Driving in America - a view from an Englishman.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I've just got back from a trip in the US where I drove from Newark, NJ to the Geneseo region of New York (about 350 miles). This was my first time driving in America and the first time I've ever driven on the wrong side of the road. So here are a few of my thoughts.

1) Undertaking- So on busy stretches of interstate it is perfectly acceptable to undertake on the inside? Three minutes into my 5 hour drive and I have traffic passing me on both sides and no idea which lane I'm supposed to be in.

2) Speed limits- What are they for? Because nobody sticks to them. I'm sticking to the 65mph limit and I still have lorries and cars flying past me.

3) Text areas 5 miles ahead- So you have areas at the side of your freeway that are there so drivers can text each other...:p

4) Prepaying for fuel - I had no idea that you had to pay for your petrol before you could fill up. So how much do I need to pay...........

5) $35 for a tank of fuel - Can I fill up my suitcase please while I'm here?

6) Road-kill - Most British children would be traumatised at the sight of Bambi dead on the side of the road every 90 miles.

7) Musical bridges - The tarmac over bridges makes a different road noise to the rest of the road. Sounded musical to me.

8) Road side diners - And you mock British food for being inedible? What is with your obsession of putting 'American imitation cheese food' on everything?

9) Stop signs - I really think roundabouts are a more efficient way of dealing with intersections.

10) Freeway exits in the middle lane- So I'm looking for my exit so I move over to get in the right-hand lane and now I've driven past my exit because it was in the middle lane???

So it was an educational experience but I can't help but think that driving in Britain would be more difficult for an American.

[Starter]

I've just got back from a trip in the US where I drove from Newark, NJ to the Geneseo region of New York (about 350 miles). This was my first time driving in America and the first time I've ever driven on the wrong side of the road. So here are a few of my thoughts.

1) Undertaking- So on busy stretches of interstate it is perfectly acceptable to undertake on the inside? Three minutes into my 5 hour drive and I have traffic passing me on both sides and no idea which lane I'm supposed to be in.
A result of the poor driver training we have here. The rule is drive right, pass left. Unfortunately, many drive in whatever lane they feel like with no regard for those behind them.


2) Speed limits- What are they for? Because nobody sticks to them. I'm sticking to the 65mph limit and I still have lorries and cars flying past me.
Speed limits are for collecting revenue. Most speed limits here are way too slow and are therefore widely ignored. Generally if you are 7 to 10 mph over the posted speed then you'll be in the middle of the flow of traffic.


3) Text areas 5 miles ahead- So you have areas at the side of your freeway that are there so drivers can text each other...:p
Better than texting while driving.


4) Prepaying for fuel - I had no idea that you had to pay for your petrol before you could fill up. So how much do I need to pay...........
Easy if you use a credit card at the pump. With cash they don't want you filling up and then driving off without paying.


6) Road-kill - Most British children would be traumatised at the sight of Bambi dead on the side of the road every 90 miles.
You only saw them every 90 miles? One of the biggest causes of accidents and injuries here is deer hits. No natural predators left (except for the auto) and bambi lovers saying you can't do a controlled kill to thin them out. They are breeding like mad. They're on the side of the road because most happen between dusk & dawn and it takes a while for the locations to be reported and the highway dept getting someone out to collect them.


8) Road side diners - And you mock British food for being inedible? What is with your obsession of putting 'American imitation cheese food' on everything?
What, you don't have any McDonalds? You need to look for the non chain places and there is still plenty of good grub out there.


9) Stop signs - I really think roundabouts are a more efficient way of dealing with intersections.
Couldn't agree more.

[Alexamateo]

Starter addressed everything except #10. Left (middle) exits are pretty rare. I have seen them on toll roads where the service areas for fuel/dining/service etc were in the middle and serving both directions of traffic. The ones there usually have an exclusive contract to serve that particular highway. Were you on a toll road?

