driving in america

utajoker

utajoker

utajoker

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in a couple of weeks we will be going on our honeymoon to usa driving around California.

having never driver in America i was going to do a bit of reading on road laws etc.

i know a few people have done roads trips on here so can anyone point me int he direction of some good info?

stuff like being able to turn right(i think) on red lights etc.


also any tips for going in a road trip?

we will be traveling around for 14 days.

also does anyone know where i can get a proper fold out map of California like in the movies. i want to draw our route out and maybe circle attractions etc. at the end it might make something nice to frame too.

thanks for help.
 
I've only ever driven in Florida, but you didn't need to worry about right on red as you never had to make that decision yourself - there was either a filter or a light to indicate it could be done.

Other than that just make sure you stick to the speed limits on the interstates etc as they're really big on fines.

Don't assume your hire car has workin abs either ;)
 
It's dead easy. Big thing to remember is you can turn right on a red light and people will beep if you don't. Unlike Florida there are rarely filter lights to remind you in California.

Other than that its easy and autos are easy too.

You will have a fantastic time - only a few weeks to go for me too :D
 
On a stop line, make sure you do actually stop. Don't do the 'rolling stop'.

On a 4 way stop with other vehicles at the junction, you move off in the order that you arrived.
 
When pulled over for speeding convince the Police Officer that you thought that the signs at the side of the road were the speed limit............


Luckily he hadn't pulled me over earlier, it wasn't a 3 digit road sign ;)
 
what about fueling up

do people come out and do it for you?

are the pumps the same as over here?

i will prob be doing a fare bit of this :p
 
What ii learntpt iOS my mates are terrible drivers. One didnt take into account the massive size of the car and we went over the train track dragging the car, the other almost crashed on the motorway expecting a lorry to give them right off way :confused:

Other than that depending where you are keep your eyes out for toll and pass only lanes.
And enjoy the cars, it's not drvingg it's setting cruise controll and chillin' out.

The pumps are like 60years old and it all varies. Some are like uk, a lot are pay first then fil up, some are people fill you up.
 
[TW]Fox;24818909 said:
It's dead easy. Big thing to remember is you can turn right on a red light and people will beep if you don't. Unlike Florida there are rarely filter lights to remind you in California.

Other than that its easy and autos are easy too.

You will have a fantastic time - only a few weeks to go for me too :D
Click to expand...

Not every light is right on red, there are a number of cameras all over, look for a sign that clearly says 'No right on red' otherwise they come down on you for it.
 
utajoker said:
what about fueling up

do people come out and do it for you?

are the pumps the same as over here?

i will prob be doing a fare bit of this :p
Click to expand...

You go in and pay for fuel first if it's cash, if it's card you put it into the pump like here, remember to select the correct fuel type! only one nozzle!
 
utajoker said:
what about fueling up

do people come out and do it for you?

are the pumps the same as over here?

i will prob be doing a fare bit of this :p
Click to expand...

It varies but most of the fuel stations I stopped at it was self-service. No chip and pin though, some are electronic payment and require your zip code but most places seemed to still need you to sign as confirmation. In quite a few shops there seems to be no verification of identity with credit/debit cards but that may just have been for low value transactions.

In California you might find that some of the lanes are for people with more than 1 person in the car at certain times, that's definitely the case round San Francisco and might extend further through the State. It shouldn't matter if you're going on holiday with your wife but it's something to bear in mind if they're not in the car.

A couple of other points to note - when you come back you'll probably have a new found appreciation for how good the UK's roads are on the whole and beware of people passing you from either side. Convertibles are nice but aside from hiring one to say you have done it for something like the Pacific Coast Highway (assuming you're doing that - if you're not you're missing out in a big way) you might find you're as well with a "normal" rental which is cheaper because if you've got the roof up and the air conditioning on it doesn't make much of a difference what you're driving in.

Congratulations on the impending marriage and hope it all goes well before a great holiday. :)

acemastr said:
You go in and pay for fuel first if it's cash, if it's card you put it into the pump like here, remember to select the correct fuel type! only one nozzle!
Click to expand...

Maybe it was just where I was but the garages I stopped at had separate pumps for diesel on the fairly rare occasions they sold it at all - it's just not as popular there to have a diesel car so it didn't come up much as an issue.
 
If you travel north to Oregon, there are NO self service gas station. An attendant will do it for you. There's no need to tip him/her.
 
Cruise control - use it :p

Middle-lane driving is encouraged in a 3+ lane freeway!

If you can choose among three lanes, pick the middle lane for the smoothest driving.
Click to expand...
http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/traffic_lanes.htm

Have a read there about the center lane system too - I thought it was pretty straight-forward but that kind of thing is rare in the UK so potential for confusion according to my mum :p

Look out for the long broken lines which indicate the lane you are in is about to exit the freeway to avoid last-minute having to change.

You must park in the direction you are travelling or you will get a ticket.

Mobile phones must be hands-free, although as in England this is very rarely enforced.

Cops are pretty lax when it comes to speeding on freeways, the limit is often 65mph but as a rule freeway traffic tends to go at 70-75 and the cops don't bat an eyelid. In builtup areas though they take it more seriously.

It's basically common sense, enjoy :)
 
Just remember looooonnng left turns, otherwise you will end up on the wrong side of the median.

Also, 9 times out of 10 you wont be able to pay the pump using card as it requires you enter your Zip code... which of course you cant. So pop in and tell them you want to put 40bucks in then any left over the charge back.

Also people undertake as a standard practice.

Just enjoy it, its nice driving over there I think.
 
utajoker said:
what about fueling up

do people come out and do it for you?

are the pumps the same as over here?

i will prob be doing a fare bit of this :p
Click to expand...

Only state I know that does that is NJ, where it was (and probably still is) illegal to pump your own gas last time I went!
 
acemastr said:
You go in and pay for fuel first if it's cash, if it's card you put it into the pump like here, member to select the correct fuel type! only one nozzle!
Click to expand...

Only UK cards which work in the pump are American Express. You will need to go in first even if you want to pay by card.

You give them an amount, say 60 dollars and they auth that much and charge you what you actually take.
 
[TW]Fox;24820081 said:
Only UK cards which work in the pump are American Express. You will need to go in first even if you want to pay by card.

You give them an amount, say 60 dollars and they auth that much and charge you what you actually take.
Click to expand...

Incorrect, my nationwide current account works fine.
 
Oh don't forget a good pair of sunglasses! :cool:

And if you're in a convertible - don't forget suncream on your ears, arms and thighs :p
 
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