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15 Traffic Laws You Probably Break Every Day

Ever run a stop sign or travel frequently with your high beams engaged? Congratulations, you might just be a serial traffic law offender without even realizing it. We're not talking about grand theft auto here, but those little "no big deal" infractions that seem to slip into our driving habits like uninvited backseat drivers.

From treating stop signs like gentle suggestions to performing acrobatic lane changes without the courtesy of a blinker, these everyday transgressions are the bread and butter of traffic tickets across the nation. You might think you're saving precious seconds or “driving defensively,” but in reality, you're just one moment away from a costly encounter with the law.

These are 15 of the most commonly broken traffic laws out on the road. You might just recognize a few of your own "creative" driving techniques in this lineup. Let’s take a look!

Speeding

Speeding

First up: the classic "I'm-running-late-so-the-laws-of-physics-don't-apply-to-me" maneuver. You know those big signs with numbers on them? They're not suggestions, folks. But hey, who doesn't love the thrill of potentially causing a multi-car pileup or getting a hefty ticket?

Sure, you might shave off a whole 30 seconds from your commute, but at what cost? Your wallet? Your license? Someone's life? But don't worry, I'm sure you're such an amazing driver that the rules of the road don't apply to you. Keep it up, Speed Racer – I hear the local traffic court misses you.

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Failure to Signal

Failure to Signal

Surprise lane changes and cutting people off is practically an American pastime at this point. Because why bother letting other drivers know your intentions when you can keep them guessing?

Pushing that little lever by your steering wheel is just too difficult for people. And let's not forget the workout you're saving your index finger from.

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Rolling Stop

Rolling Stop

Ah, the good ol' California Roll – and no, we're not talking about sushi. It's that graceful art of slowing down juuuust enough at a stop sign to pretend you've stopped, then cruising right through. Because who has time for full stops these days?

Those extra two seconds of being completely stationary might throw off your entire schedule. And pedestrians? They love playing "Will They or Won't They Stop" as they try to cross the street. Keep rolling, my friend – I'm sure those pesky traffic laws were just made for less talented drivers than yourself.

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Failure to Yield

Failure to Yield

Ever find yourself zooming through yet another yield sign? Because clearly, your time is far more valuable than everyone else's safety, right?

And those pesky pedestrians trying to cross the street? They should know better than to get in the way of your very important journey to Starbucks. Let them cross the street Frogger-style.

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Tailgating (Following Too Closely)

Tailgating (Following Too Closely)

Nothing says "I'm an excellent driver" quite like riding someone's rear bumper at 70 mph. It's not like sudden stops ever happen on highways, right? I mean, why leave a safe following distance when you can give the car in front of you a free brake check? And hey, if you're lucky, you might even get to test your airbags!

Or better yet, stop following too close because you aren’t going to get where you are going any faster. Just remember, if you can read the expiration date on their air freshener, you might be a tad too close.

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Improper Lane Change

Improper Lane Change

Look at you, the Steve McQueen of the highway, cutting across lanes like you're in a high-speed chase scene. Everyone is just in awe of how cool you are as you weave through traffic with your lightning-fast reflexes and a complete disregard for other drivers' safety.

Your spontaneous lane changes keep everyone on their toes – nothing like a little near-death experience to spice up the morning commute. It's not like anyone else on the road has plans or, you know, a desire to stay alive.

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Failure to Stop for Pedestrians

Failure to Stop for Pedestrians

What are those white stripes on the road? Purely decorative, I'm sure. And don’t worry, those pedestrian signals are just a game of cat and mouse. Remember, pedestrians are just drivers who haven't reached their cars yet!

I'm sure the few seconds you save not stopping at the crosswalk are totally worth the potential manslaughter charge. But for real, it’s best to just stop because it’s the law. In fact, most of the rules in the DMV handbook can be summed up as: don’t hit pedestrians with your car – under any circumstances.

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Using a Phone While Driving

Using a Phone While Driving

Keep it up, social media superstar – I'm sure your TikTok followers would love a live stream from an accident scene.

Given the state of our collective attention spans, it’s not really surprising how tied to our phones we are. However, it’s also not an excuse for unsafe driving, No matter how important you think updating your Instagram story, texting your BFF, or changing that track on Spotify may sound to you at the moment, we promise it’s not as important as keeping your eyes on the road.

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Running Red Lights

Running Red Lights

Just remember, when you inevitably meet a police officer, "But officer, it was yellow when I decided to go!" is always a winning argument. Unfortunately for you, a red light doesn’t mean Go Faster.

Red lights aren’t optional, and running them could mean more than just a ticket – it could mean an accident. I promise you that nobody cares about your time restraints. We all have places to go and when that light hits green, we are going to floor it and whatever happens to you while running a red light will be entirely your fault.

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Ignoring Road Signs

Ignoring Road Signs

hose pesky road signs? Mere suggestions for the common folk, not for a road warrior like yourself. Stop signs? More like "slow down and roll through" signs. Yield? That's just a fancy word for "gun it and hope for the best."

And speed limits? Pfft, those are for cars without turbo boosters. Keep up the maverick attitude, champ – I'm sure the local traffic court misses your charming face. Remember, the rules of the road are just society's way of cramping your style. Why blend in when you can stand out... in a police report?

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Failure to Use Headlights

Failure to Use Headlights

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the elusive "Invisible Car" driver, cruising through the night like a ninja on wheels. Because who needs to see or be seen when you've got the power of positive thinking on your side?

Keep up the stealth mode, ghost rider – nothing says "I make great life choices" quite like playing hide-and-seek on a busy highway. Just remember, when you inevitably meet a street lamp or a ditch, you can always blame it on the poor visibility. Oh, wait...

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Failure to Obey Traffic Signals

Failure to Obey Traffic Signals

Traffic signals aren't festive decorations. They direct traffic and save lives. Difficult to believe – I know. It's almost as if those colorful lights hanging above intersections serve a purpose beyond brightening up our dreary commutes.

Red doesn't mean "floor it," yellow isn't a challenge to your drag racing skills, and green doesn't translate to "check your phone." Shockingly, these signals are the result of careful traffic engineering, designed to keep the chaos of countless vehicles from turning into a demolition derby.f

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Illegal Turns

Illegal Turns

Behold the "Creative Navigator" in action, treating lane markings and turn restrictions like mere guidelines for the unimaginative. Why follow the boring, safe, and legal route when you can improvise a thrilling shortcut? That "No U-Turn" sign? Clearly, it's missing a "Unless You're Running Late" clause.

And turning from the correct lane? That's for drivers who lack your visionary approach to road geometry. Just remember, when you're inevitably doing the "Oops, I didn't see that cop" dance, jazz hands won't get you out of a ticket.

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Blocking Intersections

Blocking Intersections

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the "Intersection Squatter," boldly going where no car should be when the light turns red. Keep up that me-first attitude, because nothing says "I'm a considerate member of society" quite like single-handedly causing a gridlock.

And just remember, when you're stuck in the middle of the intersection, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with angry drivers, that horn symphony is playing just for you. With your complete disregard for cross traffic and emergency vehicles, your narcissistic behavior will undoubtedly lead to a traffic ticket if a cop sees it.

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Not Using Seatbelts

Not Using Seatbelts

Keep living on the edge, Evel Knievel – nothing says "I make smart life choices" quite like turning a fender bender into a potential flying lesson. Just remember, when you're explaining to the ER doctor why you thought the windshield would make a comfier landing pad than your seat.

Why trust decades of safety research and engineering when you've got lightning-fast reflexes and an unshakeable belief in your own invincibility? As the kids say these days, YOLO, which remains especially true without our seatbelts.

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