Driving in America, are the cars much different?

richardw

The main difference in cars is automatic transmission, nothing else really.

pollypenny

We try to choose a car with number plate for a different state.

We've found that drivers are generally very courteous, but seeing that it's not a local vehicle perhaps help them make allowances.

Re vans,they might be big,,but there's little room for luggage, as we found when we were six adults.

zagfles

Teahfc wrote: »

Always when in any new country learning the basic traffic laws.
In the USA they are pretty hot on motoring offences in some states.
1 speeding is very seriously frowned upon.
2 you can unless isn't states no turn right on a red traffic light if the road is clear.

And that includes pedestrians - turning traffic must give way to pedestrians even if you have the green light. This is common in Europe as well, and catches a lot of Brits out.

Also the traffic lights are usually overhead and are per lane - eg on a multi-lane road some lanes may have a green light and some may have a red light.

3. Never under any circumstances overtake or fail to stop 20/25 yards in front if when facing on opposite side if road on a 2 way road not dual carriageway a school bus that has stopped and has lights flashing.
4. Lots of stop signs, always stop do not just take a look and keep going and the you take it in terms to go on a first come first serve basis.
5 Drink driving is a standard no.

In some states you can't even carry unopened alcohol in the car except in the boot!

prowla

The steering wheel is on the wrong side, and they drive on the wrong side of the road, which makes it a little more difficult, but you adjust quickly.

Most cars are automatics, so that's easier.

People there tend to drive more slowly and considerately there than here, so that's better.

Some roads are really wide, so you may need to go across lanes, so that's worse.

Parking spaces are usually wider and better thought out, so that's better.

Some places let you turn right through a red light, but make sure you've got it right at the given junction.

Stop means Stop.

The freeways have "WRONG WAY!" signs if you try and turn into an exit ramp.

You can overtake on either side.

There are two real messages regarding driving in the US:
i. Keep your concentration, as the time you think you can switch off is when you'll get something wrong.
ii. Concentrate WHEN YOU GET BACK HOME! I once came back and pulled out onto the wrong side of the road.

John259

There's a relatively new driving rule which now applies in most (all?) states: if there's an emergency service vehicle stopped on the shoulder of a divided highway (dual carriageway, freeway, motorway, interstate) then you must pull out from the rightmost lane if possible so as to leave a gap of one lane between you and the stopped vehicle. If you can't pull out due to traffic etc then you must slow down when passing the stopped vehicle.

torbrex

Virtually all cars have air conditioning and p-poor mpg.

Most rental cars have an emergency call button that links you to a switchboard, find the button and avoid it at all costs, they get annoyed if you hit it by accident.

John259

Interstates and US highways are almost always indicated on maps by their numbers in simplified forms of the highway marker shields used for them on signposts.

State highways are usually indicated on maps by their numbers in circles, ovals or ellipses.

Roads indicated on maps by their numbers in rectangles are minor roads such as county roads. Unless you have local knowledge these roads are best avoided by visitors because they might be unpaved and signposting on them might not be as good as on other roads.

Here's an example of signposting on the Los Angeles freeways:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/I10_West_into_East_LA_interchange.jpg

Here's an example of the type of signposting often found on non-freeway roads:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/US_221_and_US_321_Business_in_Blowing_Rock.JPG/220px-US_221_and_US_321_Business_in_Blowing_Rock.JPG

Here's a graphic which shows the highway marker shields for each of the states, interstates, and US highways (entitled "National Shield" on the graphic, with the number 40 in it):
http://i.imgur.com/uuwBhMS.png
Trivia: the design of marker shield for California's state highways is meant to represent a miner's shovel, commemorating the 1849 gold rush.

wondercollie

totallybored wrote: »

Try to remember what make and model your hire car is before going straight to a shopping mall after picking it up and then having to wander round many white cars pressing your key fob at them all.

Easily solved by taking a picture of the car and license plate on your phone or Ipad.


And yes, I learnt to do this because there were four red Focus parked together in a mall lot.


Plus if you have pictures of the car, it's harder for the rental company to say you caused the scrape/ding/dent when you hand it back.

ferf1223

OP - where in the US are you going and will you be doing a lot of driving? Or will you only have all the cases on your way from and to the airport?

The only reason I ask is if you have a large SUV most don't have luggage screens...with 4 large + 4 small cases, it seems likely they will be stacked in the back which might make some people nervous (it would make me nervous, I know others would be fine with it).

getmore4less

That's a lot of luggage.

== BIG vehicle.