🇺🇸 Road Laws in the USA vs UK 🇬🇧
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- After driving in the US for the first time we have identified some differences between road laws between America and the UK!
#Laws #American #Driving
Subscribe: bit.ly/2R1o6tg
Watch Next, “🇺🇸 The Most STRESSFUL Road Trip Across North Carolina in a JEEP WRANGLER! 🇺🇸”: • 🇺🇸 The Most STRESSFUL ...
Become a Joel & Lia Member ⭐️: / @thosetwobrits1
Our Second Channel: / @thosetwobritsuk
👫Follow our Social Media:
Facebook: / joelandlia
Instagram: / joelandlia
Twitter: / joelandlia
🙋🏻♀️Lia's Social Media:
UA-cam: / liahatzakis
Instagram: / liahatz
Twitter: / liahatz
🙋🏻♂️Joel's Social Media:
UA-cam: / joelwood1
Instagram: / joelwood
Twitter: / joelmwood
Watch More Of Our Videos:
All of Our Videos: • 3 THINGS BRITISH PEOPL...
Questions Brits Have For...: • Questions for Australi...
American vs British: • 🇬🇧 BRITISH Insults AME...
British Culture: • 10 Worst Things About ...
BUY US A COFFEE: www.ko-fi.com/j...
*FILMING EQUIPMENT: amazon.com/shop/britishenglishwithjoellia
*OUR AMAZON SHOP: amazon.com/shop/britishenglishwithjoellia
____________________________
Hello! We are Joel & Lia. We post videos every week, all about British culture, British accents and the English language! We live in London and love sharing our top travel tips in the UK and abroad. As well as being best friends we share a passion for language, different accents and all things British. With past and future trips to the USA, lots of our content is American vs British.
Don't forget to subscribe to see our videos in your subscription box every week and click the notification bell if you want special alerts send straight to your phone!
_____________________________
Links marked with a '*' are affiliate links, which means we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products through these links. This doesn't affect you at all or increase the price of the products!
If you'd like BONUS MEMBERS ONLY videos then consider becoming a J&L Member: ua-cam.com/channels/wsdHkL8rByIJV3mTJTc9-w.htmljoin
If you'd like to tip us and help support the running of our channel (but please don't feel obliged): www.ko-fi.com/joelandlia
Yeah, you are in the minority regarding which side of the road to drive. But it’s not just 3 countries.
There is the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong and perhaps some others. You can google it
In Canada and the US where it is iIIegaI you can be excused if you are tapping your phone on your dashboard like using Google maps or a GPS. But other than that yeah. In Ontario and Québec here I believe it’s 500 $ fine
9:20 I’ve never heard of that
Open beer. Yess sealed beer never experienced that
A link to Hardship licenses for 14 year olds, it explains it in great detail.
Joel, next time you are driving in the US and Lia is telling you that you're lost, just say "We're not lost, we're not lost. Stop side seat driving!"
Speaking of transportation, there's an old law in Montana (that wasn't repealed until very recently) that said if a student rides their horse to school, their principal has to tend to it throughout the school day. 😂 There was a senior prank (common in American high schools) in Montana last week where students decided to ride their horses to school and then remind their principal that he had to care for them during the day. The school itself was small, and the number of kids in the graduating class was less than 30. The principal was actually a good sport about it, as he had once been a ranch-hand, and only a dozen students rode their horses to school that day. Can you imagine??!
That's hilarious!
So funny!
Some rural Schools have "Tractor Day", like this.... ua-cam.com/video/u96BzbdLDKg/v-deo.html
This is a very cute story and it made me smile.
Katherine Murphy - I've heard of that, altho years ago, but I wouldn't doubt it for a second, that it was done recently as well. Great stuff.
Most states have an “open container” law, but sealed wine, beer and liquor is okay in the cabin.
Yeah, in Pennsylvania, it's only open containers that are illegal. A "bag" over the bottle has nothing to do with driving. It's to get around the "no drinking in public" laws. Winos are notorious for doing that.
Same on California
Same in Texas
Same in NC
Same in New Jersey no open container. Seatbelts must be worn this rule doesn't apply to police on patrol. They can buckle it behind their backs reason if they have to exit the patrol car quickly they will be able to.
I never heard of an opaque bag requirement. The states with 15 year old driving license is normally in a farming or ranch state. It others states you can drive at 15 1/2 and license at 16.
Here in Oregon you can be cited if your alcohol is not in a shopping bag or otherwise wrapped, even if you're on foot.
And you can get a learners' permit at 14 here, and at 16 can get a provisional license to drive to school, work, the doctor's, the library, and possibly shopping, depending an individual's situation.
In NC all alcohol is put in opaque bags.
Wyoming allows restricted learner’s permits at 14 in ranching areas.
In California it is illegal to drink alcohol in public, so most liiquor stores put the booze in a paper bag so people can drink in public but try to hide it lol. As if anyone would drink a soda wrapped in a paper bag!
@@sftrick The main reason they just want glass bottles in paper bags so if they are dropped no glass gets all over the sidewalk not really to hide the alcohol... Mainly to keep glass off sidewalks and trips to Emergency Rooms for stitches from glass... I'm a Paramedic here in NC
There are actually 76 countries that drive on the left! Most are former British Colonies but include Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Africa :)
Yep. Even on the U.S. Virgin Islands
If anyone’s curious, I’m attaching the list.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Oceania:
Australia
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
New Zealand
Niue
Norfolk Island
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn Islands
Solomon Islands
Samoa
Tokelau
Tonga
Tuvalu
Asia:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
East Timor
Hong Kong
Indonesia
India
Japan
Macao
Malaysia
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Africa:
Botswana
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Europe:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Cyprus
Guernsey
Ireland
Isle of Man
Jersey
Malta
United Kingdom
South America:
Guyana
Suriname
Caribbean Basin:
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbados
Bahamas
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Jamaica
Montserrat
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Other Islands:
Bermuda
Falkland Islands
Maldives
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha
Seychelles
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Jamaica
The majority though do drive on the right. Maybe other countries need to fall in line. 🤭
@@n.y.8916 Great list, thanks for posting it!
@@athenasheffield2836 Yeah, no worries
Keep in mind, driving laws are determined at the state level. They vary by state.
Yeah they covered that
The alcohol thing is state by state. In Tennessee the passengers can legally drink in the car but the driver cannot. And you don't have to put the alcohol in the trunk either.
