Driving in America - how hard?

[MitchT]

HowMuchLonger said:

If you get pulled by the police do not jump out of the car and walk towards them.

Sounds like the summing-up at the end of a long story about how you ended up with bullet wounds

[The Moose]

Poprin said:

So basically try avoiding doing any light traffic law breaking because the cops are not friendly and they don't let anyone off!

Whilst I don't condone law breaking, this statement isn't entirely accurate - and does, I strongly believe, come down to the attitude test!

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

If you think MLM's are annoying here - just wait till you get to the 'States. They all just sit on their fat asses, in their fat yank tanks like fat mobile chicanes. There is zero lane discipline.

They have a different set of rules to us, which in fact work a lot better on the whole - being allowed to undertake is a much greater way to make reasonable progress.

richard300 said:

Perhaps I watch to much American crime drama?

I think this might quite likely be the case - I have ended up on numerous occasions in the 'wrong' part of Miami and, I've never been killed. Not once you know

kambites said:

Be wary of right turn on red - you still have to give way to pedestrians.

Yes - try not to run a ped down - they can do quite a lot of damage to your hire car with those huge asses

[HebdenHedgehog]

Not read all of the foregoing, but the thing I wished I'd done when I went over was to read up on the road signs beforehand.

Nearly had a couple of accidents because of not knowing simple stuff like lines!

But, overall I did more than 18,000 km in Canada and the US and loved it. Cities can be intimidating, but that applies to anywhere in the world, esp if you don't know where you're going!

[The Moose]

HebdenHedgehog said:

Cities can be intimidating, but that applies to anywhere in the world, esp if you don't know where you're going!

I've always found that view point a little odd. Assuming you have full control over the car and an ability to be observant (i.e. look in your blind spot before moving), then why should anyone be intimidated by driving anywhere?

The only time I've been worried about the actual driving process was in Mongolia when the track wasn't much wider than the wheel-span of the car and there was a bit of a drop either side (would have survived it I recon anyway).

[kaf]

The thing that I found most alien was the multi way stop junctions.

Crossroads that you must stop at and then move off in turn, especially when the road is 12 lanes wide! Picking the correct on the new road takes some working out!

But generally I agree easy driving, just don't get intimidated by 6 lane highways with everybody doing 50mph 6 feet behind the car in front.

[richard300]

The Moose said:

HebdenHedgehog said:

Cities can be intimidating, but that applies to anywhere in the world, esp if you don't know where you're going!

I've always found that view point a little odd. Assuming you have full control over the car and an ability to be observant (i.e. look in your blind spot before moving), then why should anyone be intimidated by driving anywhere?

The only time I've been worried about the actual driving process was in Mongolia when the track wasn't much wider than the wheel-span of the car and there was a bit of a drop either side (would have survived it I recon anyway).

My wife is a reasonably confident driver, she (generally) has full control over her car and she could check her blind spot a million times BUT she would still be intimidated say, driving in London with cars just pulling out, randomly changing lanes, courier bikes and cyclists clipping her door mirrors and busses in the way of road signs she may be trying to look at because she doesn’t know the city.

One would have to admit, it’s far removed from a nice drive along the coast or through the country roads or even a monotonous motorway journey in the middle lane.

[djt100]

It's easier and nicer to drive than here, You can drive mammoth distances at the speed limit and time flied by as your not stop start traffic all the time, much easier to just cruise and enjoy

[HowlerMonkey]

The biggest navigational hazard in USA is Orlando because it seems every single wrong turn will send you to the gates of disneyworld.

If you do happen to end up there, just say you are picking someone up at "horticultural".....then explore a bit.

[FisiP1]

The Moose said:

I've always found that view point a little odd. Assuming you have full control over the car and an ability to be observant (i.e. look in your blind spot before moving), then why should anyone be intimidated by driving anywhere?

The only time I've been worried about the actual driving process was in Mongolia when the track wasn't much wider than the wheel-span of the car and there was a bit of a drop either side (would have survived it I recon anyway).

More information to take in over a short period of time, other drivers who are much less observant and with no problem in adding a few more scrapes to their tatty vehicle, unusual street layouts/junctions, unfamiliar signs, pedestrians willing to walk out into the road with no warning, narrow streets.

Not all of those apply to the US admittedly, whose system translates quite well to cities relative to most, but its still considerably more stressful driving in a city than outside of one IMO.

