Driving in the USA

Buford T Justice

Never done it before, but have a full licence to drive here for the last 20 or so years.

I'm heading over in a few weeks for a week and will be hiring a car. Is it difficult / easy to adjust to the other side of the road?

helimachoptor

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Never done it before, but have a full licence to drive here for the last 20 or so years.

I'm heading over in a few weeks for a week and will be hiring a car. Is it difficult / easy to adjust to the other side of the road?

Where are you heading?

Didn't find any issues, lanes are big, no one indicates.
I drove on the west coast so no real traffic once out of the cities.

Tell me how

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Never done it before, but have a full licence to drive here for the last 20 or so years.

I'm heading over in a few weeks for a week and will be hiring a car. Is it difficult / easy to adjust to the other side of the road?

Also note that all cars are automatic.
I found it similar to driving at home. Need to be alert, try not to be having deep meaningful conversations (or arguments) when overtaking or exiting motorways etc.

Keep in mind. Stop means stop. Even if it's the middle of a shopping centre carpark with no car within 500 M, you're supposed to stop at a stop sign, not slow down, edge out, as happens a lot here.

Buford T Justice

Heading to Utah area - Flying to salt lake city far as I know

Thoie

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Never done it before, but have a full licence to drive here for the last 20 or so years.

I'm heading over in a few weeks for a week and will be hiring a car. Is it difficult / easy to adjust to the other side of the road?

I've avoided it for a long time (despite being OK driving on the Continent), but bit the bullet a few weeks ago. It's mostly fine. It's helpful if someone is with you to remind you to keep right in places like car parks. Coming out at a T-junction when there are no other cars around is a time when your mind automatically sends you left, so watch out for places like that.

One thing that bothered me was that I don't automatically "recognise" the speed limit signs. There's nothing wrong with them, they're obviously just not what my brain is keyed to look for. They look like this: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Driving_in_the_United_States#/media/File:MUTCD_R2-1.svg I had a sat nav that "knew" the speed limits in general (not around temporary road works, so not fool-proof) and that kept me on the straight and narrow.

I found lane positioning a little awkward. I was obviously OK, as no-one blew me off the road, and I didn't hit anything, but when in the middle lane of a multiple lane highway I always felt something wasn't quite right.

Del2005

If you've never driven auto before stick your left leg beside the seat so you don't stomp on the brake pedal with it.

The only other problem is driving on the left when there's no other traffic. Good thing in the USA is illegal to park against traffic flow so just look at the parked cars to know the correct side.

In cities most streets are one way but every once in a while you'll get a 2 way street, be careful when turning.

When turning at lights outside city centres both turning traffic and the pedestrian crossing get green, always give way to peds.

A lot of states have concealed carry permits, so don't get involved in road rage.

Fr Tod Umptious

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Heading to Utah area - Flying to salt lake city far as I know

Most roads in the US are well designed and marked out, and even more so in places out west like UT.

So the chances of drifting into the wrong lane while driving or turning are slim.

Enjoy.

Tell me how

Another thing, in many places, they have this "turn right on red" where you don't have to wait for the light to change if turing with the flow of traffic so, if so, treat it like a junction here with merging orange indicators to the left.

Not everywhere has it so if in doubt, stop and wait.

TomOnBoard

You'll be grand... Driving in the US is easy compared to Continental Europe. Just stay within the law at all times.

And, if you do get stopped by the Polis, just tell them you're the famous Buford T Justice, and they'll forgive anything... :P

revelman

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Heading to Utah area - Flying to salt lake city far as I know

One of my favourite States - you will have a great time and also, you will be absolutely fine. I way prefer driving in the US compared to Ireland and if you are going to drive anywhere for the first time Utah would be the place to do it - so few people on the roads throughout the State.

coylemj

If stopped by the cops (flashing lights in your rear view mirror), pull over, wind down the window, stay in the car, have your rental documents, & driving licence (I'd have my passport with me as well) at the ready and wait for one of the cops to come to the driver's window. They may stay in the patrol car for a while to run a check on your registration number to see if you are a known criminal or suspect so don't be worried if nothing happens for a minute or two, just do not get out of your car.

When the cop reaches your door, have both hands on the steering wheel and address him/her formally - start with 'officer' and you can judge how formal/informal you need to be based on their demeanour but if in doubt, continue with Sir or Ma'am as appropriate.