Wow I didn't know that about Tennessee. You definitely can't drink in a car in Texas lol.
I know it’s not allowed in Memphis.
So maybe it’s by municipality? I say that but things have gotten a lot more lacks since the pandemic. Since then restaurants have been able to sell liquor by the drink to go. Because blood never ran in the streets they have let them keep doing it. But you’re still supposed to go home before you drink it.
@@glynnhadskey4698 that's a good point. I think that's true about takeaway alcohol in Nashville, too. I think the law I was thinking of was a state law that they passed in the early 2000's. I've never tested the law myself but I guess you might be okay if pulled over by a state trooper but not if pulled over by the local police? I think our laws are just a mess in general in the US.
You can have a sealed alcohol container inside the vehicle, but an open container has to be in a locked compartment.
Depends on the state. Connecticut for example is one of the few states without an open container law. Any one in the car that's 21 and older can drink except for the driver obviously.
It's different by state... I mean, they have drive-through daiquiri shops in Louisiana!
@@jdanon203 - I did not know that, but I don't doubt it.
Rich - What you say sounds as if you can store it in a locked glove compartment box, that would be OK, but nowadays, very few glove compartments come with a 'lock' option, and as well, in NY, I don't think that would be considered OK, or at least, so I've been told.
@@dobiebloke9311 Quite a few models have an option for a safe in the center console.
I'm up in Washington state, in the Pacific Northwest where it's illegal to drive with a cellphone. No texting or talking allowed unless Bluetooth.
It is illegal in most US states to text while driving.
Lol if only people actually followed that law here
From Oklahoma. I believe there is a LAW against it, but that doesn't stop idiots from doing it. I was hit from the rear May 7 and the man (to his credit) admitted to being on his phone texting. CRAZY! I would appreciate it if the entire world could agree it's dumb to be on your phone while driving.
Yes! It's so dangerous! An accident can happen in a split second. It's just not worth the risk.
entire YT channels dedicated to this. Check out Wham Bam Tesla Cam, Idiot Drivers etc..
New Hampshire is a beautiful, scenic state, where trust and unlocked doors still exist in many parts. I can understand the lack of seat-belt law, but I'd still wear mine. You can't buy alcohol in the majority of Arkansas. Was a shock when driving across the country. I've been to 32 of 50 states, and it's definitely a pain to keep up with the differing laws, taxes, and cultures.
errr no , locking doors is a thing lol
GD Haney - Yeah, even in NY, some of us (depending on 'where'), don't lock our doors either. In fact, my wife and I long ago lost the keys to the three doors to our house, but it doesn't really matter. We do have deadbolts we can throw, to keep someone out, but that's never happened.
We do have copies of the keys somewhere, but we've never cared enough to actually 'look' for them.
I actually don't know how many of my neighbors don't lock their doors, as for one thing, I don't go around 'checking', but the few times that neighbors have called me, to ask me to go into their home for one reason or another, the door was always unlocked.
As someone who has driven using American traffic laws all my driving life, it would TERRIFY me to get behind the wheel of a car in, say, the UK, because all it would take is one accidental wrong turn (which could happen very easily) and I'd be going straight into oncoming traffic. That's a head-on collision just begging to happen... 😨
It is stressful, and learning how to drive in a roundabout is another big challenge, remembering lots of tears first day in London,lol.
@@bkm2797 Pro tip , don't drive in the city worldwide if you don't need to . Especially London
@@hannahdyson7129 Ha Ha, sounds about right.
Depends on how much driving experience you have I guess.. I literally drove with someone in the UK for 15 minutes and then we switched out and I had it down easily. Too much overthinking really messes people up. Especially these two who seem to like to panic and overthink. Maybe it’s the radios fault? 🤦♂️🤣🙄
I've driven both times I've been to the UK, the second visit was two weeks in Scotland by car. It's not that bad. It only takes a little getting used to, which you can learn by just taking some side roads when you first start driving. And don't drive in the city, it's not needed anyway.
When I was younger, in SD most everyone got their license T 14, but you could get Farmer's Limited license at 12. Standard for most states is 16 though. The big reason for younger people getting licenses younger here is the agriculture component. Rural kids frequently need to be able to drive to go anywhere.
North Carolinian here:
North Carolina actually does have a law against texting while driving; drives me crazy seeing people doing that! Seatbelts are also required in NC in the front seat. You can get a ticket for both of those.
No open containers of alcohol in the car. But I've never heard of having to hide it or put it in the trunk.
Amber Seaman - In NY, if you are at a full stop, as when at a red light, you are allowed to use your phone, etc, but not at all, when under way.
A guy named Mark Rober (check out his YT channel), invented a unique 'horn' solution, to politely remind the person in front of you, who is now sitting still at a green light, Hey, it's time to put down the phone, and go forward.
A gentle 'beep beep', just to call attention to it, but not meant to incite anger in anyone. Pretty smart, I thought.
Virginia has also made use of hand-held device whilst driving illegal. My new car will now automatically connect to my phone via bluetooth so I can use my phone completely hands-free. I'm still getting used to it because I have, for YEARS, left my phone alone while driving.
In Tennessee, we have a hands free law as of 2019, and driving/texting is only legal with an earpiece or when synced to Bluetooth. But you can still use your physical device when stopped at a stop sign, at a red light, or when calling police, fire, and other emergency agencies.
Also, drivers obviously cannot drink behind the wheel, but any passengers age 21+ can still drink inside a moving vehicle.
You can't drink in a vehicle no matter where you are sitting. A freind thought that he was too drunk to drive. He pulled over in a rest stop. Hexwas cold so he slept under the car. He got a ticket for being near a car while intoxicated.
I’m in Maryland near DC and Virginia handheld electronics are banned in all three.
However the law is rarely enforced so handheld electronic use is rampant.
Btw we call them Roundabouts too. Actually now that I say that it could just be my family because we spent 6 months in Europe and they weren’t really a thing in the US yet so we just called them what Europeans did.
I thought they called them roundabout in Massachusetts, in New Jersey we say traffic circle. Also they are considered to have made sense decades ago, I think it was about 25 years ago when New Jersey eliminated almost all of them, at great expense of course.
We call them roundabouts. I'm from Oklahoma, and though I've been to the UK, we call them that just because we call them that. I've never heard "traffic circle".
We call them roundabouts in Maryland, too.
