Driving in the USA
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Driving in the USA
Don’t forget your Driving License and any vouchers or paper work about Car Hire (Rental) that your Travel Company or Agent has given you.
Your first 'drive' will be from the Airport to your accommodation. Many tour operators leave it until you arrive to give you the directions.
Obtain directions before hand, if at all possible, and study maps for as long as you can before you depart. Get an idea of where you are going.
Go over and over your directions trying to get a mental picture of where you are going.
You can use on-line mapping systems to help. Note that they don't often show the 'best' route just the quickest. Use Airport codes in their system as 'Place name in North America' - MCO (for Orlando International) & SFB (for Sanford) - at 'Get Directions To Here' link at top right.
U.S. Drink Driving law is very strictly enforced and you will be charged if caught and spend a night in the cells. Not a good way to start the holiday!
UK Visitor Specific
The most obvious difference with driving in the USA is that they drive on the Right hand side of the road and you do it from the Left side of the car.
You may be familiar with driving your own car on the Continent and, if you have done this, you will know that strange feeling of being on the wrong side of the road.
It felt unusual and maybe scary for a while but your car had a familiar set-up and you can get used to driving in the gutter although overtaking was ... well, interesting.
The biggest difference to this is that in the US you will be on wrong side of both the road and the car.
You will be used to judging the greater distance on your left side but now the width of the car will be on your right.
The arm you lean out of the window is the wrong one (it does balance the suntan), the gear change (shift) is on the right, the person to scream at / talk to, is also over there and it’s an automatic...
Have you ever driven an automatic?
Always have the Parking Brake 'On' when you put the vehicle into 'Drive'. Just in case the engine is revving or the tick-over is set too high. Otherwise the car may jump forwards...
The Parking Brake may be a foot operated pedal on the far Left of the wheel well.
Only use one foot (the right one!) for operating the Accelerator (Gas) and Foot Brake pedals. You should keep the left foot well over to the left or tuck it up against the seat.
There is a slight (but only slight) possibility that when you have to stop quickly you will instinctively stab at the non-existent Clutch pedal with your left foot. Possibly hitting the Brake pedal with way too much force.
This was worse in older cars that tended to have long Foot Brake pedals, not so bad nowadays. Keep that left foot well away!
Most automatics will 'creep' at tick-over without the Brake. You can move slowly forward or backwards by just releasing and applying the Brake pedal.
Use this technique in slow areas, Car Parks etc, and only use the accelerator to finally pull-away.
Gently though or you will get that tire screeching sound! (especially on polished Car Park floors)
Freeway Driving
Most people are wary of Freeways in the US until they are more used to driving on the wrong side of the road.
It is recommend that all British First Time USA Drivers pick Routes that avoid Freeways and The Beach Line Expressway if at all possible for your Arriving Drive.
Having said that, some {especially those arriving via. Orlando International Airport (MCO) and staying near I-Drive} have no real choice but to use The Beach Line Expressway (it's not as busy as the Interstate). The two most reported problems with Freeway Driving are - that stretches can be busy at all time of the day & night and 'undertaking'.
Getting busy?
As an example from Sanford Airport (SFB) -The journey via. I4 to locations West (not South - the Freeway is traveling South by the compass, but West to Tampa as far as the whole is concerned) will initially be quiet for a few miles but the traffic will build up as you travel over Downtown Orlando and then on towards the International Drive exits, the joining of The Bee Line Expressway , the Lake Buena Vista exits, getting more quiet down towards US Hwy 192 and out into the country for US Hwy27 in the Clermont area.
From Orlando International (MCO) North exit {Black Signs} - Immediately after leaving the airport you will be on The Beach Line Expressway SR-528 . This is a cross Orlando highway going from I4 out to the Space Coast (Atlantic Ocean side) via. the airport. So, although it's busy, it's not that bad. You will need to go this way if you are staying on International Drive as there is no viable alternative via. MCO's South exit.
It is a main artery for Interstate 4 and does speed up travel to all areas of Orlando.
I4 gets busy directly after it's junction with The Bee Line SR-528, It's the weight of West bound traffic meeting the Lake Buena Vista exits for Walt Disney World that causes the slow down.
Traffic on US freeways is no worse than traffic anywhere else - it's just that you could do without the hassle.
Undertaking
The other drivers on Freeways can bring about the other problem - undertaking!
It's not illegal in the USA to overtake on the 'inside'. That's the right hand side...