[Storm]

Yeah I haven't seen any middle lane exits in my drives either..of course I haven't driven in NY state either :s

Speed limits? on a 65 posted I used to put cruise control on 65 but like you John, everybody seemed to fly around me...so after a couple of days, I always put it on 70 and going up to 80/85 to overtake stuff (especially higher for the behemoths called semis) and then back to 70/72. Where I drove someplaces even had limits as low as 55/60 nearer urban areas and still most people seemed to be doing 70mph.

[zako85]

1) Undertaking- So on busy stretches of interstate it is perfectly acceptable to undertake on the inside? Three minutes into my 5 hour drive and I have traffic passing me on both sides and no idea which lane I'm supposed to be in.


Too many old, distracted or overly passive drivers who forget that they're on the left lane. The impatient drivers behind tend to pass on the right instead of signaling the slow driver in front.



2) Speed limits- What are they for? Because nobody sticks to them. I'm sticking to the 65mph limit and I still have lorries and cars flying past me.


I agree. In many states +5 or +10mph is the norm. Having said that, I am in San Antonio right now, and this city happens to have some of the most passive and distracted drivers in the country who often drive 5 to 10 mph below speed limit, just in case.. or something.



4) Prepaying for fuel - I had no idea that you had to pay for your petrol before you could fill up. So how much do I need to pay...........


Use a credit/debit card at the pump.



6) Road-kill - Most British children would be traumatised at the sight of Bambi dead on the side of the road every 90 miles.


Here in Texas hill country, on a good day you see some road kill seemingly every mile. Sometimes even large birds that descend to eat the dead animals are also killed. It's kind of sad.

[Rollo]

10) Freeway exits in the middle lane- So I'm looking for my exit so I move over to get in the right-hand lane and now I've driven past my exit because it was in the middle lane???

So it was an educational experience but I can't help but think that driving in Britain would be more difficult for an American.

Freeways in the United States (thanks to Charles Wilson's massive bit of grift) are lovely things. Compared to what we have in Oz, they're fantastically signposted and the numbering system is as good as the UK's.

I have no idea where I-29 is but I could guess that it's a spur of a North-South expressway somewhere in the middle of the country.
For the most part, numbers get higher from West to East and from South to North, odd numbers are uppy-downy and evens are acrossy.

[airshifter]

Just imagine if you had more time to explore more of the US roads. Then you'd find out all the even stranger stuff that happens as you travel. There are places here in the US where there are even more special types of idiots on the roads on a regular basis.

As for roundabouts, they would just screw those up too. There is one up near where my wife is from, and according to driving regs our rules are the same as most places. That being you yield going into the roundabout to those already in it. But up there they decided the main road should have right of way. So I'm IN the roundabout already, and cars are approaching as if they would just run into us. Officially I was in the right, but hichtown USA decided they had their own set of rules.


Speed limits? For the most part they only somewhat apply off the major roads. The highway is almost always fair game. If people are going slow, there is probably a speed trap in the area. We have express lanes locally where the speed limit is 65 MPH, but going that speed would often get you run over.

Once while travelling through the desert in California, I passed a State Trooper on a two lane road while going close to 90 MPH. And I didn't get a ticket. Dead serious. :)

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Easy if you use a credit card at the pump. With cash they don't want you filling up and then driving off without paying.







Use a credit/debit card at the pump.



Now that's another thing. I tried to buy a Metro card for the New York subway with my credit card and couldn't because it asked for a zip code. I'm assuming that the pump would ask for a zip code rather than a pin code, which is what we use over here. You don't use chip and pin in the states.

[Starter]

Now that's another thing. I tried to buy a Metro card for the New York subway with my credit card and couldn't because it asked for a zip code. I'm assuming that the pump would ask for a zip code rather than a pin code, which is what we use over here. You don't use chip and pin in the states.
No we don't use the chip & pin though most major card issuers are going that way. Long overdue. The magnetic strip is way too easy to fool. and there is massive fraud here as a result. In a number of ways you guys are ahead of us.

[A.F.F.]

I didn't mind undertaking at all because it flowed like a dream, traffic was like a controlled chaos. Very different to Finland. I enjoyed every minute of driving in US. :)

[MrJan]

No we don't use the chip & pin though most major card issuers are going that way. Long overdue. The magnetic strip is way too easy to fool. and there is massive fraud here as a result. In a number of ways you guys are ahead of us.

