traffic even if no minimum speed is posted. I've never seen a minimum speed limit, at most there are instructions to use four way flashers if your speed is below a posted minimum, mostly for trucks going up hill. I believe we can make a left on red if a one way street is involved.
Same here. Few come to a complete stop at stop signs. On most roads if you go the speed limit you will get run over. For example a limited access four laner I use all the time is posted at 55 MPH. I usually go 70 and am one of the slowest car on the road. That being said a local cop got me a while back for going 50 in a four lane highway posted 35 on an early Sunday morning with no other cars on the road. During the week 60 mph is the usual for that stretch and then you get passed.
I could tell a few stories. Once about 15 or 20 years ago I was going to work in my Miata with the top down. I had turned onto a hill road and was running the gears going up hill...not braking the speed limit and this guy pulls right out in front of me causing me to slam on the brakes almost locking up the wheels (no ABS). I got really pissed off and started tailgating him, like an idiot. I kept it up for about a mile really riding his rear end. Then we came to a stop sign. His door opened and out he jumps. Turned out he was a local cop in full uniform, with gun, on his way to work, I assume. He came back to my car and was spitting and sputtering about me tailgating him, swearing and jumping up and down. I thought , oh shit. Then I blurted out, "You pulled out in front of me!" He took one more look at me, stormed back to his car and drove off. I don't tailgate anymore.
One little law most states have on their books are that local police, sheriffs, constables, and the like must allow a 10 MPH buffer above the posted speed limit before issuing a citation. So had you been going only 44 instead of 50 in the 35 zone the officer would have had to ignore the violation. At best he could have stopped you and warned you of the speed violation.
In my state tickets may be handed out for any speed over the limit if timed by a motor vehicle with a yearly tested speedometer if timed for at least three tenths of a mile. Speed checks with radar or two measuring devices (timing strips) must allow six miles over the limit. Further if the limit is under fifty five, ten miles over must be allowed if two measuring devices (timing strips) are used. All this except within school zones or active work areas. In addition if photo systems are used the owner of the car is liable for the ticket, not the driver. Figure that one out!
