Most of us pay attention to speed limits. After all, they''re posted every few miles along the interstate. But cruising along a few miles over the limit is tolerated in some states while it can lead to a heavy fine in others.
Check your atlas or travel guide for specific laws as you travel. When you''re in doubt about the rules of the road, ask a gas station attendant or a hotel employee.
Being pulled over by a traffic cop can be a very stressful experience. Being pulled over for a violation you didn''t have a clue about is even more stressful. That''s why your best bet is to become familiar with traffic laws in the counties, states or countries (if you''re driving into Canada or Mexico) to which you''re traveling. Just keep in mind that local traffic laws can vary. For instance, in some places you can turn right on a red light; in others you can''t. Parking ordinances differ from one place to another, and speed limits, of course, vary a great deal.
Most importantly, keep this in mind: to obey the laws, you have to know them first. Get a jump-start on knowing the laws from state to state regarding speeding, reckless driving and procedures to follow in case of an accident.
Some rules apply wherever you go:
Be aware that both Canada and Mexico use the metric system. A speed limit sign that reads "100," indicates a limit of 100 kilometers per hour — about 62 miles an hour. No the patrolman will not take note of your license plates and shrug off your ignorance. He''ll gladly write up the rich Americano for a big fine! Remember that all highway signs use kilometers, so if your destination is 30 km away, that means it''s about 18 miles. As a general rule, just multiply by six and divide by ten.
Many countries enforce seat belt laws and they prohibit drinking and driving. The city of Las Vegas allows you to walk down the street with a beverage in your hand, but they prohibit open beverages in moving vehicles, just as they do in your home state.
If you plan to rent a car and do some driving while visiting a foreign country, ask the rental agent to provide a summary of driving rules. Again, you''ll find that many countries are sensitive about drunken driving, throwing trash out the car window and speeding.
Don''t believe everything you hear about lax driving laws in foreign countries. While some third world countries can''t afford a police force to patrol their highways, they might easily whisk you off to jail if you cause an accident or injure one of their citizens because of careless driving.