Scared of driving in the US
Mar 30th 2010, 3:52 am
#91
Shocked of Redmond
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 3,446
Re: Scared of driving in the US
Oh, and right turns on red are prohibited where signed, and prohibited completely in NYC unless specifically signed.
Mar 30th 2010, 2:50 pm
#92
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6
Re: Scared of driving in the US
Hi Bob I now know im not alone in my thoughts about the state of driving here in MA. Maybe if you brought some sort or structure to their driving you would be a commie or a socialist similer to being pro healthcare..........Its a strange strange place
Mar 30th 2010, 5:41 pm
#93
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Scared of driving in the US
so how long you been in the burbs?
Mar 31st 2010, 6:24 pm
#94
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Scared of driving in the US
I've moved over to the Boston area this year & i'll have to say the standard of driving in this area is really bad & it gets worse when you move out to Natick/Framingham.
In the UK we moan about the state of the road surface, drivers who refuse to move over from middle lane & who drive to close but we have it good in the UK.
I never feel unsafe driving at home or even in Europe(France, Italy & Germany) but here its just madness, trucks with no speed restriction pulling 70-80mph, cars drifting from lane to lane, driving so close to your car you cant even see their headlights in your rear view, cutting you up at junctions & as for the junction design and surfaces well lets just say its from the dark ages. I don't know if its just me but it seems that when the yanks get behind a wheel they switch off to everyone around them & continue as if they are the only ones on the road. So far in my three months here I feel that this country needs a good kick up the backside and as for the anti healthcare lobby
In the UK we moan about the state of the road surface, drivers who refuse to move over from middle lane & who drive to close but we have it good in the UK.
I never feel unsafe driving at home or even in Europe(France, Italy & Germany) but here its just madness, trucks with no speed restriction pulling 70-80mph, cars drifting from lane to lane, driving so close to your car you cant even see their headlights in your rear view, cutting you up at junctions & as for the junction design and surfaces well lets just say its from the dark ages. I don't know if its just me but it seems that when the yanks get behind a wheel they switch off to everyone around them & continue as if they are the only ones on the road. So far in my three months here I feel that this country needs a good kick up the backside and as for the anti healthcare lobby
Welcome to America!PS: don't go drive in Mexico. Or Greece.
Mar 31st 2010, 8:26 pm
#95
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 80
Re: Scared of driving in the US
I didnt have any problemsi applied for my license in jan and passed my test first time. She gave me a warning about how fast i pull off when the lights turn green and told me it isnt a "drag race" as she put it lol, i found that quite ammusing but you are worrying over nothing, i was driving over here without a US license in oct nov and dec as i found it easy to adjust too, automatic makes life very easy and it doesnt take long to adapt to the road change from uk. Just follow others advice, take a drive in a quite area and you will see how easy it is.
Mar 31st 2010, 9:06 pm
#96
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 508
Re: Scared of driving in the US
You know why Americans are also called gringos? Because "FFS@@!#$$% It's GREEN! GO!"
Mar 31st 2010, 10:23 pm
#97
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Sammamish, WA
Posts: 300
Re: Scared of driving in the US
Hi everyone,
I am really excited by the prospect of relocating to the US but I am petrified of having to drive on the other side of the road!
My husband has said that when we go out for a look around visit in May, I will have to drive as he will have to be working whilst he is out there.
Frankly I am so petrified I have butterflies in my tummy even writing about it now!
I have had a look on Google to see if I can find anyone in the UK who is able to provide lessons on driving on the other side of the road before I go just so that I have some practise beforehand but haven't been able to find anything. Does anyone know of a driving school that can offer this kind of service?
Alternatively, I will have to find a school in the US when I get over there but I can find that information on the 'net unless anyone has anyone they would like to recommend in Columbus, Ohio. Or share their experiences of learning to drive in the US after years of driving in the UK?
Then there is the scary notion that I will have to drive an automatic - but I don't even want to think about it ...
Karen
I am really excited by the prospect of relocating to the US but I am petrified of having to drive on the other side of the road!
