samsloan
2012-04-24 15:06:53 UTC
How to Pass the USA Driver License Test for Chinese Drivers
中国人如何通过美国驾驶执照的考试
ISBN 4871872173 9784871872171
A visitor from another country is allowed to get a drivers license in
the USA, as long as he is in the US legally, even if he does not have
a social security number. The exact procedures for this vary from
state to state. New rules were passed by the states for this in
accordance with the new Bush Rules under the Department of Homeland
Security. Although these rules are burdensome, they can be passed. The
driving test is available in 13 languages, including Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish and Russian.
It is important to know the differences between the driving rules for
the different states. California in particular has some unusual rules.
The main difference between California and most other states is that
in California “The Pedestrian has the Right of Way”. This means that
if a pedestrian, who is anybody other than somebody in a car, a
motorcycle or a bicycle, steps into the street, all cars must stop and
allow the pedestrian to pass.
This rule does not exist in New York and in most other states.
Because of this rule, Californians have a tendency to cross the street
while reading a book or doing something else without even bothering to
look up to see if a car is coming. Therefore, when driving in
California, one must be constantly vigilant and watch to see if
somebody just casually walks in front of your car.
Here is an example of this rule. On January 25, 2006, Andrea Bronfman,
the 60-year old wife of Seagram Billionaire Charles Bronfman, was
walking her dog in front of her home at the corner of Fifth Avenue and
East 65th Street in New York City. When the light turned green, she
crossed 65th Street, paying more attention to her dog than to the
cars. Fifth Avenue is a one-way street, so a green light for her was
also a green light for south-bound cars on Fifth Avenue. Accordingly,
a taxi driver coming south on Fight Avenue made a perfectly legal left
hand turn, and struck and killed Andrea Bronfman as she was crossing
the street. The dog was not harmed.
Both the driver and the pedestrian were acting perfectly legally. Both
had the right of way as the light was green. Mrs. Bronfman was killed
and thus her billions were lost to her because she did not look for
cars while crossing the street.
Eulogies were published for Mrs. Bronfman around the world about her
many good works and what a great philanthropist she was, but it did
her no good as she was just as dead as she would have been if she had
been just a homeless bum sleeping on the street.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver, who was a new driver from India, never
even received a ticket or a traffic summons, as what he had done was
perfectly legal. A more experienced driver than he would probably have
slowed and looked more carefully when making that left turn, but he
had done nothing illegal.
Had the same accident happened in California, he would probably have
been arrested, tried and convicted of a crime and sentenced to time in
jail.
Another difference between New York City and California is that
California and almost all other states have “Right Turn on Red”. This
means that when approaching an intersection, if the traffic light is
red, the driver must come to a full stop. However, if the driver is in
the right lane, after making the full stop, the driver may look both
ways and, if no cars are coming, may make a right turn.
Do not try this in New York City. It is absolutely illegal. However,
it is allowed in Upstate New York.
Another problem I have is that in California there are too many four-
way stops. In most states, where there is a main traffic thoroughfare
and little side streets, the traffic on the side streets must come to
a full stop whereas drivers on the main street may proceed without
stopping. However, in California it is often the case where all four
cars must stop. There is also often a police car waiting just around
the corner where you cannot see it, ready to give you a ticket if you
do not come to a full stop.
For example, where I live there is a little side street with a dead
end and only two houses on it. In all the years I have lived there, I
have never seen a car on that side street. Yet, there are four-way
stop signs there. Thus, every time I drive on the main street, I must
stop. This is an annoyance and a waste of time.
When you take the road test in California, they will test you on this.
If two cars approach an intersection and arrive at the same time, the
car on the right has the right of way. However, if one car arrives a
little bit earlier than the other, the car that arrives first has the
right of way. This can be a trick question on the California Road
Test. The driver taking the test will naturally want to be cautious,
especially when the driving examiner is in the car, so naturally he
will not proceed even if first arriving at the intersection. If you do
that, you will have five points deducted from your score. This is not
enough to cause you to fail the test, but a few of these deductions
can result in not passing.
Another difference concerns bicycle lanes. In New York, when turning
right, you may not enter the bicycle lane. In California, you MUST
merge carefully into the bicycle lane. This is on the Road Test in
both states. The first thing the examiner will tell you to do is turn
right where there is a bicycle lane. If you do not know the local
rule, you will have five points deducted if you do it the wrong way.
A major difference concerns parallel parking. Most states include
parallel parking on the road test. This involves backing the car into
a small space. California does not require this. It only includes much
easier sideways parking.