@@jstringfellow1961
Yep, they’re called Roundabouts here in Wisconsin too. Traffics circles are usually placed in the middle of an intersection in residential areas to slow you down. Definitely not to be confused with proper roundabouts. 😉
Called a traffic circle in Kentucky.
22 hours to go and I've already voted thumbs up, because these 2 Brits are awesome!
/dramatic
all 50 US States has a ban on texting for all drivers.
Hand-held Cell Phone Use: 24 US states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. All are primary enforcement laws-an officer may cite a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.
Joel & Lia, a funny (depending on your sense of humor, I guess) alternative term to co-pilot over here is "riding shotgun", which comes from the old Westerns where a stagecoach was involved. Two people always sat up on top and outside, namely the driver and someone sitting next to him with a shotgun. He and the weapon were used to fight off the bad guys, namely, stage robbers and some tribal group. This job was called riding shotgun, and has been transferred in this day of cars and trucks to mean the person sitting in the front seat with the driver.
I know that Japan also drive on the left, as does a rather obscure one--US Virgin Islands, but with left side American cars, which has to be really confusing during the adjustment period.
*_HI Guys, Create a Separate New Channel And Make Reaction Videos On Movies, Songs, etc._*
*_Just A Suggestion_* 🤔
*_There is a lot of demand for reaction channels these days._*
*if you think of making the channel, then tell me by replying in the comment.*
Absolutely illegal to drive& use your phone in the USA.People do ignore it but it is the law.
At least here in Massachusetts.❤️
Same for Vermont, no text while driving.
I have noticed that 90% of the time it’s females that are texting and driving. At least here in Michigan. I find it beyond annoying and I let them know to knock that crap off as much as I can.
Not in Florida.
I've never heard about having to put your alcohol in the trunk, though it might be so somewhere; normally it's just you can't have open containers in the passenger compartment.
Me either 🤷♂️
I'm in Indiana, and 15 is the youngest you can get a permit to learn to drive. To get your license , if you go through a driving school, then 16 years and 1 month is the earliest you can get your license. If you learn through family, then 16.5 years old is the earliest you can get your license. Indiana has an open container law, making it illegal to have open alcohol of any kind open in the car. No one is allowed to drink alcohol in a moving car. Since 1987, seat belts are mandated to be worn by anyone in the front seat. Children, regardless of age, must wear seat belts under a certain height (I want to say 4 ft 9 in, but not sure). We have a hands free device law.
Now I'm going to talk about a couple of things that were discussed that weren't fully related to traffic laws. One that Joel is not used to driving an automatic transmission car in thr US. The main reasons we have almost all automatic transmission vehicles, is due to nearly all 50 states not mandating anyone to learn how to drive a manual transmission car for civilian driving. The driving schools almost never teach people on how to drive a manual transmission car. With this in mind, this is why you can not find a majority of cars with a manual transmission anymore. I'm finding for North America, it's primarily the Asian auto industry still making manual transmission cars. Most European countries mandate driving tests to be passed in a car with a manual transmission, or you get a restriction on your license, only allowing you to legally drive automatic transmission cars. Had US states has this in place, I believe manual transmission cars would still be in demand. I learned to drive at 24, and got my license 3 weeks after turning 25. I unfortunately was one of those in 1998, who did not learn to drive a manual. No local civilian driving school taught anyone on how to drive a manual transmission car. My brother learned to drive at 16 in 1982, and he told me that his driver's ED class (this was when it was offered in high school), that he learned to drive in an automatic. He had enough connections to where he was able to learn to drive a manual transmission car. In Europe, the electric car will cause the manual transmission to disappear from cars.
Now to roundabouts. You (Jpel and Lia) talked about how Americans call them traffic circles. That not completely true. Most Americans do in fact call them roundabouts. But some do call them traffic circles, though a roundabout and a traffic circle are different. Once you get in Massachusetts, especially around Boston, roundabouts are called rotaries. Now there's a difference between a roundabout and a traffic circle. A traffic circle is the old style roundabouts that were created around the 1920's. They're controlled by a traffic light or a stop sign. It moves traffic similar to the modern roundabout, but unlike a roundabout, you only enter and exit, by a traffic light, or a stop sign. This caused numerous accidents, that they were phased out around the 1950's. The modern roundabout was created in England, and instead of using traffic lights or stop signs, roundabouts are about yielding to oncoming traffic as you enter and exit a roundabout. But the US version of the roundabout is is still flawed to an extent. Some roundabouts are undersized, that some vehicles can't maneuver one properly . One town had to spend money to make a roundabout bigger, after a school bus literally got stuck in a roundabout, due to it being too small. Some are undersized, that the intersection where a roundabout is located, that traffic flow is just as bad as an intersection with a 4 way stop.
Rules of the road and driving in the US are pretty much all state by state. In the division of powers between the states and the feds, that one goes to the states. Occasionally, the feds force a change by threatening to withhold federal highway funding though. The seat belt requirement and the drinking age are the two main examples. Drunk driving was the main excuse for the 21 years old drinking age. Teens were found (or believed) to be more likely to drink and drive. Bear in mind that in the US, with things so spread out and public transportation so abysmal, teens have a lot more need to drive than in the UK or other European countries.
Driving on the right, if I have my history right, comes as an anti-England act by Americans during horse and buggy days to be different. The reason the rest of the world follows is most cars were made here.
It is illegal to use the phone while driving. But you MUST use hands-free if you are on the phone. I live in Charlotte, NC.
Are American laws so bad that you have to complain about each one of them, I just don't understand!! it's the United States it's not Britain!! you come to the United States you deal with our laws the way they are. written!!!!!!! they are there and the only way you get rid of a law is when they voted them out!!!
I remember driving between states growing up and at the state border you would see motorcyclists all pulling over to put their helmet on if they were going into a state where they could get pulled over for not wearing a helmet.
Foreigners only need to know that at a stop sign you only need to come to a "full and complete" stop, not a full and complete plus 5 minute staring into space stop. You also don't need to wait for cars on the cross street approaching the stop sign to come to a complete stop before you can stop staring into space and go. When it's your turn just go. This was really a message for certain foreigners that live around me, and have lived here for several years.
Lol
Didn't you say the US should go metric ... how about the UK switches to driving on the right hand side.
Most laws very by state but rule of thumb no open alcohol within reach of the driver and it does not have to be any particular bag or a bag at all for that matter. At 14 a driver license will only be for agricultural equipment.
