Driving Tips Please!

[WSussex]

Hi

Have been to Orlando many times but this is the first time driving!
Im very nervous about this - am a confident driver in the uk but the thought of being on the other side of the road just freaks me out and Im scared of doing something silly I also have noticed that there are strange rules when it comes to traffic lights out there i.e can turn on a red?!
Any tips would be gratefully recieved

Sx

 

[kristieuk]

You will be fine! I think it's hardest coming home and remembering to drive on the right, I suppose it's because you concentrate harder over there!

Yes you can turn right on red if there is no oncoming traffic, unless there is a sign saying 'no right on red' but these are few and far between. This is the best driving rule ever and I so wish we introduced here (turning left off course!).

The only other thing I can think of is to be prepared to leave the freeway on a left or right slip road - the overhead signs are very clear so it is kind of obvious, but I think we get used to only leaving the motorway on the left. Oh yes, and unlike here, you can't usually get off and get straight back on the motorway, so be prepared if you pull off to get petrol or something - getting back on is not always obvious. Good luck!

 

[luke]

Not got any other tips to add (was gonna say the turn right on a red and be careful on i4 where the exits can be either side) but just to say it'll take you from the airport to the hotel to get used to it then you'll wonder why you worried.

Your car will be an automatic too which makes it even easier still and will only use 'park', 'forward' and 'reverse', it's a bit like a go kart

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Take it easy when you exit the interstate (I4) some of the bends are quite severe, like a full circle.
You can also overtake from ANY lane, though the slower vehicles tend to be on the right.

Familiarise yourself with the vehicle controls before leaving the car park, and ask questions to the rental personnel.

Finally, relax and enjoy driving. As others have said cars are easier to drive out there, roads are wider, parking easier.

Do not worry you will be fine, having a car is such a big advantage.

 

[igk]

On the interstates the exits tend to be the actual lane rather than an exit, so if you tend to drive in the inside lane then you find yourself having to pull out all the time as the inside lane keeps becoming the exit! Driving along in the second or third lane tends to avoid this.
Otherwise, most people find adapting to driving on the right quite easy, as the car is LHD so start to think the other way round quite quickly - much quicker than if you were in a RHD car.
The only thing that still feels odd sometimes is turning left across traffic - I still feel like I should look behind me!

Take it easy, drive carefully and you'll be fine

 

[luke]

Oh one tip I forgot, make sure you have some small bills for toll roads, as well as some coins (quarters) for the unmanned ones

 

[WSussex]

thanks everyone I really appreciate your replys

Sx

 

[igk]

Ah yes, and there are some toll road exits that don't take cash at all - you need a Sunpass, so unless you have one you can't exit there (there aren't many of these though - some on Florida's Turnpike but in the middle of nowhere)
The last car I rented in Florida had a Sunpass sticker thing, and instructions on how to use it, but I didn't as I was wary of being ripped off

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

You will enjoy it - I never even let DH drive!!!

One thing I would add is watch out for the rain, it is so heavy that visibility is very bad and stopping takes a long distance. I would try to pull in somewhere (safe) if a big downpour started as they only last a few minutes. The las one I drove through was crossing Lake Jessup (sp?) on the way back to the airport - nowhere to pull in there!!

 

[DISWolves]

A few hints & tips here

 

[~Piglet~]

Another thing to remember is regarding the street name signs, the sign you read whilst driving is not for the road you are on, but the road that runs across it

 

[Netty]

Don't be nervous, honestly it is dead easy!

have a look here, for tips and routes from airport etc

http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/british/default.htm

 

[disneyholic family]

the mistake i see many Brits make -
when you come out of a driveway into a road, please be sure to look LEFT to watch for traffic, before you pull out...
i so often see Brits looking to the right, rather then the left (where i'm coming from as i drive down the road and they pull out in front of me...

that's the one mistake i see over and over again...
when you pull into a road, be sure to look left to watch for traffic as you turn to the right...

 

[Funky_dino]

Just another small thing, it's not against the law to undertake in the states so be aware of getting overtaken on all sides.

Driving there is really easy, with the lower speed limits are slower so it doesn't feel so md when you're driving around

 

[Queen-Bee]

6 months ago, i was exactly the same, i panicked for weeks before, but it was easier than driving in the UK...

But just a few tips.

Theres no lane system there, so be careful of people undertaking you.

Just take your time to learn where the lights are and the windscreen wipers, and things like that, nothing worse than Florida rain and not being sure where the wipers are

Make sure you follow the signs... they dont tell you waaaay in advance like they do in the uk, Some exits have the exit signs right over them.

Also isnt it the law - that you must have you sidelights on it its raining?.... or maybe im confusing it with something else.

 

[dgutte]

The biggest mistake is over confidence after a few days driving. You have been there a couple of days, you feel OK about driving on the opposite side of the road, you get in the car and drive onto the wrong side! Because your concentration drops your brain just does what is "normal" and off you go into the left hand lane!

Having said that, driving in the US is very very easy. Well signposted and nice and wide lanes.

 

[dgr1973]

All I can say is be careful there are tons of really bad and rude drivers in the US (I am an American so I can say that ). I can understand your worry because I would totally freak out about driving on the opposite side of the road. My parents were in Ireland last year and my dad who is not always the best driver in this country said it was very interesting over there. He said it wasn't as bad as he thought, they only almost hit 1 person and only got flipped off a few times!

 

[eeyorefanuk]

We are hiring a twelve seater - will that be automatic as well do you think?

 

[Mad Mark]

When you fill up with petrol you very often have to pay first inside first or pay at the pump (with credit card etc).

Also when filling up you often have to lift the lever up that the petrol noozle usualy sits in to start the pump. I'll try and explain that a bit better . Put the noozle in the car then on the pump itself the part where the pump rest lifts up. I'm sure someone can explian better than me.

Like everyone has said driving is not that bad oh and the minivan will be auto.

 

[WSussex]

thankyou guys I really appreciate all your tips!

Sx