What are the most commonly broken traffic laws?

". ." (xllx) 02/23/2014 at 12:43 • Filed to: traffic laws, oppostielock, rules, traffic code

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While traffic laws are generally meant to prevent traffic from descending into utter chaos, some of them get more respect than others. Let's try to list the ones that are being broken more often than not.

I'll start the list based on my personal experience:

Speed limits

Obviously. While I can't say that speed limits are utterly disragrded, the vast majority people seem to follow the informal +10 kph rule, where it's perfectly OK to drive 10 kph faster than the posted limits. The police don't usually bother with stopping people who don't exceed the limit by at least a bit more than that, and the speed cameras are set to have a 10 kph tolerance anyway. While this phenomenon may not be an entirely bad thing, it still involves breaching the traffic rules.

Rules against using electronic devices

Again, I don't think anyone can disagree that it's very common to see someone driving while they're on the phone. While I'm happy to report that texting or updating social media from behind the wheel doesn't seem to be a widespread issue where I live, it seems to be quite common in some other countries. Taking a call (especially an urgent one) I can understand. While it may not be all that smart and definitely serves to dramatically lower the standard of driving of that particular person I personally don't see it as something all that terrible. Texting on the other hand is a completely different animal. It seems to me like it's one of the stupidest things you can possibly do while driving without actively being malicious or suicidal. I have absolutely no sympathy for people who do it.

Turn right on red procedure

In my country turning right on red is permitted wherever you see a green arrow like the one depicted above. The green arrow comes on at certain tymes within the traffic lights cycle to conditionally permit drivers to turn right during a red light. Drivers who want to take advantage of the arrow are supposed to come to a complete stop before the lights (as if they were a stop sign), yield to any pedestrians and then drive past the lights. There they have to give way to any cars who may have a green light at the time and finally turn if there is an opening. The problem is that I seem to be the only person in the entire country who actually performs the initial stop. Everyone else seems to just blast past the lights and only stop to give way to other cars if there are any. This makes the required stop quite dangerous since other drivers don't expect it.

Stop signs

Around here they seem to be quite often regarded as 'roll through signs'.

Parking laws

Where I live whenever somebody parks on a sidewalk they're required to leave at least 1.5 m of the sidewalk unblocked. This is to make sure that larger objects like prams or wheelchairs are able to comfortably get through. Unfortunetely, it's very common to see cars left in a way that will prevent this from happening.

Laws regarding lights

There is a staggering number of ways in which those laws are commonly broken. To begin with I'll mention people coming from abroad (mostly from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine) who don't know about the fact that my country requires drivers to have their lights on at all times. The same people seem to also have a weird fondness for turning their foglights on when it gets dark. Perhaps they think it looks cool. Then there are idiots whose lights seem to be adjusted in a way more suitable for blinding UFOs than illuminating the road ahead. It's especially exhiliating when you get stuck in front of a person like that for a longer period of time. Also, a honourable mention goes to idiots who illegaly convert their headlights to xenons. According to EU law all cars with HID headlights must have appropriately certified light units, headlight washers, and automatic leveling systems to prevent dazzling other drivers. People who used a 30 dollar Chinese conversion kit they bought online have none of those and boy is it easy to notice when you're driving at night. And I don't even want to talk about people who turn on their foglights at the slightest hint of decreased visibility.

Indicator laws

While not indicating is not as common (at least here) as some people will lead you to believe, popping a blinker on is such a simple thing that I'm baffled why doesn't everybody do it whenever they should.

What do you think is the most commonly broken rule of the road? Can you think of others that get little respect?

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > . . 02/23/2014 at 12:51

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Speed limits take the cake by far.

CAR_IS_MI > . . 02/23/2014 at 12:55

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I say speed limit one too, but it happens both ways around here. You get in the residential areas with 25 -35 mph limits and people go 50, then you get out onto major roadways with 55+mph limits and 3-4 lanes across and no one can be bothered to go over 40mph...

911e46z06 > . . 02/23/2014 at 12:57

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CAR_IS_MI > . . 02/23/2014 at 12:58

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The other one that gets me is right of ways. NOBODY understands them around here. Its embarrassing. You get two cars at a cross section opposite each other and the person who pulled up first should have the right of way, but the two morons sit there playing the "wait and see what the other guy does" game for so long that they miss any openings in traffic and just hold up the whole line.

Big Bubba Ray > CAR_IS_MI 02/23/2014 at 13:03

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This 100%. If I pull up to a stop sign and somebody is already there, unsure of what to do, I fucking gun it and go. I don't wait for indecisive people to figure out when to go. It completely disrupts the flow of traffic. This really frustrates me.

. . > 911e46z06 02/23/2014 at 13:06

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I thought about it, but since it's not a big issue where I live I left it off the list.

. . > CAR_IS_MI 02/23/2014 at 13:09

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I think that this rule itself is terrible. With all the indecisive people on the roads there is no way it would work correctly. Luckily, there is no such thing where I live.

. . > CAR_IS_MI 02/23/2014 at 13:11

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It's pretty annoying. There are lots and lots of people who go 110-120 kph on regular single carriageway roads (where 90 is the limit) and then stick to the same speed on motorways where they can go 140.

CAR_IS_MI > Big Bubba Ray 02/23/2014 at 13:26

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I see it all the time in the morning, there is a 3 way stop out of my neighborhood, and there is always that one person who is too timid and allows 3-4 cars to cycle through before going, meanwhile, holding up 30 cars behind them. I just want to rip their keys out and throw them onto the highway (the keys) - you can't drive anymore.

speedygopher > . . 02/23/2014 at 13:45

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Most days it feels like 90% of Texas drivers are unaware of what a turn signal is. Or if they are aware of it, they don't know when to use it. Flip it on before you hit the brakes. Flip it on before you change lanes. Flip it on before you get into the turn lane. BEFORE!

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > . . 02/23/2014 at 15:44

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Turning left over a double yellow line (while not technically illegal, it is annoying).

Often ends with idiots parked in busy roads, blinker on, trying to get into the Exit Only drive of the Longhorn Steakhouse. Ugh, makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

Singhjr96 > CAR_IS_MI 02/23/2014 at 17:46

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The worst is when it's your right of way, and just as you are about to go, the other person randomly decides to start moving into your way, after standing still.

Or when they sit there and it's their right of way, but they just sit there and wait. Then you decide to go after about 20secs, but so do they suddenly.

Or when they just sit there, and are like, you go! no you go! you go! no you! This one is somewhat understandable though if you both stop at the same time though.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > . . 02/23/2014 at 21:09

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Forgot passing on the right.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAR_IS_MI 02/27/2014 at 12:37

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Yeah, it's not speed that's necessarily unsafe, it's vehicles travelling in close proximity at far different speeds that is what's really dangerous.

It is called the speed "limit" however... Some highways have a lower limit as well, but do all? The turnpikes in Oklahoma have a minimum speed of 50 mph, which can still be very unsafe when most cars are travelling 80 (5 over the 75 mph limit).

Found this:

From the Michigan Vehicle Code ( MCL 257.628 ):
"The minimum speed limit on all freeways is 55 miles per hour except if reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law or in compliance with a special permit issued by an appropriate authority."

CAR_IS_MI > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/27/2014 at 12:57

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Right. Not all states have minimums, and some states only have minimums in certain counties or certain roads. This works in theory if it is enforced...

The problem I have is that people seem to have no consciousnesses about where they are or what they are doing. When the speed limit as 25 and I can hear you flooring it from a stop around the corner and you then fly by me at 40 on a street where kids are out playing, that IS a problem.

This same person I will see on a four lane wide road with a speed limit of 55 still going 40. Pay attention, be aware of your surroundings.

Mikolai > . . 03/02/2014 at 16:22

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I will say that it's a bit different here in Florida for "Turn right when red". Usually, if the light is red, you can still turn, but you have to make a FULL stop before doing so (hence why traffic cameras are becoming more common here).

Green arrows, on the other hand, have more of a yield factor, meaning if it's green, you have the right of way since all the other traffic going the same way is stopped on red.

Also, I'm guilty of being the person that turns on their fog lights during night time. lol There's rarely a chance to use them here, but I don't see them as harmful as using high beams for night time driving...on already well-lit roads. Fog lights give the driver a little bit more visibility while not blinding others, and letting other drivers be more aware of your presence.

. . > Mikolai 03/02/2014 at 19:36

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Over here a green arrow that's part of a full set of lights (as in it has an amber light above it and a red aboce that) means that you have an unconditional right of way while turning right. However, a green arrow like the one depicted within a post (a single module stuck to the side of a full set of lights) means that you have a conditional possibility to turn right on red (provided you stop, yield, etc.). Those arrows only ever come on when the main set of lights is showing a red.

Dest > speedygopher 03/03/2014 at 10:06

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I LOVE the people that put their blinker on AS they start braking. Totally useless!