[The Moose]

richard300 said:

The Moose said:

HebdenHedgehog said:

Cities can be intimidating, but that applies to anywhere in the world, esp if you don't know where you're going!

I've always found that view point a little odd. Assuming you have full control over the car and an ability to be observant (i.e. look in your blind spot before moving), then why should anyone be intimidated by driving anywhere?

The only time I've been worried about the actual driving process was in Mongolia when the track wasn't much wider than the wheel-span of the car and there was a bit of a drop either side (would have survived it I recon anyway).

My wife is a reasonably confident driver, she (generally) has full control over her car and she could check her blind spot a million times BUT she would still be intimidated say, driving in London with cars just pulling out, randomly changing lanes, courier bikes and cyclists clipping her door mirrors and busses in the way of road signs she may be trying to look at because she doesn’t know the city.

One would have to admit, it’s far removed from a nice drive along the coast or through the country roads or even a monotonous motorway journey in the middle lane.

Women know what blind spots are?!

It is far removed from a nice drive along the coast or country roads, but I do actually find it quite exciting and enjoy the experience also. The first time I pulled out from the curb in Manhattan (hung over) was wonderful fun even if it was a bit more 'challenging' to drive.

Each to their own of course though. I'm the sort of person who drove to Mongolia, and Libya just 'for fun' (well, and a race!!)

[louiebaby]

Expect big sections with not much in between.

Directions to Walmart when I worked out there:

• Left at the end of the road.

• Left at the T Junction.

• 2nd exit at the roundabout.

• Right at the lights.

Driving time: 1h30m. And that was in New Hampshire, which is a tiny, and quite densely populated state.

Loved it.

[joe_90]

Jumped in my s2000, raced to the airport, jumped on the plane, off at the other end into a hire car.. First bend nearly slid off the road while squeeling everywhere..

Those cars do not go around corners..

oh and try for a bounce squeel into a carpark..

But its really easy and relaxed actually..

[Motorrad]

Reardy Mister said:

One thing I noted is that on a motorbike, you NEVER filter. Motorbikes hold their position in queues of traffic just as though they were a car..

Depends which state you're in. It's illegal in Texas, didn't stop me doing it though, by the time the dopes sat in their cars have worked out what's going on, got angry and started thinking about revenge I'd be some miles away.

[HowlerMonkey]

joe_90 said:

Jumped in my s2000, raced to the airport, jumped on the plane, off at the other end into a hire car.. First bend nearly slid off the road while squeeling everywhere..

Those cars do not go around corners..

oh and try for a bounce squeel into a carpark..

But its really easy and relaxed actually..

The S2000s go around corners just fine in the U.S.

[Motorrad]

HowlerMonkey said:

The S2000s go around corners just fine in the U.S.

Agreed. I think the comments you refer to were that the OP got out of a S2000 at origin and into some softly sprung stbox at the US end and got a shock.

[Deva Link]

kaf said:

The thing that I found most alien was the multi way stop junctions.

I went with my then boss to California and he just didn't get the 4-Way stop thing - he couldn't for the life of him understand why you would wait if the other lanes had stopped too!
I was expecting to be shot at some point, but nobody seemed too worried.

[HereBeMonsters]

Remember most of their traffic signs are above the road, not next to it.

Leaving SFO is quite difficult if you forget this. You may end up going the wrong way up an expressway for about half a mile.

[Stu R]

As said it's a breeze for the large part - I found the hardest thing to get used to was the differences in rules etc, but it's nothing that a quick scan on the net won't solve. They do vary from state to state but as long as you're sensible you'll be fine.

The only cops I've encountered have been great, they're not all power-tripping nut-jobs.

[Matt Harper]

Stu R said:

The only cops I've encountered have been great, they're not all power-tripping nut-jobs.

I'm not so sure - and my daughter is a Sheriffs Deputy.

In my experience, Highway Patrol (State Troopers) are all pretty much severely chipped in the shoulder area. For the most part, all they do is clear-up traffic accidents and write speeding tickets (so, not much fun), they get paid peanuts and most behave like social inadequates with a military haircut and shiny boots.
Sheriffs Dept and Metro cops seem almost human in comparison.

[Mr E]

Most of the cops I've met out in the US were decent human beings. I wouldn't worry too much.