Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

WSDOT is being fairly aggressive in putting roundabouts in King County, and it's making a BIG difference. Highly recommended!

I remember then being in the Princeton area of NJ in 1989, but apart from that I don't remember seeing then anywhere else until around 2005 in Sammamish.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Hi:

The quality of signage varies widely in the US. Los Angeles is particularly good -- they have been working on it for decades. Other parts of CA are not good. I should get a GPS navigation device.

I had trouble with positioning when I first learned to drive. But I was taught the trick of driving towards the center of the road on the horizon. It seemed to work.

Turing on a red light. :rofl: That started in California and for a long time was a national joke [The only good thing about California is ...]. However, at least in CA, you must come to a complete stop, and if anyone is in the cross-walk [equivalent of UK zebras], even if walking away from you -- don't go. It took a long time for that rule to come into common use in the US.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I keep wanting a Phaser or Photon Torpedo myself. However, there was an item on NPR's "All Things Considered" the other day -- a commentary on the image of Prius drivers has now changed -- they have gone from being staid and boring and are now considered adventursome, living on the edge and chick magnets. One big change noted was that when people saw you in their rear view mirror -- they got out of the way!

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

You just need to drive a (re-called) toyota, you would be amazed at how fast people get out of my way when they see my Prius in their rear view mirror!!:rofl:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Well, she probably will have to drive an automatic... although you can buy a manual shift car easily enough, I think almost all rentals are automatic. And I think according to her initial post, they are coming for a visit at first so renting a car.

So how about overcoming that part of the problem while still in the UK -- becoming familiar with driving an automatic at home, possibly driving one belonging to a friend or something?

I concur with what others have said .. both driving on the right & driving an automatic are no big deal, you'll be fine after a few minutes experience.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I can't thank you all enough. You have made me laugh so that I have cried reading some of the fun comments - as well as being really grateful for the advice. I genuinely feel reassured about me being able to do this now - even if the other drivers that I will have to meet are out to get me!

I can definitely see me reaching for the window instead of the brake and the other little mishaps - and I should get some practice in gesticulating towards other drivers with the other hand than I am used to doing too :)

Karen

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I am not so sure about that. Most models do not come in stick-shift, and the ones that do, there will not be that many on the lot [for example, the Honda Fit has stick available, but 95% are sold with automatic].

Also, automatics have gotten so efficient that the gasoline consumption penalty is not all that significant. Also, it is easier for the manufacturers to certify automatics for emission controls because human drivers cannot be integrated into the engine/brake management controls. Furthermore, the slight difference will be erased every time you have to replace that damn clutch. And automatics are bullet proof these days as long as you replace the fluids every so often.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I've never had a clutch bust up on me...tranny flushes at every 30K ain't cheap and replacing a automatic tranny is way more pricey...I think people just need to be taught to drive a manual properly and get more experience with them, seems to be a big fear of the things.

But you are right, finding a manual ain't that easy, quite a few Mazda and Saturn manuals around though.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I have had a second hand and now a new car and both have been manual, I tried an automatic but hated that I didnt have the control, only problems I have had are when valet parkers dont know how to drive it.

To the OP I was wary of driving here, can honestly say it now feels normal on the right, unfortunately I dont drive when I go to the UK now.

Just go out when its quiet and practice you will be fine.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I find a few drinks before setting out steadies the nerves nicely.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Another thing to remember if you purchase a Toyota with an automatic transmission, you'll have to put it into neutral if it doesn't stop.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

In Florida the main hazards seems to be little old folks driving huge 1980s Cadillacs. My best advice for a new driver is to run away very fast when you spot one of these senior people. My part of Florida is often nicknamed "God's waiting room". You can imagine that everyday is sheer terror on these streets. Fortunately the roads are about 100 feet wide and arrow straight which seems to help the oldies in their driving. Without the problem of curves and roundabouts they can focus on ramming the car in front or mowing down the occasional "lesser-spotted" pedestrian.

So, avoid the greys...and pray alot! :eek:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I've never owned or driven an automatic, except for rentals in the US, and I haven't rented a car here for twenty years or more (rentals in England are usually manual unless you specifically request an automatic.) I've never had a problem with a clutch or had to replace one. It is true that you sometimes have to dig deeper to buy a manual transmission car, which sometimes means paying more if they have to transfer it from a dealership hundreds of miles away rather than selling you one that they have in stock..