Using a cell phone (hand held device) while driving is illegal in all states, except Montana and Missouri. Blue Tooth is not illegal.
I've only driven in one other country but I have never had a license in any other country. When I lived in Germany in the early 80s me a a couple of friends were going somewhere. One of them had a car but there was snow on the ground and it was snowing and it was night. Both of them were from Florida and had never driven in snow. The car owner was freaking out so I drove. No we couldn't take the bus, there were none at that time of night in that area.
Most countries that were affiliated with the Brits drive on the left. However; Japan drives on the left for a completely different reason.
Drive at 14. Agriculture States have long tradition of kids helping with crops. ie. Driving tractor across road to next pasture or down the road to main area/barn.
My husband was raised on a farm and was driving a tractor at 10yrs old.
I am curious then how food delivery workers do their job in England. You are almost required to mess with your phone while driving. You have to juggle delivery instructions plus checking the address, the GPS instructions and handling incoming delivery orders. There is also the possibility of the customer contacting the driver while en route. The company should know the driver is driving but they don't care and often contact the driver for one reason or another.
Plenty of the world’s population drives on the left because some of the countries with a massive population do. Think Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.
IN AMERICA a "Backseat Driver" is someone that complains throughout the trip. Lia would be called "the Navigator".... They read the Maps (when the next turn off is and where the next Rest Stops are) as well as checking the Snack situation and (Most Importantly) are in charge of the Music/Radio Stations being played.
We use those terms in the UK too . I sometimes think these two live under a rock
@@hannahdyson7129 😂💀
Specifically when they think they know the directions/how to drive better than you. Hella annoying lol
We don’t use female navigators in my circle.. sorry if that upsets people but I have learned my lesson many times with that.
As an American, this is not my understanding of "backseat driver" at all. A backseat driver is someone who constantly (and usually condescendingly) tries to tell the actual driver what lane to be in, how fast to go, where to turn, etc.
I learned how to drive while living in a state that allows teens to get their driver's license as young as 14. It had a lot to do with being a farming state. My first time driving on the road was actually because the only adult with us had an accident if I had waited for an ambulance he wouldn't have made it. Instead I drove them to the nearest person who could finish driving us to town. At 14 it's typically a learner's permit/restricted license which means that they are only allowed to drive for necessary things. So they can drive to school or if they have a job they can drive to work (there are probably a few other instances considered necessary that I'm not thinking of). Otherwise they have to have a licensed driver in the car supervising them. For a period of time they have to have that anyway. I was actually 11 when I started learning how to drive around the farm and if we hadn't moved to a different state I could have had my learner's permit at 12.
In farming areas, that 14 year old kid has been driving farm trucks ( lorries ) and tractors for a couple of years....
U can't compare Americans road to the uk we have way bigger roads than the uk
No open containers (of alcohol) in the passenger area of the vehicle in the U.S. Definitely doesn't have to be in a paper bag.
We even have different names for them, we never would say "road rules", we say "rules of the road".
It can occasionally be stressful for an American too, driving in different states than their own because, despite similarities, states can have quite different traffic laws from each other. I good one is whether pedestrians have the right of way or not. And btw, in California texting or talking on mobile while driving is absolutely illegal. I've known a few people who have been pulled over by police and fined. As far as I know, in California purchased alcohol needs to be in the back. The restriction specifically is an "open container" in the car.
Lia, think about which hand your ring is on and then you can figure out which hand is which.
In my state seat belts are required unless it is the rear seating, all carseats require seat belts...however I can understand some places not having regulations on them since it was statistically proven that seatbelts are proven only 50% effective as far as recorded deaths and accidents go...basically depending on circumstance a seat belt may save your life, but may also take it...
Canada 🇨🇦 also drives on left side of the road for the steering wheel
Age and driving: US doesn't have great public transit. I would have been screwed if I couldn't drive at 16.
Very true
ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH IT TO TEXT WHILE DRIVING !!!!
My favorite driving experience. Sitting at a red light, minding my own business, listening to easy listening on my Sirius radio and a car pulls up next to me. The stereo is so LOUD that my car starts literally shaking and vibrating. I once looked over at the driver but the windows were so dark I couldn;t see in and would not do any good as my eyeballs were vibrating and I was out of focus. You know the bad part. It's always at one of those red lights where it stays red for 10 minutes.
I don't understand how any can drive with their music that loud! How do they avoid colliding with police, firetrucks, ambulances & trains?
@@cathyvickers9063 Many times they don't but that is never on the police report. The only good thing is that they'll all be deaf by30. Oh wait that is bad they'll just turn it up louder then.
I think that in America you see people doing million of other things while driving because they don’t drive manual. They don’t need constantly two hands. Maybe that’s why.
About the drinking age. It's usually that you can not buy before age 21.
In many states you can actually drink before 21. Just not in public, and if under 18 you need parental permission.
I’ve never heard this. It’s ILLEGAL everywhere in the states. Idk what state you’re in lol
Disabling that uber-annoying lock beep (as well as automatic locking) is THE very first thing I do when I get a new car. They both drive me absolutely bonkers. Quietly flashing the lights when I lock the car is just fine for me.
Traffic circles and roundabouts are not exactly the same thing (beyond having a circular roadway element)... they differ in how you enter/exit the circular part. The US had lots of traffic circles at one time and they were mostly all removed decades ago because of all the accidents they caused. Roundabouts are much better but are similar enough to traffic circles that they invoke bad memories of the traffic circles, making the general public quite wary of them. Charlotte (and NC in general) has been putting in roundabouts in fairly large numbers recently, not to mention more bizarre things like diverging diamonds, where we get to (briefly) drive on the left side of the road!
I grew up in New Jersey which, at the time, required you to be 17 for even a learner's permit (I believe you can get a permit and/or limited license earlier now). Damn, it felt like I was 16 FOREVER while I anxiously awaited the opportunity to drive.
Cell phone and seat belt laws do vary from state to state here in the US. North Carolina allows talking on a handheld phone, but not texting. I do neither, using Bluetooth hands-free for calls, and I have my messaging app set to automatically go into Driving Mode when the phone connects to the car's Bluetooth, which silences incoming notifications and auto-responds to the sender that I'm currently driving.
