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Original poster

Driving in US

26 replies

GardenGert · 06/05/2018 13:57

I have friends in Seattle, and would love to visit them, and combine the trip with visits to Olympic National Park and Yellowstone, but the thought of driving in the US (left hand drive! automatics! Cops with guns!) gives me the heebie jeebies. Is there any way to do this without having to drive?

OP posts:
Boysnme · 06/05/2018 14:09

No advice on how to do it without driving but just to say I’ve always found driving in the US much easier than here. We use a decent sat nav on your phone (we use Navii Mii or google maps) and have never had a problem

Shmithecat · 06/05/2018 14:12

It's super super easy. Speed limits are crap but not difficult to drive at all!

Copperbonnet · 06/05/2018 14:17

I live in the US.

Driving automatics is pretty easy.

You get used to driving on the other side very quickly.

The driving rules aren’t that different although you may want to read up on the rules for four way stops before you get there (often used in stead of roundabouts).

If you are pulled over by a policeman, you stay in the car, you show him your driving license and rental documents when requested and you are very polite. Not that difference from the police in the U.K.

TroubledLichen · 06/05/2018 14:20

I recently moved from the UK to the US. Honestly, driving is very easy. I’m not sure if that journey would be possible on public transport, even if it is I don’t think I’d be comfortable on greyhound buses etc on my own so would definitely drive it. The automatic thing is fine, I’ve gotten used to it really quickly. You only use your right foot and it makes driving a left hand drive much easier as you don’t have to shift gears with the ‘wrong’ hand. All big junctions have traffic lights so there’s no confusion. Roads are long and straight. Decent sat-nav is a must, you could hire one from the rental company or use google maps on your phone. Cops are super friendly too, I had one approach my car as I was driving through downtown Chicago last week but it was just to close my petrol cap as I’d left it open!

RusholmeRuffian · 06/05/2018 19:29

Driving in the US is really easy. Do it. You won't regret it, I promise!

TheresALight · 06/05/2018 19:52

Rent a car with cruise control and you can set it for 1 or 2 km below the speed limit. Combined with the automatic gears you barely have to do anything other than steer!

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 06/05/2018 20:02

Agree. Driving in US is a doddle compared to driving in UK for Americans.

Traffic lights are easier as you rarely have to deal with other drivers wanting to turn across you.
Outside city centres, you can frequently turn right even when the light is Red but you have to give way to traffic that you are trying to join. Occasionally you will see signs saying No Turn on Red.
Note that even if you are turning into a side road with a green light, pedestrians might have priority.

Get a good Sat Nav which gives good advance warning of which lane you should be in.
Cruise control is excellent if you are worried about speed limits.

marjorie25 · 12/05/2018 19:35

I would have a look on www.amtrak.com site and see if there are any trains going in that direction.
You could then rent a car, but with less distance to drive.
I have used Amtrak to travel all over the US and it's really fun and you get to see the countryside.
It's much better than Greyhound as this is all highway driving and looking at concrete.
If you book in advance with Amtrak you can get a decent fare, also children under 12 travel at 50% of the adult fare.

LoniceraJaponica · 13/05/2018 11:32

I was astonished at how easy it was to drive when we went to Orlando a couple of years ago. I have driven in the US before, but it was over 25 years ago. Orlando is horrifically busy, but with a decent sat nav and the car being an automatic, it really was that easy. Once away from cities the roads are so quiet compared to our overcrowded British roads.

lljkk · 13/05/2018 11:35

Agree that driving is easy but Amtrak might be even better.
Speed limits are strictly enforced, not like UK!

MissConductUS · 13/05/2018 14:13

You can reserve a car with a manual transmission if you book ahead, but it's likely going to be something small and sporty. I learned on a stick shift then went to automatic transmissions and never missed the manuals. They're also much better than they used to be for low noise and fuel efficiency.

The interstate highway system out west is excellent and quite safe. Traffic stops by the police are quite rare. It's happened to me twice in about 40 years of driving, and both times I was going too fast. Speed limits are aggressively enforced, as are drink driving laws.

Also long as you consider the encounter from the point of view of the police officer you'll be fine. It's much more risky for them than you. A lot of people who are fugitives from justice and have outstanding judicial warrants get arrested when they're stopped. Police have been killed in those encounters, and when they pull you over they have no idea if you're a lovely Brit on holiday or a wanted bank robber.

So you follow a few simple rules. Keep your hands in plain sight, on the steering wheel. Do not get out of the car unless asked to. Be polite and do not argue about the offense or your guilt or innocence - that takes place in court. Watch this for a bit more:

Both times I was pulled over the officer could not have been nicer or more professional.

Enjoy the parks.

VimFuego101 · 13/05/2018 14:15

Remember the driver always sits next to the centre of the road. It honestly isn't too bad, compared to driving in the UK.

Branleuse · 13/05/2018 14:15

If youre black, i wouldnt go and hire a car

isthisspring · 13/05/2018 14:21

Driving an auto is bliss once you adjust. You have to stop at a stop line, not just give way. As pp said check you know to manage 4 way stops before you go.
I reckon driving standards are pretty bad in US but having sat a driving test here I can see why. Red lights are run frequently and drink driving seems the norm, I think because they only have a walk down the road test where we are. That said roads are wider and even major cities aren't too bad to navigate.

marjorie25 · 13/05/2018 15:35

Branleuse

Are you kidding.
So are you saying that a black person should hide in the shadows, because your comments is the most asinine one I have read this morning.
I have black friends who are over in Fort Lauderdale right now.
They rented a car to drive from Miami to FL and will be having the car to drive around whilst they are in FL for the next 10 days.
They travel to the US sometimes twice a year, rented cars and never experienced any problems.
Are they lucky, maybe.

Your comments shows lack to knowledge and ignorance.

lljkk · 13/05/2018 16:48

wow, I've never seen manual transmission even offered.

I don't find Branleuse's comment offensive at all. Ongoing explosion in USA about how black folk get treated by police. It is scary.

yikesanotherbooboo · 13/05/2018 17:54

Driving on the right is easy if you are in a car with left hand steering wheel.
We found driving in the USA straightforward particularly on main interstates and in the country. We used google maps.

marjorie25 · 13/05/2018 18:04

First of all renting a car in the US have nothing to do with the police.
As long as you have a credit card and a valid driving license anyone can rent a car.
Now if Branleuse was to say I would advise all black people when visiting the US and driving to be extremely careful, read up on what to do and not to do, then that would make complete sense. But his comment was both idiotic and ignorant.

lljkk · 13/05/2018 18:08

Last trip... I hired a SATNAV via Ebay & could not get damn thing to work at all USA. Luckily rental car came with one (this was pointedly excluded when I booked it, but obviously in car when I arrived). Anyway, I think I would either buy a SATNAV there or x fingers for unexpected SATNAV next time. Ebay failure was a nuisance.

BonnieF · 13/05/2018 18:15

Driving in the US is an absolute doddle. The roads are generally much quieter than the UK, there are no roundabouts and you get used to driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road very quickly.

Automatics are easier to drive than manuals. Put the transmission into D, use one pedal to go and the other to stop. That’s it.

You’re very unlikely to be stopped by the cops unless you’re speeding, but if you are, be very polite and keep BOTH hands clearly visible at ALL times.

Enjoy your trip!

marjorie25 · 13/05/2018 18:15

lljkk
You buy on ebay at your peril.

Frogthefrog · 13/05/2018 18:19

As other posters have said, driving in the US is so much easier than driving in the UK. Give it a go, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

gussyfinknottle · 13/05/2018 18:27

It's the junctions, I find a bit daunting- only ever been a passenger to my US cousins. One of my US cousins came here and drove. They were fearless and absolutely shit - stopped on roundabouts, So I suppose it is, as pp say, harder here than there.

lljkk · 13/05/2018 19:48

The one tricky thing I had with SATNAV in USA, was exits off freeway 1/2 mile before the actual exit I wanted. Hard to study the SATNAV map when I was only adult in car & SATNAV seemed to be saying "exit in 300 yards". I got off at wrong exit loads of times due to this (sigh).

Racecardriver · 13/05/2018 19:53

Do they not have automatic cars where you come from? Just be aware that in order to drive in the US with a forgein license you must be over 25 in some states.