Driving in the United States is a real pleasure. Wide roads, incredible highways, well-placed road signs, convenience stores and fuel stations everywhere, not to mention the plethora of online tools that can help you to go anyplace you need to. Few countries in the world are so focused on driver’s assistance as the USA. That’s why renting a car is one of the preferred choices of tourists when visiting this country. But, before renting a car or driving in the USA, you must need to know driving rules so you can avoid unpleasant moments.
This article will help you learn more about driving rules in the USA so you can enjoy its roads the best way possible. Read on:
Getting into the basics:
First things first, there are some elemental driving rules in the USA that you should be aware of:
- In the USA, you drive on the right. This is a big plus because doesn’t represent a barrier for most European, Asian and Latin American tourists.
- In the eventuality of requiring road assistance, you can call the emergency number 911 that gives you access to all important services like ambulances, police, and fire department. This number works nationwide.
- The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that still uses the imperial system which means that distances are measured in Miles (instead of Kilometers) and speed is measured in MPH (Miles per hour). We suggest being prepared with a conversion app on your mobile phone.
- As in most countries, you can only use mobile phones in hands-free mode. Take this warning seriously, motorists who are caught using handheld devices while driving will be fined.
- In the USA, unlike most other countries, the majority of cars use an automatic transmission instead of a manual one.
- A curious driving rule across most of the USA is that turning right is permitted on red lights unless a sign indicates not to do so.
Legal requirements for driving in the USA:
Unlike other countries, the United States has two types of law, federal laws, and state laws. Federal laws apply to the entire country while state laws can vary from one state to another. It’s really important to take this into consideration, especially if you plan to drive in different states. Speed limits, drinking ordinances, and even driver’s license validity can change depending on the state you are visiting. That said, in general terms the legal requirements for driving in the USA include:
- You need a valid driver’s license: As said above, driving rules in the USA can change from one state to another. Some may only ask for a valid driver’s license issued by your country of origin, but other states could also demand an International Driving Permit (IDP) from foreign nationals in addition to your own country license. Our suggestion is contacting the motor vehicle department of the state you want to drive in.
- Insurance Certificate: Besides the driver’s license, you need a valid insurance certificate as well as the vehicle registration. If you are renting a car the insurance certificate will be issued at the desk. Our suggestion is keeping documents safe at the glovebox.
- Minimum Driving Age: Regarding the minimum age, driving rules in the USA indicates that you should be at least 18 years old for taking the wheel. However, most rental car companies require to be 25 years old to hire a car.
- Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): In the USA driving with 0.08 grams of alcohol in every 100ml of blood (0.08% BAC) is considered a crime. However, keep in mind that this can vary in some states as well as the related fines.
Speed limits in the United States
The speed limits vary depending on jurisdiction. Each state determines the specific speed limits for the different types of roads and weather conditions. As a reference the average speed limits within the USA are:
Rural freeway: 75 to 80 mph (120 to 130 kph).
Highways: 65 to 75 mph (100 to 120 kph).
Two-lane roads: 55 mph (89 kph).
Rural paved roads: 45 mph (72 kph).
Urban areas: 30 mph (48 kph).
Remember, the above is only a reference, our suggestion is being careful and check the speed limit signs each time you cross a state border.
The fines for speeding in the USA are really high, so try not exceeding the speed limits. Each state has its own regulations, but you can expect fines as high as US$2,500 in some states as Georgia, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. Besides the fine, you can end up in jail depending on the level of your offense. Our recommendation is to take seriously speed limits and avoid unnecessary inconveniences.
General safety regulations while driving in the USA
An important part of the driving rules in the USA have to be with the safety controls. Laws related to safety are really strict in Sweden, be sure to follow them to the letter.
- Using the seatbelt at all times is obligatory. This is true for all passengers, including children. However, in the case of children, you will need using a child safety seat that meets Federal regulations. This is important because the EU and USA standards are not the same regarding this matter.
- School buses. The driving rules in the USA regarding school buses are very strict. Each time a school bus turns on its “stop” sign all traffic must come to a stop.
- Depending on the state, during winter time using snow tires may be mandatory. Keep this regulation in mind if your plan is spending the holidays in the USA.
Fines and penalties in the USA
During this article, you had the opportunity to learn the most important driving rules in the USA. However, as a tourist, is also pertinent a basic knowledge regarding the potential sanctions you may face. As mentioned before, fines in the USA are really high. Below is a roundup of the most common infractions:
- Exceeding the speed limit in urban areas will cost you up to US$2,500. As said earlier, besides the fine you could go to jail too.
- Hiding or artificially altering your speed limit by using any electronic device (like radar jammers) is considered a Federal offense, as well as a local offense in some states. As you can guess, you may go to prison for this kind of crime. Fines depend entirely on the situation but can be as high as US$10,000 on severe cases.
- If you get caught using a handheld device while driving you could be fined from US$150 to US$250 depending on the state.
- The fine for driving under the influence of alcohol also vary from one state to another. First-time offenders may face imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $600 to $10,00, or both.
- The failure in using seatbelts will cause you fines as well. Depending on the state, you can expect fines ranging from US$25 to US$200.
- Finally, running a red light could cost you US$150 (average) and up to US$1,000 depending on the state.
Regarding speeding, is good for you to know that using cameras (both mobile and fixed) is a common practice across roads in the USA. We encourage you to enjoy your vacation and avoid unnecessary fines.
Wrapping Up
The United States roads are among the best in the world. If you love driving, the experience won’t let you down. Using one of the hundreds of mobile apps available both for Android and IOS you can easily locate almost any destination, get traffic reports, weather conditions, fuel stations, speed limits and more. If you love convenience then driving in the USA is for you.