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Driving in the US
How was your first time driving in the US?
Was you nervous, was it confusing for you, did you nearly, or did have an accident? Did you get used to it quickly? Did you have problems when you traveled back to England and needed to drive there? Do you have any tips/suggestions that helped you get used to the American way of driving? I've been driving in England for 8 years ~ But the concept of driving over here just puts the fear of God in me. It's silly really because I know *how* to drive, it's just I still have a number of those "Stomp your foot in the passenger foot well breaking moments" in my Husbands car when he is driving because of the other cars coming the "wrong way" at me! :blink: I just have a fear that if I was let loose on my own here, I'd have one of those stomping moments and cause an accident. I think I may go to a drivers school for some lessons here with someone experienced. |
Re: Driving in the US
I drove in France for a couple of years first, so I was used to driving on the right. It's driving on the wrong side of the car that confused me.
About a week ago, I pulled up to a traffic light and said: "What's that twat doing on the other side of the road? He's in the same lane as me." My wife pointed out I'd pulled to a halt on the left. But apart from that - nil problema. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Okuda
(Post 5242041)
How was your first time driving in the US?
Was you nervous, was it confusing for you, did you nearly, or did have an accident? Did you get used to it quickly? Did you have problems when you traveled back to England and needed to drive there? Do you have any tips/suggestions that helped you get used to the American way of driving? I've been driving in England for 8 years ~ But the concept of driving over here just puts the fear of God in me. It's silly really because I know *how* to drive, it's just I still have a number of those "Stomp your foot in the passenger foot well breaking moments" in my Husbands car when he is driving because of the other cars coming the "wrong way" at me! :blink: I just have a fear that if I was let loose on my own here, I'd have one of those stomping moments and cause an accident. I think I may go to a drivers school for some lessons here with someone experienced. |
Re: Driving in the US
Driving over here is a doddle - so much space and the traffic is generally slower than the UK. It's when you've been here a while and go back to the UK that you have to keep your wits about you.
And Britvic - I agree about not getting lost - a GPS is invaluable when you first arrive in a new city. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Philgr
(Post 5242299)
Driving over here is a doddle - so much space and the traffic is generally slower than the UK. It's when you've been here a while and go back to the UK that you have to keep your wits about you.
And Britvic - I agree about not getting lost - a GPS is invaluable when you first arrive in a new city. |
Re: Driving in the US
Piece of piss in general. Driving is much simpler and in fact is a little too simple to be honest, at least where I am. Lots of straight roads and boring junctions and no roundabouts to contend with. It might be a little bit more difficult if you are planning to drive a manual here as you would have to adjust to changing gear with the other hand etc, but I cant comment on this as I, like most here, drive an automatic. I would rather drive a manual, but its just easier here to find automatic cars!
Good luck! p.s. I get lost all the time but how else are you going to find your way round? |
Re: Driving in the US
There really isn't much to it, except turning. You'll find that you automatically look the wrong way when you are about to make a turn, and sometimes have to correct yourself. The worst is when you pull out onto an unmarked road with no cars and have to say, ok, which side am I supposed to be on?
The left vs. right on the straightaways is really no different, nor is the manual thing a big issue (pedal brake cluth are all similar) |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Philgr
(Post 5242299)
Driving over here is a doddle - so much space and the traffic is generally slower than the UK. It's when you've been here a while and go back to the UK that you have to keep your wits about you.
And Britvic - I agree about not getting lost - a GPS is invaluable when you first arrive in a new city. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Roland Hulme
(Post 5242246)
I drove in France for a couple of years first, so I was used to driving on the right. It's driving on the wrong side of the car that confused me.
About a week ago, I pulled up to a traffic light and said: "What's that twat doing on the other side of the road? He's in the same lane as me." My wife pointed out I'd pulled to a halt on the left. But apart from that - nil problema.
Originally Posted by britvic
(Post 5242278)
Took me a good year or more before I plucked up the courage :o but my worst fear of all is getting lost over here :eek:
Originally Posted by Philgr
(Post 5242299)
Driving over here is a doddle - so much space and the traffic is generally slower than the UK. It's when you've been here a while and go back to the UK that you have to keep your wits about you.
