Do you have any tips for driving in Texas?

We are visiting Dallas, Texas in three months' time. We've been to Dallas once before and getting around by public transport is impractical and not much fun, because everyone drives. Luckily we were ferried around last time, but this will not be the case this time. I will have to drive around Dallas, which scares me somewhat. I am 61 and have never driven abroad, let alone in the USA. I'm a competent driver with a 40 year clean UK driving licence, but with no experience of left-hand drive and right-hand side driving or of navigating my way around Dallas. What should I do? If I bite the bullet, what documents will I need apart from my UK Driving Licence? I still have the old paper version.

Asked on 28 April 2012 by SG, via email

Answered by Honest John

A UK paper licence may still be legal in the UK, but an American car hire rep, or, worse still a cop, may not believe that it could be. Get it changed to a photocard immediately. You can probably do most of this online using the biometric photo from your passport.

Then you need to bone up on driving rules in the states, which you will be able to Google. There are very few roundabouts there, which are what cause the most trouble switching from left side to right side driving. The greatest danger is on minor roads after you have lost your way. Your mind will be on the route when you set off again and you could set off on the wrong side of the road.

Tags: driving licence driving techniques driving abroad

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