Over here the magnetic strip is pretty much useless, except in banks. I had a problem where a zip in my wallet broke the chip on my card (actually happened twice before I realised what the problem was) and I couldn't get money or pay for anything anywhere. Even getting money out of cash machines or some places where they have the ability to swipe wouldn't work.

We're now moving towards more 'contactless' places where payments under £20 just require you to hold the card near the machine.

As for driving in the US, sounds like a lot of it is the same as when I was in Canada. The drive from the airport in Toronto to my brother's house 20 minutes away was just madness, the way that people change lanes and how close they drive to each other is insane. It's not so bad out of the City but still not great. On the plus side, at least if some dick is sat in the middle lane you can quite happily undertake him.

[Mark]

Last time I drive in America was 2003 but my experience was about the same. Nobody stuck to the speed limit on the freeway and there was no lane discipline.

The junctions on the whole compared to the UK were poorly signed and easy to miss. Especially with no countdown markers.

Stop signs are strange too. You don't even need a roundabout. Just give way lines would do fine.

[donKey jote]

I always like the turn right even when red rules :D

[555-04Q2]

Driving here is much the same. Nobody obeys the rules anymore!

[Zeakiwi]

The magnetic strip and chip cards are still subject to fraud. The next addition to that ever size increasing wallet will be the 'credit card defender' - an aluminium lined credit card holder to reduce the possibility of your card's info from being remotely skimmed.
http://www.rippleshot.com/chip-pin-emv-wont-stop-fraud-heres/

http://youtu.be/tVf9ZRD53BE (credit card defender)

[schmenke]

I can’t say that I’ve ever had any issues with the roads or highway system in the U.S. In fact, I find for the most part, they are well laid out and easy to use. I think much of the negative issues are more a result of poor driving habits, which is as much the case here in Canada as it is in the U.S.

But I agree, the U.S. needs to adapt the chip technology for payment as this has been the norm in Canada for several years now.

[schmenke]

Now that's another thing. I tried to buy a Metro card for the New York subway with my credit card and couldn't because it asked for a zip code. ....

That reminds me of the following true story.

A while back I was trying to place an on-line purchase through a U.S. based retailer (I can’t remember for what). However the web site indicated that transactions for shipments to Canada required calling their 1-800 number. So I promptly called and explained to the person on the phone that I was calling from Canada and wished to ship the item to my Canadian address. The conversation went something like this:

“O.k.” the operator replied pleasantly, “What city are you calling from sir?”

“Calgary” I replied.

“And what state is that in?”

“Erm” replied I, “well, we don’t have states in Canada, but it’s in the province of Alberta.”

“Hmm” she replies, “that’s not showing up as a selection in our on-line system.”

“Yes, I know, that’s why I’m calling this number.”

“O.k. I guess we’ll have to do a manual order. What’s your zip code?”

“Erm...”

[Starter]

That reminds me of the following true story.

A while back I was trying to place an on-line purchase through a U.S. based retailer (I can’t remember for what). However the web site indicated that transactions for shipments to Canada required calling their 1-800 number. So I promptly called and explained to the person on the phone that I was calling from Canada and wished to ship the item to my Canadian address. The conversation went something like this:

“O.k.” the operator replied pleasantly, “What city are you calling from sir?”

“Calgary” I replied.

“And what state is that in?”

“Erm” replied I, “well, we don’t have states in Canada, but it’s in the province of Alberta.”

“Hmm” she replies, “that’s not showing up as a selection in our on-line system.”

“Yes, I know, that’s why I’m calling this number.”

“O.k. I guess we’ll have to do a manual order. What’s your zip code?”

“Erm...”
reminds me of the call center person I spoke with a couple of years ago who insisted I couldn't ship something to an address in Taos because they only shipped to the US and New Mexico was a foreign country.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

reminds me of the call center person I spoke with a couple of years ago who insisted I couldn't ship something to an address in Taos because they only shipped to the US and New Mexico was a foreign country.

:laugh:

Another issue we had in the states was my girlfriends I.D.

