Few Driving Pointers
Discussion
May sound a little silly but having not driven in the states I'd thought I'd get some adivse...
Will be heading out to Florida in Sept (from the UK) and hoping a hire car will be more flexable than public transport and hopefully less stressful for me. I know to drive on the wrong side of the road but is there anything else I need to look out for?
Anything welcome.
R
Will be heading out to Florida in Sept (from the UK) and hoping a hire car will be more flexable than public transport and hopefully less stressful for me. I know to drive on the wrong side of the road but is there anything else I need to look out for?
Anything welcome.
R
The most common mistakes that tourists make are:
Treating 'Stop' signs like 'Give Way' signs.
Improper (panic) lane changes.
Speeding in/around airports.
Illegal U-turns
Ignoring 'Move-Over' law (Emergency vehicles on the shoulder).
Turning out of side streets onto the wrong side of the highway.
(Source) my next door neighbor is a FL State Trooper.
Be mindful of school bus rules and always yield to emergency vehicles - even if that means coming to a complete halt in the right of way.
Running red lights is epidemic in FL, so bear in mind that even if you are responsible enough to slow for a yellow light, the person behind you may not be. Lots of tourists get rear-ended by locals who don't anticipate you stopping in anticipation of the red. So - check your rear-view when the light goes yellow and keep going if necessary. Similarly, if you are at the front of the line when the light goes green, make sure nobody is blazing through the intersection before you move off.
Other than that, it's more or less the same as anywhere else.
Treating 'Stop' signs like 'Give Way' signs.
Improper (panic) lane changes.
Speeding in/around airports.
Illegal U-turns
Ignoring 'Move-Over' law (Emergency vehicles on the shoulder).
Turning out of side streets onto the wrong side of the highway.
(Source) my next door neighbor is a FL State Trooper.
Be mindful of school bus rules and always yield to emergency vehicles - even if that means coming to a complete halt in the right of way.
Running red lights is epidemic in FL, so bear in mind that even if you are responsible enough to slow for a yellow light, the person behind you may not be. Lots of tourists get rear-ended by locals who don't anticipate you stopping in anticipation of the red. So - check your rear-view when the light goes yellow and keep going if necessary. Similarly, if you are at the front of the line when the light goes green, make sure nobody is blazing through the intersection before you move off.
Other than that, it's more or less the same as anywhere else.
Zumbruk said:
S'what my American friends called them.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be a smart-ass, but the term 'lead slead' predominantly applies to early 50's Mercury hot-rods, with chopped roofs, shaved handles, frenched lights and channeled bodywork.Back in the day they used lead as a body filler, rather than plastic or glass - hence the name.
It could be that your American friends are confusing the term with "Ghetto-Sled" - a far more appropriate term for the type of car I think you are trying to convey. Even in this type of transport, little old ladies are massively outnumbered by dangerous looking young black men with cornrows and white vests.
The blue-haired, shrivelled-up old bags are usually squinting through the steering wheels of Oldsmobile Delta 88's, Buick Park Avenues, Cadillac STS's and Lincoln Town Cars. These are sometimes cruelly referred to a 'kyke canoes' - referencing the Snowbirds from NY and NJ who live down here during the winter and are totally incapable of propelling these barges in a straight line, so more commonly seen bouncing off parked vehicles, bus shelters and other natural obstacles between home and the bagel shop.
Matt Harper said:
Zumbruk said:
S'what my American friends called them.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be a smart-ass, but the term 'lead slead' predominantly applies to early 50's Mercury hot-rods, with chopped roofs, shaved handles, frenched lights and channeled bodywork.Back in the day they used lead as a body filler, rather than plastic or glass - hence the name.
Matt Harper said:
It could be that your American friends are confusing the term with "Ghetto-Sled" - a far more appropriate term for the type of car I think you are trying to convey. Even in this type of transport, little old ladies are massively outnumbered by dangerous looking young black men with cornrows and white vests.
