Driving in the U.S. can be difficult to understand not just because of all the rules and laws that drivers must follow, but also because of driving customs. Many people in the U.S. are really dependent on their cars to get to work and school. In fact most American workers spend an hour driving to work each day. In order to drive in the U.S., you have to go to your local Department of Motor Vehicles first, and take a written test to get your learner's permit. If you pass this test, you can practice driving so you can pass a road test and get your license. The Department of Motor Vehicles has free booklets you can get to study for your learner's permit. You can also get the information online and even take a practice written exam. To prepare for the road test, you can have a friend teach you to drive or pay to take classes at a driving school. You cannot, however, practice driving by yourself. If you are caught driving with only a learner's permit, you can get into trouble with the law.

Once (一旦) you get your driver's license in one state, you can use it drive in all of the United States.

Wherever you drive, you will see signs posted along the road showing the speed limit. These numbers are not a suggestion. Generally you can drive faster on a highway than on local streets. Local police use special equipment to discover your speed. If they discover you are speeding or driving over the speed limit, police can stop you and give you a ticket. You will have to pay a fine which may be more than $ 100. The lines painted on the road are not just to keep cars in their lanes. They send a message. For example, a double solid yellow line means that it is against the law to pass another car here.

I was so careful. I was nervous too. I had taken driving lessons and passed my driving test. I had to pick up my father from work and drive him to the train station. But as I got close to my father’s workplace, I felt more and more confident.

There he was standing in front of his office building. After I stopped the car, he got in. But then, I was nervous again. I had to get the car into the street. With so many cars around, it wasn’t easy. After about two minutes of waiting, the way was finally clear.

Soon we got onto the highway(公路). My father was giving me some advice on how to change lanes (车道). Suddenly, I saw a police car behind me. They were pulling me over. “Oh no!” I said.

A police officer came to my window. “The speed limit (极限) on these roads is 100 kilometers an hour,” he said. “Do you know how fast you were going?”“120?” I guessed. Of course it was a ridiculous guess. There were so many cars passing me. How could that be?

“No. You were going 65 kilometers an hour. You can’t drive that slow. You’ll cause an accident.”

When he found out this was my first day driving, he laughed and said, “You know, I don’t get to say this very often, but I will tell you. Please go a little faster on these highways. Not too fast though.”

He smiled and walked away. And that was my first day as a driver.