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Or the 167, 405, 90.....

And btw, so does my husband (the Browning....) :D

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Owned at least one stick from 1971 to 1997. Can still drive them well. Just don't miss them. On that Fit I test drove, I had yet to get used to that particular clutch and I apologized to the salesman. He said that I obviously knew how to drive stick and that he had had times where he made the person pull over after half a block and HE would drive the car back to the dealer!

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

And there are other driving hazards in the Seattle area.

Wanker.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Our neighbor, who is a WA State trooper, pulled over a motorcycle a few blocks away from our homes, in a residential neighborhood, going 90mph! :eek: Gave the guy (who was flipping 29 years old!) a reckless driving ticket, which is a criminal offense rather than just a fine. :thumbsup:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

No kidding. http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911...ves/199242.asp

Not a wanker though.


EDIT: Look at this dumbass!:lol: Everybody knows the werewolves are over in Forks! http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911...ves/199230.asp

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I was reading about this last night - 150mph on the 520 - WOW, that is CRAZYYYYYY!! pleased they caught up with him! :thumbup:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

It's stories from the PI like the few just above that make me regret that it was the paper PI that went titsup, not the Seattle Times...

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Better than the equivalent TX rule, where they struggle to pass you, cut in right in front of your front bumper and then slow down to 5mph lower than you. :frown:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

They do that here too. Or come past you on cruise control with it set 1 mile faster than your speed and see if they can feed you the back of 18 wheeler in front of you. That does really annoy me why can't they just accelerate and go by so you can pull out.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

because they're cocks.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Yes. Yes they are.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Americans are generally terrible drivers. Its too damn easy to get your drivers license here! My driving test when I first moved here 7 years ago, was complete in less than an hour. The written test, AND the practical driving part... scary.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

An hour that long mine was 25 minutes for the 2 parts.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I was also terrified of driving a strange car, that was automatic, on the wrong side of the road but was totally amazed how easy it was to get used to it.

The road system took a while longer to get used to - ie the off and on roads for the interstate are not where i expected them to be and confused me a lot for a while - but i did get used to them.

The Ohio driving test is a peice of cake too - couldnt have taken more than 7 mins and 3 of those were sitting at traffic lights. :eek: We just walked into the office and sat the computerised test (but we had read through the much smaller highway code manual first) and came back another day to do the actual manoever and driving test. Biggest pain was having to get a signed letter from husbands HR (on letterheaded paper) stating he was employed on a L1A visa in Ohio etc - which they wanted before they would give us the actual licence (and when we renewed it they wanted another up to date letter).

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

This wont help much but I just spent an hour at the DMV, so I timed the driving tests, the longest was 24 minutes the shortest 11 minutes, no need to say any more I think! :eek:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Don't forget, I failed the driving part, twice and only passed the written at first attempt because the answer key was in black and white and there was no way for them to find an excuse to fail me. The shortest one was 30s, as the examiner had apparently decided to fail me before we got in the car...

Useful info: Don't take your test in a depressed small town where the locals are upset about "furriners taking our jobs". I eventually went to a big city and passed with no problems.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

That sounds about like here. In addition to doing that, they usually wait until they are right on your bumper, before violently swerve into the next lane to overtake, then violently swerve back in. I've never seen so many sideswipe collisions and accidents on perfectly straight and easy to drive on roads as I have in the US.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Just like everyone else who has replied, I felt exactly the same. Scared witless ! Ohio has loads of open road space so try & get out of Columbus & get used to driving around on quiet roads, taking your time with the turns & you will soon find it comes easily and you will soon be ready for the city. Good luck.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I'd lose the gesticulating - you'll understand why when you see the shotguns mounted on the inside windscreen of trucks. :eek:

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Back in the late 90's I had to wait on daughters six times for driving tests. California has an interesting rule -- if you make a mistake that would be a moving violation in front of cop -- automatic fail. I had an unhappy teenager on my hands after each of the short tests.

After each failure, I would my little sweetie take me through the test route they had just done. Three times, I had to go "you do see the mistake you made?" It was easier coming from me I guess -- two of the times, I went "I see what happened, and I would have done the same thing."

