How scary is is to drive in the USA?

[jacs1234]

We are staying onsite at Disneyland and have hired a car for the day with the intention of driving to the character warehouse and the Citadel and Maybe to a Westfield shopping centre if we're not totally shopped out, (rephrase that, if dh and the kids aren't totally shopped out, I'm never totally shopped out )

Dh is a bit nervous about driving around.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Jacs - to get to the Character Warehouse, you'll pretty much be driving on streets similar to home; just driving on the other side of the road.
To get to the Westfield, Main Place Plaza, you can take the suburban streets to get to it OR the freeway. The back streets will take you 30 minutes; the freeway will take you 10 minutes. The US drivers are pretty polite on the freeway and whilst it'll seem scary for the first 3 minutes, you'll be fine.

The Citadel - you'll need to take the freeway. You'll be fine.

For me, the hardest thing about driving in the US is getting out of the hire car parking lot! If you're hiring from Anaheim, you'll be fine.

 

[arje]

I love driving over there. As princess said, the locals are polite on the road, and it won't take long to figure out some rules. For example, generally you can turn right on a Red. My tip to your husband, is make sure he keeps the medium strip on his side of the car, especially when turning corners at intersections. Keep that as his focus and he won't go the wrong way. Also remember that you are in the West, (not sure where you're from here), but if you're from Syd/Melb/Bris, remember the sun sets over the water, and the sea is West, not East. It can be a trap sometimes. Also it's easy when you plan the drive before you start, example, knowing you'll be taking a certain freeway exit etc prior will assist, roads and freeways and better marked than we have here. If he likes driving, he'll have a ball - I do!

 

[marvel]

Driving is really easy, don't stress. If you won't have a gps or iphone etc, make sure you have good maps printed out. The others are right, picking up the car can be a bit annoying so get there first thing in the morning because it can take ages if you are stuck behind lots of people.

My DW is always saying keep to the left, in case I am drifting out of my lane ! But you just follow the traffic, no stress. Plenty of our friends were nervous the first time but all came back saying how great driving was.

 

[darren123]

Driving is really easy, don't stress. If you won't have a gps or iphone etc, make sure you have good maps printed out. The others are right, picking up the car can be a bit annoying so get there first thing in the morning because it can take ages if you are stuck behind lots of people.

My DW is always saying keep to the left, in case I am drifting out of my lane ! But you just follow the traffic, no stress. Plenty of our friends were nervous the first time but all came back saying how great driving was.

Yes same problem Marvel my DW telling me your drifting keep left but after a few hours I seem to be doing ok. And I keep telling my self long left short right when turning.

 

[Sugarglider]

I do recommend getting a sat nav device - either rent one from the car hire, take your smart phone (Google Maps 5 is free and has voice directions etc - worked perfectly for me) or buy one (you can even get them in the Best Buy vending machines in the airport.

this will let you concentrate on the road and not have to worry about maps and directions

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I'm sure your DH will be fine i think the worst bit is the first time you have to turn left then its not so bad.
I personally think it is worse being the passenger it takes a while for me to adjust to wanting to move the mirrors to where they should be.

 

[jacs1234]

I'm sure your DH will be fine i think the worst bit is the first time you have to turn left then its not so bad.
I personally think it is worse being the passenger it takes a while for me to adjust to wanting to move the mirrors to where they should be.

Thanks guys. We're getting a gps with the car. woohoo. nearly time.

 

[queenie82]

It isn't is the short answer. Especially if you are used to driving in the city.
The lanes are wider typically. Worst part I found in Anaheim was the traffic lights are out of sync. So you're finally up to speed then red light

Drifting into the gutter is the main thing to avoid. So just keep on your lane line on your side of the car and you'll get used to positioning.

Takes getting used to...yes...but I have to adjust driving two different cars here.
Scary...getting out of the hire carpark....yes...
Scary driving....no!

 

[mareeld86]

Hey Jacs,

I Drove for the First time here this holiday I found it a bit scary the First day but after than I was fine!!.

Im glad we hired a car now because you have so much more freedom.

Lauren

 

[Guyton dis lover]

I am from the states and I would not drive in Calf. Good luck. Safe trip!

 

[cola]

I usually find the biggest problem is the first week back in Australia - I'm so aware of being on the righthand side over there, it is ok after the first day, but when I get back to Australia, I relax, it's natural to drive on the left, but when truning right the brain goes 'watch it!!!!' for about a week.

Also something to watch is coming out of a driveway into a street with a medium strip, turn right!!!! Probably more of a concern in Orlando with a lot of wider roads with big wide medium strips, but car park exits often are like this.