Have you noticed how stupid most of the stop signs are in the US ? I agree that at certain junctions where visibility is bad and at the intersection of main routes but most are riddiculous and if you don’t actually come to a full stop and a cop see’s you then you are gonna get a ticket no matter how far you can see all round and nothing is within a mile. Outside Ben & Jerry’s in St Albans VT they have errected two stop signs and I can’t for the life of me see why ? Anyone at these signs can see for about a mile one way and the other way is a 500 yard street to and unused dead end yet Tuesday I saw a woman stop and look right, left, right again, then left again before carefully moving off … there was not another vehicle in sight anywhere. At an intersection on US4 south of Fort Anne route 149 joins there is a stop sign with a clear view half a mile each way yet one day sitting in my mother in laws car she stoped and stared both ways taking about 30 seconds before moving off and when I asked why … “Because it’s the law” was the reply.
“But there is nothing anywhere in sight” I said.
“But it’s the law” she repeated.
Simlar stupid laws exist for other reasons, the School buses stopping for rail crossings is another. As I mentioned on this forum years ago, in Mechanicville NY there is an old crossing sign stuck in the hedge where there was once a rail level crossing but now, no rails and buildings each side but stupid bus drivers stop and look each way … into one persons front window to the right, and a factory door to the left 
Pat Hasler:
Simlar stupid laws exist for other reasons, the School buses stopping for rail crossings is another. As I mentioned on this forum years ago, in Mechanicville NY there is an old crossing sign stuck in the hedge where there was once a rail level crossing but now, no rails and buildings each side but stupid bus drivers stop and look each way … into one persons front window to the right, and a factory door to the left
But the sign is still there Pat.
Same thing happens here. Stop signs out in the wilds with plenty of visibility then, at an awkward staggered crossroads with all roads joining a fast route at acute angles, merely a ‘Give Way’ sign. 
Then of course there is the urban myth (or is it? 
) of gendarmes hiding in the undergrowth and doing you for not halting for 5 seconds or more 
. 
I always stop, knock it out of gear, select 1st, and then proceed. That must take at least 5 seconds .
I honestly think they could seriously cut fuel consumption in the USA by replacing most of them with yield signs.
Pat Hasler:
I honestly think they could seriously cut fuel consumption in the USA by replacing most of them with yield signs.
Yes, here too. It gets my goat governments going on about saving the planet and then this, also how aggravating is it when you set off on a green light, travel strictly at the limit and then they can’t be bothered to synchronise all the other lights?
dont know about it being a myth wi police hidding in bushes looking for people not coming to a complete stop…
On the 75 at Ste agathe in manitoba they regularly hide in the street ,trees etc facing the road and book people not coming to a complete stop.
when crossing the twin track.
jimmy.
It’s the same as when you change lanes on an empty freeway, say to move over for someone on the shoulder, unless you signal from the time you start to move until you are completely in the other lane you can get ticketed for an improper lane change
newmercman:
It’s the same as when you change lanes on an empty freeway, say to move over for someone on the shoulder, unless you signal from the time you start to move until you are completely in the other lane you can get ticketed for an improper lane change
You must have driven in VT Mark … You will get a ticket for not signalling before changing lanes in that retarded state even if there’s no other vehicle foe 50 miles (except the cop sitting behind the bushes) and then there’s the idiots who stop at roundabouts when you can see for a mile and whats worse they stop when they are on the roundabout and halfway round to look down the aproach roads
Pat Hasler:
Anyone at these signs can see for about a mile one way and the other way is a 500 yard street to and unused dead end yet Tuesday I saw a woman stop and look right, left, right again, then left again before carefully moving off … there was not another vehicle in sight anywhere.
Women do that here as well.Also at roundabouts.I came up to a roundabout the other day just as a woman in a car appeared to my right.I stopped to give way to her,she stopped too,looked at me for a few seconds,shook her head and rested her head on her hand as if to say wtf are you waiting on.
