Visitors from other countries would be most unwise to assume that claiming to be unfamiliar with American and Canadian driving regulations would be sufficient for them to avoid incurring any penalty for failing to observe them.
The following advice may prove helpful:
Although there are many Americans and Canadians who have the best of intentions and would be willing to assist should you suffer an accident, breakdown or emergency while on the road, there are a small number who prey on tourists. Don't be paranoid about this, but be alert. The ideal is to use a mobile (cellular) phone and call for help, using the 911 number (or other number if one is posted on signs on the road). If in doubt, ring 0 for the operator. However, most visitors from abroad are very unlikely to have such a phone of course. Putting the bonnet up is a generally recognised sign of a breakdown. Some car sunshades (concertina-like folding cardboard shades which are meant to be put up inside the windscreen when the car is parked in the sun) have the words "Call Police" on one side. If you have any doubts about anyone offering help, the best advice is to tell them that the Police are on the way. In extreme need, lock yourself inside the car if possible. It is almost always best to stay with the car.
I have not heard any reports of motorists in the USA or Canada being robbed by means of being fooled into stopping to assist at fake accidents, as is rumoured to happen in Australia.
It is certainly illegal to have an open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of a car.
Every road approaching one of these junctions has a stop sign with the phrase "4-Way Stop" (or "3-Way Stop", of course) on it. There are no traffic lights.
At one of these junctions every vehicle must come to a complete stop before proceeding across the intersection, regardless of whether there is any other traffic in sight and regardless of whether a turn is being made at the junction or not.
If two or more vehicles draw up to one of these junctions and stops, waiting to proceed across it, then they should proceed in the same order in which they arrived - the first to arrive is the first to proceed, the second to arrive is the second to proceed, and so on.
If two vehicles arrive at one of these junctions at precisely the same time, so that it is impossible to tell which arrived first, then in theory the vehicle on the right has priority. However, many drivers are unaware of this rule and there are complications due to all the possible permutations of turns. Therefore in this situation in practice most drivers negotiate by polite non-verbal communication (hand waving, etc) giving way to each other until one graciously accepts and proceeds. I have read reports that American and Canadian drivers will interpret the flashing of headlights as "get out of my way" instead of the British meaning of "after you", so that this is probably not a good way for a British visitor to negotiate the sequence in which to proceed.
The fact that the four way stop system works so well, with so few accidents, is a very good example of the difference between driving in the USA/Canada and in the UK.
When you are turning left and the road on which you are approaching the turn on has only one lane for left turns, or no separate left turn lane, and you are turning into a road which has more than one lane in the direction in which you are travelling, then you should turn into the leftmost lane for your direction of travel.
When two cars from opposite directions are both turning left at the same intersection then they should pass each other so that the front passengers pass close to each other, unlike in Britain where I believe that two cars from opposite directions both turning right (in Britain cars drive on the right) at the same junction should "wrap round" each other so that the two drivers pass close to each other - at least in theory.
In Illinois, and probably in most other American states and Canadian provinces, if not all of them, you can enter an intersection in order to make a left turn at any time on a green light. When the signal turns red you can make your left turn after the oncoming traffic stops or clears. If the traffic in the opposite direction has a longer green light then there is often a sign warning you of this.
However, I have heard rumours of a possible regulation which states that cars should wait until the way is clear before entering an intersection in order to turn left. In other words this rule (if it exists, and there is considerable doubt about that) says that it is forbidden to enter an intersection and then wait for traffic to clear before turning left. Cars should wait behind the white line at the entrance to the intersection. If such a rule exists then it might only apply in some states and/or provinces.
In Canada the sign "Advance Green When Flashing" at a junction controlled by traffic lights means that the left turn is on a filter (i.e. the traffic in the opposite direction is stopped), that this occurs before traffic going straight on is released, and that the left turn traffic light will flash green during this time.
The road sign "Parallel Parking Only" means that you must park with the side of your vehicle parallel to the side of the road, not at an angle to it. This usually applies on narrow streets where there is insufficient room for vehicles to park at an angle to the kerb.
Many motels have signs saying "Head-in Parking Only" which means that the bonnet of the vehicle should be closest to the building or fence, etc. This is presumably to reduce the risk of damage to buildings and also to avoid marks from exhaust pipes.
There are very severe penalties for parking in spaces reserved for handicapped people (indicated by the wheelchair symbol) without the required permit. These spaces are always respected in the USA and Canada.
A "car pool" is a car with at least a certain number of occupants - road signs will say how many. You don't need to be part of an official car pool or ride sharing scheme to qualify - you just have to have at least the specified minimum number of occupants in the car at the time.
Beware of restricted lanes finishing and changing into shoulder lanes with little or no indication. This is particularly dangerous when the shoulder lane which is the continuation of a restricted lane has a bridge support in it or suddenly narrows as the road passes over or under a bridge or through a tunnel.
