Midwesterners' Guide -- Driving on Local Roads

Driving on Local Roads

If you're used to the Midwest grid system, you'll find local roads here confusing at first. Very few areas in Jersey seem to use a grid system. My advice is to get a good map and plan your route carefully before taking off for parts unknown. I have an atlas for northwest Jersey, and it's been worth every penny of the $20 I spent for it. It's by Hagstrom, which is a reputable mapmaker in this area. Whatever map you choose, try to be sure it's up to date and detailed. Off the major roadways, a map and a plan are important, since local roads don't always have good directional signs. (In early 1997, many new road signs are being added, but this is a new phenomenon, and I wouldn't count on road signs everywhere you go. Wing it if you like, but you've been warned.) Maps are sold almost everywhere here, even in supermarkets.
If possible, note the number of the road you're on, rather than the name. This is especially important if the road is named after a nearby town; the names of these roads change from one town to the next. For example, Rte. 511 is called Whippany Road in Morristown and Parsippany Road between Whippany and Parsippany. Roads tend to fork often, and knowing the number of the route you're on will help you from straying onto a secondary road.
Some local highways have traffic circles. They can be confusing if you've never used them. Traffic goes counterclockwise. Once you've negotiated your way into the circle, try to stick to the outside; it'll make exiting the circle easier. If you miss your exit, don't panic -- just go around the circle again and catch your exit the next time around. Do use care though, since accidents occur frequently in the circles. Also note that cars already in the circle are expected to yield to vehicles that are entering; this is different than in some other states.
Many -- I'd say most -- local highways don't allow left turns. If this is the case, you'll see signs indicating a U-turn every so often. Generally you'll exit to the right, and you'll be directed to a secondary road that allows a left turn. These U-turns often are referred to by Jerseyans as "jug handles," since they loop around like cider jug handles.
You can use the U-turns to go back to places like McDonald's on the other side of the road, but on very busy roads, don't bother. Fast-food and gas station chains frequently have stores on both sides of the road within a short distance.
In places where you can make a left turn, you may see a sign that says "Delayed Green." This means that you've got a protected left turn -- the cars opposite you have a red light while your light is green. If the light's green, you're free to go. On the other hand, if you don't see this sign, traffic in both directions will have a green light at the same time. Be sure to look for the sign before making your turn!
Addresses in New Jersey rarely have directional (east, west, north, south) indicators. If you see an address with this information, it generally indicates the direction you need to be traveling on a divided highway or busy road, rather than the area of town your destination is located in. For example, "100 Rt. 46 West" should be taken to mean that address 100 is on the westbound (or north) side of Route 46 somewhere in the indicated town.

back to Traffic in Jersey

Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997, 1998 Shewi.
Most recently updated: 12 August 1998.

	Driving on Local Roads
	If you're used to the Midwest grid system, you'll find local roads here confusing at first. Very few areas in Jersey seem to use a grid system. My advice is to get a good map and plan your route carefully before taking off for parts unknown. I have an atlas for northwest Jersey, and it's been worth every penny of the $20 I spent for it. It's by Hagstrom, which is a reputable mapmaker in this area. Whatever map you choose, try to be sure it's up to date and detailed. Off the major roadways, a map and a plan are important, since local roads don't always have good directional signs. (In early 1997, many new road signs are being added, but this is a new phenomenon, and I wouldn't count on road signs everywhere you go. Wing it if you like, but you've been warned.) Maps are sold almost everywhere here, even in supermarkets. If possible, note the number of the road you're on, rather than the name. This is especially important if the road is named after a nearby town; the names of these roads change from one town to the next. For example, Rte. 511 is called Whippany Road in Morristown and Parsippany Road between Whippany and Parsippany. Roads tend to fork often, and knowing the number of the route you're on will help you from straying onto a secondary road. Some local highways have traffic circles. They can be confusing if you've never used them. Traffic goes counterclockwise. Once you've negotiated your way into the circle, try to stick to the outside; it'll make exiting the circle easier. If you miss your exit, don't panic -- just go around the circle again and catch your exit the next time around. Do use care though, since accidents occur frequently in the circles. Also note that cars already in the circle are expected to yield to vehicles that are entering; this is different than in some other states. Many -- I'd say most -- local highways don't allow left turns. If this is the case, you'll see signs indicating a U-turn every so often. Generally you'll exit to the right, and you'll be directed to a secondary road that allows a left turn. These U-turns often are referred to by Jerseyans as "jug handles," since they loop around like cider jug handles. You can use the U-turns to go back to places like McDonald's on the other side of the road, but on very busy roads, don't bother. Fast-food and gas station chains frequently have stores on both sides of the road within a short distance. In places where you can make a left turn, you may see a sign that says "Delayed Green." This means that you've got a protected left turn -- the cars opposite you have a red light while your light is green. If the light's green, you're free to go. On the other hand, if you don't see this sign, traffic in both directions will have a green light at the same time. Be sure to look for the sign before making your turn! Addresses in New Jersey rarely have directional (east, west, north, south) indicators. If you see an address with this information, it generally indicates the direction you need to be traveling on a divided highway or busy road, rather than the area of town your destination is located in. For example, "100 Rt. 46 West" should be taken to mean that address 100 is on the westbound (or north) side of Route 46 somewhere in the indicated town.
	back to Traffic in Jersey
	Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997, 1998 Shewi. Most recently updated: 12 August 1998.