There is a rule about not passing school buses, perhaps someone with recent knowledge will post an update on the current rules.

TomOnBoard

Different rules in different states.

( http://www.schooltrainingsolutions.com/state-laws/ )

This is Utah:

If a school bus is displaying alternating flashing red light signals visible from the front or rear, you shall stop immediately before reaching the bus and may not proceed until the flashing red light signal ceases. If you are traveling on a divided highway having four or more lanes with a median separating the traffic, it is only necessary for the vehicles traveling in both lanes behind the school bus to stop, and not the traffic travelling in the opposite direction.

I passed a flashing bus that was facing me on a rural road in Wisconsin by mistake.. Realised my error when another driver flashed me.. Spent the rest of my trip that day waiting for Staties to haul me off to the local Shawshank....

Elvisjuice

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Heading to Utah area - Flying to salt lake city far as I know

utah is great to drive in was there last year , mad alcohol laws which didn't bother me .

Del2005

coylemj wrote: »

If stopped by the cops (flashing lights in your rear view mirror), pull over, wind down the window, stay in the car, have your rental documents, & driving licence (I'd have my passport with me as well) at the ready and wait for one of the cops to come to the driver's window. They may stay in the patrol car for a while to run a check on your registration number to see if you are a known criminal or suspect so don't be worried if nothing happens for a minute or two, just do not get out of your car.

When the cop reaches your door, have both hands on the steering wheel and address him/her formally - start with 'officer' and you can judge how formal/informal you need to be based on their demeanour but if in doubt, continue with Sir or Ma'am as appropriate.

There is a rule about not passing school buses, perhaps someone with recent knowledge will post an update on the current rules.

You're right about the hands on the steering wheel but don't go routing in the glove box when they pull you over. Wait for them to be standing beside you, they might think you are going for a gun if they see you leaning over from their car.

coylemj

Del2005 wrote: »

You're right about the hands on the steering wheel but don't go routing in the glove box when they pull you over. Wait for them to be standing beside you, they might think you are going for a gun if they see you leaning over from their car.

+1 which is why I suggested having your rental documents and driving licence at the ready.

towger

I find that quite often you are in the right hand lane, going straight, but at some point it becomes a right only lane. I know that happens here too, but not nearly as much. It is usually well signed, but if you are focused on the sat nav you can miss a sign.

Also, slip roads onto the freeway are sometimes very short, be prepared to floor it to get into the stream, you do not want to be stopping at the end of the slip.

Overall driving there is a pleasure.

smaoifs

Best piece of advice I got was that no matter where you drive in the world, as the driver you are in the middle of the road. Really helped me get my head around it.

alias no.9

Most roads have enough visual cues to keep you on the correct side of the road but as has been mentioned, turning at the end of an aisle in a 'parking lot' is the kind of place you can end up nose to nose with another vehicle.

On the coming to a full stop thing, the cops are watching for the nose of the car to drop under breaking and bounce back up when it comes to a full stop, if they do not see this, you did not come to a full stop.

The other thing to watch on multi-lane one way streets, when you turn left, you must enter the leftmost lane even if you need to get to a lane further to the right before the next junction, even if the road is empty. You must start from being fully positioned in the left hand lane and move one lane at a time. Conversely turning right, you must start from the very right hand lane. You need to watch this too coming out of a multistory carpark for example and turning right onto a 2 or 3 lane one way street and want to go left at the next lights, even if the street is empty, you must not cross directly to the left hand lane from the carpark exit, you must take up a position in the right hand lane and move across one lane at a time.

towger

alias no.9 wrote: »

Most roads have enough visual cues to keep you on the correct side of the road but as has been mentioned, turning at the end of an aisle in a 'parking lot' is the kind of place you can end up nose to nose with another vehicle.

On the coming to a full stop thing, the cops are watching for the nose of the car to drop under breaking and bounce back up when it comes to a full stop, if they do not see this, you did not come to a full stop.

The other thing to watch on multi-lane one way streets, when you turn left, you must enter the leftmost lane even if you need to get to a lane further to the right before the next junction, even if the road is empty. You must start from being fully positioned in the left hand lane and move one lane at a time. Conversely turning right, you must start from the very right hand lane. You need to watch this too coming out of a multistory carpark for example and turning right onto a 2 or 3 lane one way street and want to go left at the next lights, even if the street is empty, you must not cross directly to the left hand lane from the carpark exit, you must take up a position in the right hand lane and move across one lane at a time.

