The Ultimate California Driving Guide – Rules, Laws & Tips
Enjoying your rented convertible along the coast and driving as a tourist in California – a dream many visitors have. Besides all the fun coming your way, there are some road rules and tips you need to know as a tourist. From strict traffic rules to road courtesy, things you want to know before you start your road trip.
The traffic in California’s biggest cities is gigantic. It can be intimidating for foreigners when you see pictures of full multi-lane highways, new road signs, huge intersections and traffic rules you’re not used to. Let’s start with the main differences between driving in California and for example Germany.
Highways and Freeways
A highway is like a German/Austrian ‘Bundesstrasse’ and a freeway is like an ‘Autobahn’. A freeway allows higher speeds and has controlled access/exit ramps while a highway can have traffic lights, intersections and pedestrian crossings. And there are roads with blue/red signs stating an Interstate which crosses stateliness. (picture)
Those roads are called by numbers like 5, 110, 405 or rarely by their names like ‘San Diego Freeway’ (I405). What tourist are not necessarily used to are the cardinal directions (GER: Himmelsrichtungen) that are stated on the road signs – North, South, East and West.
As a crucial tip to not get lost in the directions, take a minute and look at a map. Try to remember major streets and crossings like freeways and Boulevards (Blvd) before starting a trip. It will help you a lot when you have a glue where E/W and N/S actually is in a major city like Los Angeles. Often people will explain to you directions like ‘southbound on the 405 and then east on the 110‘ for example.
.
Rules on Highways & Freeways
Carpool Lanes – Also called and named HOV lane. Usually on freeways, you need to be at least two persons in a vehicle to be allowed to use them. Read the signs to avoid a ticket!
Entry ramps on freeways – merges to the first lane automatically without signs (!). Be aware of this tricky situation and use the blinker to make it even clearer that you enter the lane. Some ramps have traffic lights to control the flow entering the freeway during busy times. Follow the signs!
Overtaking on freeways – yes, there is a ‘Drive-on-the-Right’ rule, but it’s often hard to implement with 4-6 lanes in one direction. The safest way to overtake a car is left, but nevertheless right is allowed as well. Just be careful to do so, check mirrors and use blinkers because there are some ruthless drivers out there. Implement the look over your shoulder while driving as learned back in the day during driving school.
Lane splitting – between cars and motorcycles is legal, as long as it is done safely and at a max speed of 40 mph. Don’t be surprised or scared when a motorcycle passes you very close between the lanes.
.
Differences you need to know when driving as a tourist on California roads:
Stop Signs – many neighborhood intersections have stop signs from all directions. While Germans or Europeans in general are used to ‘right-before-left’, in the US is true ‘first come – first drive’. It’s unbelievable for foreigners, but it works like a charm. Always do a full stop to be sure no (hidden) police car will pull you over.
School Busses – when there is a bus standing at the side of the road with red lights flushing, you have to stop in both directions!
Police, Firefighter & EMT’s – When they’re coming with the lights and sirens on you have to stop on both sides (not on freeways or seperated road directions) and make space for them to pass.
Traffic lights – there are a lot of them on bigger intersections and they’re mounted behind the intersection, not right in front of you as Europeans are used to. The yellow phase is very long and unfortunately drivers use it to speed up instead of slowing down. Down hit the breaks the second it turns yellow, that can lead to an accident. And when it turns green again, watch first if all the directions are really clear.
Right-Turns on Red – can be tricky because you’ve to watch in all directions at once, but it makes the traffic much easier. Those turns are legal as long as there is no sign that forbids it. Stop at the line, set the blinker, watch, drive.
U-Turns – are legal at intersections (with or without traffic lights) with the appropriate sign. Don’t do it otherwise, you will risk a not so cheap traffic ticket.
Parking – There are many signs around parking areas. Read them well! Getting towed or ticketed is expensive. You may also notice colored curbs on some main roads you should remember. Red – NO parking. White – passenger loading, max. 5 min. Green – short term parking, but read the signs. Yellow – commercial delivery/loading only, max. 30 min. Blue – with handicap placard/plate only.
Alcohol – The limit for drinking and driving is 0,08% and very equal to Europe. Drinking under influence (DUI) is a hard violation and the fine can be several hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately, too many accidents are happening because of that.
Cell Phones– Despite seeing many drivers with a pone in their hands, don’t do it! It’s against the law. Don’t risk an accident on your vacation.
Pedestrians – they always have the right of way, even when they do illegal things like crossing a road at a red light. You drive a ‘deadly weapon’ and with the US law you don’t want to get sued.
Potholes, Bumps & Ditches – are common on the roads across the cities. Always have an eye on the road conditions in front of you. When a driver hit the brakes in the middle of an intersection without an obvious reason for you, there is maybe a ditch, bump or hole coming your way.
And here some extra tips at the end to make driving as a tourist in California as safe as possible. Before you hit the road with your convertible, don’t forget to pack your water bottles, hats, sunscreen and sun glasses. Things we Angelinos would never leave home without.
TiP: Check out some handbooks or even test your US driving knowledge on the official dmv.gov website.
Have a safe Ride!
PS: When you think that this is all too overwhelming for you – let us be your driver. Check out some private LA Tours we offer or request your very own personalized tour.