Driving in the US. What do I need to know?
Discussion
HRL said:
Get good at guessing how much fuel you'll need before you go to fill up.
Last time I went most of the petrol stations were prepay.
We buy pre paid Shell cards from the drugstores. That does mean looking for a Shell station but much easier than trying to explain to the drongos in the gas stations that you don't have a zip code for the credit card.Last time I went most of the petrol stations were prepay.
Matt Harper said:
There are so many state-specific idiosyncrasies that it is quite a challenge to stay on top of all of them.
Example: in FL and some other states that only mandate a rear license plate, reverse-in parking is not permitted in public (though not private) parking lots, as NPR equipped cruisers cannot view the plate if the car is backed-in.
Yes, very easy to forget that and drive through a double row to face out - a trolley "boy" (who was about 90) put me right.Example: in FL and some other states that only mandate a rear license plate, reverse-in parking is not permitted in public (though not private) parking lots, as NPR equipped cruisers cannot view the plate if the car is backed-in.
bad company said:
We buy pre paid Shell cards from the drugstores. That does mean looking for a Shell station but much easier than trying to explain to the drongos in the gas stations that you don't have a zip code for the credit card.
You don't need a zip code to use a credit card. You do to use the pay at pump but not in store. Because one American card can be used either as a credit or debit card (not sure i understand the point) most machines don't recognise a British cardMatt Harper said:
There are so many state-specific idiosyncrasies that it is quite a challenge to stay on top of all of them.
Example: in FL and some other states that only mandate a rear license plate, reverse-in parking is not permitted in public (though not private) parking lots, as NPR equipped cruisers cannot view the plate if the car is backed-in.
Well I never knew that!Example: in FL and some other states that only mandate a rear license plate, reverse-in parking is not permitted in public (though not private) parking lots, as NPR equipped cruisers cannot view the plate if the car is backed-in.
I'm just back from driving in America. I guess another thing that could be confusing for UK drivers are some traffic lights doing some odd things. Three I spotted that we don't have:
1. Amber left arrow flashing - basically the same as a 'left turn yield on green'. I.e. You can go, but give way to traffic whose path you cross.
2. Amber flashing - you can go, but proceed with caution.
3. Red flashing - treat as a 4-way stop.
Think I've got those correct!
grumpyscot said:
Someone is killed every day in the US by a train hitting them on a level crossing!
For some unknown reason, a car always comes off worst against a train......
I used to work for a railroad. Not all grade crossings are gated and people take chances. Three things to remember:For some unknown reason, a car always comes off worst against a train......
- there is an optical illusion about the speed of an approaching freight train and people think they are slower than they really are.
- in poor weather such as snow an approaching train on a downgrade is virtually silent.
-People sometimes cross once the train passes and the lights are still flashing and get hit by a train going in the opposite direction.
Nickyboy said:
bad company said:
We buy pre paid Shell cards from the drugstores. That does mean looking for a Shell station but much easier than trying to explain to the drongos in the gas stations that you don't have a zip code for the credit card.
You don't need a zip code to use a credit card. You do to use the pay at pump but not in store. Because one American card can be used either as a credit or debit card (not sure i understand the point) most machines don't recognise a British cardbad company said:
Nickyboy said:
bad company said:
We buy pre paid Shell cards from the drugstores. That does mean looking for a Shell station but much easier than trying to explain to the drongos in the gas stations that you don't have a zip code for the credit card.
You don't need a zip code to use a credit card. You do to use the pay at pump but not in store. Because one American card can be used either as a credit or debit card (not sure i understand the point) most machines don't recognise a British cardHOV lanes on most freeways you can drive in them
With two or more people in the car lots of them in La
And very useful until you have to get off.
Then the fun starts crossing five lanes
Of traffic with two more lanes joining
Not sure if the no alcohol in the front of
The car still applies
With two or more people in the car lots of them in La
And very useful until you have to get off.
Then the fun starts crossing five lanes
Of traffic with two more lanes joining
Not sure if the no alcohol in the front of
The car still applies
Saleen836 said:
bad company said:
Nickyboy said:
bad company said:
We buy pre paid Shell cards from the drugstores. That does mean looking for a Shell station but much easier than trying to explain to the drongos in the gas stations that you don't have a zip code for the credit card.