Sam Sloan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/4871872173
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ISBN=4871872173
中国人如何通过美国驾驶执照的考试
ISBN 4871872173 9784871872171
A visitor from another country is allowed to get a drivers license in
the USA, as long as he is in the US legally, even if he does not have
a social security number. The exact procedures for this vary from
state to state. New rules were passed by the states for this in
accordance with the new Bush Rules under the Department of Homeland
Security. Although these rules are burdensome, they can be passed. The
driving test is available in 13 languages, including Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish and Russian.
It is important to know the differences between the driving rules for
the different states. California in particular has some unusual rules.
The main difference between California and most other states is that
in California “The Pedestrian has the Right of Way”. This means that
if a pedestrian, who is anybody other than somebody in a car, a
motorcycle or a bicycle, steps into the street, all cars must stop and
allow the pedestrian to pass.
This rule does not exist in New York and in most other states.
Because of this rule, Californians have a tendency to cross the street
while reading a book or doing something else without even bothering to
look up to see if a car is coming. Therefore, when driving in
California, one must be constantly vigilant and watch to see if
somebody just casually walks in front of your car.
Here is an example of this rule. On January 25, 2006, Andrea Bronfman,
the 60-year old wife of Seagram Billionaire Charles Bronfman, was
walking her dog in front of her home at the corner of Fifth Avenue and
East 65th Street in New York City. When the light turned green, she
crossed 65th Street, paying more attention to her dog than to the
cars. Fifth Avenue is a one-way street, so a green light for her was
also a green light for south-bound cars on Fifth Avenue. Accordingly,
a taxi driver coming south on Fight Avenue made a perfectly legal left
hand turn, and struck and killed Andrea Bronfman as she was crossing
the street. The dog was not harmed.
Both the driver and the pedestrian were acting perfectly legally. Both
had the right of way as the light was green. Mrs. Bronfman was killed
and thus her billions were lost to her because she did not look for
cars while crossing the street.
Eulogies were published for Mrs. Bronfman around the world about her
many good works and what a great philanthropist she was, but it did
her no good as she was just as dead as she would have been if she had
been just a homeless bum sleeping on the street.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver, who was a new driver from India, never
even received a ticket or a traffic summons, as what he had done was
perfectly legal. A more experienced driver than he would probably have
slowed and looked more carefully when making that left turn, but he
had done nothing illegal.
Had the same accident happened in California, he would probably have
been arrested, tried and convicted of a crime and sentenced to time in
jail.
Another difference between New York City and California is that
California and almost all other states have “Right Turn on Red”. This
means that when approaching an intersection, if the traffic light is
red, the driver must come to a full stop. However, if the driver is in
the right lane, after making the full stop, the driver may look both
ways and, if no cars are coming, may make a right turn.
Do not try this in New York City. It is absolutely illegal. However,
it is allowed in Upstate New York.
Another problem I have is that in California there are too many four-
way stops. In most states, where there is a main traffic thoroughfare
and little side streets, the traffic on the side streets must come to
a full stop whereas drivers on the main street may proceed without
stopping. However, in California it is often the case where all four
cars must stop. There is also often a police car waiting just around
the corner where you cannot see it, ready to give you a ticket if you
do not come to a full stop.
For example, where I live there is a little side street with a dead
end and only two houses on it. In all the years I have lived there, I
have never seen a car on that side street. Yet, there are four-way
stop signs there. Thus, every time I drive on the main street, I must
stop. This is an annoyance and a waste of time.
When you take the road test in California, they will test you on this.
If two cars approach an intersection and arrive at the same time, the
car on the right has the right of way. However, if one car arrives a
little bit earlier than the other, the car that arrives first has the
right of way. This can be a trick question on the California Road
Test. The driver taking the test will naturally want to be cautious,
especially when the driving examiner is in the car, so naturally he
will not proceed even if first arriving at the intersection. If you do
that, you will have five points deducted from your score. This is not
enough to cause you to fail the test, but a few of these deductions
can result in not passing.
Another difference concerns bicycle lanes. In New York, when turning
right, you may not enter the bicycle lane. In California, you MUST
merge carefully into the bicycle lane. This is on the Road Test in
both states. The first thing the examiner will tell you to do is turn
right where there is a bicycle lane. If you do not know the local
rule, you will have five points deducted if you do it the wrong way.
A major difference concerns parallel parking. Most states include
parallel parking on the road test. This involves backing the car into
a small space. California does not require this. It only includes much
easier sideways parking.
Sam Sloan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/4871872173
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ISBN=4871872173