Driving in the US - Tips

You don't need any tips. Get in car, drive it. Pretty much the only useful tip is don't forget you can usually turn right on a red traffic light.

Other than that if you can drive a car you'll be fine.

It is recommend that all British First Time USA Drivers pick Routes that avoid Freeways and The Beach Line Expressway if at all possible for your Arriving Drive.
Click to expand...

I genuinelly worry about anyone who would need to heed that advice :p
 
Last time I drove in America found it wasn't much different from the uk, only thing you have to get use too is the undertaking but give it a day or so and you'll adjust to it. The auto boxes you get in most rental cars make life very easy.
 
Top down, tunes up, sun glasses on, arm on window.

annnnnd relax :D


When coming off in a few junctions from the freeway, beware that even though you're in the inside lane, junctions joining will add more lanes, suddenly leaving you near the outside with about 4 lanes to cut across. Serious WTF moment the first time it happens.
 
[TW]Fox;22939620 said:
I genuinelly worry about anyone who would need to heed that advice :p
Click to expand...

I guess there are some nervous drivers, for example my mum would never think about driving in a different country.
 
the junctions do work differently from ours with being able to turn right most of the time and for ones without lights a sort of go in the order you got there pecking order

and don't expect people to observe any kid of lane discipline, ie undertaking is the norm

also don't do road rage as you will be shot
 
If you're following road signs be aware that they sign things very late, often at the same time as the junction, so if you're looking for a freeway exit then it is easy to miss it by the time you see the sign.

Generally there are plenty of places to U-turn though. :D
 
Cheers all for the advice so far, looks like the only thing I have to remember is to drive on the wrong side and how to work an auto box, I am guessing that is not too hard. :p
 
yeah, i kept missing stop signs.

driving my dads porsche.

he wasnt happy.



RE: the auto box, stop pedal is on the left, go pedal is on the right.

only advice i would give is to watch out for black sedans. they had loads in Texas with a police logo on them in black also. not unmarked cars but they do try to catch you out. the amount of police about where i was last was crazy, my dad has a radar detector [legal over there] and it was lit up like a christmas tree for 70% of all journeys.
 
One I picked up is if someone flashes you that means "I'm coming through" not letting you know they are giving way to you.

Another one is school buses. If a school bus is stationary with flashing lights and the stop sign out STOP. They are VERY "Won't somebody think of the Children"

Other than that it's common sense, like desert driving. Make sure you have plenty of water you don't want to break down without any, I know it sounds obvious but we don't have to deal with 200 miles of nothing and no shade, so it's easy not to think about it.
 
Skidder said:
driver through desert in Arizona, the GPS showed me a right in 159 miles as my next instruction
Click to expand...

IMG_0278.PNG


:D
 
Just remember that in the USA they drive on the right side of the road, which is the wrong side, because the left side is the right side. :p
 
Tomsk said:
Just remember that in the USA they drive on the right side of the road, which is the wrong side, because the left side is the right side. :p
Click to expand...

Yeah it would be much easier if they just drove on the correct side of the road like us in the civilised world. :D
 
Capt Doufos said:
One I picked up is if someone flashes you that means "I'm coming through" not letting you know they are giving way to you.
Click to expand...
Similar to over here then! - a flash of headlights is a warning to others that you are there, nothing more!

99% of drivers seem blissfully unaware of this.....
 
All I would say is remember 'right on red' and in California we must have seen 4 or 5 cops chase after speeding cars, so don't test the speed limits there :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom