Driving in the US for the first time - tips?
Discussion
Some good, some bad on here so here are the real facts.
The Mustang has an iPod connector inside the centre console.
In fact, the last Mustang I rented had Pirelli P Zero's, no no problem with grip
Drive on the "other" side.
You can turn right on a red light unless there is a sign saying you can't. Only if it's clear though
Stop at Stop signs even if you are the only one there.
You will need a US Zip Code to authorise the pay at the pump so you will have to go inside and pre pay before fuelling.
There is generally no allowance or % over the speed limit. 70mph means 70mph.
Speed limits can be different at night. There will be signs.
Big Rigs will overtake you. They are not limited to 56mph but they will not do 130
If you get stopped by the Police, stay in the car, turn the engine and music off, roll the window down and STAY IN THE CAR. Keep your hand on the wheel and be polite. The Police have zero sense of humour.
Make sure you are carrying all the relevant documentation.
Get a V8
Have fun.
The Mustang has an iPod connector inside the centre console.
In fact, the last Mustang I rented had Pirelli P Zero's, no no problem with grip
Drive on the "other" side.
You can turn right on a red light unless there is a sign saying you can't. Only if it's clear though
Stop at Stop signs even if you are the only one there.
You will need a US Zip Code to authorise the pay at the pump so you will have to go inside and pre pay before fuelling.
There is generally no allowance or % over the speed limit. 70mph means 70mph.
Speed limits can be different at night. There will be signs.
Big Rigs will overtake you. They are not limited to 56mph but they will not do 130
If you get stopped by the Police, stay in the car, turn the engine and music off, roll the window down and STAY IN THE CAR. Keep your hand on the wheel and be polite. The Police have zero sense of humour.
Make sure you are carrying all the relevant documentation.
Get a V8
Have fun.
Edited by HD Adam on Tuesday 6th December 23:32
Edited by HD Adam on Tuesday 6th December 23:34
HD Adam said:
If you get stopped by the Police, stay in the car, turn the engine and music off, roll the window down and STAY IN THE CAR. Keep your hand on the wheel and be polite. The Police have zero sense of humour.
Make sure you are carrying all the relevant documentation..
But don't suddenly reach into the glovebox for your documents...Make sure you are carrying all the relevant documentation..
One important one.
Doing a left at a traffic light.
You do not go round the other car, you pass passenger to passenger side.
If you see flashing lights, stop.
The police car will stop behind you. Do not get out, turn on the coutersy lights so he can see in the car easily. Not the law but he will apreciate it, and it may save you a ticket.
Don't do the yes sir no sir if you are not in the South. Talk to them normally, most of them are a lot more human than their UK counterparts.
Do not stare at his gun, it may be unusual for you to see an armed cop, but it will make him jumpy. (they hate that)
No donut jokes unless you have a bail bondsman on speed dial.
EDIT If I'd waited a couple of minutes I needn't have typed this
Doing a left at a traffic light.
You do not go round the other car, you pass passenger to passenger side.
If you see flashing lights, stop.
The police car will stop behind you. Do not get out, turn on the coutersy lights so he can see in the car easily. Not the law but he will apreciate it, and it may save you a ticket.
Don't do the yes sir no sir if you are not in the South. Talk to them normally, most of them are a lot more human than their UK counterparts.
Do not stare at his gun, it may be unusual for you to see an armed cop, but it will make him jumpy. (they hate that)
No donut jokes unless you have a bail bondsman on speed dial.
EDIT If I'd waited a couple of minutes I needn't have typed this
Edited by jeff m2 on Tuesday 6th December 23:40
If you hear a siren pull over and stop. Under no circumstances speed through a school zone. Don't overtake a stopped school bus.
Read the US version of the highway code. If you get stopped by an officer, do not get out of the car. Keep your hands on the wheel and say in your best accent "I'm terribly sorry officer, I thought the **** -they respond to English charm (usually). Make sure you carry a photo ID -ideally a photo drivers license, they will expect you to have one and will arrest you if you have no ID. You may get stopped in hicksville for speeding even when you weren't if you have out of state plates. Swallow the fine, don't object or make a fuss or you may spend the night in a cell until the local judge can see you the next morning. Look on it as an extra tax, offset by the low gas prices, that keeps their local police force running. (This happened to me twice). Do not leave the scene of an accident unless you are threatened by the other driver. In that case, call 911 as soon as you are clear and explain what happened and why you left.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Read the US version of the highway code. If you get stopped by an officer, do not get out of the car. Keep your hands on the wheel and say in your best accent "I'm terribly sorry officer, I thought the **** -they respond to English charm (usually). Make sure you carry a photo ID -ideally a photo drivers license, they will expect you to have one and will arrest you if you have no ID. You may get stopped in hicksville for speeding even when you weren't if you have out of state plates. Swallow the fine, don't object or make a fuss or you may spend the night in a cell until the local judge can see you the next morning. Look on it as an extra tax, offset by the low gas prices, that keeps their local police force running. (This happened to me twice). Do not leave the scene of an accident unless you are threatened by the other driver. In that case, call 911 as soon as you are clear and explain what happened and why you left.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
moreflaps said:
Don't overtake a stopped school bus.
