Driving a car in America and here is not much different. From my own experience, I can say that I drive much better in America. The roads are generally good, the signage is clear, and every gas station sells several types of coffee. What is the speed limit in the USA, when can you run red lights and which roads are toll roads? This article tells you everything you need to know about driving in the USA.
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Table of Contents
The Most Important Road Rules in the USA
➡️ Which Side to Drive on in the USA
In the USA, as in much of the world, you drive on the right.
🪪 Driving Licence for the USA
Driving a car in the USA requires a minimum age of 18 and a Group B licence. Police officers and rental car companies accept European licences 99% of the time, but I recommend applying for an international licence before you travel.
🔞 Car Rental in the USA for Drivers Under the Age of 25
Car rental in the USA for people under 25 years of age is only available in most states with a surcharge of $15.00–$25 per day of rental. The surcharge is related to the higher risk of damage.
🦺 Seat Belts in the USA
All occupants must wear seat belts when driving.
🌉 Toll and Highway User Fees
There are tolls for using some highways and roads. This is more common on the East Coast, while on the West Coast you usually pay to cross certain bridges or tunnels. For an overview of toll sections, see PlatePass.com.
🍷 Driving Alcohol Limit in the USA
In America, the blood alcohol limit is 0.08 BAC, as long as you don’t exceed this, you can legally drive a car. There are two exceptions. In Utah, the limit is set at just 0.05 BAC. For drivers who cannot yet legally drink alcohol, there is generally zero tolerance.
Important note: In the USA, the BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) unit is used to determine blood alcohol content, and the 0.08 BAC is equivalent to 0.8 per mille of alcohol in the blood.
For a list of blood alcohol limits by US state, visit FindLaw.com.
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Differences in Driving in the USA and Europe
📏 Imperial Units Are Used
In the USA, distances on signs are displayed in miles and speed is measured in miles per hour (mph). 1 mile is 1.609 km, 100 yards is 91.44 m.
Fuel is sold at gas stations in gallons. 1 gallon is 3.785 litres. Car fuel economy in the USA is given as the number of miles driven per US gallon of fuel (miles per gallon, abbreviated mpg). To convert to l/100 km, simply divide 235 by the mpg.
🚗 Most Cars in the USA Have Automatic Transmissions
Almost all vehicles sold and rented in the USA have automatic transmissions. That way, you only have the brake pedal on the left and the accelerator on the right, making driving more comfortable and easier. If you’re not used to driving an automatic, trust me, you’ll get used to it very quickly. Read the article on how to drive an automatic car.
🔦 Daytime Running Lights Are Optional
In the USA, in most states, it is not required to have lights on during the day unless visibility is reduced or it is dark.
🚦 The Traffic Lights Are Behind the Intersection
At first glance the clear difference is in the traffic lights, in the USA they are located after the intersection. You get used to it quickly. After a red light, the light turns green. But green is followed by yellow and then red.
❌ Intersections With No Right of Way
At some junctions you will see “4 Way” or “All Way” signs. They do not give right-of-way, but cars leave in the order in which they arrived at the intersection.
🔴 You Can Turn Right at a Red Light
You can turn right at traffic lights when the light is red. You must always give way to a vehicle coming from the left. This rule does not apply in New York City, where the Right Turn Permitted on Red sign only allows you to turn on red. On the other hand, right turns are prohibited by the No Turn on Red and Right Turn Signal signs, where you must follow a traffic light with a right arrow.
⛽ Gas Is Prepaid
In most countries, it is customary to pay for your petrol first and then fill up. Some petrol stations are unmanned, or a credit card is inserted into the dispenser. You can read instructions in the article How to fill up in the USA.
➡️ Overtaking From the Right Is Allowed
You can overtake from the right on motorways and multi-lane roads. Americans often don’t signal when changing lanes, be aware. The “Slow Traffic Keep Right” sign instructs slower vehicles to keep right.
2️⃣ “Carpool Lane” for Cars With 2 or More Passengers
In Los Angeles and other major cities, you may see lanes marked with a diamond and possibly a “Pool Only” sign. These are for vehicles with two passengers only, so they don’t have to stand in endless queues.
Driving in a lane marked Carpool Lane is free. When traveling in single occupancy, violations are subject to a hefty fine in the hundreds of dollars, for example, in California it is at least $490 (verified June 2024). It is also illegal to cross the yellow line that demarcates the Carpool Lane. You may leave or enter it before any intersection where the line is broken.
🚌 Overtaking a School Bus Is Subject to Expensive Fines
Overtaking a stationary and flashing school bus is strictly prohibited. The amount of the fine varies from state to state, usually between $300 and $500. In some states you can go to jail.
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Highways in the USA – Signs, Tolls and Other Fees
The road number is often accompanied by its direction – north (N), east (E), south (S) and west (W). A zipper system is used for connecting lanes, with cars alternating left and right. Americans are used to following the system.
Tolls in the USA are collected on a few dozen highways, for crossing bridges and tunnels or using dedicated lanes. For example:
- The bridge between San Francisco and Oakland is $7.00, cars in Carpool Lane pay $3.50 on weekdays.
- Passing the scenic 17 Mile Drive in California is charged $12.00.
In the USA, a number of different designations are used for surface roads.
Causeway
A major thoroughfare combining conventional roads with a system of bridges. You will come across them in waterlogged areas, the most famous being the MacArthur Causeway in Miami.
Expressway
A high-speed road similar to freeways. Unlike these, expressways may have a limited number of grade-separated intersections.
Freeway
A highway with overpasses and underpasses, no interchanges and no pedestrian or bicycle access. Tolls may or may not be collected. Freeways are faster and are designed to accommodate more cars than highways.
Highway
A general term for a highway or major road within a state. It may have one or more lanes in one direction and tolls may be collected for passage. There may be intersections on a highway. Highways running north-south have an odd number, highways connecting east and west have an even number.
Interstate
A system of interstate highways that often stretch across the entire United States. Interstate Highways are referred to as I-10, I-75, etc.
Parkway
A roadway similar to Scenic Drive, usually forming the access road to national and state parks. Truck access is usually restricted. Parkways are usually set in a nice setting, with emphasis on architecture.
Scenic Route
Scenic roads in state and national parks. They are often very narrow and larger vehicles are not allowed on them; they may be impassable in winter. There are usually several stops along Scenic Drives with interesting views.
Thruway/Throughway
A toll-free off-ramp, only trucks can pay tolls.
Turnpike
A designation for toll highways in the USA.
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Maximum Speed Limit in the USA
The maximum speed limit varies from state to state in the USA.
Compared to Europe it may seem very low, with only one highway in Texas having a speed limit of 85 mph (137 km/h). Highways in the eastern USA are usually 70 mph (113 km/h), in the west 75 mph (121 km/h).
Speeding on the highway by about 10.00 mph is tolerated, but for more serious offences you can expect a summons to appear in court the next day. The average US speeding fine is $150.
On county roads, the top speed limit is 55 mph–70 mph, and in residential zones 15.00 mph–45 mph. Speeding tickets tend to be a welcome source of revenue for smaller cities, and speed cameras are common.
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Road Signs in the USA
Traffic Sign Colors
The roads in the USA are very well marked, the colour of the road signs makes sense.
- Red is used for stop signs, right-of-way adjustments and prohibitions.
- Green is used for navigation signs, directional signs or highway exit warnings.
- Blue indicates motorist services, gas stations, campgrounds, or restaurants.
- Yellow carries a specific warning – before an intersection, traffic lights or perhaps speed bumps.
- White sign with black text is reserved for additional signs and explanations.
- Orange indicates detours and warnings related to roadworks.
- Bright yellow-green indicates pedestrian crossings, cycle paths and school zones.
- Pink (coral red) portable sign warns of the scene of an accident, natural disaster or perhaps a flood.
- Brown is used to navigate to places of tourist interest, monuments and campsites.
Shapes of Road Signs
Logic can also be seen in the shapes of road signs.
- A rectangle is used for directional signs and signs with some kind of restriction.
- An octagon is found exclusively on red stop signs.
- A triangle with the tip pointing downwards is found at a ‘Give way’ sign.
- A diamond always indicates some kind of warning or a speed reduction order.
- A pentagon warns of a school zone or pedestrian crossing near a school.
- A flag resembling an elongated triangle indicates no overtaking.
- A circle with a black cross indicates a nearby level crossing. A circle in red indicates a prohibition.
Supplementary Plates for Traffic Signs
Traffic signs are often accompanied by additional signs, so some knowledge of English is required when driving. Abbreviations are used for some instructions.
- ◊ CAR POOLS ONLY reserves a lane for vehicles with two or more occupants. In the USA, often only the driver is in the car, causing traffic jams. If a driver without passengers uses a dedicated lane, he or she faces a fine.
- 4 WAY or ALL WAY tends to be at STOP signs, cars leave the intersection in the order they approached it.
- BUMP or SPEED BUMP indicates a bump or speed bump.
- CAUTION warns of a hazard or risk.
- DETOUR indicates a detour.
- NO TURN ON RED cancels a right turn on red.
- ONE WAY warns of one-way traffic.
- PED XING or XING indicates a pedestrian crossing.
- WORK AREA informs of work in progress on the road.
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Parking in the USA
I recommend primarily using designated and secure parking lots where your car is under supervision. Traffic signs and curb colors set the rules for on-street parking.
⬜ White
Parking is permitted unless prohibited by a sign. Also applies to curb cuts without a line.
🟩 Green
Parking for a short time, which is usually written on a sign or directly on the curb.
🟨 Yellow
Standing only for the time necessary for passengers to alight and board. The driver usually has to stay in the car.
🟥 Red
No standing. Red may also be used for no stopping in combination with a corresponding sign.
🟦 Blue
Only disabled drivers with the appropriate sign outside their window may park.
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What to Do if You Get Pulled over by Police in USA
American police officers will hang behind your car and flash their beacons when you are speeding or otherwise breaking the law.
The driver is required to pull over immediately and wait calmly, hands loosely on the steering wheel, for the officer to arrive. Nervousness and rummaging through the box or handbag only make the situation worse.
The officer will pull up behind you, get out and ask you for your licence and vehicle documents through the open window. The process may seem overly harsh, however, you must follow the instructions. As long as you have not broken the law, you need not worry.
Discussion (1)
In California, the regulations are followed. There are exceptions, of course. Drivers here are much more considerate than here. The zipper works perfectly. Experience: just for the sake of being polite, I wanted to let two cars go when zipping and I thought I was an idiot who didn’t know how to zip. You can drive on a nice straight road under the speed limit, but because it’s full of cars and the Americans just won’t pass and wait for you to move – it’s mandatory if there’s a queue behind you. On an eight-lane highway, you can easily get from the eighth lane to the first. Probably the only thing that is lacking here is the flashing at junctions in the turning lanes, when overtaking it usually works. There are more differences than that.