You don't need a zip code to use a credit card. You do to use the pay at pump but not in store. Because one American card can be used either as a credit or debit card (not sure i understand the point) most machines don't recognise a British cardbad company said:
Yes I've done that but away from the tourist areas & cities it can be a pain. Once I tried that & the attendant said 'what's the problem? Just put in your card & zip code'. When I explained that we were not US residents the guy looked truly shocked. Even in the cities it can be time consuming going in, leaving your card then going back to pay & collect it. Much easier with pre paid cards IMO.
Not sure how British postal codes work,but we have the same issue from Canada. I discovered the following incredibly useful workaround:My Canadian postal code is M5C 3H8, which is also my credit card billing address.
- evidently the pump cannot accept alpha numeric codes, as all US zip are just numeric.
- the thing that works every time is for me is to input just the numbers from my code above, 5-3-8 and follow it with three zeroes. Thus 538000 is the input and the pump accepts it. Worth trying if you have a six character alphanumeric code.
Saleen836 said:
bad company said:
Nickyboy said:
bad company said:
We buy pre paid Shell cards from the drugstores. That does mean looking for a Shell station but much easier than trying to explain to the drongos in the gas stations that you don't have a zip code for the credit card.
You don't need a zip code to use a credit card. You do to use the pay at pump but not in store. Because one American card can be used either as a credit or debit card (not sure i understand the point) most machines don't recognise a British cardCrossflow Kid said:
Go on a bike. You blend in far better as no one thinks a Brit tourist would be crazy enough to ride a bike down LVB.
Cops will also assume you're a native.
3500 miles by Harley in 2014. No issues at all, and even got asked for directions by a local.
Sounds fun BUT our next trip stateside involves a drive from LA to Fort Lauderdale (Pacific to Atlantic) then a cruise back to Europe. The bike would not even carry Mrs BC's shoe collection for the cruise never mind the other stuff.Cops will also assume you're a native.
3500 miles by Harley in 2014. No issues at all, and even got asked for directions by a local.
The cruises finishes in Monte Carlo so I will be able to pay for the whole trip from my winnings in the casino.
bad company said:
Paying for fuel in the store doesn't work well you have to pay BEFORE you fill up and you won't know how much fuel you will need.
I did this last year - The amount I 'paid' upfront was just a limit on what the pump would dispense.I found the tank only took half the $50 I guessed, but when my bill came through, as the attendant had said, it was for only $25. (I think someone's already said this, but just to confirm it was my experience too
)M.
Take your AA card if you have one, it'll get you AAA discounts.
When you pick up your car at the airport, thoroughly check it for scrapes, dents and tyre damage, I discovered a tyre wall bulge once the morning after collection, but luckily I'd paid for 'everything cover'.
Carry your licence all the time.
When you pick up your car at the airport, thoroughly check it for scrapes, dents and tyre damage, I discovered a tyre wall bulge once the morning after collection, but luckily I'd paid for 'everything cover'.
Carry your licence all the time.
Edited by HOGEPH on Tuesday 1st March 08:04
delboyvette said:
HOV lanes on most freeways you can drive in them
With two or more people in the car lots of them in La
And very useful until you have to get off.
Then the fun starts crossing five lanes
Of traffic with two more lanes joining
Not sure if the no alcohol in the front of
The car still applies
Why did you write that like a poem? With two or more people in the car lots of them in La
And very useful until you have to get off.
Then the fun starts crossing five lanes
Of traffic with two more lanes joining
Not sure if the no alcohol in the front of
The car still applies
Just come back from Atlanta - very impressed that in some places the HOV lanes had their own slip roads, like bridges crossing over!
bad company said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Go on a bike. You blend in far better as no one thinks a Brit tourist would be crazy enough to ride a bike down LVB.
Cops will also assume you're a native.
3500 miles by Harley in 2014. No issues at all, and even got asked for directions by a local.
Sounds fun.....Cops will also assume you're a native.
3500 miles by Harley in 2014. No issues at all, and even got asked for directions by a local.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 1st March 17:02
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