Didn’t know that ! I’ve done the diagonal regularly

TomOnBoard

towger wrote: »

I find that quite often you are in the right hand lane, going straight, but at some point it becomes a right only lane. I know that happens here too, but not nearly as much. It is usually well signed, but if you are focused on the sat nav you can miss a sign.

Also, slip roads onto the freeway are sometimes very short, be prepared to floor it to get into the stream, you do not want to be stopping at the end of the slip.

Overall driving there is a pleasure.

I agree that "Overall driving there is a pleasure"... However, I think your post does reference a crucial danger when you say " if you are focused on the sat nav you can miss a sign". That is a key point! For a whole set of reasons, its crirical to NOT focus on the satnav. It is a driving aid, and nothing more. A bit of advance planning with a good ole paper map before heading out on the road, and then the satnav can act as a non-intrusive direction guide.

OEP

Driving in Utah is fine. If it's somewhere like New Jersey they all drive like aggressive idiots and the highways are chaotic.

Buford T Justice

coylemj wrote: »

If stopped by the cops (flashing lights in your rear view mirror), pull over, wind down the window, stay in the car, have your rental documents, & driving licence (I'd have my passport with me as well) at the ready and wait for one of the cops to come to the driver's window. They may stay in the patrol car for a while to run a check on your registration number to see if you are a known criminal or suspect so don't be worried if nothing happens for a minute or two, just do not get out of your car.

When the cop reaches your door, have both hands on the steering wheel and address him/her formally - start with 'officer' and you can judge how formal/informal you need to be based on their demeanour but if in doubt, continue with Sir or Ma'am as appropriate.

There is a rule about not passing school buses, perhaps someone with recent knowledge will post an update on the current rules.

Lots of good tips in this thread, and interesting things like the school bus stuff.

Having said that, this post is more unnerving than reassuring............ :eek:

revelman

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Lots of good tips in this thread, and interesting things like the school bus stuff.

Having said that, this post is more unnerving than reassuring............ :eek:

I just did a quick calculation there and I say I've driven over 10,000 miles in the States. During that time, a cop has never stopped me nor have I ever needed to stop for a school bus. I guess it has helped that most of my driving has been in the summer, but even in other times of the year, while I've seen school buses, I've never been so close as to stop.

IMO, there is a minuscule chance you will be stopped by a cop or have to deal with a school bus. (that is unless you spend your time speeding or driving around schools).

Buford T Justice

revelman wrote: »

IMO, there is a minuscule chance you will be stopped by a cop or have to deal with a school bus. (that is unless you spend your time speeding or driving around schools).

I don't plan on doing either really

coylemj

alias no.9 wrote: »

On the coming to a full stop thing, the cops are watching for the nose of the car to drop under breaking and bounce back up when it comes to a full stop, if they do not see this, you did not come to a full stop.

The cops can see if you stopped at the line which is all you are required to do. And I seriously doubt if anybody with paying passengers on board drives like that - slamming on the brakes at the last minute such that the nose of the car dips as you stop. I make a point of not travelling with people who drive like that.

revelman

coylemj wrote: »

The cops can see if you stopped at the line which is all you are required to do. And I seriously doubt if anybody with paying passengers on board drives like that - slamming on the brakes at the last minute such that the nose of the car dips as you stop. I make a point of not travelling with people who drive like that.

That may be the law on paper but you'd be surprised how many American drivers ignore that law.

tricky D

If the kerb is painted red DO NOT PARK as it indicates a fire hydrant as you risk a whipping.

4 way junctions with no indicated priority are a matter of who arrived first and sometimes politeness for who proceeds in what order.

Some lane changing in traffic can be sudden on busy freeways.

Satnav is really handy and might help for correct side of the road issues.

Some states are big on speed limits. Crossing into Nevada for example it is common to see cars pulled over right after the border.

Paying for gas is often at the pump with credit card which uses Zip codes which you won't have. You go to the cashier and deposit a guestimate amount and a bit, fill up and get any change due back from the cashier. That's the procedure I am familiar with.

revelman

tricky D wrote: »

Paying for gas is often at the pump with credit card which uses Zip codes which you won't have. You go to the cashier and deposit a guestimate amount and a bit, fill up and get any change due back from the cashier. That's the procedure I am familiar with.