For seat belts, nearly all states require front seat passengers to wear them (New Hampshire's state motto, btw, is "Live Free or Die", lol). Rear seat requirements vary more. I believe NC requires them for under-16 passengers only. I'm old enough to remember when seat belts didn't exist at all in most cars... they were a rarity (mostly Volvos) when I was growing up. It wasn't until around 1970 or so that they became common in new cars. 1974 model years cars in the US were the ONLY ones to ever have a federally mandated interlock that prevented the car from starting if seat belts weren't fastened. Universally despised and easily defeatable, the interlocks were gone by 1975.
It is actually illegal to be on a cell phone or handheld device while driving in some states but not all states
Around a decade ago they had a roundabout in my city at one of the busiest intersections of the city. They wanted to get rid of traffic lights and put in a roundabout, and it went through a lot of voting before it was built. The main argument was that Americans are too dumb and never saw one, so they would end up driving right into the cemetery in the edge of it.
Many people got the hang of it, but others haven't. And some are selfish and tailgate the person in front instead of waiting their turn meaning you could have 5 minutes of people just doing that to the point where everyone else on the other side has so wait ages to go even though legally it's their turn.
I live in a state where e can legally make a rights-handed turn on a stop light if no traffic is there. Other states that is illegal. Each state has their own rules, but most of the rules are the same wherever.
Most places you can make right hand turns unless theres a sign saying you can't.
I wouldn't say they are too dumb, they just don't experience roundabouts normally if at all. I know I never saw one until I went to England, there it's just a way of life.
@@bkm2797 We have probably the worst drivers in the entire country. My car insurance rates dropped $300+ dollars just by moving 15 minutes out of that medium sized city. 25% have been driving without any turn signals. They speed 15 miles an hour over the speed limit a quarter mile from that roundabout. And , I have known 3 people that either were held at gunpoint at an intersection or knew someone who was.
Does that implication apply to all of America? No. But where I am from, the majority aren't that educated and crime rated are off the charts.
Drug possession is common too. So, you never know how sober people are on the road.
@@onlyallegra oooh, where is that? I will make sure to avoid that area.
Almost all laws are state by state. During the founding of our Nation, States Rights vs Federal Rights was a major fight.
In Michigan, a 14-year-old can drive, but they can only drive if it's related to farm activity (like driving a tractor or combine down the road)
I’m sure they would be really confused if they came across a Michigan U-turn also lol
California is no handheld devices.
Your videos are always the best💯 I do receive a notification each time you post a new video.. We'll have regrets for things we did not participate in...Investment should always be on any creative man's heart for success in life.
That’s not true. Lots of countries drive on the left
Oceana
Australia
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
New Zealand
Niue
Norfolk Island
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn Islands
Solomon Islands
Samoa
Tokelau
Tonga
Tuvalu
Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
East Timor
Hong Kong
Indonesia
India
Japan
Macao
Malaysia
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Africa
Botswana
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Europe
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Cyprus
Guernsey
Ireland
Isle of Man
Jersey
Malta
United Kingdom
South America
Guyana
Suriname
Caribbean Basin
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbados
Bahamas
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Jamaica
Montserrat
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Other Islands
Bermuda
Falkland Islands
Maldives
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha
Seychelles
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
In the state of Arkansas, 14 year old drivers have a Hardship license that can be issued if the parents are divorced. My son had one but there are many restrictions on driving distance, passenger quantities, ages and police background checks for the responsible party of the minor. I personally place alcohol in the trunk to show that there is no drinking happening in the vehicle. Love your videos.
Also rural areas for farming, kids at 14 can drive.
Actually there are nearly ten parts of the world that DO drive on the UK side of the street! It’s mostly commonwealth countries so it is fairly common to end up in non right side countries. It’s been changing more often for American side recently but it’s still more widespread than you two thought.
Also often we see mostly Southern or mid west states not yet don’t always have seat belt laws. I know Texas and Florida both only brought it in in the 2000’s which was decades after it was common in half of the country
Some states yes. Mostly not enforced as long is not open. It’s typically more either liberal OR more blue laws state… which is weird cause it’s opposite sides of the spectrum politically.
Those states that’s usually for just farm stuff for younger… like 14. Is only in mostly rural states like mid west or some parts of the south.
Also though even cars that don’t beep DO light up their lights! Even in the states… and as my car is a Mini Cooper I can still find in a car park cause the lights flash! Very useful!!!
Luv you two!!!
There actually is one place in America that dries on the left and that is the US Virgin Islands it’s the only place in the US that drives on the left side of the road
That's an overseas territory, though. It's basically another country
@@AyeeeItsCam what passport do you think they carry?😂
The biggest difference to me was driving on the left side of the road. I was ok with it but the car was a manual, and my brain was not geared (pun intended) to have my left hand do the shifting. I would recommend to study up on the laws in the country you are planning to drive. For example, I've noticed some strange pavement striping in the UK where white painted lines on the lane edges start to zig-zag in spots.
The zig zag lines are to notify you of a pedestrian crossing and not to change lanes
@@curlyprincess1 Aha, that makes sense, Thanks. I didn't think you would be required to whip the steering wheel back and forth.
Yes I don’t think I could shift with my left hand and steer with my right in a stick shift car. Thankfully the pedals are the same right?
@@jeanettes2170 Yes, the foot pedals are in the same location, but the clutch felt odd next to the transmission hump. The gear shift pattern is the same as the US "H" pattern, where first gear is upper left.
@@curlyprincess1 Or to park there.
I definitely like that the driving age and drinking age are separate. I don't understand countries that have both driving and drinking legal at 18. I want people to learn and be comfortable with one before starting the other. But I think in the US driving age is younger for practical reasons, because so many places driving is practically a necessity so a single parent with multiple children really benefits if a child can drive at 15 or 16.
I totally agree with our age laws for alcohol and driving being what they are. Who wants brand new inexperienced crappy drivers also being brand new inexperienced (and often irresponsible) drinkers? The driving age is absolutely a necessity in rural America and farm/ranch communities in particular. A lot of those kids are already quite skilled in operating dangerous heavy farm equipment like huge tractors and combines by 14, and they live out in the boondocks far away from everything. As far as the single parents go, I'm a single mom with a 20 yr old kid who doesn't drive yet due to ADHD and sensory overload issues, and it has definitely made things a bit challenging (it's ok though, we figure it out).
I wish other countries would understand that our drinking age WAS 18 for a long time... and look how that worked out for us. Ridiculous amounts of fatal drunk driving accidents involving teenagers. It does not work here and is not appropriate because the driving is so essential. I think a lot of Europeans don't get it because of the drinking culture there (which is excessive to say the least in some countries like GB and Germany).
