Created: 2023.02.10
For my friends from India. When you get a flat in North America - do NOT get some friends to help roll the car on its side to replace the tire. In Canada/USA we carry a think called a 'jack' which, while it takes a lot longer, allows you to change a tire without breaking the side mirror or scratching up the side of the car. The same applies to changing the oil etc.., noting that it actually easier to change the oil when the car remains with all 4 wheels on the ground, gravity will help, you don't need to suck the oil out, so better for your mouth and health too.
Those things in the front and back of the car, the bumpers, are not allowed to be used in Canada/USA. This means, if the guy in front of you doesn't start to move when the light goes green - you actually can't bump him, you have to wait for him to move - in our country, we use the horn rather than the bumper. Seriously … in Canada, you honk your horn and, believe it or not, the guy in front will probably move if he is able. Essentially, we care more about property damage than free flow of traffic.
Of course the related factor is: If you are at the front of the line, or really anywhere in the line, you are responsible for checking to see if the light has turned green. Don't wait for someone to bump you. And if someone behind you is laying on their horn - take a quick look to see if the light has turned green or if the car in front of you has started to move.
Do not travel close behind other vehicles. In Canada/USA we care more about property damage than we do about human safety. I know people from other countries will find this amazing, but rather than travel 6" (15cm) behind the guy in front, so that when he slams on his breaks you hit him at a relative difference in speed of <1km/hr, we like you to travel 2 seconds behind so that the car in front has time to basically get close to stopped before you plow into them at full speed. If you are a particularly bad driver, your driver instructor will tell you to go 3 seconds behind to really make sure that you smash into the guy in front with a high differential in speed. Yes I realize it is counter intuitive and goes against all the science you learned in school, but people in Canada/USA ACTUALLY believe that leaving 2 to 3 seconds between is safer - I know, totally stupid - but the police will enforce this stupidity too and give you a ticket if you don't take on this safety risk by staying a 'safe distance' (Yes … they ACTUALLY use the word 'safe' when talking about this) behind.
If you are traveling in Ontario, the speed limits are posted in MPH. But the rest of Canada posts them in KPH. In general, from what I've seen there, this means you can drive about 1.6x's faster than in the rest of the country. Note: Don't let the "KPH" on the Ontario signs fool you. Watch the drivers around you, especially on the highways marked as 400 (401 etc..,) you will see that clearly the signs are speed limits in MPH.
When you are involved in a crash, you can't just get out, yell at the other driver, then get in your car and drive away. You actually have to stay, trade driver and insurance information and report it to the insurance company and maybe the police. Bonus: If you weren't at fault, while you will still lose a lot of time and headache, there's a good chance that insurance company for the other guy will pay to repair your vehicle. Why bother I hear you asking? Because believe it or not, in Canada/USA it is NOT normally to have 1 or more bangs in a day, the repair actually will likely last longer than the time you are without a car waiting for the repair.
Sidewalks. They are side WALKS they are not side DRIVES. First time I was in China I learned what was meant by the phrase: "If you don't like my driving, get off the sidewalk."
When you put on your blinker to change lanes, chances are people will tighten up to NOT let you in. Yes, REALLY! And if you force your way in, in Florida you might get shot. They call it "road rage." If someone puts on their blinker to change lanes it is a message that they are about to force their way in unless you are driving a bigger vehicle. So don't expect the polite behaviour in most of the world where, when you put on your blinker, for a second or two a gap opens up for you to change lanes. In North America the trick is: drive casual, pretend you aren't going to change lanes, and then, quickly slip over. (Remember than we have this 2 second space between vehicles rule designed to kill people but reduce minor fender benders. So what happens is, there is a space big enough for you to pull over unless you put on your blinker - when it will then disappear - and when you pull over, the guy behind will actually back up to give space behind you. It is truly amazing to watch if you come from another country. But for laughs and a giggle. Try turning on your blinker, then, after the gap disappears, turn it off, pull forward and call "psych!" and pull into the space further up
Now, here's one that changes from province to province and state to state. Do pedestrians or Vehicles have the right of way? This one, sorry you are going to have to check and make sure you know which one, and check with locals - don't go based on the written law, ink on a paper won't save you, cars can drive right through paper. If you are in one where pedestrians have the right of way, you are NOT allowed to plow into them - you will get in trouble. If you are in one where pedestrians do NOT have the right of way, like Washington DC, if you stop for them - don't be surprised if they put their hand on their hip as if they are getting ready to pull out a gun - they are just terrified that the only possible reason for you to stop was because you are trying to get in position to kill THEM, and don't be surprised when the guy driving behind you hits you (despite not being legal to use bumpers) and/or honks his horn and/or starts screaming at you.
Bonus tip: When you get out of your car - look BOTH ways, especially if you come from a country that drives on the left side of the road. Your habit of looking right before stepping out will get you killed, and don't assume drivers are going to stop for you unless they HAVE stopped for you. As below, being dead right has no value if you haven't signed your donor card.
Oh, and a bonus comment. In some states such as California, the white dotted lines between lanes are motorcycle lanes. If you are a motorist, you could just assume that everywhere and drive carefully with that in mind. If you are motorcyclist, you should make sure you know whether it is legal, and before you do it - please remember to sign your donor card. There is no point in being dead right, or committing suicide any other way, if you aren't going to donate your organs.