Debit cards seem not to require zip code (including that prepay Post card thing). If using a credit card, often putting in 5 zeros as zip code seems to work.

tricky D

Some times those ways work but didn't for me last time.

c6ysaphjvqw41k

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revelman

Sarai Fancy Golf wrote: »

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You can definitely pump your own gas in Oregon - at least I did last time I was there! Not sure about NJ

c6ysaphjvqw41k

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elperello

It is important to be alert at all times to the possibility of forgetfully reverting to driving on the left.
You will be most likely to make a mistake pulling away from a restaurant or gas station in the course of a journey.
Also on country roads where there is no other traffic.

Thoie

Sarai Fancy Golf wrote: »

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Sounds just like Dublin! Though there they're usually creating two lanes where only one exists

phatkev

The first time I went I was absolutely sh1tting myself when collecting the car for the airport. I only had my full license about two years at the time and I ended up getting on grand, driving in some of the bigger cities was a bit of a pain but I tend to feel this way regardless of what country the city is in. Took my quite a while to the whole turn right on red thing!

phatkev

Sarai Fancy Golf wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Ha found this out pretty quickly in Oregon, pretty sure its changed since then though

maconof

Drove there in the summer this year, was worried about driving an automatic on the other side of the road (never drove auto before) but was out of SF airport and onto the highway within 5 mins of sitting into the car. You'll get used to it very quickly.

Things I'd definitely be aware of heading over:
- Turning right on red (except when there's a sign to explicitly say no to)
- 4 way stops & the first to arrive takes off first (would love to see how that would go down in Ireland)
- Overtaking/Driving past school buses in the US - when the lights are flashing & arm is out whether you were going to overtake or driving past on the opposite side of the road you must stop - didn't come across it myself was aware of it just in case, have heard they take it seriously enough.
- Lane changes on the highway/interstate - be mindful and watching constantly. Found it ok myself even during rush hour in LA.
- Enjoy it!

coylemj

maconof wrote: »

Overtaking/Driving past school buses in the US - when the lights are flashing & arm is out whether you were going to overtake or driving past on the opposite side of the road you must stop - didn't come across it myself was aware of it just in case, have heard they take it seriously enough.

In Utah (where the OP is headed), you can continue when travelling in the opposite direction on a dual-carriageway, known as a 'divided highway' in the US......

(2) The operator of a vehicle on a highway, upon meeting or overtaking a school bus equipped with signals required under this section which is displaying alternating flashing:

(a) amber warning light signals, shall slow the vehicle, but may proceed past the school bus using due care and caution at a speed not greater than specified in Subsection 41-6a-601(2) for school zones for the safety of the school children that may be in the vicinity; or
(b) red light signals visible from the front or rear, shall stop immediately before reaching the busand may not proceed until the flashing red light signals cease operation.

(3) The operator of a vehicle need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus displaying alternating flashing red light signals if the school bus is traveling in the opposite direction when:

(a) traveling on a divided highway;
(b) the bus is stopped at an intersection or other place controlled by a traffic-control signal or by a peace officer; or
(c) on a highway of five or more lanes, which may include a left-turn lane or two-way left turn lane.

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6A/C41-6a-P13_1800010118000101.pdf

él statutorio

coylemj wrote: »

You can continue when travelling in the opposite direction on a dual-carriageway, known as a 'divided highway' in the US......

(2) The operator of a vehicle on a highway, upon meeting or overtaking a school bus equipped with signals required under this section which is displaying alternating flashing:

(a) amber warning light signals, shall slow the vehicle, but may proceed past the school bus using due care and caution at a speed not greater than specified in Subsection 41-6a-601(2) for school zones for the safety of the school children that may be in the vicinity; or
(b) red light signals visible from the front or rear, shall stop immediately before reaching the busand may not proceed until the flashing red light signals cease operation.

(3) The operator of a vehicle need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus displaying alternating flashing red light signals if the school bus is traveling in the opposite direction when:

(a) traveling on a divided highway;
(b) the bus is stopped at an intersection or other place controlled by a traffic-control signal or by a peace officer; or
(c) on a highway of five or more lanes, which may include a left-turn lane or two-way left turn lane.

