Most of us are used to the rules of the road: red means stop, don’t speed, and stay on the road. But, what about the rules we seem to forget about?
Many drivers often forget about simple rules when driving, which can easily lead to a ticket or even an accident. While it’s hard to expect an average person to know every driving law, the number of people found violating these laws is concerning. From using a blinker to tailgating, many of these violations can be easily seen on the road.
Here are eight commonly forgotten road laws:
1. You do have to use your blinkers
If there are cars anywhere near your car, you need to use your blinker. Using your blinker allows other drivers to know your intentions, giving them enough time to react themselves. If you don’t use your blinker, you may get into an accident. In the event of an accident, ensure you have good auto insurance beforehand by reading about auto insurance reviews.
2. You have to move over for parked emergency vehicles
If there is an emergency vehicle parked on the side of the road, such as an ambulance, fire truck, or police car, you have to move over a lane, slow down, or stop (depending on the circumstances). This also counts for emergency vehicles coming towards you with their lights flashing. Failure to move over can cause injury to first responders.
3. You can’t tailgate or break check
Tailgating behind another car is illegal. If a car is tailgating you, it is also illegal for you to do a brake check. Brake checking is when a driver in front of you quickly slows down to catch you off guard, which can cause a collision.
4. You have to yield at a roundabout
While roundabouts have been around for a while, many cities are incorporating new roundabouts into their infrastructure. When entering a roundabout, you must yield to any cars already in the circle. You cannot enter a roundabout if a car is coming towards you. In addition to this, you should not disrupt the flow of traffic in a roundabout by stopping to let another car in.
5. You can’t drive slow in the left lane
On the highway, the left lane is meant for passing slower cars in the right lane. If you are using the left lane to cruise, this disrupts the flow of traffic, and can land you a ticket if a state trooper is nearby.
6. You have to yield to pedestrians
In all circumstances, you must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. If a pedestrian is waiting to cross or is already in a crosswalk, you must stop and let them pass. Failing to do so can result in a ticket or injury of the pedestrian.
7. You have to speed up on an on-ramp
When entering a highway, use the on-ramp to accelerate to the same speed as the cars already on the highway or the speed limit. You should not enter a highway going slower than the cars already on it. This is an easy way to cause an accident.
8. You can’t drive in the bike lane
You should never drive in a bike lane, even if it is to get to a right-hand-turn lane before the lane starts. This is extremely dangerous to bikers and other drivers on the road.
By remembering these rules while driving, you can help contribute to safer roads in your community. With over 6 million car accidents per year on average, it’s likely that many of them could have been avoided by following simple rules. Don’t forget to share this article with others, as it may help prevent a future accident!