On the last test with youngest, she came back in tears after 25 minutes. However, the examiner had the cheek to start yelling at ME for allowing her to take the test! Sweetie wanted to see the boss -- I told her "fine, just remember I was not in the car." Well the manager listened gently and I said "I wasn't in the car, but she yelled at ME. I would have never let her drive here if I didn't think she was ready." I guess the manager had had trouble with that lady -- he said "Tell you what, I will personally reexamine you. But you are too upset now. Go out and have a cup of coffee with your father and come back in one hour." He was true to his word.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I guess that being a west London cab driver for 16 years before I came out to TN helped somewhat. I have no fear driving here, just a dropped jaw in amazement at how close people tailgate here. It wouldn't be so bad if they just got up the rear of cars but I've seen people doing 70+ when they are 3 feet from the back of a semi. They aren't going to live very long. Overtaking on the inside too is so common it's frightening. Engish drivers have the rep of being mercenary but they/we don't hold a candle to the aggresive tendancies here in TN. It's lucky the roads are so straight. Use of the steering wheel is more common in the UK. LOL

The driving test here in TN is an absolute joke. If you know how to get in the car and operate the lights and wipers, know where the brake and gas pedals are and know to stop at a red light you are pretty much safe. The UK test gives people ulcers worrying about for weeks in advance. I say weeks because you very rarely are able to take your test soon after you apply. You get the same sort of multiple choice question stage first now, (I didn't have that when I took my test, it was introduced after), but for the actual tst they check your eyesight before you get into the car by getting you to read a number plate some distance away. The off you go and you have to do several things along the way. Constantly remember the mantra "mirror, signal, manouever", distance from the kerb or parked vehicles. You have to do a 3 point turn without touching the kerb, reverse around a corner, do an emergency stop and much more. And what-is-more you have to do it in a manual transmission to be able to drive any car of your choice thereafter. If you pass in an auto then you can only drive autos. That's not a problem over here because it seems there are so few manuals or "stick shifts" here, but to a lot of us Brits, you can only really enjoy driving when you are pumping that clutch and getting your gear changes right.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

My husband was scared too, but we started off small. He takes the kids to school which is less than a mile to drive, he also drives himself to work and home. He gets the joys of several traffic lights, turn lanes, 4 way and 1 way stops, intersections and roads with no lines. I am still to scared to let him venture out very far on his own lol!

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I also want to add that the concept of 4 way stop signs is soooo much better than a roundabout. Roundabouts are fine with sensible traffic levels but if they have high traffic then the selfish gits queue across them blocking people trying to go across perpendicular to them!

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

I was a little nervous when i first drove in NJ on holiday in Feb, but that was mainly down to the snow and driving an automatic in the snow (never a great combination, give me a manual any day in that situation).

However I have spent the past 5 years living in france, so driving on the "wrong" side is second nature now, and I must say, after getting used to the logic over there, driving in the US is so much easier than driving in Europe.

I'd say it's similar to driving in Australia, nice wide roads, no cars parked in the middle of them as in Europe, and much better signed etc.

Can't wait to get back over there.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

Funny, I was in New Jersey in February. The bitch I have is that Bergen County can't be bothered to SIGN their bloody streets and roads!

As for the automatic v stick -- I've driven both in the snow and other adverse weather. Personally, I think that an atuo combined with traction control & anti-lock brakes is wonderful -- less to worry about. My present car is German and it was one of the few sedans with a stick -- but they advised that the traction control was not as good.

I owned sticks for 25 years and still rent them abroad. I've come to like the auto's better.

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

You are hilarious!:rofl::rofl:;)

But, honestly it is 10 times easier driving here using an automatic car. The first time you go out driving will be a bit weird on the other side of the road, but you will get used to it very quickly. It will feel like a breeze compared to back home if you drive an automatic.

On the other hand, when I go back home to visit I never drive, because I am scared I'll forget what side of the road I am on, not to mention using a gear shift (now that's hard if you haven't driven in a country for 22 years).

Re: Scared of driving in the US
 

A little trick I use to make sure I drive on the correct side of the road. Basically always ensure that your body is next to the centre line. It's that simple really.