What should I pay attention to when driving while studying in the United States?

Matters needing attention of China students living and driving in the United States. Students studying in the United States need to obey the local traffic rules if they want to drive in the United States. Like China, pedestrians and vehicles drive on the right. The following principles are not only applicable to all countries, but also very important:

Right-of-way principle: In the United States, "pedestrians first, cars give way" is the basic principle of traffic rules. Although pedestrians in the United States obey the instructions of traffic lights just like vehicles, when driving through an intersection, if a pedestrian crosses the road, all vehicles, large and small, must stop to make way under any circumstances. Even where there is no crosswalk, drivers will stop in good faith when they see pedestrians. This is the basic common sense of driving in the United States, and it is also a symbol of civilized citizens.

Safety principle: This is a principle deeply moved by China people. You don't need high driving skills to study in America. The most important thing is to drive in strict accordance with traffic rules. Moreover, there are not many driving schools in the United States, and the road test is a "real battle" on a really busy road, so that no driver will be afraid to go on the road.

Principle of insurance constraint: American traffic regulations stipulate that motor vehicle drivers must carry insurance certificates with them when driving. If you rent a car in the United States, the car rental agency will definitely list alternative insurance in addition to the rent. Take Hertz's car rental behavior as an example. Generally speaking, there are:

"Vehicle Loss and Loss Exemption Insurance (LDW)": As the name implies, the renter can use the vehicle within the scope stipulated in the contract, and can be exempted from the economic responsibility for vehicle loss and loss. About 10 USD per person per day.

"Personal accident insurance (PAL)" means that in case of accidental casualties, both the renter and the passenger can get certain compensation for death and medical expenses. It's about 6 dollars per person per day.

In addition, Chinese people can also buy some overseas travel insurance in China as a supplement before departure. It's best to buy travel insurance from American companies, such as AIA, especially including the clause of self-driving accident claims.

The principle of insurance constraint in the United States not only provides protection for car renters, but also is linked to driving violation records and credit data of bank loans. Therefore, for a long time, Americans have formed the concept of obeying traffic rules to ensure personal credit.

In addition, China people should pay special attention to driving in the United States. Horn honking is not allowed in most cities in America. If allowed, they should only warn the surrounding areas when necessary, such as when vehicles cross the road. It is very impolite to honk your horn when urging other vehicles. But on country roads, you can honk your horn to signal overtaking.

road signs

There are more road traffic signs in the United States than in our country. Driving for the first time really makes people feel a little dazzled. Commonly used road signs can be roughly divided into the following categories according to their colors and shapes.

1. Red octagonal "Stop" sign:

Different from China, an octagonal red road sign with a big "Stop" can be seen everywhere in the United States. This is the stop sign. Generally, it appears at a relatively small intersection and acts as a traffic light. When the car comes to such an intersection, the driver must first stop and make sure that there are no pedestrians and vehicles at the intersection.

2. Red inverted triangle "deceleration" sign:

This sign usually has a thick red border, which means to slow down and get ready to stop. Sometimes it is used with other charts to indicate that the slowdown is due to the sidewalk ahead, obstacles or other reasons.

3. Rectangular logo:

Prompt signs are generally rectangular with black frame and white background, such as speed limit signs and various driving or turning signs. If an action is forbidden, draw a red circle on the sign and draw a red diagonal line on it, similar to China's practice.

4. Shield road signs:

The road network in the United States is developed. As long as there is a guide or map to remind you of the road number to your destination, you will generally not get lost. These road signs are generally shield-shaped and marked with road numbers and state names.

The above is an introduction to matters needing attention for China students living and driving in the United States. I hope this article can help you understand the precautions for studying and driving in the United States. I wish all China students a smooth and happy life in the United States.