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Inside Out

The Rules of the Road

Jeanne Sager
Posted 7/19/22

Ah, summer. It’s that time of year when quiet back country roads become not-so-quiet.

Byways rarely traveled become destinations for bikers, walkers, and Sunday drivers.

And suddenly, …

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Inside Out

The Rules of the Road

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Ah, summer. It’s that time of year when quiet back country roads become not-so-quiet.

Byways rarely traveled become destinations for bikers, walkers, and Sunday drivers.

And suddenly, all the rules go out the window.

New York State requires two lane roads measure at least 16 feet in width, enough for two cars to pass one another safely. There are no requirements of lines along the roads to guide a driver; there’s a dependency on common sense and good driving.

One lane roads are, as one would imagine, smaller than 16 feet in width and two cars cannot pass easily.

Turnouts are useful along these types of roads, places where the roadway is widened just enough for someone to pull over and allow another to pass.

The etiquette to the usage of these turnouts is rarely spelled out in driver’s education, and it’s not mandated on any driver’s test. But it’s fairly useful when quiet byways become busy roads.

Turnouts are not for parking...ever. Some have giant no parking signs to remind you of this. Read them. Adhere to them.

Turnouts aren’t a suggestion. They’re made to be used. Driving past them puts you at peril. It puts other drivers in a pickle too.

If you come around a bend and spot a car pulled into a turnout, assume they’re there for a reason. Do not pass them by. You’ll be passing into oncoming traffic.

And last, but certainly not least, if someone has pulled over into a turnout to allow you to pass, throw up a wave, beep your horn, flash your lights. A little thank you goes a long way.

Happy summer.

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