Road safety is the main factor that you should consider when you’re driving out in the road. Year by year, road accidents continue to rise becoming a concern not just for the United States, but also worldwide. In the United States alone, almost $100 billion is spent and lost due to motor vehicle accidents. Ensuring road safety is just as easy as following the rules and driving regulations that are being enacted in the US. Adhering to these rules and regulations ensure everyone the safety that they deserve.
Know the Law
The first thing that you should know about driving in America is that every state enacts their own set of rules and regulations. If you’re going through a road trip across the country, it’s best if you have the right knowledge about the unique laws and regulations that are included in the state’s law. Although rules and laws vary, these things are for sure: you should always have car insurance and you must adhere to the general rules. Never go out of your home without getting information about the laws that you should abide in the states that you’re visiting.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is highly prohibited in all parts of the United States. If suspected of being under the influence, an officer can stop your vehicle and require you to get a blood alcohol content test (BAC). The BAC test varies per jurisdiction but there are threshold levels that dictates whether you’ve committed a criminal offense. Some states considers a 0.05% BAC level as an offense while others can go higher up to 0.12%. Every year, driving under the influence results to longer prison sentence and expensive bails.
In some cases, if you lose your license due to drink driving. You can seek the services of a hardship license lawyer to help you obtain your license. There must be proof that losing your license will have a dramatic effect on your life or ability to take care of others who are dependent on you or yourself. These types of applications won’t apply to everyone but a specialist lawyer can help you look at your options.
Speed Limits
Speed limits are set by the states governing the road or highway. There are minimum and maximum speed limits that should be followed on major roads. In western states, the highest speed limit is 75 miles per hour, while eastern states can go as high as 70 miles per hour. Larger vehicles like trucks have lower speed limits due to their sheer weight. If caught speeding, you are issued a ticket and your license may be revoked with continuous disregard. Speed limits are also dependent on the locality of the area. Suburban parts of the state requires you to drive slower, reducing the risk of causing accidents and fatalities.
Seatbelt and Tire Requirements
All seats are required to have seatbelts installed. Not only can seatbelts save lives, it can also reduce the risk of causing major deaths during accidents. A police officer can stop and issue a ticket if the driver or a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt. Another important part of your vehicle are your tires. New tires typically has the tread depth of 10/32 inches. Once your tires reach 2/32 inches, you have to replace your tires. Replacing your tires reduces the risk for accidents caused by busted and flat tires. You can check out Vogue Tires for available tires that are available for different types of vehicles.
For your next journey around the country, make sure that you know the road rules and regulations by heart. Adhering to these driving regulations maintains road safety not just for you and your family, but also to those driving alongside your car.