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6A/C41-6a-P13_1800010118000101.pdf

I think its different state by state.

I got done for this in NY.

Talked my way out of it, but still.

coylemj

él statutorio wrote: »

I think its different state by state.

+1 It's not in the thread title and it's not mentioned until post #3 but the OP is heading to Utah so I quoted their current regulations. I've updated my post to reflect this as it wasn't clear that I was referring only to Utah.

alias no.9

coylemj wrote: »

The cops can see if you stopped at the line which is all you are required to do. And I seriously doubt if anybody with paying passengers on board drives like that - slamming on the brakes at the last minute such that the nose of the car dips as you stop. I make a point of not travelling with people who drive like that.

You don't need to be jamming on the brakes, the nose of a car dips under braking and will pop back up when you reach a full stop. American cops watch for this, that's their visual cue that you have stopped as opposed to slowing into the corner and accellerating out without fully stopping.

circular flexing

revelman wrote: »

You can definitely pump your own gas in Oregon - at least I did last time I was there! Not sure about NJ

It's only recently the law changed in Oregon to allow you to pump your own gas in some counties.



https://mashable.com/2018/01/04/oregon-pump-gas-reaction/#BBV0zlj22kql

dennyk

él statutorio wrote: »

Talked my way out of it, but still.

Note that school bus passing is photo-enforced in many places these days; won't be any talking, just a lovely bill for the large fine plus a hefty admin fee from your car hire company well after you've returned from your trip.

Speeding fines also tend to be much higher in most US states than in Ireland. It varies by county and even city, but can often be into the hundreds of dollars even for relatively minor speeding offenses. Be especially careful in school zones and construction zones, as speeding fines are typically much higher if you're caught in those areas. Utah does not have speed cameras as far as I know, so you'd have to be caught and stopped by a police officer to be issued a ticket on the spot, but some neighboring states do use photo enforcement for both speeding and red lights.

In general, expect a lower standard of driving in most of the US, especially on multi-lane roads. Lane discipline is not really a thing there, as it is very rarely enforced, so expect people to cruise in the left lane and pass on the right on a regular basis. Speeding is also very common in places without photo radar, particularly on the Interstates; it varies by area and what the locals know about where the area speed traps usually are, but 10-15 MPH or more over the limit is often the prevailing speed on Interstates and large highways. (The fact that everyone else is going as fast or faster than you will *not* save you from a speeding ticket, though, so you still speed at your own risk...)

If you're venturing out into some of the more remote areas of Utah, make sure you have proper supplies with you, including extra food, water, and blankets, and a compass and good paper map, and make sure someone knows where you are going and when you're supposed to return so that they can call for help if you don't. Keep in mind that you may not have any mobile phone coverage (not even voice or SMS) in the remote wilderness areas. It's not like here where you're never all that far from some sort of civilization and help no matter where you go; if something goes wrong, you could easily find yourself stuck out in the middle of nowhere in the desert with no mobile signal and the nearest inhabited place being a multiple day journey on foot.

One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned are road markings. Yellow stripes in the US denote the center line of the road and separate traffic traveling in different directions. White markings separate lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction (and may also demarcate the hard shoulder on a larger highway). Never drive on the left side of a yellow line; you'll be going in the wrong direction.

A double solid yellow center line means the same as a solid white line here; you must not cross it to overtake (however, you are permitted to cross it when making a left turn). A broken yellow line means overtaking is permitted when it's safe to do so. Broken white lines mean lane changes are allowed, solid white lines generally mean they are not allowed (or are at least discouraged; this can vary from state to state).

On some highways, especially in busy areas with many retail driveways, you may see a single center lane with turn arrows pointing both directions, demarcated by a solid and broken yellow line on both sides. This is a "two-way left turn lane" and can be used by traffic from either direction to make left turns. To make a left turn, you should enter the lane no more than a few hundred feet (~100m) before your intended turn (unless there is a longer line of cars already in that lane waiting to turn, then you can join the end of the line). You can then stop in that lane to wait for a break in the oncoming traffic to make your turn. Never drive along in that lane for more than five hundred feet unless you've been sitting in the aforementioned line of traffic.