Not in rural Northern Pennsylvania! That's the only part of the USA I'm familiar with, since my parents live there. Although I've visited plenty of other parts on both coasts. The main thing we have to look out for where my parents live is Amish buggies and the little old ladies you so excellently describe here ...Matt Harper said:
The blue-haired, shrivelled-up old bags are usually squinting through the steering wheels of Oldsmobile Delta 88's, Buick Park Avenues, Cadillac STS's and Lincoln Town Cars. These are sometimes cruelly referred to a 'kyke canoes' - referencing the Snowbirds from NY and NJ who live down here during the winter and are totally incapable of propelling these barges in a straight line, so more commonly seen bouncing off parked vehicles, bus shelters and other natural obstacles between home and the bagel shop.
Brilliant! And so very, very true!!!!Edited by Zumbruk on Tuesday 25th August 16:21
In addition to what Matt H has added I feel the unsupecting tourist should also be aware of "DWA's" in Toyota Camry / Avalon or Honda Accord guises.
DWA = Driving While Asian and refers to usually older asian men and women pottering along the motorway at 45mph in the fast lane with all lights switched on in the middle of the day. Usually found bolt upright hugging the steering wheel to see over the dash. Then deciding to veer across 4 lanes or more without indicating to make their exit lane 5 miles before its due and slowly down to 15mph. Hazard warning lights often found to be flashing when crawling off the motorway.
DWA = Driving While Asian and refers to usually older asian men and women pottering along the motorway at 45mph in the fast lane with all lights switched on in the middle of the day. Usually found bolt upright hugging the steering wheel to see over the dash. Then deciding to veer across 4 lanes or more without indicating to make their exit lane 5 miles before its due and slowly down to 15mph. Hazard warning lights often found to be flashing when crawling off the motorway.
Mr Fenix said:
In addition to what Matt H has added I feel the unsupecting tourist should also be aware of "DWA's" in Toyota Camry / Avalon or Honda Accord guises.
DWA = Driving While Asian and refers to usually older asian men and women pottering along the motorway at 45mph in the fast lane with all lights switched on in the middle of the day. Usually found bolt upright hugging the steering wheel to see over the dash. Then deciding to veer across 4 lanes or more without indicating to make their exit lane 5 miles before its due and slowly down to 15mph. Hazard warning lights often found to be flashing when crawling off the motorway.
DWA = Driving While Asian and refers to usually older asian men and women pottering along the motorway at 45mph in the fast lane with all lights switched on in the middle of the day. Usually found bolt upright hugging the steering wheel to see over the dash. Then deciding to veer across 4 lanes or more without indicating to make their exit lane 5 miles before its due and slowly down to 15mph. Hazard warning lights often found to be flashing when crawling off the motorway.
sounds like a few old grey hair'd people i've seen here, must say I'm probably thinkning to much but it's always handy to know what to look out for when taking on new roads.Thanks,
R
Most stuff is automatically taken care of just by sitting in a LHD.
Left turns at a crossroads however we pass starboard to starboard, so don't pull to far foreward in the junction.
Also watch out for "opposing traffic has extended green" signs.
If traffic light go on the blink, or are set to "rural mode" then you may see flashing yellows, drive on through the junction.
Flashing reds....stop and proceed if clear (like a stop sign)
Make sure your hire car has no hire car markings. I think this was taken care of a few years ago, but check anyway.
Matt nailed most points pretty well
Left turns at a crossroads however we pass starboard to starboard, so don't pull to far foreward in the junction.
Also watch out for "opposing traffic has extended green" signs.
If traffic light go on the blink, or are set to "rural mode"
then you may see flashing yellows, drive on through the junction.Flashing reds....stop and proceed if clear (like a stop sign)
Make sure your hire car has no hire car markings. I think this was taken care of a few years ago, but check anyway.
Matt nailed most points pretty well
Yep, turn on red unless states or there is a red filter. Just landed (typing this from Virgin lounge in Euston) from Florida this morning. Was quite good fun, wide open roads etc.
Hardly any street lights which is weird, everything seems so much darker at first. First hour I spent too far over to the right within the lane - other than that it becomes second nature very quickly.
Hardly any street lights which is weird, everything seems so much darker at first. First hour I spent too far over to the right within the lane - other than that it becomes second nature very quickly.
Figure out how to turn the wipers on (and rear if it's an SUV) before you set off - it's not always completely obvious and you don't want to be trying to figure it out if you get caught in a thunderstorm on a freeway.