My husband has said that when we go out for a look around visit in May, I will have to drive as he will have to be working whilst he is out there.
Frankly I am so petrified I have butterflies in my tummy even writing about it now!
I have had a look on Google to see if I can find anyone in the UK who is able to provide lessons on driving on the other side of the road before I go just so that I have some practise beforehand but haven't been able to find anything. Does anyone know of a driving school that can offer this kind of service?
Alternatively, I will have to find a school in the US when I get over there but I can find that information on the 'net unless anyone has anyone they would like to recommend in Columbus, Ohio. Or share their experiences of learning to drive in the US after years of driving in the UK?
Then there is the scary notion that I will have to drive an automatic - but I don't even want to think about it ...
Karen
I'm in the same boat as you, I am absolutely bricking it. On the plus side my husband's company have included some driving lessons if I want them.
I will have a try with a point-and-go car on the wrong side of the road on a quiet road where i'm not liable to kill myself and others and see how I go from there. I think not having a clutch with freak me more than turning left/right into on coming traffic (or maybe not!)
OMG now I'm having palpitations! Anyone in King County (East) in the PNW I apologise now, in advance.
Mar 31st 2010, 11:26 pm
#98
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 10,678
Re: Scared of driving in the US
When I lived in Switzerland the light on cross road turned to red about 2 seconds before your light turned to green. Therefore drivers tried to see a reflection in the cross road light (and government constantly made changes to the shields to try to stop you from doing that) to get that 2 second jump before their light turned green.
Apr 1st 2010, 12:46 am
#99
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 80
Re: Scared of driving in the US
I just pull off when the lights turn green, no one likes to be stuck behind people who go slow from lights so i dont see why american driving examiners see it as something to warn you of doing. Its not like i was trying to race someone or speed. Clearly she didnt know the definition of drag racing as pulling away fast from lights isnt drag racing
Apr 1st 2010, 12:51 am
#100
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Scared of driving in the US
I'm not the least bit scared of driving in the US...
...but I'm f***ing terrified of driving anywhere in the US where there are British expats on the road!
...but I'm f***ing terrified of driving anywhere in the US where there are British expats on the road!
Apr 1st 2010, 4:09 pm
#101
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3
Re: Scared of driving in the US
Like lots of other folks I was terrifed of driving here having only driven a little in th UK, I got my UK license about 25 years ago and hardly used it. First time here I pulled into the wrong side of the road, luckily the wife was with me and politely corrected me by screaming in my ear, never did it again. Now I have my NC license I'm up and down the coast to Providence, RI quite a bit with no worries. Though lack of turn signal useage is slightly annoying.
Dave
Dave
Apr 3rd 2010, 2:32 am
#103
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 254
Re: Scared of driving in the US
I hadn't driven for about ten years, and was very scared when I first started taking lessons in Chinatown, New York. But it wasn't as bad as I thought. The traffic moves really slowly in Lower Manhattan for one thing. And an automatic is simple to drive.
Driving on the large highways (especially the FDR in New York) was very scary but you soon get used to it. You probably need to check your mirrors more than the UK, I reckon, be bolder, and and remember not to be intimidated by impatient drivers behind you. It does become second nature after a while
I've been driving all over the South and East US since January, and feel pretty confident now.
http://hiddenjukebox.wordpress.com/
Driving on the large highways (especially the FDR in New York) was very scary but you soon get used to it. You probably need to check your mirrors more than the UK, I reckon, be bolder, and and remember not to be intimidated by impatient drivers behind you. It does become second nature after a while
I've been driving all over the South and East US since January, and feel pretty confident now.
http://hiddenjukebox.wordpress.com/
Apr 4th 2010, 12:36 am
#105
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 218
Re: Scared of driving in the US
I just pull off when the lights turn green, no one likes to be stuck behind people who go slow from lights so i dont see why american driving examiners see it as something to warn you of doing. Its not like i was trying to race someone or speed. Clearly she didnt know the definition of drag racing as pulling away fast from lights isnt drag racing
