Learning how to drive a vehicle can be fun but getting a traffic ticket is not. Driver’s education includes more than just starting a car, accelerating, and knowing how to put the brakes on. Knowing the traffic rules and regulations is perhaps the most important aspect of driving. Besides the obvious road safety hazard, traffic violations also come at a hefty price. Getting a ticket can cost you a lot of time, a few hundred dollars in fines, and adds negative points to your license, which drives up your car insurance costs as well. Here’s a list of some of the most ticketed traffic violations in the United States to look out for:
Speeding
Speeding is the most obvious but also the most common violation in America. The law states that drivers are not permitted to drive faster than the posted speed limit of a roadway. These speed limits are allotted according to the area and help save lives. However, some drivers tend to forget about the permitted maximum speed and go over the posted limit, resulting in heavy fines of up to $500+, loss of license, additional traffic schooling, and other punishments. Instead, form a habit of always checking the speed limit when learning how to drive, and save yourself from getting a traffic violation.
Running a Stop Sign or Red Light
Blowing through on a red light or not stopping at a stop sign is blatantly breaking the law. However, a lot of drivers who are ticketed for running a stop sign or a red light aren’t actually that aggressive or bold. It is always best to wait for a second while the light turns from red to green and slow down at yellows (unless it would be dangerous to do so). If you see a stop sign, do not just slowly roll through even if there are not any cars nearby. Always confirm that you have come to a complete stop for at least three full seconds and then check both ways to ensure the coast is clear. Apply the same stopping and three-second rule while making a right on a red light.
Be sure to come to a complete stop before moving forward to avoid risking a ticket. There are several hundred fatalities every year in the United States due to drivers ignoring a red light or a stop sign. This is why ‘Failure to stop’ is one of the priciest tickets to get. Abiding by the traffic rules is one of the easiest ways to avoid risking your life as well as others on the road.
Not Signaling
When switching lanes even seasoned drives tend to forget one of the most basic rules, signaling. Driving itself can be fun but when you are behind the wheel you are responsible for keeping yourself and your passengers safe as well as the safety of other drivers and pedestrians on the road. While shifting lanes may seem obvious to you, other drivers cannot read your mind. This is why it is crucial to let your neighboring vehicles know where you intend to move next. Signaling when turning or changing lanes can help avoid getting yourself rear-ended or side-swept by another car.
Driving Under the Influence / Drunk Driving (DUI)
Drunk driving is the dumbest decision you can make as a driver. Over 10,000 people lose their lives each year as an outcome of drivers handling a vehicle under the influence. Subsequently, the penalties for driving while impaired are steep and can include fines of thousands of dollars, losing your driver’s license, losing your car insurance, and in some cases jail time. Additionally, driving while drunk often leads to violations of other traffic regulations. An easy way to avoid this situation is by designating a non-drinker as the driver or calling for a cab service.
How Drivers Ed in Athens Can Help You
Other common traffic violations of America include reckless driving, distracted driving, following too closely, and wrong-way tickets. When you are learning the basics of driving it is important to memorize and apply the traffic rules and regulations to your driving to avoid getting ticketed. If you're searching for a private driving instructor to help you master the wheels, head over to Athens Driving Prep for the best behind-the-wheel Drivers Ed in Athens, GA