Driving in the USA for the first time

[Ben B]

Hi everyone

I'll be in the USA soon and driving on the wrong side for the first time.

After 35 years of driving here in oz, the thought of driving on the other side for the first time is somewhat intimidating!

I'd appeciate any advice on surviving driving on the other side.

regards
Ben

[atec77]

Originally Posted by Ben B

Hi everyone

I'll be in the USA soon and driving on the wrong side for the first time.

After 35 years of driving here in oz, the thought of driving on the other side for the first time is somewhat intimidating!

I'd appeciate any advice on surviving driving on the other side.

regards
Ben

Just remember to sit in the middle of the lane as best you can , after a couple of days it will only feel a little unnatural

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Ben B

Hi everyone

I'll be in the USA soon and driving on the wrong side for the first time.

After 35 years of driving here in oz, the thought of driving on the other side for the first time is somewhat intimidating!

I'd appeciate any advice on surviving driving on the other side.

regards
Ben

With right hand driving I found all was Ok except that roundabouts were hard to get used to....It was easy to go around the wrong way.

[XRLightening]

Originally Posted by ozmale42

With right hand driving I found all was Ok except that roundabouts were hard to get used to....It was easy to go around the wrong way.

They don't have roundabouts in the US do they?!?! I never saw any on my trip over....

I drove for 6 weeks over there and the only place I got confused was Houston. For me it was just a matter of remembering that I had to be in the middle of the road.

If you happen to end up in Texas and it rains, just remember to be careful. Because it doesn't rain much there, the average Texan doesn't know how to drive in the wet.

Hope you have a great trip.

[LTDterri]

They do have roundabouts and I found them difficult at first, but you will be ok after a few days. I also found it was harder to judge the gap from the kerb or parked cars to the passenger side

[alecrain]

Originally Posted by ozmale42

With right hand driving I found all was Ok except that roundabouts were hard to get used to....It was easy to go around the wrong way.

in US and A there are NO roundabouts.

Roads are straight with the exception of Hwy exits which will make you sick.

[alecrain]

I remember hearing why England (and some other countries like, Aus, that had english influences) drive on the left.

It all started in Middle Ages when during Jousting tournaments the riders would ride towards each other (separated by a long rail) holding "pikes".
They would ride on the right hand of the rail holding the pike in the right hand- aiming at the opponent who was to their left.

But one time there was this (very influential) prince or other royalty in england who was left handed, he made his opponents use their left hands to hold the pike and they had to ride on the left side of the rail......

after some time it became a norm that people started to use when passing other riders/ carriages on narrow passages.

[troppo]

Originally Posted by alecrain

I remember hearing why England (and some other countries like, Aus, that had english influences) drive on the left.

It all started in Middle Ages when during Jousting tournaments the riders would ride towards each other (separated by a long rail) holding "pikes".
They would ride on the right hand of the rail holding the pike in the right hand- aiming at the opponent who was to their left.

But one time there was this (very influential) prince or other royalty in england who was left handed, he made his opponents use their left hands to hold the pike and they had to ride on the left side of the rail......

after some time it became a norm that people started to use when passing other riders/ carriages on narrow passages.

Pedantic I know, but for the sake of accuracy, it was a lance, not a pike. The pike is a member of the polearm class of weapons designed to be used by footsoldiers against a mounted enemy. Jousting sticks are used instead of lances in modern recreations with the aim being dislodging the opponent from their mount as opposed to impaling them.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by alecrain

in US and A there are NO roundabouts.

Roads are straight with the exception of Hwy exits which will make you sick.

US and A??? There are roundabouts here, just not nearly as many. But they are around (sorry about the pun)

Originally Posted by Ben B

I'd appeciate any advice on surviving driving on the other side.

Try walking on the right side too. Always pass on the right side, no matter if you are in the supermarket aisle, walking along a footpath, walking in the airport etc, then when you drive it will become easier. Keep right unless overtaking. 4 way stops, just stop and the order that cars get to them, they leave in that order (cars going in all 4 directions have to stop). Remember driving on the right, you follow the painted line to your left.

Then when you go back to Oz, consciously walk on the left of oncoming people to avoid bumping in to them, and to get your brain thinking left again. And be sure to follow the painted line to the right of the car.

[DBourne]

first up, we're the ones who are driving on the wrong side of the road!
second, just remember you cant turn left as you can here obviously lol. could end badly!

