American and Japanese traffic

     I learned about many things in Minnesota. I write about American and Japanese traffic. American traffic is very different from Japanese. I knew that people should keep on the right in America, but I was surprised that people ride a motorcycle without a helmet. In Japan, it is a violation of traffic regulations. And I found that people may turn right when the light turned red, which was interesting for me.

     In Minnesota, we passed on the freeway many times. They don’t have traffic lights, and we don’t need to stop on the way. But the freeway is different from Japanese expressway. The freeway set a speed limit about 88 ~ 120 kilometers per hour, but Japanese expressway’s speed limit is about 80 ~ 100 kilometers per hour. The freeway is very useful, but we’re sometimes caught in a traffic jam.

     American traffic lights are different from Japanese ones. American lights are vertical shape. The yellow lights turn for very short times, so we’re careful to look the lights and we must stop then.

     We don’t need to stop before crossing the railroad in America. In Japan, if we don’t stop before crossing, it is a violation of traffic regulations. But sometimes there are crossing with the light, in case of this, we must obey the light.

     At an intersection, we must stop and go in order of stop. People have the rule of this in America. American people also have spirits of give-and-take more than Japanese.

     In America, people can get a car license easier than in Japan because car is the necessity of life. People can get a temporary license after they pass the written examination. And a test of our practical skills in driving is just driving in an area. By the way, it is better to smile on a photo for a car license.

     We must stop at the back of a school bus because children are on the bus and they get on and off the bus at some places. So it can be dangerous that cars run fast and don’t stop at the back of it.

     American gas stations are a little different from Japanese ones. A convenience store may be in a gas station. Originally convenience store was introduced from American gas station. America is very large so we can’t find gas stations and restaurants out of a city area. We need to check a gas meter and a stomach before we leave a city. Also outdoor lights don’t find out of city areas, so it is better to arrive a destination before it gets dark.

     In America, some roads are set up ways for the cars carry more than 2 or 3 people, called Car Pool、HOV “High Occupancy Vehicle” in the big cities. Its purpose is to ease traffic congestion. The exclusive ways are often set up on the left side of the road. So sometimes it is difficult to exit the way. We need to be careful.

     Of course, driving a car under the influence of alcohol is a violation in the U.S. and Japan. However, in addition, it is a violation to get on the opened alcohol and to get on the sealed alcohol in the seat next to the driver. If we get on alcohol, we must put it in a back seat or a trunk.

     If we are arrested for speeding offense, we mustn’t get off the car without the police’s directions because it is considered to do a dangerous action. Anything else, picking up the bag in a back seat, putting our hands in the pocket, and so on. If you do these actions, the police points the gun at you. You must obey the police when you receive the violation ticket.

     I didn’t know about the accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2007. So I searched the accident on the Internet. It was the collapse accident of the expressway in Minneapolis, and was a big accident. It was happened during the evening rush hour, but then, the way was regulated to one lane by the bridge construction. The bridge had a fissure and bandy parts by metal fatigue, it would be changed in 2020. If all four lane were used then, it might damage more serious. The shocking scene of this accident was televised and stirred up all American people’s fears, so people who tried to avoid bridges the long way, at least, had rapidly increased in number. Even a new word, “bridge-phobia” appeared after that. Some people suspected that this accident was caused by terrorists, but it was groundless fears.

     By the way, we used Delta Air Lines when we went to Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was very tired to take a plane for about 12 hours. But as I expected, international flight was more comfortable than domestic one. This air lines have 10 hub airports, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Memphis International Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (we used), John F. Kennedy International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, Schiphol Airport, and Narita International Airport. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the main airport of Delta Air Lines. When we took the plane of Delta, we had 2 in-flight meals. I ate chicken as the main dish. Unexpectedly, it tasted good. International air planes are larger than domestic ones, so we can stay pretty well. But I don’t like to take plane because I often have an earache when I stay in the sky.

     I sometimes watch the news of airplane accident. I’m afraid of taking a plane every time I watch such news. But in fact, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in America, there is 0.0009% likelihood of being in an airplane accident. The worst airplane accident in America is Tenerife airport disaster. The accident resulted in 583 deaths, the most in history, except for 9/11.

     Lastly, Minnesota has some nice view to see in a car. So I hope that I can drive in Minnesota someday.

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