Also, if you put the wipers on then put the headlights on too.
Don't speed excessively - the amount of various types of Police on the road will astonish you compared to the UK.
Also, if you put the wipers on then put the headlights on too.
Don't speed excessively - the amount of various types of Police on the road will astonish you compared to the UK.
Edited by Deva Link on Monday 31st August 20:07
If you get stopped by the cops STAY IN THE CAR, have your license and registration to hand and for Gawds sake keep your hands in plain view, preferably on the steering wheel.
As Deva Link says there are may different law enforcement agencies out there: Town, County, State Troopers etc - all have patrol cars out there.
In my experience the town/city cops are the worse, issuing traffic citations their priority - all helps to supplement local taxes and underwrite the ludicrously extravagant police benefits package.
Rant over.
As Deva Link says there are may different law enforcement agencies out there: Town, County, State Troopers etc - all have patrol cars out there.
In my experience the town/city cops are the worse, issuing traffic citations their priority - all helps to supplement local taxes and underwrite the ludicrously extravagant police benefits package.
Rant over.
Whatty said:
In my experience the town/city cops are the worse, issuing traffic citations their priority - all helps to supplement local taxes and underwrite the ludicrously extravagant police benefits package.
Rant over.
Nah, not in this town. It's the FL State Troopers who are the ticket nazis, not City of Orlando PD (affectionately referred to as OpeyDopey), or Orange County Sheriffs Dept. Rant over.
Speeding is more risk-laden towards the end of the month - particularly in town and near/in the airport.
If you do get pulled-over, it's always fun - just for a joke mind, to try and wrestle his side-arm out of the holster. They think it's a right laugh, honest.
No idea what you're on about re extravagant police benefits package - I wouldn't risk being shot to death every time I left home for work, for $28k a year. (State troopers base salary)
Matt Harper said:
Whatty said:
In my experience the town/city cops are the worse, issuing traffic citations their priority - all helps to supplement local taxes and underwrite the ludicrously extravagant police benefits package.
Rant over.
Nah, not in this town. It's the FL State Troopers who are the ticket nazis, not City of Orlando PD (affectionately referred to as OpeyDopey), or Orange County Sheriffs Dept. Rant over.
Speeding is more risk-laden towards the end of the month - particularly in town and near/in the airport.
If you do get pulled-over, it's always fun - just for a joke mind, to try and wrestle his side-arm out of the holster. They think it's a right laugh, honest.
No idea what you're on about re extravagant police benefits package - I wouldn't risk being shot to death every time I left home for work, for $28k a year. (State troopers base salary)
Re police benefits: I wasn't making reference to simply pay, cops in my town in NJ can draw full pension after 25 years service. So joining up at 20 will see you retire on full pay at 45, complete with full medical benefits for life. Most town cops I know work 3x12 hour shifts leaving them free to work the rest of the week in other jobs typically security, Not bad eh'? My town has a population of 15000 and the police force has a staff of 45, one officer to 300 residents - not a bad ratio. Back home in Norfolk UK I'd be surprised if it was 1-3000. It pisses me off when I see three cops (each with their own cruiser) attending to a traffic violation, or two of 'em standing 'guard' during utility work in the street for hours on end. My tax dollars at work? I don't think so....
Whatty said:
Re police benefits: I wasn't making reference to simply pay, cops in my town in NJ can draw full pension after 25 years service. So joining up at 20 will see you retire on full pay at 45, complete with full medical benefits for life.
I believe that policemen here can retire after 25 years service. However, it's not on "full pay" and I can't believe it is in NJ either. Full pension and full pay are 2 very different things.unrepentant said:
Whatty said:
Re police benefits: I wasn't making reference to simply pay, cops in my town in NJ can draw full pension after 25 years service. So joining up at 20 will see you retire on full pay at 45, complete with full medical benefits for life.
I believe that policemen here can retire after 25 years service. However, it's not on "full pay" and I can't believe it is in NJ either. Full pension and full pay are 2 very different things.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200810...
I still maintain that retiring at 45 on 50% of a final salary of $60-80K with 20-25 years of working life left is remarkably generous compared to the private sector. Maybe I should take US citizenship and sign up
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