Why can’t you just not submit to an alcohol test if you’re not driving? I don’t know upon which principle that law is created in Australia but in most US states it’s part of your agreement when you get your drivers license is that you will submit to tests upon demand or your license gets suspended. If you are riding a horse, and a cop wants to breathalyze you and you say no, what are they going to charge you with?
Asked and answered.
Richmond, VA
-Slowing down in bad whether just makes more problems. Acceptable safe speed on I-95 in a blizzard is 60.
-Nobody goes 65 on 288. If you do, you are probably either extremely old or you are an illegal immigrant driving in front of a cop.
-Turn signals are only used if - A) you may be turning sometime within the next 5 miles, or B) you are already turning. The same applies for lane changes.
-“Reduce Speed Ahead” signs are obviously errors.
-SUVs must be driven like sports cars. Sports cars can be driven however you want. (It’s weird seeing a old man in a Mustang GT500 slowly drive away from a stoplight)
Because you are using a road vehicle. It’s nothing to do with the licence do drive a motor vehicle. Cyclists can be fined for disobeying traffic laws, including DUI. With some slight variations that both advantage and disadvantage cyclists, if you’re on a bike, you’re subject to the rules of the road.
Sorry, forgot to add, you get charged with refusing to undergo an alcohol test. The penalties involved are comparable to the penalties for failing an alcohol test.
Now it may be that when you appear in court, the judge might take a skateboard less seriously than a car (or he may not), but as far as the cops are concerned, you’re responsible for the control of a vehicle, and you are obliged to submit to the breathalyser.
Roanoke, VA:
- Stop.
That’s pretty much it.
Just stop. Anytime. All the time. Wherever and whenever you like. For any reason. For no reason. Squirrel in the road? Stop. Squirrel in the tree next to the road? Stop. Turning left with no traffic? Stop. Turning right with no traffic? Stop. Yellow light? Stop. Green light? Stop. No light? Stop. Going straight north through an intersection with stop signs in the east-west directions? Stop. Merging on the interstate? Stop. DRIVING on the interstate? Stop.
I swear to God, brake pad manufacturers must make half their annual profits off this town alone. If any nonlocals were getting confused about the number of auto body repair places around here, they’ll understand as soon as they almost rear-end Brake-Slamming Dumbass #5,637.
I always thought that the point of driving was to go places. Apparently, in Roanoke, I’m wrong.
San Diego:
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You are perfectly safe driving at 70 MPH while rain is falling.
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If you come upon a long line of cars slowing down to take your exit, feel free to pass everyone and force your way into the line just before the actual exit.
in toronto:
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speed limit signs are a government make-work project. you drive with the flow of the rest of the traffic, or you will be pulled over for standing out (too fast or too slow.)
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cutting through residential neighbouhoods will not work (except for taxis,) they are designed as mazes of one-way streets, and the direction of travel may change every couple of blocks. in fact, you are likely to exit the neighbourhood farther from your destination than where you entered.
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taxis are immune to all rules, so long as their actions do not result in a collision. also, taxi drivers do get paid enough to yield.
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when driving on a streetcar route, you must not drive on the tracks, instead stagger your vehicle over two lanes, even if one of those lanes is in the opposite direction; unless there is an oncoming streetcar. they don’t veer too well.
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while taking the streetcar often gets you there faster than driving can, following the streetcar will guarantee that you are late. i don’t know why this is true, but it definately is.
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buses have the right of way, always. the drivers are not paid enough to yield.
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pedestrians will cross any street, at any point, between intersections or crosswalks, and they will not run, except to avoid taxis.
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a bicycle is just another vehicle, and will be treated as such (except for speed limits.) all drivers know this, but only about 2/3 of cyclists know this. be aware, and have one hand hovering over the horn when cyclists are within visual range.
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depending on the width of the intersection, 2 - 4 vehicles will turn left after a red, so suck it. (except intersections criss-crossed with yellow paint - drivers turning left after the signal goes amber in these intersections are blown up by landmines.)
on the 400-series highways:
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when three or more lanes wide, the cruising speed for the leftmost lane(s) are 130 - 150km/h (depending on weather conditions, construction, etc… don’t be fooled by those “fines doubled for speeding in construction zone” signs); for the middle lane(s) ~120km/h; and the righmost lane(s) are for trucks and anyone preparing to exit (except for rush hours, when it is anything goes, as long as you don’t crash – usually a uniform 80 - 110km/h pace across all lanes, except near major interchanges where average speeds are actually negative. (this applies to both express & collector lanes, though collector generally run about 10 - 15km/h slower.)
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always signal when merging into a faster paced lane, or you may regret it.
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never signal when merging into a slower paced lane, or you may regret it.
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if the vehicle behind you flashes highs at you, merge the fuck right. you are in the way, and it is not gonna slow down.
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left lane exit ramps, though rare, still require a speed of at least 120km/h, even during a blizzard.
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when two lanes wide, the left lane has a cruising speed of 120 - 130km/h (except when a truck travelling 1km/h faster than the truck ahead of it decides to pass.) and the right lane is for truckers, suckers, and those about to exit.
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outside of the gta, always listen to the local rock station… you will be informed of any upcoming radar traps (unless you happen to be the sucker calling the local rock station to inform them of the radar trap.)
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i suppose this goes for everywhere, but never, ever, ever, ever maintain a constant speed in another vehicle’s blindspot, unless you are suicidal.
Yikes, this scenario reminds me of a couple of times when I visited San Francisco and took Supershuttle in from SFO. A couple times the driver parked the van pointing uphill on an insanely steep street and just set the brake without crimping the wheels to the curb or anything like that. Then he’d help the person getting out with their luggage and just leave the rest of us in the van like that. Nerve-wracking, I tell you.
I’m glad you guys have BART to the airport now; much better than the Shuttle.
Here’s one I thought was quite funny. Evidently one dude on the I-80 figured that an unwritten rule of the road for him in his brand new SUV was, “When there’s a major traffic jam on the I-80 East going towards Sacramento, SUV drivers may then drive on the shoulder to pass all the stopped traffic.”
Too bad for him. Part of the traffic was a marked California Highway Patrol car. Every single one of whom the SUV driver passed, gleefully honked, smiled, and waved as we passed him and the officer. It was in a construction zone, during rush hour. Oh, yes. I’m sure the driver enjoyed the fine multipliers.