Unusual Road Rules?

[kylieh]

I've just had a quick look through the Nevada http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/dlbook.pdf and California Road Rules books http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl600.pdf

But from your experience is there anything that is really different or weird in comparison to our road rules (I'm thinking like the right hand turn with trams always throws me when we visit Melbourne... ) They are both really big docs and whilst DH & I are happy to read through them, your assistance is appreciated.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Aside from getting used to driving on the other side of the road...

California have 4 way stops; instead of roundabouts. Whoever gets to the intersection first has right of way. It takes a bit of getting used to - if the intersection is busy; as you have to trust the other 3 drivers on their judgement on who got where first. It seems to work. I can't remember if this rule is in Nevada as well or not. I know it was the same in Massachussetts/New England and Texas.

When getting on a freeway, keep an eye out for traffic lights that control the traffic. It lets about a car (or 2 parallel cars) on every 3 seconds. Merging on the freeway is easier than it seems as most US drivers seem to be much more polite about letting you in if you indicate. They drive closer to your tail than I like; and faster - and that takes a while to get used to.

On the freeways, there are usually 2+ people lanes. Drivers seem to abide by the rule 99.9% of the time. You can only get on to these lanes in dotted lines. If the line is solid, no merging is allowed. This seems to be abided 100% of the time. Sometimes, it seems like the solid line goes for 10 miles or so. In the major freeways, these multipeople lanes have their own exits when you want to get off. Keep an eye on the signs over these lanes to work out whether your exit is one of these or not. If not, you'll need to work your way across the freeway for your exit.

Hope this helps!

 

[Willow25]

You can also turn right at a red light if the traffic is clear.

 

[queenie82]

You can also turn right at a red light if the traffic is clear.

This applies UNLESS noted otherwise.
This is by FAR the best rule ever. We should have it here. There are so many intersections where being able to turn left while red would be perfectly safe as long as you check it is clear.

Also you can do a U-turn at an intersection unless it states otherwise.

As for 4 way stop signs...we have them here as well.

And as for freeway entrances I find the biggest pain is so often it will NOT say what the speed limit is. On the biggest interstates it will get up to 70.
I believe the road to LAX was 55 -65mph.
And when you are getting on you MUST get up to the speed of the freeway along the on ramp where possible because the right lane WILL end or exit very very soon. You should try and merge at least once or twice unless you know you are leaving soon.

I don't know that they are more polite but you do need to merge with lesser clearances sometimes because they do travel closer to each other generally...and I was never tooted at like I would at home.
In fact there was hardly any tooting at all even when there was this mini van in the far left lane going at just under the speed limit. In Australia they would be tailgated and blasted at.

MANY people do NOT indicate when they change.


All in all I actually thought it was better than home once you got used to the fact that you many need a freeway even for a short distance just because it was simpler.

 

[Mellby]

You can also turn right at a red light if the traffic is clear.

I LOVE that rule. My last trip I was in a few states and it was allowed in all of them. (NY, NJ, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico & Cali)

 

[kylieh]

Thanks all - it's good to get the perspective of people who are used to driving like us. Much appreciated.

 

[disneylove69]

Aside from getting used to driving on the other side of the road...

California have 4 way stops; instead of roundabouts. Whoever gets to the intersection first has right of way. It takes a bit of getting used to - if the intersection is busy; as you have to trust the other 3 drivers on their judgement on who got where first. It seems to work. I can't remember if this rule is in Nevada as well or not. I know it was the same in Massachussetts/New England and Texas.

When getting on a freeway, keep an eye out for traffic lights that control the traffic. It lets about a car (or 2 parallel cars) on every 3 seconds. Merging on the freeway is easier than it seems as most US drivers seem to be much more polite about letting you in if you indicate. They drive closer to your tail than I like; and faster - and that takes a while to get used to.

On the freeways, there are usually 2+ people lanes. Drivers seem to abide by the rule 99.9% of the time. You can only get on to these lanes in dotted lines. If the line is solid, no merging is allowed. This seems to be abided 100% of the time. Sometimes, it seems like the solid line goes for 10 miles or so. In the major freeways, these multipeople lanes have their own exits when you want to get off. Keep an eye on the signs over these lanes to work out whether your exit is one of these or not. If not, you'll need to work your way across the freeway for your exit.

Hope this helps!

The 2+ lane you talk about is a carpool lane and if you don't have 2+ passangers DO NOT get into it. It's almost a $400 fine and police love this kind of ticket. Freeway speed in Southern Cal. is mostly 65mph but average 70. You can get a ticket over 65mph. Most of the day you probably won't hit higher then 40 with traffic Right turn on a red light is good but check for signs at intersection that prohibit it. Your best bet when driving for the first time out here is stay in the left lanes as much as possible. This is considered the slower lanes. Don't worry too much since most California drivers suck.