The sunset at Horseshoe Bend and Page has turned out to be like this. It’s truly unexpected. The year 2020 is another Gengzi year. From the beginning of the epidemic to the parting ways between China and the United States, almost every day has been full of changes. Chinese people have witnessed history day by day, without even having time to mentally prepare. It’s really frustrating. As ordinary people in a big country, we only hope that the peaceful times can continue. Ordinary people can no longer afford any more disturbances. No matter how the future develops, it may be difficult to travel to the United States in the short term. However, in July 2019, due to work, I went to the United States and traveled through the most beautiful western part of the United States, including the most classic Route 66 and Route 1. Seeing the current situation, I still have to sigh that I was lucky. Let me share my self-driving experience in the western United States with you. It was my first time going to the United States and also my first self-driving trip in the western United States. Naturally, I needed to prepare well.
First of all, it was the visa issue. The US visa is the most difficult visa to obtain in the world, without a doubt. There are too many legends of repeated rejections, so it requires careful consideration and preparation. Originally, I was going to Boston for an international conference. I had the conference ticket and the invitation letter, and needed to apply for a business visa. After some thought, a tourist visa might be easier. So, I went to the embassy with my wife. The appointment was at 10 am in the morning, but we arrived at 9 am. There were too many people queuing. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. The visa officer only asked two questions: Are you a couple? Why do you want to go to the United States? That’s it. The US visa is valid for 10 years. You can go whenever you want. I was a little excited.
The second thing is to understand the rules of self-driving in the United States. The United States is a country on wheels, and the traffic rules are very strict. There are several rules that are very different from those in China. Here are some reminders.
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Pedestrian Priority
In the United States, pedestrians have absolute right of way, and cars are the absolute weak ones. Even if pedestrians run red lights or cross the road randomly, no matter how unreasonable, in case of an accident, the car is fully responsible. Not only pedestrians, but if you touch a bicycle or motorcycle, the car is always fully responsible. There is no room for discussion. - School Bus Priority
School buses in the United States are yellow. When a school bus stops, whether there is a stop sign or not, cars in front, behind, left and right must stop without exception and wait until the school bus leaves before driving. The US traffic law stipulates: "Overtaking a school bus that is stopping and picking up or dropping off students is one of the serious traffic violations, subject to a fine of $1,000 and revocation of the driver’s license for one year."
- When an Ambulance or Police Car Siren Sounds, You Must Stop on the Right
Whether it’s on the opposite side or your side, when you hear the siren, you must immediately pull over to the right and stop quickly, and wait for the siren vehicle to overtake from the left. If you are caught by the police for violating traffic rules, do not get out of the car. Stop quietly and keep your hands on the steering wheel. Never try to take out anything, including your driver’s license. If you get out of the car without being asked by the police or instinctively try to take out your driver’s license, the police may suspect that you have a dangerous move and may shoot directly. If you accidentally get out of the car, you can immediately raise your hands above your head to let the police know that you are not dangerous. The United States is a country with guns. Be careful!