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If you are pulling up to an intersection where you have a green light, but you can see there's no room for your car on the other side due to traffic, don't go, even though the drivers behind you will be honking at you to go. You could get stuck in the intersection when the light turns the other way. Not only is this dangerous but you can also get a ticket for blocking the box.
Also, I might add don't even enter the box if it's full even if a traffic cop is waving you through. About two years ago at the entrance to the Holland tunnel on Canal street the traffic cops would wave people through on the green even though people were hanging back for the exact reason Henna mentioned. Then, the light would go red and here you are blocking the box, the same cops that were waving people through would be giving out the tickets! I think that scam has since been exposed.
It happened to me except I held my ground against the cops waving back at them with the "NO" hand signal. I didn't get a ticket, obviously, but the guy in the next lane listened to them and got ticketed.
I probably can't stress this enough, take a defensive driving course. Not only will it save you money on the insanely high cost of car insurance in NYC, but you will be better prepared to handle the lunacy that is driving here.
The best I can tell you is to constantly be aware and expect the unexpected. After a while, you can almost start to predict what some people will do on the road. Also make sure you have lots of patience, because you will need it when traffic hits a stand still for no apparent reason at any time.
It happened to me except I held my ground against the cops waving back at them with the "NO" hand signal. I didn't get a ticket, obviously, but the guy in the next lane listened to them and got ticketed.
When I was going to take my exam the driving instructor was telling me to drive through that same box and I just held my ground and waited for the lights to change as we weren't going anywhere fast and it's not like there is a prize on the other side.
Also, I might add don't even enter the box if it's full even if a traffic cop is waving you through. About two years ago at the entrance to the Holland tunnel on Canal street the traffic cops would wave people through on the green even though people were hanging back for the exact reason Henna mentioned. Then, the light would go red and here you are blocking the box, the same cops that were waving people through would be giving out the tickets! I think that scam has since been exposed.
It happened to me except I held my ground against the cops waving back at them with the "NO" hand signal. I didn't get a ticket, obviously, but the guy in the next lane listened to them and got ticketed.
In theory, disobeying a peace officer's instructions could get you a moving violation as well.
Depends on your personality, but controlling your temper at other drivers in bumper to bumper traffic is a big one.
Personally, if I know I need to be in a certain lane, and traffic is heavy, I get in the lane as early as I can. Then of course you have people that zoom down a neighboring lane, then try to cut over at the last second. I waited my turn with everyone else, so I never let them over, but the vast majority of people do.
Like someone else mentioned, the little area of Canal Street heading into the Holland Tunnel, coming from the Westside Highway is an area like this. The two left lanes turn into the tunnel, and the right lane goes straight. Plenty of people stick in the right lane as far as possible before trying to cut into one of the left lanes. NYPD will often have a cop standing there and force them to continue going straight though.
Also as someone else mentioned, just because you have a green light doesn't always mean its a good idea to go. I got into a shouting match with a guy the other day because while I did indeed have a green light, there was a solid wall of cars in front of me, all of which had a red light right in front of them. Huzzah! I'm 8 feet closer to my destination! Only at the expense of now blocking an intersection!
Be mindful of alternate side parking, street sweeping rules, holiday rules, suspended alternate side but meters in effect and if you can figure out which of the multiple parking signs on one pole applies to you, then you've avoided the "stupid tax" (stole that one from likeminas). Oh, and don't assume you're far enough away from the hydrant. Get familiar with what 15 feet looks like because that's how far you need to be from one.
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