In the Europe we have the date format of day/month/year, so as my girlfriend is only just 21 and her birthday is on the 11th of the month, the locals not familiar with this difference mistook her for a 20 year old who didn't turn 21 until November.

Luckily there was an Irish girl at the bar who was aware of the difference.

[MrJan]

:laugh:

Another issue we had in the states was my girlfriends I.D.

In the Europe we have the date format of day/month/year, so as my girlfriend is only just 21 and her birthday is on the 11th of the month, the locals not familiar with this difference mistook her for a 20 year old who didn't turn 21 until November.

Luckily there was an Irish girl at the bar who was aware of the difference.

My brother had a similar problem with a barman who was convinced that he had a fake ID because "there's no 14th month".

[Bagwan]

Not uncommon here in Ontario , Canada , is having folks passing you when travelling 140 in a hundred kilometer zone on any of the 400 series highways .
But , generally , and police officers have told me this , they won't bother paying much attention to you unless you're 15km over , in most places .
Maybe not school zones , but most others .

I remember a time when down in Kentucky , I learned quickly that the slower speed zones was where you needed to follow the letter , or , rather , number on the sign .
Just about tipped over the camper van , entering a 30mph signed bend , at about 37mph , flinging dishes and luggage in an adrenaline soaked 1974 Ford Econoline 200 tank slapper .

[Bagwan]

My brother had a similar problem with a barman who was convinced that he had a fake ID because "there's no 14th month".

I was ID checked at the local bar I had been drinking at for two years , two weeks before my birthday I was to become legal , because one of my buddies joked about me finally being of legal age .

Of course , that two weeks got me back for giving him such a hard time when he and three of us had gone out to see a band , and he was the only one to be checked , and also the only one of age , luckily for us .
The girl at the door assumed we were laughing because he got checked , arguing that he hadn't been 18 for long , but it wasn't really the case .



And , finally , my wife came skipping out to the car one day , just giggling with glee , at having been ID checked at the liquor store .
She was somewhere in her forties at the time .

[MrJan]

And , finally , my wife came skipping out to the car one day , just giggling with glee , at having been ID checked at the liquor store .
She was somewhere in her forties at the time .

That's impressive. I love it when I still get asked for ID and I'm 29. The last time it happened the woman apologised for it, which strikes me as crazy because I was delighted that she thought I was younger (although over he most places have a 'check 25' policy, even though you can drink from 18.

[Bagwan]

That's impressive. I love it when I still get asked for ID and I'm 29. The last time it happened the woman apologised for it, which strikes me as crazy because I was delighted that she thought I was younger (although over he most places have a 'check 25' policy, even though you can drink from 18.

Yeah , she's somehow stuck in time , as I found a picture of her the other day , and , but for the '82 Toyota , you wouldn't know it wasn't yesterday .

I admit I am a lucky man .

[Mark]

Yet I've heard of some places which have an ask everyone policy. So 60 year old blokes are being asked to prove their are over 18 years old which is just daft.

[Gregor-y]

Just about tipped over the camper van , entering a 30mph signed bend , at about 37mph , flinging dishes and luggage in an adrenaline soaked 1974 Ford Econoline 200 tank slapper .

Probably true for a van but I remember driver training in the early 90s stating a speed marked in Yellow was a suggestion based on the maximum save speed for the turn being about 20 mph faster (although the overall speed limit on signs with a white background still applies and yellow is only a suggestion/warning). I've found in the car it's generally true for anything down to about 15, then the turns start getting too tight for twenty over.

[inimitablestoo]

And of course we're overlooking the big thing that people in the US drive on the right (by which we mean wrong :D ) side of the road. Eventually I gave up trying to convert them and started driving on the right as well. It stopped them blaring their horns at me anyway.

[Gregor-y]

Driving on the non-right (ie wrong) side of the road is counter intuitive to every other situation for any kind of international standard for passing.

Two ships headed at one another? Both turn to their right.
Two planes on a collision course? Both turn to their right.
Coming upon someone walking the other way? Both turn to the right.
Driving in most of the world? Keep right.
Meeting a loaded lumber truck on a one-lane road somewhere east of Thurso? Go left because for some reason it's different from every other norm of meeting in the world.

