Driving Rules and Regulations in USA

Speed limits:
Speed limits are different in different states but usually maximum allowable speed on highways is 65 to 70 miles per hour. Maximum allowed speed in Washington, D.C and Hawaii is 55 miles per hours. In western states with wide highways, such as New Mexico  Idaho, south Dakota and Wyoming the speed limit is up to 75 mph. If you will not follow these speed limits you could be jailed for 15 days.

Traffic Signs
When approaching a four way intersection at the same time as another driver to your right, you should allow him to go first. If you are the person on the right, you get priority. At a four-way or two-way intersection in which you and the person across from you arrive at the same time, the person who is not turning is given the right of way. Although the situation does not arise often outside of large urban areas, if you are driving on a one-way street in which traffic flows to the left, you are allowed to turn left even if the light is red as long there are no signs posted to the contrary.

Traffic Signals
American traffic signals work with a three-light system in which red means stop, green means go and yellow means slow down. In most states you can turn right on red after stopping, unless there is a visible sign warning against that. A flashing red light should be treated as a stop sign, meaning that the driver needs to come to a stop and check for the right of way. A flashing yellow does not mean you have to come to a stop, but you should slow down in case of oncoming traffic.

City Road Laws
Cities have legal jurisdiction over road rules and speed limits within their boundaries. Speed limit signs are posted along all roads. The driving speed is usually 40 mph for multi-lane thru streets and 30 mph in residential areas. Expect to slow down to 15 mph in school zones where signs are posted and flashing lights are operational during school hours.

Right Side of the Road
Americans drive on the right side of the road when there is traffic going in two directions. Most foreign countries follow this convention, but it can take some getting used to for drivers from those countries where the car is driven on the left side of the road. In addition, passing is always done to the left even when there is a large amount of shoulder space on the right in which to pass.

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