Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in United States

Everything a visitor needs before driving in United States — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.08

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

Motorway Limit

mph

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

25 mph

Rural / Open Road

55 mph

Motorway / Highway

70 mph

Note: Varies by state; Utah BAC 0.05.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in United States

General limit: 0.08 g/dL · Novice/young drivers: 0.02 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in United States can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

United States on the Live Map

United States has a WHO-estimated 12.8 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for United States.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save United States's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Mexico Bahamas Canada Belize Guatemala Cuba

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does United States drive on?

United States drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in United States?

The general limit is 0.08 g/dL BAC (novice/young drivers: 0.02). Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in United States?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to United States — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in United States?

By the numbers, United States has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 12.8 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is close to the global average — it ranks 107 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.