On the Interstate you may see a lane with diamond markings in it demarcated by a double solid white line; that is a High Occupancy Vehicle (or "carpool") lane, intended to be used only by cars with multiple passengers. If you do use it, make sure your passenger load meets the requirements, and only enter and exit the lane at the allowed points (marked with a dashed white stripe); never cross the double solid white lines. HOV violations can be expensive tickets, so use care.

As others have mentioned, turning right on a red light after coming to a complete stop is permitted in Utah except where there is a sign prohibiting it. You must yield to all other traffic and pedestrians when making such a turn. If you don't feel comfortable making the turn safely, then don't feel obligated to; it is permissible, but not required (though some folks behind you might express their disagreement on that point). Utah also allows left turns on red lights if you are turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street (but never on two-way streets!).

As yield signs are rare in the US, smaller intersections generally use stop signs. Intersections where all of the roads have a stop sign are "all-way stops"; the rule is that the first car to arrive and stop has the right of way at those intersections. If two cars arrive at the same time, you must give way to the car on your right. In practice, most people don't really follow the rules and will often just go whenever they feel like it (if they bother to stop at all), though, so always be ready for other drivers to fail to give way.

Overall you will probably find driving in the US a breeze compared to here (aside from the traffic and the mad scrambles across multiple lanes on the big Interstates). The lanes and roads are much wider, better marked and signed, and generally in better condition than here. Once you get used to driving on the wrong side of the road and sitting on the wrong side of the car (which shouldn't take long at all), you'll likely have no issues.

coylemj

alias no.9 wrote: »

You don't need to be jamming on the brakes, the nose of a car dips under braking and will pop back up when you reach a full stop. American cops watch for this, that's their visual cue that you have stopped as opposed to slowing into the corner and accellerating out without fully stopping.

When I stop at a junction, you won't see my nose dip because I ease off on the pedal at the last minute. I've driven in Texas and California and never had a problem with the cops.

sligoblue

A couple of bits of advice.

• Sat Nav. Not all hire cars have it. It is a must in the US. Pay extra for it if you have to.

• Beware car hire firms at airports. I've had a lot of bad experiences. Mostly, if you arrive in the evening, the car you booked is not available and they give you a lessor one. Also, take out excess insurance, the link is below. They give you "bumper to bumper" insurance but swipe your credit card to cover any excess on the policy, a scratch can costs hundreds of dollars.

https://www.carhireexcess.ie/

• An American friend of mine told me this one: If you get a car you are not happy with, go back to desk and tell them the threads on the tyres are worn and that you would like a note acknowledging that you made them aware of this before you take the car. They will be afraid of liability if you crash so they give you another car.

ceadaoin.

If you come across a school bus stopping , chances are you are in a school zone where the speed limit drops to 15 or 20 mph when the lights are flashing. Do not go over that limit in these zones and you're not supposed to pass other cars either, even if there is more than one lane. Where I live there are often police stationed near schools to enforce this, they take it very seriously and the penalties are double what they normally are

Tell me how

Can you please clarify OP. Are you going driving a rental in the US for a period or looking to get a job as a driving instructor while you are there?

There seems to be some confusion going by the some of the replies. ;);)

revelman

Tell me how wrote: »

Can you please clarify OP. Are you going driving a rental in the US for a period or looking to get a job as a driving instructor while you are there?

There seems to be some confusion going by the some of the replies. ;);)

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Of all the times I’ve driven there I’ve never had one ounce of trouble! If I were you I’d just go and enjoy it.

él statutorio

dennyk wrote: »

Note that school bus passing is photo-enforced in many places these days; won't be any talking, just a lovely bill for the large fine plus a hefty admin fee from your car hire company well after you've returned from your trip.....
........

For better or for worse I was pulled over by a cop.
It was a rental car with my American wife and in-laws in it. I told them all to keep quiet and I Irished it up and the cop let me away with a warning.
A lucky break no doubt!

Thoie

Tell me how wrote: »

Can you please clarify OP. Are you going driving a rental in the US for a period or looking to get a job as a driving instructor while you are there?

There seems to be some confusion going by the some of the replies. ;);)

revelman wrote: »

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Of all the times I’ve driven there I’ve never had one ounce of trouble! If I were you I’d just go and enjoy it.

Yeah, I was going to summarise with

Get a satnav.
Keep right.
It'll be grand.