I am 21 and have been driving since I was 18 in the UK but I am contemplating hiring a car out in the US in 3 weeks time but I am scared about how the road signs etc are in the US. Any tips for me to take into account?
2006-08-14 00:17:13 · 30 answers · asked by Silent_Hunter 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Orlando
Look up 'Rules of the Road' online and read it and familiarize yourself with all the signs and terminology.
I have included a link to the Illinois manual for you. Most rules are the same from state to state :)
2006-08-14 00:25:00 · answer #1 · answered by kenny_the_bomb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will be driving on the other side of the road, of course. Ask the rental agency if they have any brochures for driving in FL., or where you could get the info, or else try to find out on-line what the road signs are, speed limits, etc. The Florida Dept. of Motor Vehicles would have this info, if you can access it. Check out the website that starrlina gave you. Don't know if they would have any info at a Welcome Center.
Don't be in any hurry to go thru intersections when the traffic lights change. There are people that run red lights. There are lots of tourists in Florida from all over, so we gets all different kinds of drivers here.
Orlando and the beach towns have alot of traffic from the tourists. If a school bus stops to let children off, you must stop, also. If you hear an emergency vehicle, pull over to the right hand side of the road. If it rains, the roads will be very slippery because of the sand and oil on them.
You didn't say what area of Florida you would be visiting. Since your question is under the Orlando category, guess that is one place you will be going. I live in the Clearwater area. That is on the Gulf of of Mexico in central Florida.
By the way, my wife has relatives in Billingham-on-Tees, County Durham.
Good luck!
2006-08-14 00:33:17 · answer #2 · answered by ~~Fast Eddie~~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to stop at a stop sign and the first person to have got there gets to go first. From my experience Americans are very good about doing this. You can go right on a red light unless it says otherwise. You'll prob have an automatic I guess, which is very boring to drive, but'll probably mean you have time to think about what you're doing. They don't really do roundabouts over there which makes things simpler. It'll probably be harder when you return to England cos you'll have got used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and won't realise you have to think. Just take it easy and you'll be fine. I drove in America for a year just a few months after having passed my test in England and was much more confident over there than I was when I came back! It took me ages to get used to roundabouts! Just check what licence you need too, I had to get an International Licence, from the AA I think, but that was probably because I was over there so long. Plus also check how old you have to be to hire a car- you might find that you are too young, I think the limit is often 25!
Good luck and have a fab holiday!
2006-08-14 00:31:12 · answer #3 · answered by emily_jane2379 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about what a lot of people have written here. It is not that bad really! We have been travilling to Florida for 15 years and never had a driving problem at all. I would sooner drive there than a lot of our cities. The Americans do drive slower than we do in the UK. Just watch out for people overtaking you. They can do it on either side of you if you are in the centre lane.
The othere thing to remember is that you will have to pay a supplement as you are under 25. Don't worry just go for it.
2006-08-14 01:19:29 · answer #4 · answered by Dawn H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check in advance before you arrive because most major rental car companies in Florida will not rent a car out to you until you are 25. Other than that I think driving is pretty tame in Florida. I live in Orlando but I've driven in Italy, Australia, and Afghanistan. Driving is nothing compared to those places. Good luck
2006-08-14 02:10:19 · answer #5 · answered by Gator714 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch out for the other drivers! They can start driving at 16 and the driving test only involves driving round the block so chances are you'll be the best driver around!
By the way miles are shorter in the US (not sure whether that means the speed limit is faster or slower - I've never been able to work that one out)
2006-08-14 00:25:02 · answer #6 · answered by ftmshk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually it's real easy .
As you know they drive on the right .
All the cars are automatic, their cars are real easy to drive.
In reality Americans drive fairly slowly , but it's true that their road signs can be bad..
Please remember that most towns have a grid system, which makes it easy to get around. I would just try an avoid major motorways in the entrances of major towns like Miami, that can be confusing and a little dangerous, because sometimes the exits can be either on the left or right , and if you get into a wrong lane, it may be difficult to switch.
2006-08-14 00:29:23 · answer #7 · answered by nonconformiststraightguy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Driving in the US is easy. Hiring (we say renting) a car is not for youg people. Many agencies will not rent to under 25's at all. Others (I think Enterprise is one) will have a significant daily surcharge. Note also that Fla. imposes a number of taxes & fees on car rentals and if you rent from an airport location there are likely to be even more. The advertised quoted rates are low. You may actually find yourself paying double that amount. If you book in advance make sure the agency knows your age & get a quote on all fees & taxes.
2006-08-14 03:30:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few to be careful of
OBviously drive on the right
Most cars are automatic - this makes them easier to drive.
Beware 4 way stops. This is on a crossroads where each entrance has a stop sign. Everyone must stop and then go in the order that they arrived in, or I waved everyone else on the first time I came to one to give me time to get used to it.
You can turn right on a red light and will be expected to (unless there is a sign saying you can't and the way is clear for you to go). This is a really useful when you get used to it but it takes a little getting used to.
Roundabouts are called "Rotarys" - There are few and far between and they are a little scary.
If you get pulled over by the police DO NOT go into your gove box as they will shoot you as most Americans have guns in their glove box.
2006-08-14 00:32:42 · answer #9 · answered by Steve C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roundabouts are RARE in the U.S........roads are usually fairly straight and intersect often. At each intersection is a traffic light, or a stop sign......you stop much more often than you ever do driving in the UK.
Another thing I've noticed, is the traffic light itself, in the UK....the yellow light is a warning to get ready to go because the green light is next.......in the States, it's a warning that you must STOP soon, as the next light will be RED !!...
of course , keeping to the right will be a challenge, as keeping to the left was for me.......
2006-08-14 00:27:15 · answer #10 · answered by Campbell Gramma 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The road signs are either:-
1) Not there
2) Behind a hedge / bush / tree
3) After the junction you should have taken.
Seriously have someone with you to navigate / sign watch!!
Apart from that you will have no problem,just watch your speed it's 55 mph in some cases
2006-08-15 08:32:57 · answer #11 · answered by steve C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