10 USA Driving Tips for UK Visitors
We've recently just got back from our US road trip honeymoon. The key phrase there being "road trip". This meant that we went everywhere by car and after travelling many hours and after several hours of research, I thought I'd give you a few tips for driving in the USA. Here's everything you need to know before getting behind the wheel in America.
1. Know that different states have different rules
Driving in America is not a one-size-fits-all thing. You need to be aware that different states have different rules in place when it comes to driving and what they will and won't enforce. Depending on where you're going you might not be able to turn right on a red, for example.
In some places, pedestrians have right of way, whereas they don't in other states. Just do your research into the traffic rules in the state you're visiting, just to be sure. If I listed all of the rules for every single state, this blog post would be extremely long and laborious, so look into properly before you go.
2. Speed limits are loose
Speed limit signs are there as a guideline, really. Most people will go above the speed limit whereas you may find that some will follow it to the T. My advice to you is to follow it as closely as possible, because the speed limits are enforceable and you could risk being landed with a hefty fine. For peace of mind and to stat out of trouble, just follow the speed limit as you would in the UK - simple.
3. Green AND amber means "go"
When the lights turn red, they will not go back to amber and then green, like they do in the UK. They literally go from red to green when it's time to go. When it's time to stop, they will go from green to amber and then to red, as they do in the UK. The only difference is, people will go on green but they'll go even faster through an amber light. Just be aware of that before you slam the brakes on to stop at the inevitable red light.
4. 4-way stops are simple to navigate
A 4-way stop junction might look scary, but it's incredibly simple to navigate. The rule is that the person who got there first goes first, then the second person to get there goes and so on. Just give way to the person who came before you and you'll be alright.
5. Do NOT overtake a stopped school bus
Overtaking a school bus that has its sign out and that is carrying children is an offence. You can actually be stopped by the police for doing so. This is because it's incredibly dangerous for the children who are getting off. They're almost expected to cross the road by going around the front or back of the bus. Therefore, stay put until the bus has closed its doors, has put the sign in and is on its way again.
6. Double-check the fuel you're putting into your car
Don't make the mistake of putting the green nozzle into your unleaded car. It doesn't seem right, but you need to use the black nozzle and ask for regular fuel, if your car is powered by unleaded petrol. If it's powered by diesel, then you need to use the green nozzle - the complete opposite to how it is in the UK. It takes some getting used to, but when you get to the petrol station, THINK BLACK for unleaded.
7. Indicators, usually, flash red
Don't look for an orange indicator, because you're not likely to see one. Pay attention for a blinking red light rather than for a blinking amber light. This is especially important when turning onto a junction or even carrying straight on at one. Unlike in the UK, look for a red indicator, not an orange one.
8. Overtaking is fine in any lane
In the USA, their highways and freeways are made up of several lanes. While we were there, we were on a highway that consisted of seven lanes! Don't let the size of the roads confuse you. All you should know is that you can overtake a car in any lane, but as a general rule of thumb, stick to the second lane from the right. This means that you're less likely to accidentally come off at a junction you don't need and you also won't need to move over for vehicles coming onto the highway.
9. Don't engage in road rage
Road rage can be commonplace in the USA, more so than in the UK. However, you need to be careful on both counts. Don't engage or react to people that are engaging in road rage with each other or if they're starting road rage on you. Just remember that you're the tourist and they should know better. Let them take the risks and don't give out any road rage to start off with or give it back to anyone who might be doing it to you.
10. Study the rules before you get behind the wheel
This reiterates the first point I made about checking the rules for each state yourself. You need to make sure that you know the rules inside and out, such as what a single yellow line is and what a double yellow line means. What about a solid white line or a dashed line? If you can't answer those basic questions, then you need to do your research.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful? Let me know in the comments below about what your experience has been whilst driving the US and I will see you again very soon with some brand new content!
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