How many of these driving secrets do you know (Round 2)?

This holiday season Honk is thankful for his readers, who are the smartest, prettiest, handsomest, funniest, most creative and happiest people, and the sharpest dressers, too. Because of their questions during the past year, he has learned:

(Volume 2 for 2024, because the questions were so darn good.)

Flashing blue lights atop long poles and visible from freeways are likely mobile security units protecting construction equipment or other stuff. The units can include all sorts of hardware, such as real-time cameras and speakers – they are meant to scare off troublemakers. …

Temporary paper license plates are valid for up to 90 days, with the expiration date listed on them. Extensions are possible if delivery of the permanent plates is delayed. …

It is illegal to cover a license-plate number – even with clear plastic. …

Most police officers in California can, under the law, hand out traffic tickets to offenders anywhere in the state. …

The wooden framework used as molds for Caltrans’ projects, say for a reconstructed interchange, is not thrown out, but used again on the next such job. …

The standard width of a freeway lane is 12 feet. The minimum is 10 feet, but only allowed in some instances. …

Black circles cut into freeway lanes are “loops,” which collect data such as how fast (or slow) traffic is moving and the number of vehicles passing through. Drivers see the black filler, protecting the sensors down below. …

Similar loops on city streets can shorten red lights. …

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Anaheim decreased the speed limit on 169 stretches on city streets to boost safety. A new state law makes it easier for municipalities to make such moves. …

Los Angeles and other cities have lanes shared by only buses and bicyclists. …

Teslas, like all cars, must have front license plates under the law. …

The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends drivers put their hands on the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock, or at 8 and 4. …

There are no active plans to widen the 5 Freeway across Camp Pendleton. …

Trains must toot-toot when approaching a public roadway crossing unless the area is in a so-called quiet zone, where extra safety devices are installed. …

Drivers who are 70 or older no longer must take a written or computer test or eLearning to renew their licenses – if their driving records are fairly clean. …

Businesses with fleets of 25 or more vehicles can get Permanent Fleet Registration stickers on their license plates so employees don’t have to slap on new registration stickers each year. But owners still pay the same amount. …

Owners of zero-emission vehicles have an annual Road Improvement Fee, which is $118, on their registrations, apparently because they don’t pay gas taxes. They don’t have to pay for the first year. …

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At $4 a gallon, an Orange County driver (gas taxes are in part based on region) on the road for 12,000 miles a year, getting 30 miles a gallon, would pay $356 in taxes at the pump. …

If a car sits in a garage for years and the owner didn’t file for planned non-operation status, when the car returns to public roads, every year registration wasn’t paid must be paid. So must late fees, albeit in special circumstances they might be waived.  …

Many drivers can submit a claim to get some money back if they purchased gas from Feb. 20, 2015, to Nov. 10 of that year. California officials accused some foreign companies of manipulating prices and got a $37.5 million settlement. To submit a claim by the Jan. 8 deadline, which is easy, go to CalGasLitigation.com. …

Honk wishes everyone in Honkland (and everywhere else, too) a wonderful holiday season and a lifetime of safe travels. … 

How many of these driving secrets do you know?

 

To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk

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