I live in Wyoming. Wyoming currently prohibits: Reading, writing, and sending text messages, instant messages, or emails unless the vehicle is off the road and legally parked, and Commercial vehicle drivers from using handheld communications devices in any manner. HOWEVER, you are allowed to use the device to access telephone numbers or answer a call.
Also, there’s no requirement to wear a helmet while on a motorcycle.
I think American just drive more frequently, therefore are more skilled, and find it completely comfortable to text and drive. That being said, I get super nervous when the person driving is texting.
That’s exactly what I said because when I was 14 I was 1000 times more skilled than Joel is. Him driving with both hands on the wheel at all times is so funny to me. That makes me drive worse and is uncomfortable. Plus like I’ve already said it looks like he has a stick up his ass.
Love usa high in outta space traffic lights turn on red but miss Australia's roundabouts we mix of uk /usa australia call no stop roads motorways freeways expressways it's like can't decide what to call them in australia also a micro chip in new queensland licence
You can turn on reds with Michigan U-turns also
@@bmorg5190 that reminds me in australia there's a phrase chucking a uee some roads have u turn sign can turn swap sides and direction of road at these signs .
In Illinois, the driver can use hands free blue tooth and can wear a headset / microphone on one ear except for young drivers. I always use the panic button on my key fob to find my car in large parking lots
Another great video guys. Here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the law regarding texting and driving was written in a strange way so the police have specifically said they're not going to enforce it. They must know that you are using SMS and not typing in other services like Facebook or Twitter, so they just said forget it. As for New Hampshire, check out the phrase "Live Free or Die". That's the state motto and it permeates all aspects of life up there. The paper bag stems from Prohibition 100 years ago. Even though alcohol is allowed here, you're not allowed to be seen drinking it outside of a private facility or restaurant. During the evening rush hour, you'll see people who have had "bad days" riding the train, drinking out of a crinkled paper bag, staring aimlessly out the window. There's no requirement about not having any alcohol inside the passenger compartment so long as the bottle is sealed like the bottles you had just purchased at the store. You would have been fine with the sealed brand new bottles in the car. But you still played it right. Don't want to give the cops any reason to harass you. Open bottles will normally fetch a $250 fine EACH. Smart move.
easternpa2 - In NYS, on the trains, or at least on the Long Island Railroad, you are allowed to openly drink a beer or whatever, and it doesn't have to be in a bag, altho most do. Force of habit, I suppose.
I think the only time you are not allowed to drink alcohol on the LIRR, is on St Paddy's day, but that's a Railroad decision, and not a law, albeit, one that they can enforce, if needs be.
@@dobiebloke9311 I bet that's an LIRR thing. I commuted through Penn Station off and on for 20 years, and there were definitely lots of brown paper bags on NJT trains! Or maybe they started drinking in the concourse and never chucked the bag when they got on the train. It was a staple on my side of Manhattan, that's for sure.
yes there are laws in a lot of states regarding cell phone usage while driving..i copy and pasted whats below from wikipedia
No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers. However, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia,[5] Washington, West Virginia (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands) prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C. ban all cell phone use by newer drivers, while 19 states and Washington, D.C., prohibit any cell phone use by school bus drivers if children are present.
WE DON'T CALL THEM TRAFFIC CIRCLES!!! 😆 and, a 14 y/o can only have farming equipment on a public road. The youngest driving age is 16 in the US. I'm not sure where you get your information from, but it's not always accurate. Entertaining, but inaccurate.
directional dyslexia is a thing. it's not what it's officially called. can't remember the actual name. I have it and it's EMBARASSING. I ride the bus and don't drive because of it. 🤦♀️ It SUCKS.
I think New Hampshire is kind of like, "If you die from not wearing a seatbelt, it's you're own damned fault". Kind of like how California allows motorcycles to drive between two lanes that have cars in them, but most states don't.
Yeah I don’t know anybody in NH that wears a seatbelt and I know many ppl from there😂
@@Walkinjoy That's a shame, because it shows that people need a law to enforce it to get people into the habit then.
alcohol in the car is very state-by-state. In Louisiana there are tons of drive-thru Daquiri shops where the fact that the straw has the top of the wrapper on while in the beverage means that it is a closed container and totally fine.
I'm from New York State in the U.S.A. & I'll be 66 years old in a couple weeks....Growing up on a dairy farm our second farm was about 1 mile away... 1/2 mile was on a simple town road, but the other 1/2 mile was on US Hwy 11, which is a major state road (not an interstate).... When I was 12 years old I regularly drove a tractor hauling a trailer full of baled hay or maybe hauling a baler & a wagon behind the tractor... I probably drove more responsibly than most of the adults who made stupid choices that endangered other drivers including myself...When you grow up on a farm using heavy equipment you grow up fast....thanks for the video
Hey Lia, Nick the annoying know-it-all American here. I knew you were Dyslexic, but I did not know you were also Non-handed. I too am Dyslexic and non-handed. I so get you, girl. The make an L with you fingers thing doesn't really work for me, they are both L's, it's just one is pointing the wrong way but direction doesn't really matter, because Dyslexia. I do know that I write with my right hand, so as long as my right hand is free, not in a pocket, being in sat upon, or otherwise occupado, I can wave it a bit and know which way is right or not right, AKA left. I do not say that I have Dyslexia, I say I am Dyslexic. Because Dyslexia is not a disease that can be cured, it is a state of being. And while it may be a disability in many ways, it can also be a super power. I did have the opportunity to drive in England, about 25 years ago, and it was cake. Because the car was flipped to match the road, I didn't really notice a difference. Thank god the rental company had automatics, because I can't drive stick, never could get the hang of it. Yes it was very expensive to get the auto transmission back then, but as I had to commute between Lemington Spa an Warwick Uni everyday for a month, it was well worth it. Besides, the company was paying for it. Let's see... I'm in California, in a small city (55k people), called Gilroy. Garlic Capital of the World. We can buy booze at the supermarket, but only between the hours of 6am and 2am (20hrs a day), no handheld devices while driving, though they can be mounted to the dash. Booze can be transported in the main cabin of the car, but cannot be open nor previously opened. Seatbelts are required for all. Fines are primary enforcement, and if a minor is not strapped in, the driver gets the ticket. Children under the age of 6 and under 60lbs must be in child safety seats. Roundabouts, are starting to be a thing, many people hate them, I love them, and the cool kidz call them roundabouts, not traffic circles. A highway is any road with a speed limit of 45mph or more, and a freeway is a highway that is _free_ of intersections. That is, the two crossing roads pass over and under each other, and you have to exit the freeway to turn. There are freeways with 45mph speed limits and there are non-freeway highways with speed limits of 60mph or more. There is one near me nicknamed "Blood Alley". 60mph with uncontrolled cross traffic, exciting! Big trucks are limited to 55mph on freeways/highways and most highways are 45 to 55mph, while most freeways are 60 or 65mph, though there are some multilane, rural, interstate freeways that go as fast 75mph. Oh and Joel, dear, darling, don't use the phrase "rub out" when speaking of "erasers". In America, a "rubber" is what a boy may use to keep the sheets clean while "rubbing one out". Ta!