Some busy junctions have signs indicating "no right turn on red".
Where it is legal to turn right on a red light, you can also turn left at a red light when you are joining a one-way road, with the usual proviso that you must first stop and make sure that the road is clear. You must turn into the leftmost lane.
There is some confusion, at least in my mind, regarding whether you can turn right (after stopping and making sure the way is clear) when presented with a traffic light showing a red rightward pointing arrow (what in Britain would be called a filter arrow, but I don't think the same term is used in the USA). It would appear from some unofficial comments that I have seen in the rec.travel.usa-canada news group that this is legal in some states but not in others. For example, I have seen comments indicating that it is legal in Florida but prohibited in California.
The "turn right on red" rule was introduced as a petrol saving measure in the 1970's. It is designed to avoid cars sitting at lights wasting petrol when they could safely turn and continue on their way.
If you know of any other areas of the USA and Canada (other than New York City and the Province of Quebec) where right turns on red lights are generally prohibited, please EMail me using the link at the bottom of this page.
Finally, if in doubt as to whether a right turn on a red light or red arrow is permitted or not, then you can observe the actions of the vehicle in front. Failing that, you will usually be informed fairly rapidly by means of an audible indication from the vehicle behind should you fail to turn where such a manoeuvre is legal.
However, I have had a number of people write to me saying that this rule only applies on some long bridges and similar structures and not on normal roads. I can't find any mention of the rule in the California Driver's Handbook so perhaps this is a myth perpetuated from one guide book to another.
Some correspondents have pointed out that there are a number of other long bridges and similar structures in the USA (and possibly in Canada) where it is illegal to run out of petrol.
Since gas stations (petrol stations) can be widely separated in the west, it is wise to fill up whenever convenient.
When a school bus stops to pick up or drop off children the driver switches on red flashing lights and makes a stop sign extend out from the side of the bus on a folding arm.
If a school bus has its stop sign extended and/or its red lights flashing then traffic in both directions must stop to allow children to cross the road safely.
According to the California Driver's Handbook you do not need to stop if the school bus is travelling in the opposite direction on a divided highway (dual carriageway), i.e. where there is a median strip (central reservation) between the carriageways. I'm informed that the same rule applies in Illinois. Passing a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and red lights flashing may result in suspension of your driver's license, so many drivers are naturally over cautious and would stop in this situation anyway. Some American states and Canadian provinces may vary in respect of this rule, so I would advise you to err on the side of caution and to stop.
Traffic lights turn from red to green with no intermediate red and amber stage as in Britain. There is an intermediate amber-only stage when changing from green to red.
There is often a separate traffic light for traffic turning left. Left turns are often but by no means always controlled by a filter (i.e. the traffic in the opposite direction is stopped).
A flashing amber traffic light is just a caution - you don't need to stop.
A flashing red traffic light means that you must come to a complete stop and check that the road is clear before proceeding. A flashing red light is not the same as a Four Way Stop, because cross traffic may be presented with a flashing amber light. Four Way Stops are explained in a separate section of this page.
In most states, if the traffic lights at a road junction are malfunctioning, or not functioning at all, and there is no police officer controlling the traffic, then the intersection should be treated as if it was a Four Way Stop.
U-turn regulations can vary greatly depending on the country, state or province,
and even the specific city or urban area. However, there are a few general
principles that usually apply when making U-turns in urban areas:
1. **Signage**: Always look for signs that indicate whether U-turns are allowed.
Some areas may have signs explicitly stating "No U-Turns," while others might
have signs permitting U-turns at specific times.
2. **Intersections**: In many locations, U-turns are only allowed at
intersections. However, they are usually not allowed in intersections where
traffic lights are present unless specifically indicated.
3. **Visibility**: U-turns should only be made when visibility is good and the
turn can be made safely without impeding oncoming traffic.
4. **Divided Highways**: In some areas, U-turns are permitted on divided
highways using designated lanes or openings in the median.
For the United States and Canada:
**United States**:
U-turn regulations vary by state in the U.S. In some states, U-turns are allowed
unless a sign indicates otherwise. However, even in states that allow U-turns,
they are generally not permitted in business districts, near curves, or near the
crest of a hill where visibility is limited.
**Canada**:
Like the U.S., Canada's regulations on U-turns can vary by province. In many
cases, U-turns are allowed at intersections unless signs indicate otherwise.
Making a U-turn between intersections (mid-block) is generally not allowed.
Again, these are general rules and can vary significantly, so it's essential to
understand the local laws in the specific city or area where you are driving.
Always prioritize safety and ensure a U-turn can be made without disrupting
traffic or endangering pedestrians or other drivers.
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