U.S. Driving Rules

Driving in the United States means following a plethora of rules and regulations. Sometimes it is not easy to follow these rules because they can change according to jurisdiction. Nevertheless, there are certain rules of the road that apply no matter which state or municipality in which you're motoring along.

Four-Way Stop Sign

Drive up to any four-way stop sign, and you will see just how few people know the rules of the road. When approaching a four-way stop, drivers are expected to yield to the car that arrived first. When two or more drivers stop at the same time, the car to the right has the right of way. Drivers who are turning are expected to yield to drivers heading straight through the intersection.

Turning on a Red Light

It is permissible to turn right on a red light under certain conditions. The most important condition is that there is not any posted prohibition about doing so. When no prohibition is posted, it still permissible only if you have come to a complete stop, checked to make sure no traffic is oncoming and are not turning onto a one-way street that flows to your left. Although this rule is not widely known, it is also permissible to turn left on a red light from a one-way street onto a one-way street that is flowing left.

Traffic Signals

Traffic lights are the primary signals for directing traffic flow. A red light means you must come to a complete stop. A green light means you can go. A yellow light means you should begin slowing down because the light is about to turn red. A flashing red light should be treated the same as a stop sign: Stop completely, and look in all directions.

Click It or Ticket

Seat belts are legally required to be used in every state. If you are pulled over for a driving infraction and are not wearing your seat belt, you can be ticketed for that as well. It is becoming increasingly common that you can be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt even if you are not violating any other law.

Open-Container Law

It is against U.S. law to be driving with an open container of alcohol. The actual statutes for this vary from the state to state; in some states, the law can be violated just by having a bottle of alcohol that has a broken seal. Punishment can range from a small fine to restrictions placed on driving.

School Bus

When a school bus is stopped to take on or drop off kids, with lights flashing and the mechanical arm engaged, traffic should stop in both directions until the bus begins to move again. Certain restrictions apply regarding whether traffic on the other side of a divided highlight needs to stop.

Diamond Lanes

On interstates in big cities where traffic gets congested, you may find a lane in which a diamond shape is painted on the ground. This diamond indicates it is a carpool lane and can be used only by cars with more than one person inside. The minimum number of people is usually two, including the driver, but check for posted information because some lanes require three people.