Quick mnemonic for who drives on the left: the British Isles, all of former British India, the southeast quarter of Africa, most of Oceania, and Japan. This is not precise (e.g., it leaves out Suriname and, yes, Cyprus and Malta), but it's MUCH easier to remember than listing all the countries individually. It may be helpful to note that the center of gravity for driving on the left, is in the Indian Ocean, a bit southeast of Sri Lanka.
I think one reason so many Americans think all of Europe drives on the left, is because we've seen BBC shows that show on-the-left driving because they're filmed in London. Americans tend to assume that the BBC knows more about Europe than Hollywood does, which would make sense, except for one thing: the BBC tends towards a much lower budget than Hollywood, on average, and so they do a lot less authentic/on-location filming and a lot more slapdash/jackleg/make-do.
I don't think the opaque bag has any legal force, that's more of a social/cultural taboo. You don't want people to _see_ you consuming alcohol, because they might think you're an alcoholic deadbeat. This taboo is strongest in small communities in the South and Midwest.
The New Hampshire seatbelt law. It’s not mental, it’s freedom. Freedom to choose for adults. Now, I agree it’s foolish not to wear restraints, as it is proven to keep you safer in an accident. NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt died in what appeared to be a rather minor crash in the final turn of the 2001 Daytona 500, it was discovered he hadn’t cinched up his belts because he preferred the freedom of movement….and a fan favorite was taken from us. After that, NASCAR required all restraints and there hasn’t been a fatality since, even though there have been many more horrendous crashes. Usually, the drivers walk away on their own. So yes, restraints are wise. But in New Hampshire, they feel personal choice and freedom is important. Note…they still require full restraints on children.
New York State has the Distractive Driving Law which one thing in the law states you can’t even have the cell phone in your hand.
New Hampshire’s state legislature sticks with legislating their laws more libertarian where the personal responsibility lies on the individual. The Live Free or Die State.
Majority of state have an Open Container law in vehicle which if stopped for suspicious drinking while intoxicated, a found open alcohol container is highly illegal and could get you arrested as evidence of the crime.
Some states can allow driving at an early age like 14 because those states are very rural and doesn’t pose any danger, even statistically, to other people or traffic. But there’s a condition where as to either how far in radius of their homes they are allowed to drive and/or what times of the day they can drive. Curfews can be mandated. Farmers sons or daughters can drive farming equipment at 13 years old on the roadway or any vehicle license plated as Farming Vehicle.
My father taught me to drive at 14 on backroads. I can say 14 year olds driving more safely than any adult with years of driving. Why? Kids don’t pick up bad driving habits. AND the can’t buy beer to drink to drive intoxicated. Alcoholic beverages is considered to be a drug because of obvious alcohol in it. That’s why there’s a 21 age restriction.
Best way to think of America (or Canada) is the same way you think of Europe. Every time you cross a border, you have different rules. Even within the EU, each country has somewhat different rules (or even side of the street you drive on eg Ireland). America is 50 semi-independent countries where domestic issues (like driving) is under State control while the Federal government (mis)handles our currency, foreign relations, and military.
I don't even own a cellphone/mobile but the next time you're in America, drive across Wyoming, Montana, either of the Dakotas, Kansas, etc... any of the wide open spaces where cars literally can be miles apart and the road is also straight for dozens of miles at a time.... vs trying to drive the motorway near London (or Los Angeles, New York, Boston, etc.)... A handheld device, or even adjusting the volumn on the radio, can cause a wreck in high density/high speed driving while the risk is very low on a straight freeway with a truck barely visible two miles ahead of you in the middle of nowhere.
We have laws in the US against texting and driving and against holding your phone while driving. For professional drivers who drive semi trucks (lorrys) the fine is north of $3,000 US. We also have commercials about people who have lost loved ones due to texting and driving. So that isn’t unique to the UK.
One has to remember how the US is governed. Sovereignty of state and smaller centralized federal government.
But one cannot compare state to state either. Example NJ , dense population vs Wyoming wirh land lots of land. .one could drive for miles in Wyoming without seeing a car...In Jersey , it is your bumper on the next one 😂.
i pick up wine/"booze...on the seat next to me, unopened. No need for trunk. Perhaps in some state they may require, but I am not aware of it.
most states have laws against driving and talking/texting. It is whether how or if it's enforced.
Personally I don't think there is any text worth a life. And today most cars are equipted for bluetooth...just set it up.
More than likely unless it's a N.C. State Trooper aka N.C. Highway Patrol most local jurisdictions like the Charlotte Police or other small towns will most likely just give you a warning. Texting and driving is highly illegal because of how many deaths have been caused...that and drinking and driving is a no no!!!! In NC you have to where your seatbelt in the front and backseat. The reason for the front seatbelt is because of the force of the airbag blowing can actually break your neck if your shoulder lock does not click when you hit your brakes to lock your seatbelts from giving way... It's 16 in NC to be able to drive... I'm a Paramedic here in NC
I believe the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan drive on the left. I'm probably missing a few countries.
J&L - I'm from New York, so my opinions and knowledge are from there, with any certainty. I'm sure others have already said this sort of stuff, but I will pile on.
I've been to all the lower 48 States numerous times, but I am not an expert about any of them, even NY. That said, I too, am often surprised by the different Motor Vehicle laws, state by state.
In NY, you can't get a driver's permit until you are 16, and even if you pass your road test, which most do, there are limits as to what you can do, until at least the age of 18, and actually, altho less restrictive, until you are 21.
Since 21 is the legal age to buy alcohol, if you are under 21 and have even the smallest amount of alcohol in your system, you will lose your license, at least until you are 21, if not longer, and as well, pay some pretty stiff fines.
