Driving Laws across Multiple States

[theallans]

Can anyone point me to a good source of information re driving laws across the southern states? We will be driving across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado,Kansas,Illinois,Kentucky,Missouri,Tenness ee,Mississippi,Louisiana and Florida and being based in the Uk I'm finding it hard to find details re the local laws about driving.

I believe for instance that in some states we need to carry flares and petrol, but in others this is not necessary. Any help greatly appreciated.

[PNW Judy]

No states require that you carry extra petrol or flares.

In fact, drivers are discouraged from carrying fuel containers with extra petrol (in the US, we call it gas or fuel). It is dangerous and these containers can explode in an accident. About the only time someone might need to carry extra fuel is if they are going off-road for awhile and will be unable to re-fuel at a gas station.

While it is a good idea to carry various supplies in case of emergency (flares, or reflective warning triangles, or flashlights with cones that attach and give a red glare, etc.), there is no requirement that you do so.

[RoadTripper Brad]

As Judy stated, there are no requirements in ANY state to cary extra fuel/Petrol or flares, even the states with wide rural areas where there can be 200-300 mile gaps between gas stations such as Nevada, Alaska, Montana, Arizona, etc (most of these gaps are on local roads or state highways servicing very remote areas).

The only states that I know that require any gear is North Dakota, which at least when my mother lived there years ago, required a winter survival kit. This kit included blankets, extra clothing, non-parishable foodstuffs (even if its just candy bars), a battery powered radio, a flash light, etc.
While stationed in Grand Forks AFB, my mother learned of people who had been pulled over for simple infractions (speeding, etc) and were fined even more when they did not have their winter kit. This aparantly is due to the vast remote areas of the state and the freak blizzards that can pop up. Washington State requires motorists to carry chains over all mountain passes from Fall to Spring.

Although there are no requirements, tour the Gear Up! section of the board, you will find lists upon lists of all the items you should carry.

-Brad M.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Can anyone point me to a good source of information re driving laws across the southern states? We will be driving across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado,Kansas,Illinois,Kentucky,Missouri,Tenness ee,Mississippi,Louisiana and Florida and being based in the Uk I'm finding it hard to find details re the local laws about driving.

One of the best road guides we have ever found that addresses these issues was written in 2002 by Andrew Vincent. Andrew is from the UK and brings a decided British spin to US laws, but I always recommend Drive USA for our international visitors.

Mark