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Strange Local California Driving Laws That You May Be Breaking

Driving in California can be a delightful experience when you drive alongside the coastal highway.

There can be a situation where you are stuck in traffic jams in urban areas like Los Angeles or San Francisco.

It is always a good idea to be aware of the various laws in California before you decide to drive around.

The various laws include rules for overtaking, laws for maintaining visibility, laws for taking U-turns, laws relating to alcohol, and speed limits.

These laws may sound strange but really, they are just there to prevent a vehicle accident.

Strange Local California Driving Laws That You May Be Breaking

When driving, you must ensure you know all Californian laws to save yourself from hefty fines and legal issues.

Driving Laws in California

Laws for Overtaking and Turning

  • Drive on the right side and pass from the left side.
  • You should pass on the right side when the highway has two or more lanes that are directly connected to your direction of travel. The driver should turn left instead of going straight when he is ahead of you and you are traveling straight.
  • Never pass any driver who signals that he is about to turn left.
  • Two vehicles in the same direction should never turn towards the left together. They should turn towards a common direction one after another. This means they should never lose control of their vehicle while turning from one direction to another.
  • A left turn can be made from the red light on a one-way street only onto another one-way street.
  • Right turns are permitted after you stop at a red light unless there is a sign which signals right turn is prohibited.

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Laws for Visibility

  • Maintain a decent speed limit when you drive on a narrow mountain road and you can blow the horn if you can’t see the vehicle in front of you which is more than 200 feet away.
  • You should switch on your headlights 30 minutes after sunset and keep them on until at least 30 minutes before sunrise.
  • During severe weather conditions keep the low beam headlights on and use your windshield wipers to deal with severe weather conditions.
  • If you are using a high beam on a 2 lane highway in the outskirts of the city, you should switch back to a low beam when you see an upcoming vehicle.

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Laws for U-Turns

  • You can make a U-turn if you see a double yellow line on the road because turning at this point is safe and legal.
  • If you are going through a residential lane and you realize you took a wrong turn, you can easily make a U-turn only after checking the signal or checking there is no vehicle behind you.
  • At any intersection on the green light, you can make a U-turn unless there is a sign which states “No U-Turn Permitted”.
  • If you pass through a divided highway with an opening at the center of the highway, you can make a U-turn if no signs prohibit you from doing so.
Strange Local California Driving Laws That You May Be Breaking

Miscellaneous Rules for Driving in California

  • Always ensure you have your driving license in your wallet or purse at all times.
  • Never use a cell phone while you are driving.
  • Never drink and drive and the alcohol content in your body should not be above 0.8%.
  • Always keep the speed limit of your vehicle under check.

Conclusion

There are various laws you need to be aware of before you drive on various roads in California.

Being aware of various laws keep you safe at all times and also keeps the people around you safe while traveling.

Obeying driving rules is a good habit because it saves you hefty fines as well.

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