Even sober, you can't drive at night, less the age of 18, unless, you are under the supervision of a licensed adult (meaning, over 18), as you do so. There are exceptions to that, in regard to 'going to' or 'coming from' a place of employment, and a few other minor exceptions, like directly going to or coming from 'School', 'Church' or 'Social' events, but you damn well better be, as if caught doing not so, the cops take that stuff pretty seriously, at least around here.
Upstate New York, being more rural, and generally, in any State, the more rural, the more lax these laws are, if not just the more lax they are applied. Basically, because of less population density, and that kids still need to get around.
The way it works in theory, is that any local law, has to conform with the laws of the next tier up, so, a Town law needs to comply with a County law, as a County law needs to comply with State law, which has to comply with Federal law (in theory).
There are exceptions, but they are few, with even those that are, being well hammered out beforehand, and for good reasons, if at all.
That is why it is so hard to pass a Federal Law in the States, as it applies to everyone, in every condition, in every State, etc., and that is what Congress, etc., are hammering out, and a good thing that, in my opinion.
Thus, New Hampshire, as the 'Live Free or Die' State, the 'Don't Tread on Me' State. I have family and friends there, and I've been there hundreds of times, and by that, in a way, I know it to be as if a Midwest State in the north-east, being more like Montana, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Idaho or Utah, in terms of population density, and thus, to me anyway, law and culture, being it clearly ain't no New York, and I have no problem with that at all (in fact, I relish it).
In a way, follow my logic, as New Hampshire, and some other of those States mentioned before, seem to have less government interference about the doings of their citizens, in that it is also highly expected for each citizen to 'do right' and that is as best I can put it. Lawfully lawless, particularly in New Hampshire.
This elucidates why Federal Laws are so hard to pass (nearly as hard to pass as a law in New Hampshire), needing to be found in common need, as so many places are so different from each other, and they all deserve respect and autonomy, to a point, being the point.
Most states allow alcohol (at least beer and wine) at grocery/convenience stores. Unfortunately, here in Pennsylvania, we have stores for beer, then another store for wine and liquor. They’re finally experimenting with a handful of places but you’ve got to go to a separate checkout counter. If it’s after 9pm, your only option is to go buy 6 packs from a bar at crazy prices, and you can’t carry out more than 144 ounces. And they just finally allowed alcohol sales on sundays about ten years ago, and it’s only in certain stores…. But bars are allowed to operate from 7am until 2am. Makes no sense.
Mainly, it's illegal everywhere to text and drive. Texting and driving has become the number one avoidable cause of death or injury in traffic accidents, yet it's only a couple hundred dollars fine. DWI on the other hand, is actually only 13% of all injury and deaths, yet you get fined several thousands of dollars, lose your license, have to take class's, and possibly house arrest. And that's just if you were pulled over for a tail light out, but you were driving fine, and you blow a 0.08 bac. But, if you're swerving all over the road, running people off the road, because you are texting, it's only a couple hundred dollars.
I used to live in NH. I live in TN now (grew up here and moved back home after working up North.)
NH's state motto is "Live Free or Die" No seatbelts for adults, no helmets for motorcylist. In the town I lived in, there were a group of "Freestaters" who would gather topless (not during the winter) and smoke the legal limit of pot on the town square. (It was a college town, that had a hippie vibe, and a couple of hours from a VT nudist colony.)
People in NH are proud to keel NH free.
Permit = learners permit. You must be with a person 21 or older (maybe 18+ in some states)
Driver's license at 16 upon completing and passing drivers ed. and possibly an additional practical exam. And if you have not done that by then, and in some other states where there is no drivers' ed in school, you have to do exams, preferably with a course in a traffic school, but then you must be 18+
In Texas. You can have what's called a hardship license if you're brought up in a single family life. Not 14, but 15. The legal driving age in Texas is 16. I've been driving since age 16.
In the United States. You can go to war at age 17 but not allowed to smoke or drink until age 21.🤦♀️ I say, just make everything legal at age 20. No teen at the end of the age. Simple theory to me. 🤷🏻♀️
Roundabouts vs Traffic Circles/Rotaries: We definitely DO call them roundabouts. We used to have what is called "traffic circles" which look similar, but constructed with tangental entrances and you gave right of way to traffic entering the circle. Needless to say, they caused many accidents and were phased out. This is the primary reason that the US was resistant to roundabouts - the bad memories of traffic circles. However, this isn't the case now, as we've had roundabouts multiplying all over in the past 30 years, and they are well marked and laid out that it doesn't cause many people trouble at all. In fact, I would say the road markings and signage for them beats the UK ones by a mile.
And before you go off on roundabouts, they are actually quite common in the US. We don’t call them “traffic circles”. They are roundabouts. We have them everywhere here. The one that will confuse you is the diverging diamond intersections. Those are gaining in popularity and the first one in America was introduced where I lived in Springfield Missouri. ua-cam.com/video/A0sM6xVAY-A/v-deo.html
I would be scared to death to drive in Britain. The United States Postal Service has a right side driver's seat. I think I could get used to that but I have dyslexia and get directions opposite often. 🤷🏻♀️🤦♀️
In the US we do have both roundabouts AND traffic circles. Roundabouts generally follow the same rules as they do in the UK (except that we drive around them clockwise in the US). Traffic circles have different rules. For example, in a traffic circle must stop to allow someone to enter. In a roundabout, traffic in the roundabout always has the right of way.
I live in New Hampshire we have a "hands free Law" also seatbelts are only required under 18. When I was younger it was 12 and under. I still used one anyway though and most people here do wear one. We have liquor stores on the highway here. You can have alcohol in cabin but sealed don't know about opaque bag but they give you paper bags at the liquor store so maybe. You can drive 15 1/2 but not license until 16 there are curfews in place for younger drivers and for the first 3 months you can't drive anyone besides adults and family members.
NY it's illegal for handheld devices. I can use my bluetooth through my radio. NY you can get your permit at 16. I think you can't drive after dark until you're 18 or unless you have a job.
Backseat driver is NOT a good thing Joel, it usually means someone telling you everything you are doing wrong, be it driving, directions, safety, etc.
Just FYI
I lasted two minutes of your modern day rambling and “liking”…..
I didn’t even get to the laws your title tells us about. Truly it was like watching my friends kids talk nothing about nothing…
This is polite, take note and be a little more focused on your delivery please - that’s constructive criticism.