And Britvic - I agree about not getting lost - a GPS is invaluable when you first arrive in a new city. I for see some speeding tickets for an impatient Brit ;)
Originally Posted by TruBrit
(Post 5242303)
to the OP....driving's a piece of piss....and yes, garmin is my best friend!
Originally Posted by dukeynorton
(Post 5242308)
Piece of piss in general. Driving is much simpler and in fact is a little too simple to be honest, at least where I am. Lots of straight roads and boring junctions and no roundabouts to contend with. It might be a little bit more difficult if you are planning to drive a manual here as you would have to adjust to changing gear with the other hand etc, but I cant comment on this as I, like most here, drive an automatic. I would rather drive a manual, but its just easier here to find automatic cars!
Good luck! p.s. I get lost all the time but how else are you going to find your way round? We have a few roundabouts in NC, I love watching Americans trying to figure them out ;) Getting lost is how I found my way around London!
Originally Posted by britvic
(Post 5242333)
Driving over here a doddle, not in this part of the US it ain't :eek: give me the M25 anyday or the middle of London for that matter.
Thanks all! |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by penguinsix
(Post 5242318)
There really isn't much to it, except turning. You'll find that you automatically look the wrong way when you are about to make a turn, and sometimes have to correct yourself. The worst is when you pull out onto an unmarked road with no cars and have to say, ok, which side am I supposed to be on?
The left vs. right on the straightaways is really no different, nor is the manual thing a big issue (pedal brake cluth are all similar) |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Okuda
(Post 5242339)
*nods* this is what gets me, when there are no road markings! This is when many of the "Stomping in the foot well for my break" happens ;)
Other than that it was a doddle. And I've found a GPS to be a lifesaver in a new city. Driving around lost for ages with three kids shouting from the back one of whom needs to pee is not my idea of fun. |
Re: Driving in the US
Don't worry! Driving over here is stupidly simple (with the emphasis on STUPID).
So simple, in fact, that on my first trip to Dallas with my old UK company, I wrecked my rental car within less than 30 minutes. It was quite a nice car too, if you like Yank-tanks - an Oldsmobile Aurora with 13 miles on the clock. Opened it up like a tin-can on the rear fender of some guy's tricked-out GMC SUV. Oh, what fun that was! Since then, I've become much better at driving like an American (or, more specifically, a Texan). So much better, in fact, that I rear-ended someone last week and wrecked my car. His F150 pickup didn't have so much as a dent. So don't worry. It's so easy to drive over here, even Americans can do it! |
Re: Driving in the US
You just have to think "what could the vehicle on each side of me suddenly do?" and be prepared for evasive action.
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Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Sally
(Post 5242815)
You just have to think "what could the vehicle on each side of me suddenly do?" and be prepared for evasive action.
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Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by dbj1000
(Post 5242818)
Hehe! If I'm driving behind you, you'd better worry about the vehicle behind you too! :o
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Re: Driving in the US
I arrived in Houston after a delayed 26 hours journey. It was 2 a.m. I had only ever driven in the UK, Kos, and Cyprus before.
I jumped in to a bright orange Ford Mustang convertible and left George Bush Intercontinental Airport feeling tired and stressed. The roads were wider, marked differently and signs were confusing (ie Freeway signs did not necessarily hang over the lane they related to). I encountered my first ever flashing red traffic light - WTF! I had no idea what it meant; luckily at 3am nobody was there to give a hoot. I arrived at my hotel at 3:30am, not before almost missing the hotel and quickly jumping off the freeway. In my haste I exited, and looked the wrong way (well, the right way if your British) to check for traffic. I pulled straight in front of a car doing 50mph! Figuring I could avoid an accident by accelerating I stabbed the accelerator to the floor and roared off - only to find the car I cut up was a pissed off cop who had been about to pass me and was now left in my dust trail. Lights flash, choice words are screamed at me (AT GUNPOINT - "driver, exit the vehicle. driver let me see your hands etc" all very scary). After explaining my lack of US driving experience the cop lightened up and joked with me. He wrote up a simple warning, shook my hand and wished me on my way. So my first driving experience was unforgettable :eek:
Originally Posted by Okuda
(Post 5242041)
How was your first time driving in the US?
Was you nervous, was it confusing for you, did you nearly, or did have an accident? Did you get used to it quickly? Did you have problems when you traveled back to England and needed to drive there? Do you have any tips/suggestions that helped you get used to the American way of driving? I've been driving in England for 8 years ~ But the concept of driving over here just puts the fear of God in me. It's silly really because I know *how* to drive, it's just I still have a number of those "Stomp your foot in the passenger foot well breaking moments" in my Husbands car when he is driving because of the other cars coming the "wrong way" at me! :blink: I just have a fear that if I was let loose on my own here, I'd have one of those stomping moments and cause an accident. I think I may go to a drivers school for some lessons here with someone experienced. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Pony
(Post 5242909)
(ie Freeway signs did not necessarily hang over the lane they related to).
Jeepers that's so scary when they bawl at you :eek: I still get confused expecting the signs to hang over the lane. |
Re: Driving in the US
Driving here's pretty easy I think driving on the 'wrong' side of the road is not much of a problem. But I hate trying to get on the highway other drivers don't pull over and they don't slow down, it's every man for himself out there :eek:
I don't have sat nav, and I got lost in a dodgy part of Harrisburg the other day after dropping someone at the train station, that was a bit hairy. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Okuda
(Post 5242041)
How was your first time driving in the US?
Was you nervous, was it confusing for you, did you nearly, or did have an accident? Did you get used to it quickly? Did you have problems when you traveled back to England and needed to drive there? Do you have any tips/suggestions that helped you get used to the American way of driving? I've been driving in England for 8 years ~ But the concept of driving over here just puts the fear of God in me. It's silly really because I know *how* to drive, it's just I still have a number of those "Stomp your foot in the passenger foot well breaking moments" in my Husbands car when he is driving because of the other cars coming the "wrong way" at me! :blink: I just have a fear that if I was let loose on my own here, I'd have one of those stomping moments and cause an accident. I think I may go to a drivers school for some lessons here with someone experienced. Driving on the left when I go back to England is second nature...again I don't think about it. Good luck. |
Re: Driving in the US
haha thanks for all the horror stories!! ;)
I think it's just going to be a case of taking a deep breath and going with it and stay out the sight of any cops! |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Sally
(Post 5242821)
Actually I've already been rear-ended three times :frown::lol:
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Re: Driving in the US
I've only had to drive once over there when I was last on a visit. I pulled out of a junction, turned right, and casually just moved across to the left of the road and drove on. It took a few moments to realise what was wrong, and after that I decided I need to stop before another car or a cop came by.
I'm terrified of having to drive over there on my own. British roads don't bother me at all, but it's the whole getting used to being on the other side of the car, not necessarily the road. Parking is the main thing I am not looking forward to. They have parking lots where each space is at a 45 degree angle to the through lanes, not 90 degrees like we have. I hate, and just can't do forward parking at 90 degrees here, I always reverse in. I am not going to be able to do that there, I'll have to swing the car into the space, and I am pretty sure I'll clip something within the first trip to Walmart. :unsure: |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Knight
(Post 5244617)
I've only had to drive once over there when I was last on a visit. I pulled out of a junction, turned right, and casually just moved across to the left of the road and drove on. It took a few moments to realise what was wrong, and after that I decided I need to stop before another car or a cop came by.
I'm terrified of having to drive over there on my own. British roads don't bother me at all, but it's the whole getting used to being on the other side of the car, not necessarily the road. Parking is the main thing I am not looking forward to. They have parking lots where each space is at a 45 degree angle to the through lanes, not 90 degrees like we have. I hate, and just can't do forward parking at 90 degrees here, I always reverse in. I am not going to be able to do that there, I'll have to swing the car into the space, and I am pretty sure I'll clip something within the first trip to Walmart. :unsure: |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by another bloody yank
(Post 5244637)
Your main concern is pulling into parking spots?:huh: Are you driving a big vehicle?
I'll go to the very far end of the parking lot where no one else parks, and attempt it a few times. Probably just stay there and walk to the doors too! |
Re: Driving in the US
DH does not have his license yet, never had one in the UK, however he must get one here full stop, it makes no sense for him not to. He's been here 4 years, so has had the opportunity to sit back and observe and learn routes etc.
Well we've been doing some practice driving around our development and it tickles me because he said he is comfortable making left turns instead of right ones. Now why the difference I don't know??? :confused: |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by cindyabs
(Post 5244739)
DH does not have his license yet, never had one in the UK, however he must get one here full stop, it makes no sense for him not to. He's been here 4 years, so has had the opportunity to sit back and observe and learn routes etc.
Well we've been doing some practice driving around our development and it tickles me because he said he is comfortable making left turns instead of right ones. Now why the difference I don't know??? :confused: I didn't drive either in the UK. I knew I would have to when we moved to Texas and decided to go for it as soon as I could when we arrived...this was almost 20 years ago now. I did the written test the first week we arrived and every evening the OH arrived home from work I would drive around for an hour or two with him to get used to the roads and the different signs and lights etc. I took my driving test a few weeks later, passed, and have enjoyed driving ever since! We had a very old chevvy Caprice, that car was huge but also very comfortable and I alway parked it way out in any parking lots as I was scared of hitting something. It seemed so wide! |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by another bloody yank
(Post 5244255)
This is the "Driving in the US" thread Sally, I think you meant to reply to something in TIO perhaps?
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Re: Driving in the US
Driving is simple here. In fact, its so easy, feel free to completely switch off - cars just about drive themselves nowadays, don't they? Don't worry about the other people on the road - it's your road and you own it. If someone is in your way, just violently swerve around them. If someone is behind you and wanting to get past, just make sure you hog your lane and make them wait. Never ever indicate or use your mirror either.
Instead of concentrating on driving, use your time on the road to get all those time consuming chores done, such as eating breakfast and drinking massive mugs of coffee. Do your hair and put your make up on, too. One thing you absolutely must do is talk on your cell phone from the second you leave home until the second you get to your destination. Finally, at night, make sure you drive to your favourite bar and valet park. Its really handy, valet parking, because after drinking 10 bottles of beer, who can walk all that way to where you parked? That nice valet chap will go and fetch your car, and for an extra tip, will help you into your seat and send you on your merry way home. ;) |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Dan725
(Post 5246083)
Driving is simple here. In fact, its so easy, feel free to completely switch off - cars just about drive themselves nowadays, don't they? Don't worry about the other people on the road - it's your road and you own it. If someone is in your way, just violently swerve around them. If someone is behind you and wanting to get past, just make sure you hog your lane and make them wait. Never ever indicate or use your mirror either.
Instead of concentrating on driving, use your time on the road to get all those time consuming chores done, such as eating breakfast and drinking massive mugs of coffee. Do your hair and put your make up on, too. One thing you absolutely must do is talk on your cell phone from the second you leave home until the second you get to your destination. Finally, at night, make sure you drive to your favourite bar and valet park. Its really handy, valet parking, because after drinking 10 bottles of beer, who can walk all that way to where you parked? That nice valet chap will go and fetch your car, and for an extra tip, will help you into your seat and send you on your merry way home. ;) EVERYBODY I know drives to the bars. It's insane. As long as you're sober enough to stand up, you're sober enough to drive. Unless you get pulled over. Everybody thinks I'm nuts when I get a taxi if I'm having a couple of beers. |
Re: Driving in the US
I was definitely nervous the first time I drove over here...and it took a long time to feel more relaxed about driving on the right. Having said that, I've never really liked driving anyhow even in the U.K., guess it's just a bit of a phobia for me. I have to drive here though, don't have a choice (need to drop daughter off at daycare and then get to work). I live in Seattle and drivers aren't as mad here as in other places (or so they say). You could always take a "refresher" driving course over here if you have worries.
Naomi. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Roland Hulme
(Post 5246204)
Ah, yes. American attitudes to drink driving are a hoot.
EVERYBODY I know drives to the bars. It's insane. As long as you're sober enough to stand up, you're sober enough to drive. Unless you get pulled over. Everybody thinks I'm nuts when I get a taxi if I'm having a couple of beers. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by cindyabs
(Post 5246322)
In his college days my ex used to say they made him drive because he was too drunk to sing. :eek:
Walk? Half a mile? Although she used to walk twice as far as that to get to work in England (couldn't afford a second car at first... then couldn't afford to park it in Winchester.) |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by britvic
(Post 5242333)
Driving over here a doddle, not in this part of the US it ain't :eek: give me the M25 anyday or the middle of London for that matter.
