driving in the usa

[TW]Fox;16557373 said:
It's totally easy and utterly not a big deal.
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+1

For once I agree with Fox!

Takes me about 5 minutes to get used to driving on the wrong side.

Long straight roads. Majority of the junctions are controlled by traffic lights so no roundabouts. They turn some of the traffic lights off outside peak times with just a flashing light. Flashing Amber means you have priority, Flashing Red you treat as a stop sign.

Cars are automatic so no need to learn to change gear with the wrong hand. Driving over there is much less stressed and frenetic than here. Just take it easy and enjoy.
 
MagicBoy said:
+1

For once I agree with Fox!

Takes me about 5 minutes to get used to driving on the wrong side.

Long straight roads. Majority of the junctions are controlled by traffic lights so no roundabouts. They turn some of the traffic lights off outside peak times with just a flashing light. Flashing Amber means you have priority, Flashing Red you treat as a stop sign.

Cars are automatic so no need to learn to change gear with the wrong hand. Driving over there is much less stressed and frenetic than here. Just take it easy and enjoy.
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I always thought flashing amber meant it was a give way and a flashing red you treated like a stop junction. Did get honked a few times :p
 
I'll be in this situation on Friday! Looking forward to it, although I need to sort a USA map for my sat nav I think...

I forgot about the toll booths in FL. Last time I was over there was 11 years ago.
 
You will enjoy it mate! I remember my first drive abroad was in Spain after 24hrs no sleep and driving all through Malaga to get onto the coastal motorway down south. It certainly was interesting :D

Just try not to stress out about it and you will be grand :)
 
Just make sure you look left!

In order to look like a local I'd suggest lots of undertaking, eating whilst driving, texting on your cellphone, weaving in and out of your lane, listening to country music with a dog (and a canine) in your pickup truck oh and of course - be drunk while driving.
 
john_s said:
In ~5,500 miles, we saw one roundabout, and we weren't even driving when we saw it; we were walking back to the hotel one evening in Washington DC.
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First thing my Canadian uncle said when he got out the car after driving from Glasgow to ours "Damn you guys love your roundabouts, eh?!" :D
 
There was 1 in Clearwater Beach in Tampa, FL.

Utter chaos! People on the roundabout would stop to let people on, people waiting would creep onto the roundabout regardless of what was there and the idea of left lane to turn left, right for right etc was totally ignored.
 
Dont take long to adjust,i was worried when i went in 2008 but soon adjusted after 30 mins,just concentrate.;)
 
paddy said:
There was 1 in Clearwater Beach in Tampa, FL.

Utter chaos! People on the roundabout would stop to let people on, people waiting would creep onto the roundabout regardless of what was there and the idea of left lane to turn left, right for right etc was totally ignored.
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in most DC 'traffic circles' that's the general idea - traffic joining has right of way
 
wouldnt worry, it was a piece of wee wee, I jumped straight in and had no problems at all, the only two things that I found took a little getting used to was initally because the steering wheel was on the other side I found myself staying to close to the centre of the lane to begin with, the second thing was that you absolutely have to stop at stop signs even if there is no one there and its perfectly safe to keep going
 
Gerard said:
Didn't think America had any roundabouts at all.
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There's one or two in Florida too. The first one I came across was in the very quiet residential area near the house I was staying in. It was my first time driving there, I went out for a quick drive in the evening to familiarise myself with the car/roads, and it was just down the road from the house. No one else on the road, and I entered the roundabout exactly as you would over in this country, i.e. driving on the left, going clockwise. Whoops. :D

I realised pretty soon after - I came off the roundabout and thought "oh crap", and very quickly became familiar with driving over there. It's a piece of cake really. Won't take long to acclimatise :)
 
Capt Doufos said:
The tolls are daft really, they cost peanuts. They seem to be more of a tourist tax as most of them are around the airport.
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actually if you leave sfb sanford and drive to key largo the cost in tolls one way is more than the sun pass they sell for you for the 2 week (usual amount most go for)

and far easier to go thru then keep slowing and pulling up to pay even the throw the change in booths, just easier to slow to 50 and cruise thru

but as most say soooooooooo much easier less hassle often friendlier drivers.
switching to auto car is really a few miles and you wonder why the worry or fuss.
 
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