Immigrating to the United States requires a thorough understanding of the lifestyle in the United States:
First: In the United States, the law stipulates that pedestrians have absolute right of way. Cars must yield to pedestrians, not the other way around. If you wish to challenge this law, be prepared for hefty fines, and in severe cases, imprisonment.
Second: At every intersection in the United States, there will be traffic signs, either traffic lights or stop signs. Traffic lights operate the same as in China: red means stop, green means go. The STOP sign requires special attention; when you encounter a STOP sign, you must stop your vehicle for three seconds completely, without rolling (Completely Stop). If your wheels are still moving forward, even at a very slow speed, it does not count as a complete stop. Ensure there are no pedestrians or vehicles on either side before proceeding. Even in a deserted area, you must adhere to this rule; otherwise, be prepared to pay a fine if caught.
Third: If there are children in the vehicle, they must be in child safety seats. Requirements vary by state; California mandates that children under 60 pounds or under 6 years old must use child safety seats. This expense should not be overlooked! Rental car companies offer child safety seats for rent, which can be quite costly; the rental fee for two weeks could buy you a cheap child safety seat at Walmart.
Fourth: If a yellow school bus stops and extends its STOP sign on both sides, you must stop, regardless of whether it is in front of you or on the opposite side of the road. Even if there are plenty of empty spaces to pass, do not attempt to overtake. The fines for ignoring a stopped school bus are among the highest!
Fifth: If all passengers in your vehicle are able-bodied or you do not have a disabled parking permit, do not park in disabled parking spaces. In all public parking areas in the United States, there are designated spaces for disabled individuals, usually the most convenient spots. Parking in these spaces will result in hefty fines!
Sixth: If there is only one person in your vehicle, do not use the CarPool lane. On highways in the United States, there are lanes designated for vehicles with two or more passengers, similar to the overtaking lane on our highways. If a single-occupant vehicle is found in this lane by the police, the fine is $471!
Seventh: If you are unfortunate enough to be pulled over by the police for violating traffic regulations, do not exit your vehicle. What you should do is pull over to the side of the road, remain seated in your car with both hands at ten and two on the steering wheel, and wait for the police to approach. If you exit the vehicle without being instructed to do so by the police, you may face more than just a fine; it could escalate to a dangerous situation!
Eighth: Just like in China, remember to purchase insurance when renting a car. This is common knowledge, so I won’t elaborate. However, it is important to note that if you have a collision with another vehicle, do not hastily admit fault without understanding the situation; of course, if it is a clear rear-end collision, denying fault may be seen as impolite. Regardless of whether you are at fault or not, you should call the police and your insurance company (you can call the insurance company later, as long as you have the police report), and wait for them to handle the situation.
Ninth: Remember to turn on your headlights, even during the day. Most people in the United States drive with their headlights on, even in daylight, for safety reasons. In urban areas, you cannot use high beams, and even when driving on mountain roads at night, you must only use high beams when oncoming traffic is more than 25 feet away; otherwise, a fine awaits you.
