US driving

[J4CKO]

Would a couple of American driving things work over here ?

Turning right on red, left in our case,

Overtaking on the inside


Discuss.....

[TheTurbonator]

Parking in the same direction as the flow of traffic is one I'd like to see over here. Too many times I've seen cars parked on the wrong side, suddenly go for it to get back on correct side of the road.

ETA: Traffic lights being turned off and flashing amber on a night to proceed through the junction with caution is another great one. How many time have we all been stuck at a red light at 4am when there's no traffic or reason to be waiting.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Monday 6th August 08:10

[Rawwr]

The vast and overwhelming majority of drivers in this country cannot negotiate roads, junctions, roundabouts and turns as it is. Changing the rules would only serve to complicate these issues.

[underphil]

I've just come back from a couple of weeks in the US, I like the turning right on a red light.

- One other thing I noticed is that nobody reverses into parking spaces!

[LocoCoco]

Overtaking on the inside works just fine for me here.

[Deva Link]

J4CKO said:

Would a couple of American driving things work over here ?

Turning right on red, left in our case,

I do that anyway, if no-one is looking. Be aware that in the US you're supposed to stop first, and they do enforce that if seen.

J4CKO said:

Overtaking on the inside


Discuss.....

I do that too where it seems appropriate/necessary but am wary of it becoming the norm here as it would lead to people driving at high speed and weaving about between traffic. It works in the US as pretty all traffic is moving at the same speed.

[Rich A]

Do the US rules actually allow undertaking? I thought the freeways/interstates had a slow, fast and overtaking lane but very little discipline or enforcement.

I've always liked the idea of a UK Turn Left on Red rule where it's safe - good visibility, clear signage, etc.

[BigS]

underphil said:

One other thing I noticed is that nobody reverses into parking spaces!

If you were in a State where there is no requirement to have a front number plate, like Florida, then you have to park with the rear plate visible.

[Pothole]

TheTurbonator said:

How many time have we all been stuck at a red light at 4am when there's no traffic or reason to be waiting.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Monday 6th August 08:10

Never, I just go.

[Deva Link]

Rich A said:

Do the US rules actually allow undertaking?

You're not supposed to do it on freeways and interstates, but everyone does.

[underphil]

BigS said:

If you were in a State where there is no requirement to have a front number plate, like Florida, then you have to park with the rear plate visible.

I see - looks like I was breaking at least one rule then!

[alangla]

The big problem with allowing left turn on red here is that UK traffic lights are normally all red before the green man comes on - US lights can show the "Walk" signal if there is traffic potentially turning onto the crossing & drivers are used to stopping for pedestrians in this case. I know the highway code obliges you to stop for pedestrians crossing a road you're turning into, but how many of the numpties on UK roads would appreciate that?

Definite +1 to setting traffic lights to flashing red/flashing amber at night though.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

underphil said:

I see - looks like I was breaking at least one rule then!

yes the police dont like it as they cant see the plate

[mpusch]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

yes the police dont like it as they cant see the plate

Admittedly, I live in a state (NY) where the front plate is required. However, I've never heard of having to park with the rear visible in the case you've stated.

Also, the earlier comments were pretty much on. On the highways you are supposed to utilize the left lane for passing only. We have much the same problems as you guys though, idiots who cruise in it slower than traffic. It's usually not a big issue to pass them on the right (your left ) in this case.

[BigS]

mpusch said:

Trustmeimadoctor said:

yes the police dont like it as they cant see the plate

Admittedly, I live in a state (NY) where the front plate is required. However, I've never heard of having to park with the rear visible in the case you've stated.

I've just looked on the Florida DMV site and there's no mention of it in the parking section of the driver's handbook so it would seem not to be the case.
I can't remember where I saw it now, I think it may have been on a site that listed all the driving law variations by state that typically I can't find now
Anyway, it would seem that you're free to park anyway round you like which is just as well because I did tend to reverse in to spaces or drive straight through to the next row so I can drive straight out when I was there last

[Deva Link]

BigS said:

I've just looked on the Florida DMV site and there's no mention of it in the parking section of the driver's handbook so it would seem not to be the case.
I can't remember where I saw it now, I think it may have been on a site that listed all the driving law variations by state that typically I can't find now

I got firmly told about that in Florida - I'd just driven through an empty space as you'd often do in the UK and a security guard told me I couldn't park like due to the cops needing to be able to see the plate.

[tercelgold]

TheTurbonator said:

ETA: Traffic lights being turned off and flashing amber on a night to proceed through the junction with caution is another great one. How many time have we all been stuck at a red light at 4am when there's no traffic or reason to be waiting.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Monday 6th August 08:10

There's one near me where you can do a legal left filter into the road then a legal U-turn back through the green lights when you are trying to go right, and avoid the couple of minutes it takes to change at 5am, they worked on it but sometimes it fails to recognise cars for 3 minutes or more. Often meaning I meet the very apologetic delivery trucks running red lights as they can't see the cars doing this trick.

Flashing amber sounds good.