Road Rules in California That Out-of-State Folks Must Master

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Planning on a trip to anywhere in California? Before you do so, it is imperative that you recognize and be aware of the state’s road rules and driving laws. Most of them fairly make sense, as these rules are for the benefit of California and non-California motorists. Not following any one of them may result in you receiving a ticket from a traffic officer. Also, if you failed to follow any of the road rules in the state, it could result in an accident that may injure you.

Here are some of the California road rules that you need to keep in mind, especially if you are from outside the state:

• If you are planning to travel to California on a motorcycle, you must always wear your helmet while on the road. Also, if you are traveling along a freeway, you are allowed to split lanes, as long as you do it in a safe and prudent manner.
• If you are driving a sedan, SUV, or any vehicle with passengers, all of them, including you, must wear seat belts. If you have children, have them seated at the back seat of the vehicle with approved child-restraint holders.
• You may pass or “overtake” the vehicle in front of you on the inside, as long as you do so safely and in a properly-marked lane. This must only be done on highways and freeways with multiple lanes.
• When encountering pedestrians along the way, always stop whenever they are about to cross the street. You must stop right away as they enter either a marked or unmarked crosswalk, as pedestrians in California have the so-called right-of-way.
• Riding a bicycle must be done on designated lanes that are marked by a continuous thick white line on the right-hand side of the road. Beware, however, when you ride your bicycle on lanes with vehicles parked on the side; drivers or passengers are not always aware of approaching bicycles and carelessly open the car doors to get out.
• If you are from outside California and you just started working here, it is best that you register your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state. You may also get a California driver’s license so that you can legally drive here.
• You must file an accident report with the DMV within 10 days of the accident in case you get involved in an accident which resulted in an injury or death, or resulted in more than $750.00 in total damages.

More importantly, if ever you get injured and you believe the other party involved caused the accident, you must immediately seek medical attention. After which, you must contact any of the top personal injury lawyers in California to help you determine the amount of damages you may receive from the liable party.