It's not just a quaint quirk when you are in danger of being run over by an angry fat mat in a big truck with nationalist flags painted on it.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Driving on the non-right (ie wrong) side of the road is counter intuitive to every other situation for any kind of international standard for passing.

Two ships headed at one another? Both turn to their right.
Two planes on a collision course? Both turn to their right.
Coming upon someone walking the other way? Both turn to the right.
Driving in most of the world? Keep right.
Meeting a loaded lumber truck on a one-lane road somewhere east of Thurso? Go left because for some reason it's different from every other norm of meeting in the world.

It's not just a quaint quirk when you are in danger of being run over by an angry fat mat in a big truck with nationalist flags painted on it.

Roman Soldiers marched on the left so their swords were exposed rather than their body (most were right handed).

Napoleon was left handed so he changed it around to suit him. So all of Europe followed too, but the British Empire stayed the opposite way.

[airshifter]

Roman Soldiers marched on the left so their swords were exposed rather than their body (most were right handed).

Napoleon was left handed so he changed it around to suit him. So all of Europe followed too, but the British Empire stayed the opposite way.

Think of it as your countries version of the metric system. Why change it if nobody can make you change it?

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Think of it as your countries version of the metric system. Why change it if nobody can make you change it?

Well we did change from feet and inches to the metric system in the 1970s.

Britain did look into changing sides in the 1950s but it was decided against because we are an island and at the time we had the biggest car industry in Europe.

[Roamy]

We drive like idiots over here. I really enjoyed driving in Germany.

[Mark]

We drive like idiots over here. I really enjoyed driving in Germany.

Aye the Germans are renouned as being sensible drivers. They do 180mph but sensibly. The Italians on the other hand.

[Roamy]

the italians pass anywhere any time. The germans are really good at obeying the laws

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I found that Americans drove very well when you got away from the cities. They still enjoyed to speed but the lane discipline was very good and nobody cut you up.

[Robinho]

35% of the world's population drive on the left. Just a quirk though

[yodasarmpit]

Undertaking happens here too,although not as much.

Prepaying for fuel, had that when driving in Cyprus. Was odd as I was returning a hire car and had to guess how much I needed to return with the same amount.

Road kill, try driving the A9 or M90 to Perth a Pheasant every 100 yards.

And as for American food, just the same as everywhere else in the world including the UK, some good and some pretty bad.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I think it's funny that Americans say they use imperial measurements but they have no idea what a stone is in weight.

[driveace]

They say every stone is a different weight !
driven in quite a lot of countries where the Rule of the road ia "Drive on the right" .never had a problem either solo or towing a caravan ,as far north as Aarhuus ,and as far south as Dubrovnic,and in every county in Europe too .
America ,Canada where ever its all about being observant and applying common sense !

[Roamy]

I think it's funny that Americans say they use imperial measurements but they have no idea what a stone is in weight.
yea but they know a stone when it comes to smoking :)

[janvanvurpa]

I think it's funny that Americans say they use imperial measurements but they have no idea what a stone is in weight.

No 'merikuns say they're using "Standard" measurements... If you say "Imperial" to them they say "Huh?".

[janvanvurpa]

I found that Americans drove very well when you got away from the cities. They still enjoyed to speed but the lane discipline was very good and nobody cut you up.

Yep, away from the cities lane discipline is very strict---they park in the left land and drive for hundreds of miles...Since even rudimentary literacy is rare they can't quite read the WHITE signs --which means OBLIGATORY--which say "Keep Right except to pass" and "slower traffic keep right"......
So they drone along in the left lane...for hours.

Often I have to pinch myself to remember I'm not driving in a RHD country since everything seems reversed, all passing occurring what would be the "wrong" way.. But hey we have more Freedom™ that you.
We even trademarked it.

[veeten]

Aye the Germans are renouned as being sensible drivers. They do 180mph but sensibly. The Italians on the other hand...

surely not pino... :angel:

;) :p