First timer driving in the states - anything to worry about?
Discussion
I have been working over here for a few months, my thoughts are:
1. Just get on with it, dilly dallying will make you more nervous
2. Get or take a Tom Tom
3. Unless your really confident with dealing with traffic entering the highways stick to the middle lane [I will never say that again!!]
4. Stick to the speed limits, esp in built areas [they are hard to guess so watch the signs or listen to the Sat Nav]
5. Be careful in roadworks, go slightly slower than the traffic passing you. Cops are all over this area.
6. Roundabouts are fascinating, and a barsteward to get used to when there is no other traffic
7. Get a big car, I have a Chevy Tahoe, everyone keeps their distance
8. Follow the traffic, particularly at junctions, that way you shouldn't go into the wrong direction on a dual carriageway.
9. Just avoid women drivers, particularly around shopping centres, they are just the worst! [Sorry ladies]
10. You can turn right at traffic lights, if there are no signs to tell you not to, and no one is going side swipe you.
11. Some traffic signals I still haven't sussed
12. Definitely stop at stop signs
13. A four way junction is just ace, first come first served
14. The car rental places will screw you for damage and fuel, after you have got on the plane!
Other than that it's just ace ;-)
ps it sounds a nightmare but it's really not
1. Just get on with it, dilly dallying will make you more nervous
2. Get or take a Tom Tom
3. Unless your really confident with dealing with traffic entering the highways stick to the middle lane [I will never say that again!!]
4. Stick to the speed limits, esp in built areas [they are hard to guess so watch the signs or listen to the Sat Nav]
5. Be careful in roadworks, go slightly slower than the traffic passing you. Cops are all over this area.
6. Roundabouts are fascinating, and a barsteward to get used to when there is no other traffic
7. Get a big car, I have a Chevy Tahoe, everyone keeps their distance
8. Follow the traffic, particularly at junctions, that way you shouldn't go into the wrong direction on a dual carriageway.
9. Just avoid women drivers, particularly around shopping centres, they are just the worst! [Sorry ladies]
10. You can turn right at traffic lights, if there are no signs to tell you not to, and no one is going side swipe you.
11. Some traffic signals I still haven't sussed
12. Definitely stop at stop signs
13. A four way junction is just ace, first come first served
14. The car rental places will screw you for damage and fuel, after you have got on the plane!
Other than that it's just ace ;-)
ps it sounds a nightmare but it's really not
1. Once they've chosen a lane on the freeway they will stick to it. For as long as possible. This can be very frustrating...
2. They would rather sit 6ft behind you and tailgate than overtake. This can also be very frustrating...
Driving here is really easy though. Autos and cruise control make driving hundreds of miles no issue at all. (i've done ~700 miles today...!).
2. They would rather sit 6ft behind you and tailgate than overtake. This can also be very frustrating...
Driving here is really easy though. Autos and cruise control make driving hundreds of miles no issue at all. (i've done ~700 miles today...!).
woodlands said:
A small but important thing to realise is that gas station pump colours are reversed. Diesel is green. Unleaded is black.
And they have a different Octane rating with most gas stations selling 3 levels of unleaded, but most rentals I've had will have a sticker saying what is recommended on the inside of the filler cap - if in doubt just put the middle 'strength' one in as that's the equivalent of our normal unleaded.Rutter said:
Road junctions usually relate to their mile marker: If you have passed junction 28, the next exit could well be junction 74, so try not to miss your exit.
Exits are usually signposted which side of the road they will be on as explained in the picture:
Useful. I've not picked up on that before. I usually use local knowledge on Haines City roads but I've been caught out once or twice venturing further afield by not knowing which lane the exit is coming off. Thanks!Exits are usually signposted which side of the road they will be on as explained in the picture:
Ooh just remembered another thing...
Freeways: when traffic enters them onto lane one, there is no give way line like there is on British motorways. As the sliproad meets the carriageway the markings on the carriageway stop, and the sliproad and lane 1 effectively merge with neither having to give way to another. I like it as out' encourages the vehicle on the freeway to make a space for joining traffic but it does take some getting used to. You also need to watch for the idiots who appear to barge straight in off the short sliproad without even so much a glance in the mirror!
Freeways: when traffic enters them onto lane one, there is no give way line like there is on British motorways. As the sliproad meets the carriageway the markings on the carriageway stop, and the sliproad and lane 1 effectively merge with neither having to give way to another. I like it as out' encourages the vehicle on the freeway to make a space for joining traffic but it does take some getting used to. You also need to watch for the idiots who appear to barge straight in off the short sliproad without even so much a glance in the mirror!
No Bend said:
I'm new to the UK. I have seen this posted a couple of times, does 'Stop' mean 'Give Way' or 'Be careful' here?