[daz82]

Be more worried about being a pedestrian. a few times i've stepped of the curb and looked right instead of left lol.

[Pinch]

What about changing gears with the right hand but still using the same pedal feet? How do people find that?

I am starting to freak out a bit about how well I will pilot my little Fiat Punto around Italy, and a 207 around France in a short while.

Good tip about the roundabouts - I'll pay extra attantion to that.

[TZENU]

Originally Posted by Pinch

What about changing gears with the right hand but still using the same pedal feet? How do people find that?

Alot easier than you think!.... Remember playing Daytona USA?? or Sega Rally? at timezone?

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by daz82

Be more worried about being a pedestrian. a few times i've stepped of the curb and looked right instead of left lol.

that is a good point - my wife from the phillipines when she got here and myself when in the philippines had to remember that. we do not normally think when crossing the road so keep you wits about you until you are used to it
driving a left hand drive (for one day only) was not hard at all. i had the benefit of my wife directing me, so i only had to concentrate on driving not looking for roads. if possible have someone with you as much as possible to begin with, so your mind can be on driving.
i did not have any dramas with staying on the correct side of the road, but i did have some help.
actually sitting on the left and using the right hand for gear changes and needing to judge parked cars on the right felt pretty natural though.
it isn't hard, if you keep your mind on the job, you will be fine

[sgt_doofey]

Just remember to hug the curb when turning right instead of left. You'll be fine otherwise.
My first time driving over there was in Monterey which is south of San Fran. Picked up a hire car, sat in it for a couple of minutes familiarising myself with the controls, then just started her up and drove off. Granted, I did have the now wife sitting next to me nagging me to keep right, but all was fine. Give it a solid day and you'll be fine. If you think you'll have trouble, simply follow the car in front of you.
I heard a story about one of the other guys from the winery we worked at. When he rocked up, he grabbed one of the cars and had to drive to the other side of the highway where the rest of the winery was. He was reminded by a number of people to not forget to keep right. He started driving thinking it was easy until a car started coming straight for him in his lane! Seems he forgot to keep right after all.

[perthxr6t]

It's a funny feeling Ben as i have ben doing the same over here in Kazakhstan and you'll pick it up in a couple of weeks.

Try and get hold of a road rules book like we have in Australia and have a read up.

It doesn't take long to get used to the gear stick and indicator plus windscreen wipers being around the wrong way.

Your biggest challenge is their road rules and how they drive over there and that will be the scary part as these useless mongrels over here have no idea how to drive full stop!!

When i go home for my break the better half picks me up from the airport and i drive home and sometimes i turn the bloody wipers on instead of indicating and ours being a manual i sometimes go to wind the window down instead of changing gears much to the amusement of the better half as she thinks it's funny. :

[blk_frmnt]

Originally Posted by perthxr6t

i sometimes go to wind the window down instead of changing gears much to the amusement of the better half as she thinks it's funny. :

Haha everytime i switch over i find myself bashing my hand into the door reaching the wrong way for the gearstick...

[JC]

Just remember that the left lane is the fast lane (on a multi lane highway), and look right then left when crossing traffic, instead of left then right, and all should be good.

[EgoFG]

I thought "easy turn" and "Hard Turn" instead right and left.
(In Au left is easy, in USA right is easy)

After a while your brain switches over.

Interestingly when I remember the US driving now I was on the right hand side of the car !
Crazy brain !

[DJR David]

During general driving in traffic it is very easy, ya just follow along with everyone else.

The biggest challenge is when no one else is around. You need to focus about what you are doing.

Also when leaving servos or carparks, stop and THINK what you are doing. these environments are the easiest to get yourself into trouble

good luck!!

[troppo]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

I thought "easy turn" and "Hard Turn" instead right and left.
(In Au left is easy, in USA right is easy)

After a while your brain switches over.

Interestingly when I remember the US driving now I was on the right hand side of the car !
Crazy brain !

I used to go out with a girl who got very confused between her left and right. One night after saying turn right here and ending up down a side street on the wrong side of the main road, we came up with a system of calling 'my way' or 'your way' for turns. 'My way' (with me being on the passenger side) meant a left turn and 'Your way' meaning a right turn. As the driver they swap, but it's natural to do when hearing directions.

