Florida villa rental Orlando
Driving in the USA is a thoroughly enjoyable experience and not to be feared.
It has to be stated that the worst part of the experience is the arrival. The traveller has to endure between 8 and 10 hours flight time, with the attendant waiting time at Heathrow or Gatwick, in order to reach the US. Even though all that one has to do is sit through the journey it is a very tiring experience. Arriving at the destination airport one has to collect the hire car, negotiate the upgrade/insurance and then, thoroughly tired, join the freeways to reach the destination hotel.
It is then that the traveller realises that s/he is having to drive a longer and wider car than ever before and on the wrong side of the road, after a thoroughly tiring journey. Fear not ! On the whole our good cousins are very forgiving of our (temporarily) poor driving capabilities. Attempts to merge with the freeway traffic will usually be met with a very accommodating attitude - people give way to joining traffic. I have a mental (nightmare) image of US citizens trying to negotiate the M25 and expecting the same courteous treatment. They would be cannon fodder.
It must be expected that the first journey on US soil will not be typical of the remainder of the experience. Driving anywhere when tired and jet-lagged is not a pleasant pastime. Take heart because things can only get better, though it must be recognised that it will take a few days to get used to the time difference and to stop oneself waking at 3 am.
So what are the changes that one must prepare for?
I had difficulty in getting used to the huge clover leaf junctions between freeways. It seems that geographical constraints are not a consideration when building freeways and leaving one road in order to join another can often take up to a mile, leaving the driver wondering whether s/he missed the correct turn.
In the UK we are advised to stay on the left-most lane unless overtaking. In the US it is customary to stay in the right lane unless overtaking, though this general rule is usually ignored. However as good law-abiding tourists we would tend to follow the rule. Keep a very careful eye on the overhead directional signs. These are normally green (except when approaching the Florida Disney resorts, when they are purple) and indicate which lanes head to the various destinations. If the lane in which you are driving has a yellow background then you are in a ‘This lane must exit’ lane. Be aware of this situation because you must either change lane quickly or leave the freeway at the next exit - your lane will leave the freeway.
Lane discipline is practically non-existent. It is essential, therefore, to watch both left and right mirrors to see who is overtaking, and from which side. In our cousins’ parlance a dual carriageway is referred to as a divided highway (which is a far more sensible description) and the central reservation (which is more often than not just a grass strip with a drainage ditch in the centre) is called the median.
Speed limits vary tremendously. The signs are black lettering on a white background. In built-up areas, in the vicinity of schools, the limit can be as low as 15mph (when children are about) and be as high as 75mph on the freeways. (In Hawaii, specifically, the roads are smaller and, to ease the traffic flow, there is often a lower and upper speed limit posted. This would be, typically, 35mph for the lower limit and 45 mph for the upper. This ‘window’ very effectively ensures that traffic moves smoothly.)
Whilst considering school speed limits it is appropriate to mention school buses. They are yellow in colour and, when they display red flashing lights, all traffic on non-divided highway traffic must halt - in both traffic directions.
A common sign is that which reads ‘Reduced speed ahead’. This indicates that the speed limit in force is about to drop by (normally) 10mph, usually found on the approach to a town. A colleague informs me that Montana have a daytime speed limit which is ‘prudent and safe’. This means that there is no limit but that the driver must exercise reasonable caution. If a law enforcement officer considers that the driver is not exhibiting a prudent and safe attitude then a $75-$500 fine will ensue. In darkness hours Montana has a 55mph limit.
Four way stops are quite common. This is, effectively, a cross roads without traffic lights. The rule is that there is a mandatory stop. Having stopped it is necessary to watch the other three traffic directions and to proceed in turn. First at the crossing gets to go first (after stopping) and everyone else takes their turn, strictly in the order of their arrival at the junction. It works well but feels a little frightening at first. If travelling from Orlando International Airport into Florida it will be necessary to keep a pocketful of change. Toll roads such as the BeeLine Expressway have toll booths every few miles and payment of between 20 cents and a dollar are typical. California, on the other hand, has no toll roads.
Most US signs are self-explanatory and tending towards the European standards, such as an inverted red triangle with the legend YIELD, which looks like our GIVE WAY sign. Stop signs are exactly the same as those in the UK.
Car pool lanes exist in some areas. These are the left-hand freeway lanes and are reserved for vehicles having two or more passengers. The road lane is marked with a white diamond. My only experience of them has been in California.
Some Californian slip roads joining freeways are traffic light controlled and alternate from red to green, allowing the stipulated number of vehicles to join at each change (normally one or two cars per change).
Look out for railroad crossings. Unlike the UK the US railroad crossings are not well signed or protected by gates and barriers so there is a risk that an apparently clear crossing may well be carrying traffic. Approach them with caution and look for tell-tale signs such as other traffic slowing or stopping. Finding 2,000 tons of freight loco bearing down upon one is not an experience to be repeated.