It does mean "STOP" but usually people will slow to a crawl rather than pull up to the line, stop, and then move away like they're supposed to. It's for junctions with restricted visibility, which aren't really all that common (the idea is for the road to be built in a way that they're not needed) so often people don't know how to operate them.
No Bend said:
steveo3002 said:
stop signs - you really have to stop
I'm new to the UK. I have seen this posted a couple of times, does 'Stop' mean 'Give Way' or 'Be careful' here?I do love the US way of turning right on red if it's clear though. Again, it's common sense but we don't have that (turning left) in the UK.
I have driven in LA a few years ago and had no problems, but my current reference is Miami. If they drive as badly in LA as they do here then:
- watch out for t
ts texting or checking their FB pages while driving, including on the freeways (accidents here happen on the straight sections of the freeway because that's where people text!);
- don't assume that they will give way at roundabouts (traffic circles);
- equally don't be surprised if they stop on the roundabout to give way to you coming onto it, they don't understand;
- if the tt in front of you doesn't move when the turn left filter goes green, they are on their phone and a brief toot to get them moving is acceptable to avoid missing the light;
- don't get cross with tts, they may be armed;
- if you get stopped by the cops, stay in the car, keep your hands visible, don't move quickly, etc!
- before turning right at red lights, check for signs saying "No right turn on red light". Note also that this is often followed by "when pedestrians are on crosswalk" in small letters, meaning you CAN turn right on red if there are no pedestrians, but stop first!
- when on a multi-lane road coming up,to lights, if you are in the right lane be aware of "right lane right turn only" signs. Yes you can get past lots of waiting cars in the right lane, but you're then screwed to go straight on. GPS and staying in the middle lane should help with this.
I didn't like LA at all, but wish you the best. Go to the Getty Centre and then drive up Big Sur in your Challenger, it beats the city by far!
- watch out for t
ts texting or checking their FB pages while driving, including on the freeways (accidents here happen on the straight sections of the freeway because that's where people text!);- don't assume that they will give way at roundabouts (traffic circles);
- equally don't be surprised if they stop on the roundabout to give way to you coming onto it, they don't understand;
- if the t
t in front of you doesn't move when the turn left filter goes green, they are on their phone and a brief toot to get them moving is acceptable to avoid missing the light;- don't get cross with t
ts, they may be armed;- if you get stopped by the cops, stay in the car, keep your hands visible, don't move quickly, etc!
- before turning right at red lights, check for signs saying "No right turn on red light". Note also that this is often followed by "when pedestrians are on crosswalk" in small letters, meaning you CAN turn right on red if there are no pedestrians, but stop first!
- when on a multi-lane road coming up,to lights, if you are in the right lane be aware of "right lane right turn only" signs. Yes you can get past lots of waiting cars in the right lane, but you're then screwed to go straight on. GPS and staying in the middle lane should help with this.
I didn't like LA at all, but wish you the best. Go to the Getty Centre and then drive up Big Sur in your Challenger, it beats the city by far!
I have driven in 45 of 50 states and they all have diff rules/laws. Read up on yours. School buses have cameras, You will get caught if you do something naughty. Biggest mistake... not coming to a complete halt at a stop sign. If a cop sees you, ticket. If you get stopped, dont waffle, bs, put on your best David Niven accent and apologize.
Foppo said:
Truckosaurus said:
No Bend said:
I'm new to the UK. I have seen this posted a couple of times, does 'Stop' mean 'Give Way' or 'Be careful' here?
Actual "STOP" signs are pretty rare in the UK.steveo3002 said:
stop signs - you really have to stop
Stop is a fairly definite word with a definite meaning. I was told a story once about a cranky old traffic cop, a driver was debating the meaning of 'stop' and the stop sign that he hadn't stopped at, saying that, 'slow down' was just as good.
So the old traffic sergeant gets his baton out and starts to belt the driver across his body. The non stopping driver begins to cry out in pain.
Sergeant says, "Now, would you like me to stop or just slow down?"
Slight thread drift, but we could do with some of the US driving rules incorporated over here, e.g:
Turn left on a red light if road is clear,
Pass on either side on a motorway, (not sure if that's actually allowed in the US, or just common practice...)
Stop completely when school bus is unloading.
Leave lane 1 clear if emergency vehicle is on hard shoulder, (is this a Florida thing Matt?).
Any others?
Turn left on a red light if road is clear,
Pass on either side on a motorway, (not sure if that's actually allowed in the US, or just common practice...)
Stop completely when school bus is unloading.
Leave lane 1 clear if emergency vehicle is on hard shoulder, (is this a Florida thing Matt?).
Any others?
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