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righto... thanks Barrie, I'll make sure I remember that one. ha ha
I take some claims for a rental car company, and the number of claims where someone has come out a hotel and gone straight to the wrong side of the road, forgetting they are in a foreign country, you wouldnt believe. They usually happen within just a mile or 2 of the hotel, lol
Cheers for the invaluable input mate. ![]()
Anthony
Importantly - DO NOT DRIVE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT!!! You may get away with it in England, but my goodness, in America, if you go so much as 1 mph above their limit on the highways, the police squad will begin pursiuting you. My Dad nearly got arrested for doing 72mph on a 65mph road! They said:
"Man, do you wanna go to jail - or do you want a warning?", they are quite harsh. If you speed too much, you actually have to go to jail there, so just watch yourself on that. The arozinians are particularly tight on their rules, so just be careful.
Jonah
We've driven in the US many times including LA, San Francisco and Miami and as a rule (always exceptions of course) we've found the drivers to be much more courteous than those in the UK.
One thing I do like is being able to "turn right on red" at many traffic signals. It's not all so watch out for the signs but it does help keep traffic flowing.
Do watch out for the heat differential between an air conditioned car and outside (depending when you were going). A lady in my hotel in Palm Springs fractured her spine when she collapsed after getting out of her 70 deg F car into 120 deg F air.
Be also aware of driving for a long time with the air con on. Driving across Death Valley, we stopped after a couple of hours to have a look around and when we got back in, the car wouldn't start. a Park Ranger found us and had to call in the AAA by air..and all it turned out to be was a thermal cut out caused by driving for too long with the AC on - so embarrassing ![]()
Picking up on Jonah's point.. the speed limit in many places is still 55 max!
Oh and if you get caught short and want a pee, don't do as I did and stand behind a bush with nothing on your feet 4 ft from a Rattler!!!
thank you Barrie, I agree the turn right on red is good, thanks for telling me its not at all junctions. Did'nt know that.
Air con, yup, will keep an eye on that too, thanks.
Quote: Oh and if you get caught short and want a pee, don't do as I did and stand behind a bush with nothing on your feet 4 ft from a Rattler!!!
I bet thts not the first time that happened, lol
Anthony
Not driven in the US but been a passenger in Mississippi. Many drivers were fine but the truck drivers did not seem to care much about speeding. Passed by on a number of roads by big, big trucks at speeds exceeding 80mph.
Also many drivers keep a gun in the car. Road rage best avoided.
For driving in Arizona, check this sites out:
link
And yes, speed limits are enforced heavily over here, even as little as 15 mph over the limit can lead to a 'reckless driving' ticket being given. I found that out to my cost recently.
Also visit the Arizona state tourist dept website.
Driven in Miami, found the interstates are permanently busy. Be aware that exits from the interstate can be to the left as well as the right. It can catch you out sometimes.
Make use of a good sat nav and read the signs and you should be fine......................but expect to get a lot of "RECALCULATING" from the Sat Nav lady tho ![]()
Paul
Agree with Barrie - look out for the 'turn right on a red' sign. Excellent idea and I don't know why we can't have the same over here (except of course it would be 'turn left on a red)'. I loved driving in the US; as mentioned previously the drivers didn't seem as manic (even in Los Angeles !) as here.
The other thing to watch for are the 'stop' signs at some junctions (where each approach has its own 'stop' sign). Took me a while to work them out but basically the first to arrive has priority.
And parking on the street! Make sure you park facing the right way (i.e on the right, passenger door to the kerb).
One thing I couldn't work out - are you supposed to give way to traffic joining the motorway/interstate? Got hooted at several times because I couldn't give way to trafic joining because ot the traffic in the outer lane.
Quote: Be aware that exits from the interstate can be to the left as well as the right. It can catch you out sometimes.
LOL!! Forgot that one. Must admit I missed an exit like that. Doesn't seem right somehow but then they don't have fast/overtaking lanes so I don't suppose it makes much difference.
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