Traffic lights - US lights are not quite the same as ours. Lights change from red to green, with no amber, except when moving from green to red. It is normal practise at a red traffic light for vehicles wishing to effect a right turn to do so, once they have performed a mandatory stop at the light and established that the road is clear. It seems a little strange to us but is entirely logical. The only time that this practise is not allowed is when there is a sign above the lights which reads ‘No right on red’.
There are basically three types of signalized intersections in the US with regard to left turns.
A signal, or signal head, is what transportation engineers refer to as the group of traffic lights in one unit. Most states have one signal head per lane in an intersection, and if there is only one lane there is usually still at least two in case one of the lights burns out.
Beware the strange custom in Georgia which suggests that, should you ‘carve up’ a driver, you should raise two fingers (V sign) to them to indicate your regret. It may work in Georgia but it would cost you dearly in London and New York !
Parking - do NOT park facing oncoming traffic - this would get you an instant ticket. Always park (where allowed) with your car pointing in the direction of traffic flow. Parking near to fire hydrants/fire lanes is not allowed and the law is strictly enforced.
Documentation for your car, including a driver’s licence, must be carried with you at all times. Headlights must be used in Florida whenever it rains so the rule is - wipers on, headlights on.
Fuel is very cheap in the USA ($1.30 per US gallon) but prices vary tremendously. In some states it is an offence to run out of fuel (such as California). Some gas stations demand payment before drawing fuel. The pumps are not such as we have in the UK. Many of them require that the nozzle be removed from the holster and that the driver then lifts the lower plate upon which the nozzle had rested before fuel will be delivered. Some of the cut-price gas stations will only accept cash.
Do not leave your car keys in your hotel room. Such action is deemed by the local police to be negligence, should the car be stolen - always lock them in the hotel safe or carry them with you.
The pavement is the road surface, not to be confused with the sidewalk which is where pedestrians walk. Your automatic car will not start unless the gear selector is in PARK. More often than not there is no handbrake in US cars. There is, however, an ‘emergency brake’ which is acts in the same way as our handbrake - but you’ll have to look for it. Often there is a foot lever which activates the brake. This is usually found to the left of the driver’s footwell. It is deactivated by pressing it for a second time or by the action of a second lever. On my last trip I hired a Dodge Grand Caravan (7 seater people carrier). The release lever was situated just below the steering column lever and to the left - and appeared to be a part of the dash trim.
Many hire cars now automatically lock the doors of the car when a pre-determined speed has been reached. Don’t even think about drinking and driving! An overnight cell occupation is the least you would get. In addition drivers are not allowed to carry alcoholic drinks in the car - they must be carried in the boot (trunk).
If you intend to drive across deserts do remember to carry adequate water for both passengers and car and, if driving over mountains in the deserts, seriously consider switching off the car’s air-conditioning unit in order to take the strain off the engine.
Though hire cars are no longer identifiable by the registration plates (tags) it is important not to advertise your status as a tourist to the US hoodlums. Take care not to have maps or suitcases visible in your car. Be advised that, though US cars are very large, their boot space is very limited - so do consider the size of the storage space and, maybe, consider an upgrade at the airport. The US hire car companies recognise that tourists are not at their best upon first de-planing and will allow you to rescind, within 24 hours, any car deal/insurance you take on when hiring your car at the airport. Holiday deals offering a free hire car are not what they seem. It will still be necessary to pay insurance and taxes (state tax, airport tax.......) on the vehicle and these can amount to hundreds of pounds.
Production and distribution of each US State's equivalent of the Highway Code is done by the State Patrol or similar body. Along the interstate system you will see signs indicating a near-by headquarters or station. Just drop in and they will be glad to give you a copy.
Just to conclude - the above appears to be a list of warnings which may suggest to the reader that US driving is fraught with danger and risk. This is not so - the aggravation begins when one arrives back in the UK.
ENJOY! You have a wonderful experience ahead of you.
With thanks to the author:
David Bailey
8 January 1998
Revised 22 June 1998
Here is a selective glossary of British and American terms while driving.
British American Petrol Gasoline Petrol station or Gas station garage (for buying fuel) Garage (for car sales Dealer or or repairs) mechanic Car park Parking lot or garage (for parking) Bonnet Hood Boot Trunk Windscreen Windshield Tyre Tire Kerb Curb Pavement Sidewalk Road surface Pavement Dual carriageway Divided highway Motorway Freeway Traffic lights Traffic light Manual gearbox Stick shift Handbrake Parking brake Indicator Turn signal Driving licence Driver's license Car hire Car rental Number plate License plate Gallon About 1.2 US gallons Fuel consumption Gas mileage Lorry or truck Truck Saloon Sedan Van Van (parcels or equipment) People-carrier or Van (6-9 passengers) MPV