My Garmin is my bestest friend at the moment though. Noone comes between me and Garmin!!! |
Re: Driving in the US
:o I should also add I paid the toll some 4 times that evening. I am not sure how I managed it but I kept exiting the freeway through a toll booth and entering the freeway the other side; never intending to leave the freeway at all. I remember thinking how crazy it was that Houston has so many toll booths on the freeway, and why couldn't I pay just once for the length of my journey :o
Originally Posted by Pony
(Post 5242909)
I arrived in Houston after a delayed 26 hours journey. It was 2 a.m. I had only ever driven in the UK, Kos, and Cyprus before.
I jumped in to a bright orange Ford Mustang convertible and left George Bush Intercontinental Airport feeling tired and stressed. The roads were wider, marked differently and signs were confusing (ie Freeway signs did not necessarily hang over the lane they related to). I encountered my first ever flashing red traffic light - WTF! I had no idea what it meant; luckily at 3am nobody was there to give a hoot. I arrived at my hotel at 3:30am, not before almost missing the hotel and quickly jumping off the freeway. In my haste I exited, and looked the wrong way (well, the right way if your British) to check for traffic. I pulled straight in front of a car doing 50mph! Figuring I could avoid an accident by accelerating I stabbed the accelerator to the floor and roared off - only to find the car I cut up was a pissed off cop who had been about to pass me and was now left in my dust trail. Lights flash, choice words are screamed at me (AT GUNPOINT - "driver, exit the vehicle. driver let me see your hands etc" all very scary). After explaining my lack of US driving experience the cop lightened up and joked with me. He wrote up a simple warning, shook my hand and wished me on my way. So my first driving experience was unforgettable :eek: |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Pony
(Post 5249238)
:o I should also add I paid the toll some 4 times that evening. I am not sure how I managed it but I kept exiting the freeway through a toll booth and entering the freeway the other side; never intending to leave the freeway at all. I remember thinking how crazy it was that Houston has so many toll booths on the freeway, and why couldn't I pay just once for the length of my journey :o
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Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Roland Hulme
(Post 5246204)
Ah, yes. American attitudes to drink driving are a hoot.
EVERYBODY I know drives to the bars. It's insane. As long as you're sober enough to stand up, you're sober enough to drive. Unless you get pulled over. Everybody thinks I'm nuts when I get a taxi if I'm having a couple of beers. Crazy people. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Okuda
(Post 5249638)
God yes, it's shocking. I won't even drive if I have had one beer, but people over here have like 6 or 7 pints and then drive. I would be seeing 6 of everything by that point!!
Crazy people. |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by dukeynorton
(Post 5251077)
Yeh but it's 7 pints of piss water though which equates to about 1 pint of proper beer!
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Re: Driving in the US
The first time I drove in US was about 5yrs ago in Tampa, we lived in an apartment complex and was lucky to have a strip mall right next door, anyway one saturday night I thought I'd be brave and drive to pick up the chinese, we had an expidition and I'd been driving it around the complex for weeks getting used to the size and everything, so packed my baby into the back and my brother (over for a hols) jumps in the front and off we went...I only went the way where I made right hand turns so turned right onto main road and then immediately turned right into the strip mall, (all the while telling my bro not to speak or put the radio on as I didn't want any distractions !) so there's a stop sign, so I stop, then start moving again and go a few more yards to the chinese....and yes a cop pulls up behind me and has a go at me telling me I didn't stop at the stop sign for long enough, apparently I paused for only 3 secs and I should of paused for 5 secs no lie, I was stunned, then he spends a good 10 mins checking my UK licence as he'd never seen one before, so I'm stood there red faced while everybody's watching, my chinese is getting cold and my bro is pissing himself laughing, he finally lets me go after another 10 min lecture ......
Needless to say it took me a good 5 months before I tried that again...:lol: |
Re: Driving in the US
Originally Posted by Pony
(Post 5249238)
:o I should also add I paid the toll some 4 times that evening. I am not sure how I managed it but I kept exiting the freeway through a toll booth and entering the freeway the other side; never intending to leave the freeway at all. I remember thinking how crazy it was that Houston has so many toll booths on the freeway, and why couldn't I pay just once for the length of my journey :o
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