I keep meaning to get a stock of highway codes to throw at these people.
I saw a classic today
I-91 north of Springfield MA heading down the hill before the climb towards the Mass pike the right lane is blocked off for construction and a countless amount of signs telling people that exit 13b was closed and use 13a or 14 so some woman leading a line of vehicles got to the closed off exit and stopped dead Luckily I saw in time and nothing was in the left lane to stop me swerving into it and avoid killing a few motorists.
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lol
taffytrucker:
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lol
I think if you go through the older posts you’ll find a few that have been mentioned. The best thing is to post the question when you are heading somewhere then see what answers you get… there are far too many good and bad stops in the USA to post, but if you state an area either myself or one of the other guys will answer.
Pat Hasler:
taffytrucker:
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lolI think if you go through the older posts you’ll find a few that have been mentioned. The best thing is to post the question when you are heading somewhere then see what answers you get… there are far too many good and bad stops in the USA to post, but if you state an area either myself or one of the other guys will answer.
Thanks Pat. I’m heading over in October so hope to bump into a few guys then
taffytrucker:
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lol
There are very good truckstop directories for sale in truckstops, they list all the truckstops with directions, facilities and phone numbers etc. They also list every interstate exit with truck facilities. 
On the road again:
taffytrucker:
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lolThere are very good truckstop directories for sale in truckstops, they list all the truckstops with directions, facilities and phone numbers etc. They also list every interstate exit with truck facilities.
Many thanks
On the road again:
taffytrucker:
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lolThere are very good truckstop directories for sale in truckstops, they list all the truckstops with directions, facilities and phone numbers etc. They also list every interstate exit with truck facilities.
You can buy the ‘Next Exit’ directory at a lot of places but I usually look for the signs as I near an exit, you can get one of the free mags at Pilots or TA truckstops that have all the stops listed in the back.
Pat Hasler:
On the road again:
taffytrucker:
hey Pat slightly off topic but any chance (as you been around the block in a nice way) you could start a Pats park up thread!! best places etc would be a great help in a few months lolThere are very good truckstop directories for sale in truckstops, they list all the truckstops with directions, facilities and phone numbers etc. They also list every interstate exit with truck facilities.
You can buy the ‘Next Exit’ directory at a lot of places but I usually look for the signs as I near an exit, you can get one of the free mags at Pilots or TA truckstops that have all the stops listed in the back.
You can get an app for your phone that does all that and more Pat, try Trucker Tools, it shows scales, rest areas, Walmarts, truckstops, weather and a load more stuff I haven’t got around to looking a yet 
Oh and anyone with a smartphone, try the blip me app, it turns the phone into a walkie talkie, it’s free and you can have a lot of fun with it (if you’re immature it helps )
I have a Droid Mark, it tells me everything going on within a 10 mile radius, shows, cinema with all critics coments, gas and deisel, and food etc.
Pat Hasler:
I have a Droid Mark, it tells me everything going on within a 10 mile radius, shows, cinema with all critics coments, gas and deisel, and food etc.
I used to use my snooper for that until rain leaked in through the windscreen and got all over the screen n soaked up inside.
While on the subject of sat nav (GPS overthere 
) whats a good truck make one for over there
Rand McNally seem to be the best but I use the phone if needed, not that I really use it anyway, I have got by for 12 years not using one. A good truck atlas and the phone number of who you are delivering to is far more reliable and far cheaper.
I sometimes wonder how most guy would have got on 10 years or more back ? I didn’t have any satnav, just a map and details from either a mate or a customer. I had to driver from Oxford to Paderbourn in Germany for the first time with just a map … no problems and then it get regular, before that when i got a delivery somewhere I just ooked at the map and went on my way.
I don’t use one, a map and a phone call to the shipper/reciever is all you need…
However, I do have a GPS thing on my phone and have used it a couple of times, it’s pretty useful, so I can see the benefits of having a proper sat nav system, it maybe time for me to join this brave new world after all