With all the other distractions, it can be bloomin scary.
As you get to the busier areas, you get lots of locals literally zooming by on all sides! Changing lanes in front and behind in a seemingly random ballet.
Making a decision to stick to the lane one from the right (a theoretical slow lane) doesn't work as the width of the freeway changes from 3 to 4 to 5 lanes at various points. At exits, sometimes two lanes exit, sometimes only one. Sticking to the left and keeping your foot down will only end up with you going too fast... Here you will also encounter the few American drivers who have no respect for the Speed Limit.
You have to be on-top of what you are doing.
It's all quite exciting when you are used to it - but after an 8 hour flight?
Turning Left at a Traffic Signal.
Turning Left at a Traffic Light (Signal) can be a little un-nerving the first few times.
Most major road junctions will have a Left Turn Lane controlled by a Left Turn Light. It may be up in the air but should never be so high that you can't see it through the window from the front row of the grid (sorry).
If the road you are turning into is a dual carriageway (divided highway) just don't forget to be in the right lanes after the turn.
That's all the way across the first set of lanes on your left and the dividing bit. If pressured there is a tendency to go left round the kerb, like back at home - this will end up with you facing a line of cars pointing at you.
Go all the way across and then turn left into the empty road with cars going 'away' from you... Take your time - don't panic.
The first major turn Left at a Traffic Signal for British Visitors visiting the Kissimmee area is likely to be at this light at Celebration Ave. and US Hwy 192... (use you browser 'Back' button to get back to here)
Turning Right at a Traffic Signal - 'The Free Right at a Red Light' Rule.
You may turn right 'against' the Traffic Light in Florida, but only if the coast is clear.
You must come to a complete stop first...
Cars in front of you may go through the Red Light and turn right. This is normal and you should do the same.
Don't be pressured by people behind you...
Take it easy and make sure nothing is anywhere near you coming from the left before you move.
Move away smoothly and purposefully. Once you start, don't stop - you shouldn't have gone if it wasn't clear to do so...
If the light is Green, just go. (obvious)
If you just sit there, people behind will sound their horn at you!
But don't be pressured, the light will change soon anyway. Be safe - not sorry!
Rules & Regulations
All these things can seem daunting, but fear not, they can all be absorbed by you brain in a very short space of time.
Thank goodness the pedals, are at least, in the right order.
Traffic Control Signals
Traffic signals are placed at intersections to keep traffic moving and to avoid a crash. Drivers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders must obey these signals, except when an officer is directing traffic. Stop on the stop line if your car is nearest the signal. Some signals change only when a car is at the stop line. If traffic signals are out of order, treat the light as if it was a four-way stop sign.
Red
Come to a complete stop at the marked stop line or before moving into the crosswalk or intersection. At most intersections, after stopping, you may turn right on red if the way is clear. Some intersections display a "NO TURN ON RED" sign, which you must obey. Left turns on a red light from a one-way street into a one-way street are also allowed.
Yellow
Stop if you can. The light will soon be red.
Green
Go - but only if the intersection is clear. Yield to pedestrians and vehicles still in the intersection. If turning left, wait for a gap in oncoming traffic to complete a turn.
Red Arrow
Come to a complete stop at the marked stop line or before moving into the crosswalk or intersection. After stopping, you may turn right on a red arrow at most intersections if the way is clear. Some intersections display a "NO TURN ON RED" sign, which you must obey. Left turns on a red light from a one-way street into a one-way street are also allowed.
Yellow Arrow
Stop if you can. The light will soon be red. The yellow arrow means the same as the yellow light, but applies only to movement in the direction of the arrow.
Green Arrow
A green arrow, pointing right or left, means you may make a turn in the direction of the arrow. If the red light is burning at the same time, you must be in the proper lane for such a turn and you must yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians within the intersection.
Flashing Signals
A flashing red light means the same thing as a stop sign. It is used at dangerous intersections.
A flashing yellow light means you may move forward with caution. It is used at, or just before, dangerous intersections, or to alert you to a warning sign such as a school crossing or sharp curve.
Lane Signals
Lane signals are used:
- When the direction of the flow of traffic changes during the day.
- To show that a toll booth is open or closed.
- To show which lanes are opened or closed.
You must never drive in a lane under a red X. A yellow X means that your lane signal is going to change to red. Prepare to leave the lane safely. You may drive in lanes beneath the green arrow, but you must also obey all other signs and signals.
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