Get used to that before you go, it will transfer over when you swap sides sitting in the car. As the driver 'my way' turns mean you are going across the oncoming lane and watch out for traffic, 'your way' turns mean hug the curb.

[flappist]

Very important to remember:

If you are pulled over for whatever reason DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR and DO NOT TRY TO FIND YOUR LICENCE.

Just sit there with your hands on the steering wheel and wait to be told what to do.

This is not a wind up or a joke, they get rather skittish and WILL shoot you if they think you are going for a gun or whatever.

Go with the flow. Watch out for idiots in the bi-directional middle turning lane. Be extra careful on single lane roads, you will automatically go to the WRONG side when something is coming towards you.

You often have to pay for gas (petrol) before you fill up and work on a fake yank accent and the majority will have absolutely no idea what you are saying if you speak with native aussie style and speed, ESPECIALLY 1000 word per second Sydney babble.

Have fun, it is a great place.

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by flappist

Very important to remember:

If you are pulled over for whatever reason DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR and DO NOT TRY TO FIND YOUR LICENCE.

Just sit there with your hands on the steering wheel and wait to be told what to do.

This is not a wind up or a joke, they get rather skittish and WILL shoot you if they think you are going for a gun or whatever.


Have fun, it is a great place.

yeah i was thinking the same thing

i remember when i was there many moons ago and ended up being put on the ground after attempting to get out of the car

was all good once the officers realized i was from oz but i was very lucky not to have been injured for doing what at the time i thought was right

one thing you can do is when you get to the US ... go and talk to the police at the airport LAX have a big police station ( did when i was there ) in the airport they would be happy to answer any questions on the matter for you

hope you have a great time over there i so want to get back over there one day

jason

[Ben B]

Thanks everyone for all the hints....the more the better

We will be going over to las vegas in 2 weeks.......for my wife's big 50 birthday trip. We're taking our 2 sons too........

From Vegas we're driving to the Grand Canyon for a couple of nights....
then back to Vegas. Then over to Hawaii for a cruise round the Hawaiian islands......all good.....

The car we're hiring is an automatic, so that'll make life a little easier.

The problem I see with driving over there is that we drive on auto pilot out here...you dont have to think about turns...you just turn correctly...having my wife tell me what side of the road to be on will help if I drift into old habits.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Ben B

The problem I see with driving over there is that we drive on auto pilot out here...you dont have to think about turns.

that is true - see if your wife can read the map as you are travelling or get her to memorise the way so that way you can just drive. from my experience it would have been looking for streets you need to turn into, that would distract you. if you can just concentrate on the driving you should be right. if you get a manual, do not sweat - it is easy to change gear with your right hand

[Walt Kowalski]

Originally Posted by Ben B

Hi everyone

I'll be in the USA soon and driving on the wrong side for the first time.

Ben

Actually Ben, they will tell you they drive on the right side of the road

And they are right of course.

After all we drive on the left.

Jokes aside, it is actually VERY natural.

Just think twice every time you pull out of a carpark or servo onto the road

Once you aRE ACTUALLY ON THE ROAD ITS EASY

When you get back home you will probably find - even after 35 years driving on the left - that you will occasionally hesitate when you are about to pull out of a carpark and wonder which side you should be on back home.

It happened to me for years after I spent just 3 weeks on their roads.

The mind would go "now which side do we drive again in Oz?

Its weird.

So their way must be more natural or something

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by Munroman

Actually Ben, they will tell you they drive on the right side of the road

And they are right of course.

After all we drive on the left.

Jokes aside, it is actually VERY natural.

Just think twice every time you pull out of a carpark or servo onto the road

Once you aRE ACTUALLY ON THE ROAD ITS EASY

When you get back home you will probably find - even after 35 years driving on the left - that you will occasionally hesitate when you are about to pull out of a carpark and wonder which side you should be on back home.

It happened to me for years after I spent just 3 weeks on their roads.

The mind would go "now which side do we drive again in Oz?

Its weird.

So their way must be more natural or something

We originated from England and they drive the same way we do.

So We're correct.

[JG66ME]

I would add that I found turning left hard to do as i wanted to go to the left side of the road. Other than that it was fine. Get a car with sat nav if you can. stress of driving is reduced somwhat.

Steve

[GS608]

i know its not driving related, but make sure you tip while your there they expect it lol

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

i know its not driving related, but make sure you tip while your there they expect it lol

i know it subsidises their pay but this does is just weird , i reckon