My uncle got caught by this one. Small town in the middle of nowhere, school bus parked with lights flashing. He sat there for a couple of minutes only to find a police car the other side waiting for victims.He could have appealed the (small) fine but being from out of town it meant a long return trip and not worth it.
Not sure what the best thing to do would be? Wait a while then get out of the car and look "to see if the driver's got a problem" is the best I can think of. A video camera would be a very bad idea...
Returned a month ago from a couple of weeks driving around Massachusetts. Never asked for zip code when paying gor gas and never had to pre-pay. In one isolated gas station I was offered free doughnuts by the very attractive cashier if I stayed and talked to her for a few minutes - as I'm 65 I can only assume that she liked my English accent. Road signs on the back roads can be pretty dire, more 'you are here' than 'the way to go'. Americans are very helpful, at least in Massachusetts. Hire car was a very unexciting booted Focus auto; and it had a slow puncture - a small town tyre depot (Mavis Tyres) fixed it for $14.50 and gave us great free coffee while we waited. Many minor roads - very wide even when compared with Englisg A-roads - have 45mph limits and this is often reduced to 35 for the slightest bend - most traffic kept to these 45 limits.
CurvaParabolica said:
It's a Hawaiian island; there is one main road with a handful of offshoots - I better not get lost!! Was planning on limiting use of the credit card and taking cash instead, but might make an exception with refills.
In Hawaii don't leave your luggage in the rental car, ever, very common for people to stop off for sightseeing on their way to the airport and come back to find the trunk popped and everything gone.Nickyboy said:
moreflaps said:
Don't overtake a stopped school bus.
This! They take this very seriously, even if there isnt a cop around if you do it the bus driver will alert them as they normally carry police band radios. The only exception is if there is a median between carraigeways
Maxmpg said:
Small but important difference: watch out for the position of the traffic light stop lines. In Texas, they often suspend the traffic lights from cables, above the centre of a junction. When I arrived from England, I expected the traffic lights to be on my side of the junction, so I went to stop just before the (red) traffic lights and nearly drove into the centre of the junction! Luckily, it was a quiet road with nobody coming from left or right.
I did that the first time I drove after moving here - sailed straight through a four way intersection thinking I was pulling up to a set of red lights! I was very very very lucky to get away without being involved in a serious smash.If you get stopped.. Do not roll down the window until the officer is alongside you and instructs you to do so. Sit there with your fingers interlocked on top of the steering wheel until instructed otherwise. They carry guns and have to assume that you might have one too. When you get pulled over they will take a few minutes to check your plates to see if there is anything untoward they should know about before approaching the driver. Keep in mind that the officer will be on high alert when walking towards you so for the love of oatmeal, no sudden moves and NO reaching for anything until instructed to do so. They simply want to be assured that you are not a threat (hence the locked fingers on top of the wheel to put them at ease) before they consider whether to give you a ticket or a warning. And no excuses.. if you got caught speeding, just apologise for it without admitting the speed as they hate excuses and often show a bit of mercy when you just come clean.
I have been pulled over for speeding a few times and have only received two tickets. State Troopers both times who were, on the whole, very nice about it considering the speed we were up to. Even got our pictures taken with them to go with the four figure fine
Assuming you are from the UK, do muster the strongest accent you can and make sure you let them know you are on holiday. Alternatively, stick to the speed limit and enjoy Hawaii.
I have been pulled over for speeding a few times and have only received two tickets. State Troopers both times who were, on the whole, very nice about it considering the speed we were up to. Even got our pictures taken with them to go with the four figure fine
Assuming you are from the UK, do muster the strongest accent you can and make sure you let them know you are on holiday. Alternatively, stick to the speed limit and enjoy Hawaii.
Never driven there myself. Remember going on a family holiday there 10 years or so back and the HGV drivers are a lot more aggressive and dont seem to be limited to 56mph like ours. Lots of Peterbilt monsters overtaking at breakneck speeds. Think of the film Duel.
Other than than, the roads seemed a lot less congested than ours in most places. Road surfaces were very good in the south, absymal in the North.
Other than than, the roads seemed a lot less congested than ours in most places. Road surfaces were very good in the south, absymal in the North.
To be honest, we often complain about officialdom and needless waste of Police resources to enforce silly unneccessary things here but it sounds like America might actually be worse. The only time ive been to the States i wasnt doing the driving so i didnt really look up much of this stuff at all but much of whats been pointed out here sounds quite strange.
To be honest this is still a pretty decent country to drive a car in, high fuel prices and some insurance price nonsense apart.
To be honest this is still a pretty decent country to drive a car in, high fuel prices and some insurance price nonsense apart.
davepoth said:
HD Adam said:
Big Rigs will overtake you. They are not limited to 56mph but they will not do 130
True - The one I overtook was only doing about 120...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff