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I drove from Orlando to Cartersville just north of Atlanta a few years ago for a family wedding. It was a very relaxed, easy journey. You just have to be careful that you don't miss your exit, they're sometimes not very well sign posted. Stopped for the night on the way up, made the journey in one go coming back. It was great to see the real 'deep south'. Just watch out for people playing banjos talking about pigs!!!!
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I had a column change auto on LARGE hire last year.
I lifted up the mega arm rest and it had a bench seat so that?s the reason for column change on the larger class of car.
A few more points.
They do merge major roads and later de merge them. It is sometimes a little confusing to find one road having three numbers.
Some exit ramps really do need to be taken at 20 mph. Really tight turns and a soft suspension do not mix.
Check how to turn on the interior light. Often it is the instrument rheostst that needs to be turned up to max and then some more.
Check how to undo the petrol filler cap. I found it withwith the boot release in the lockable glove compartment.
Usually there is a local tear off map pad at the hire site. Else call in the first mall and pick up a Rand McNally or similar.
Some parking requires nose to the kerb or else a fine.
Be extra wary to drive on the right. First thing in the morning, after a break stop or starting again from a car park all need extra thought.
Creep round car parks so that you concentrate on keeping right while searching for a spot.
Remember most American cars had poor rear direction indicators.
They are red and mixed up with the stop lights so that you see a brake light flashing not a nice clear orange. However some imports do have the familiar orange indicators.
On smaller roads do not undertake, a car waiting to turn, by using the gravel hard shoulder.
Warn your credit card co you will be in the USA.
Smile when reversing as you look at the door pillar.
Can anyone advise on tipping especially in filling stations?
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"Can anyone advise on tipping especially in filling stations?"
I can't remember the last time I saw a full service petrol station, and you certainly wouldn't be expected to tip the person behind the till at the self-service stations. In the rare event you found a full service station, you would probably be in such a small backwoods town that they may not even be expecting a tip. For restaurants and taxis etc, 15% is the norm...more if you were especially pleased with the service
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>>> Some exit ramps really do need to be taken at 20 mph. Really tight turns and a soft suspension do not mix. <<<
A very good point. When they say 20 MPH on an exit road they usually mean it. Esp. the exits on a lot of LA freeways.
Re the other comments here about handguns/road rage: there is none of the headlamp flashing, swearing out of windows, aggressive behaviour you see in Europe. Because the other guy *might* be packing. An armed society is certainly a polite society. NOTE: Not an invitation to turn this into a 2nd amendment thread. Merely my observation from being here a few years.
On that note, also, don't be surprised if you get pulled over if the cop treats you like a potential psycho--- he or she will obviously have no idea what s/he is going to be facing. Turn on the interior light and keep your hands where the cop can see them.
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The journey is neither foolish nor ambitious, in fact you might find it a bit boring if you only stick to the major highways. If you take minor backroads there will be lots more to see, but not enough to make the extra time and inconvienience worth it.
Lots of good advice here, the best I have seen was to take a rest and get your car the next day. The flight can be tiring and trying to find your way around when fatigued is not fun at all.
That recent accident in Florida was most likely due to bad judgement compounded by fatigue and disorientation. My family and I did the same trip to Orlando in Sept and after a long journey, arriving well after dark, trying to wander around and get your bearings was not easy at all...and I lived and drove in Florida for well over 16 years of my life. If I found it hard I can imagine just how stressful it was for the driver of that fateful minivan who was probably not used to driving on the right,in a strange vehicle, tired, hungry and lost.
As for handguns in cars, the proportion will be considerably larger than in the UK, but it is minute compared to the USA as a whole, however the advice to not take an aggressive stance is a valid one. Florida is one of the few states that allows law abiding drivers to carry a handgun in their car, but it really is no cause for concern.
Traffic lights work pretty much the same as over here. Only time you will see flashing red or yellow lights is if the signal is not working or they are warning you of a blackspot, a hidden stop sign or emergency vehicle signal etc.
Column shift is still alive and well, but only on certain vehicles...Minivans, SUVs and large American cars such as Cadillacs or TownCars.
Speed limits vary depending on the motorway and the state you are driving in, but the limits are usually well posted, more so than in the UK anyway.
2 days to do the journey is probably too much, even if one of those days is spent resting after your flight. Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale (where I used to live) was easily covered in one day, about 9-10 hours driving. Sarasota is alot closer to Atlanta and is an almost straight shot down the I-75. I can't even fathom trying to stretch that journey out for 2 days.
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If you normally drive in UK or (ahem) LDC's, then driving in USA will be automotive heaven.
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Column shift is still alive and well, but only on certain vehicles...Minivans, SUVs and large American cars such as Cadillacs or TownCars.
A had a normal ordinary larger american car with column shift picked up Kennedy from one of the major companies.
I too would agree totally with starting off next morning especially on first trip. Consider a flight delay may occur.
On one trip I arrived in Miami eight hours late due to a combination of problems with the scheduled flight from LHR.
I then needed to drive 70 - 100 miles to arrive at 0200 with my family asleep.
For most in this situation it is best to check in to first hotel seen at the airport.
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most filling stations take a credit card in the fuel pump, no pin needed, so there is never any need to see the attendant never mind tip them
tipping places u eat or drink is routine, and especially if you plan to eat or drink there best to keep staff on side, just round it up a bit is my philosophy, if youre on business and pay cash you will often be given a blank receipt which is useful for claiming the expenses back hassle free including the tip
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Make sure that you inspect the bill before adding the 15% tip.
On my holiday to Miami and the Keys earlier this year on a couple of occasions I nearly added 15% as a tip until my wife pointed out that it had been calculated and was showing as an optional extra.
I would re-inforce the earlier comment about being particularly diligent about driving on the right after breaks away from the wheel. I almost turned the wrong way down a dual carriageway a couple of times.
If it is unusual for you to spend on crdit cards outside the UK then do make sure, as stated above, that you advise your credit card company to expect transactions from the USA. Last year I had a problem where a transaction was blocked as it was "outside the normal spending pattern". I was very embarrased and had an interesting conversation with the Credit Card company to sort out the situation!
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Credit card advice applies to any overseas travel. I was in Belgium buying some fags and the card was refused. So I gave them another one - while we were processing teh transaction, my mobile phone went - it was the credit card company trying to check whether the transaction was valid! Amazingly quick!
I've driven twice in the US and had no problem. Just take it easy around town - same advice as anywhere unfamiliar really. If you get a convertible it's worth asking how you get the top down - and back up! One or two petrol stations required pre-payment, then the pump stops when it's reached the amount. My problem was not knowing the capacity of the tank, and how much was left, worth finding that out. Four way junctions are OK once you get used to them - see above for how they work. I came across 1 roundabout in about 2000 miles of driving...
Good point above about road numbering, where a road can have more than one number in palces. Also check exits numbering - it isn't just sequential like ours, someone told me it's the mileage from the start of the motorway (so Junction 42 is 42 miles from the start...). Arond some towns there are many exits and it would be worth making sure you know which one you want by number as well as name...
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Wow ,what a awesome thread!!
Packed with loads of info!Cant say Im not prepared after reading through all this.
Thanks a lot guys.
Its difficult when you dont know much about the place you are about to visit.Like yesterday on the phone to Hertz, I was asking for a manual geared car,to be told that there is no rental company that does manuals in the US!
Bagpuss,as you said, there is a surcharge for a one way rental ,but managed to find a company that penalises only minimally for a one way rental i.e National.
john deacon ,thanks for the warning, the rental cos really rip you off on the Collision Damage Cover and other extras.
The only way of getting around it partly is by booking through a uk site of a well known US rental co eg www.alamo.co.uk etc.Saving me quids in here!
Guns in the glove box-This is a surprise, even though I knew that Americans had easier access to guns.
No arguing with anyone then!
Column shift , never took to them.Hope I dont get a car with this.
Apart from flying to Tampa, another suggestion I got was to fly to New Orleans and then do the 700 mile journey to Sarasota, which apparently is more interesting than the Atlanta-Sarasota one.
While looking out for booking a rental car online,you realise that the average car size is much bigger and most of them are absolute beasts i.e more truck size than cars.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to the choice of car for a
long distance cruise
i,e a midsize one like a Oldsmobile Alero,a Fullsize eg Pontiac Grand Prix/Dodge Intrepid 4 Door, or a 4WD eg Jeep Cherokee 4 Door.
Apart from the Jeep Cherokee, havent seen any of the others.
Surprisingly the price difference between each of these vehicle classes is only marginal unlike in the U.K.
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Avoid the Alero on a long cruise. It's noisy. The others will be fine. The Intrepid has masses of front legroom, and handles great. I'd personally prefer that to a Jeep or other SUV.
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Both times I went to the States I flew into Tampa, and car hire and all insurance was pre-arranged through third party companies (see below), coincidentally the hire was from Alamo. I am hiring a Sebring Convertible for 10 days in March at not much over £27 per day all inclusive which I am happy with. Last year I spent ages looking for cheaper deals (including considering not booking and getting something when I arrived) and surely the insurance adds to the cost - but IMO it's a necessary cost and with the cheap dollar (and fuel) shouldn't be considered a rip off.
www.airline-network.co.uk/ seems to be consistently cheap. Last year Hertz were pretty close on price too.
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Correction - my cars were both from Dollar, not Alamo.
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Just been browsing with a view to booking my car for March. Hertz have a Driving in the USA guide - see gere to order a copy www.hertz.co.uk/spec/index.cfm, click Going Abroad, then See America with the help of Hertz Free driving guide. Not sure if it's any use, but I've applied for one...I suspect the practical experience of people above will be of more interest.
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Just been browsing with a view to booking my car for March. Hertz have a Driving in the USA guide - see here to order a copy www.hertz.co.uk/spec/index.cfm, click Going Abroad, then See America with the help of Hertz Free driving guide. Not sure if it's any use, but I've applied for one...I suspect the practical experience of people above will be of more interest.
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I think Dollar are now providing the new Chysler 300C in their "Luxury" category which is sometimes surprisingly cheap. This can be booked through airline network which somebody suggested above.
I've had the older shape Chrysler 300M from them in the past which almost drove like a "normal" (i.e. European) car. If you're feeling flush Hertz will rent you pretty much any Volvo, Land Rover or Jaguar you want in their "premium" category.
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Good point above about road numbering, where a road can have more than one number in palces. Also check exits numbering - it isn't just sequential like ours, someone told me it's the mileage from the start of the motorway (so Junction 42 is 42 miles from the start...). Arond some towns there are many exits and it would be worth making sure you know which one you want by number as well as name...
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This has reminded me of a most important difference in the junction exit signs /lanes.
IIRC if you first have an exit arrow over your lane it means that that lane will be an exit only with no choice of staight on. I know it is not the same as the UK and can be confusing.
Can one of you regulars spell it out?
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If a lane is exit only they generally have a big yellow "EXIT ONLY" sign above it though, which clears up any confusion.
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Just to add to this thead, rather than starting a new one...
We've just come back from 2 weeks in Florida. We hired a Jeep Grand Cherokee from Dollar.
We stayed in Kissemee just off the 192, near the Kissimmee shopping centre for those who know the area. If anyone is staying or driving on this road, I should mention that they have closed off one side of the road for a good few miles. This makes entering retail areas on the closed side interesting. plus they have squashed all the lanes onto the other side of the road.
Driving in the US - Not as difficult as some may have imagined. The secret here is ovetake in any lane on a free way, preferably with a mobile phone in at least one hand and you'll fit in with the locals. I jest but the former is OK and the latter appears to be.
As mentioned before, there are no roundabouts, so a lot of u turns are exercised. They appear to be OK apart from when there is a sign forbidding them.
Road signs are great on the free ways and toll roads but leave a lot to be desired on some other roads. When coming to a cross roads or a large junction the sign you see in front of you is the road you are crossing, not the one you are on.
Right turns on red are permitted unless indicated otherwise. You have to be careful with left turns. Sometimes they are arrowed separately, other times I just watched the cars in front for guidance!
Most of the main roads are dual carriage way varients, however on some roads (part of the 192 in Kissimmee for example) there are some 5 lanes used by traffic flowing in both directions. The middle lane on the affected part of this road and some others is simply there for left turns. You don't travel in it but if you want to turn left you wait in that lane for a gap in the traffic.
When you go though automatic toll booths, wait for it to register your coins before you drive off. They are linked to cameras which may be triggered if you just chuck you money in and then drive off. Obviously manned toll booths are different.
Also, keep an eye on the speed. I hear they can be very unforgiving at times, even for tourists.
Petrol is around $3 a gallon equating to about £1.60, though their gallon is smaller than ours. A full tank on the Jeep Cherokee we hired cost us $50, around £28.
NEVER do any of the following:
- Overtake or pass a school bus whilst it is stationary. That includes passing it if you're going the other way - apparently!
- Drink and Drive, SWMBO read that 6 months inside for a first offence was not untypical, and the limit is lower over there than here. In fact they take public intoxication very seriously, regardless of whether you are in a car.
- get into heated arguements over driving etc. Apparently there is a new "shoot first law" in Florida that can allow motorists to shoot should they feel threatened. Nice, especially as I read about this on the way back!
- expect people to let you out in the same way as we do here. It does happen but very rarely. You have to time lane changes very skillfully at times.
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Driving in the US - Not as difficult as some may have imagined. The secret here is ovetake in any lane on a free way, preferably with a mobile phone in at least one hand and you'll fit in with the locals. I jest but the former is OK and the latter appears to be.
Although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, 'undertaking'(passing on right) on a freeway is not allowed - except(like UK) when there are slow moving lanes of traffic. However the law is widely ignored.
If you drive more than a couple of car lengths from the car in front you will be undertaken and 'cut up'. A typical scenario is a queue of cars in the LH lane all intent on overtaking a large lorry. A car will race up the inside lane and try to force his way into the 'Queue'. All cars close gap between them to a couple of feet to try to prevent this.
Cell phone use is allowed, although there is a lobby to get it banned and I believe a couple of states have already done so.
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Hi Hugo,
Reckon it would have been better to start a new thread rather than add to one from as long ag as January, after all you have missed out loads of discussion on the same subject including a similar thread I started less than a month ago.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=34991
Regards.
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Cardew(USA) said:
>>Although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, 'undertaking'(passing on right) on a freeway is not allowed - except(like UK) when there are slow moving lanes of traffic. However the law is widely ignored.
Well that's interesting - I deal a lot with people in the US and I'm certain I've been told this too.
However I posted the same comment on a Disney forum that I frequent and a whole load of Americans came back with links to various official 'highway code' type things expressly saying that it *is* allowed.
eg: tinyurl.com/aoxuy (despite the name, this is the official Florida drivers handbook - lowestpricetrafficschool are the sponsors).
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You'll be fine. Before I arrived in Boston in July I'd never driven an automatic, a left hand drive car, or a large SUV.
I then spent the week driving around in a Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.7 Auto. I managed it and I'm only 21 so somebody experienced will be absolutely fine.
It was also brilliant fun.
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You should be fine. I holiday in the USA quite often, and always enjoy driving.
The freeways tend to give you advanced warning of the exits (usually show you the next 2-3 junctions ahead)
Right turn on red light (not always, but mostly). This is really handy.
Rental cars tend to be japanese, although in Georgia a couple of years ago, I did get "upgraded" to a pontiac.
Speed limits are will posted, so should not fall foul of the law.
Best tip, is to leave yourself enough time to enjoy the trip - I once drove from San Francisco to Grand Canyon (looked quite close on the map), by the time I got there I had a quick glimpse before I had to be in San Diego for a wedding the next day. Did not make it.
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Cardew(USA) said: >>Although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, 'undertaking'(passing on right) on a freeway is not allowed - except(like UK) when there are slow moving lanes of traffic. However the law is widely ignored. Well that's interesting - I deal a lot with people in the US and I'm certain I've been told this too. However I posted the same comment on a Disney forum that I frequent and a whole load of Americans came back with links to various official 'highway code' type things expressly saying that it *is* allowed. eg: tinyurl.com/aoxuy (despite the name, this is the official Florida drivers handbook - lowestpricetrafficschool are the sponsors).
Bill,
I have seen this discussion and the 'justification' for undertaking; but we were talking of freeways.
The very same handbook states this for expressway/freeway driving:
"Drive in the right lane and pass on the left. If there are three lanes, use the right lane for lower speed driving, the left for passing."
You can find that quote from the link you posted
I deal with the local police chief quite a lot and I questioned him on this subject.
He said that it is very difficult on non-freeways, but his officers will stop drivers who 'weave' from lane to lane and drive aggresssively. e.g. 'undertake and cut up' cars.
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Bill, I have seen this discussion and the 'justification' for undertaking; but we were talking of freeways.
The 'Disney' discussion was largly about I4, which I'm guessing is a Freeway. Do different rules apply to Freeways, and what is a Freeway? At least with our motorways it's (reaonably) obvious, but I'm not sure a Freeway is so distictive.
The very same handbook states this for expressway/freeway driving: "Drive in the right lane and pass on the left. If there are three lanes, use the right lane for lower speed driving, the left for passing."
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That's obviously good practice, but does it disallow undertaking?
I deal with the local police chief quite a lot and I questioned him on this subject.
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Perhaps it varies State by State?
He said that it is very difficult on non-freeways, but his officers will stop drivers who 'weave' from lane to lane and drive aggresssively. e.g. 'undertake and cut up' cars.
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In fact there was a comment in the Disney forum about 'needing' to undertake otherwise you risk being done for excessive lane changing.
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There was another long thread re driving in Florida.
I cannot find it. Maybe the mods can?
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The 'Disney' discussion was largly about I4, which I'm guessing is a Freeway. Do different rules apply to Freeways, and what is a Freeway? At least with our motorways it's (reaonably) obvious, but I'm not sure a Freeway is so distictive.
I4 is Interstate 4 which is a freeway.
>> The very same handbook states this for expressway/freeway driving: >> "Drive in the right lane and pass on the left. If >> there are three lanes, use the right lane for lower speed >> driving, the left for passing." >> That's obviously good practice, but does it disallow undertaking?
Well if the handbook is quoted as an authority for allowing 'passing on the right' on non-freeways, should it not be the authority for banning it on freeways?
Anyway it is pretty acedemic as against the law or not, everyone does it.
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