People & Places
Stateside Driving
Toni Hargess answers our questions on the differences in driving in the US compared to the UK
1) What are the major differences between driving in the UK and US?
Obviously the big one is that Americans and Brits drive on different sides of the roads and the driving seat is on the other side of the car. When I come back to England, I try to give myself at least 24 hours before I get behind the wheel, just in case...
Other than that, there are hundreds of differences.
Most people in the US drive automatics, in fact young kids take their test in automatics. There doesn't seem to be a rule that you can't drive a "stick shift" car if you haven't passed your test in one, but I dread to think how such drivers would manage the clutch.
Americans tend to drive more slowly, both by choice and by legal enforcement. The highway/motorway speed limit can often be 55 miles per hour, and even people driving faster than that rarely go above 65. Since there are different types of police cars (Highway Patrol, State Trooper, Sherriff etc) and the cars aren't all the same colour, it's quite easy to get caught speeding.
The driving test is a lot easier in the US. Yes, you have theory questions to ask, but the test is multiple choice and you can get quite a few wrong and still pass. The driving portion is incredibly simple and doesn't last as long as the British one. In short, a much less stressful event.
On the highways, you can overtake someone on either side, so it can be quite alarming when you have your eye on the faster lane, and someone comes whizzing past you in what you thought was the slow lane.
Pedestrians in the States basically own the road. Pedestrians at STOP signs do have the right of way and many barely look up to see if there's a car coming. As a driver, always look carefully when going through STOP signs, as pedestrians attempting to cross are often in the blind spot between the front and side windows of your car. You might see some marks on roads that look like Zebra crossings, and although these are crossways, they are not as mandatory as a Zebra. Yes, you may stop to let pedestrians cross, but they will not necessarily be expecting you to do this.
Some states encourage car pooling by having one freeway lane devoted to cars carrying more than one person. Don't be tempted to use this lane if you're travelling solo, and recent press coverage has revealed that travelling eight months pregnant does not make you two people. These car pool lanes are also called HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes, diamond, lanes and commuter lanes. They operate differently in different locations but most inflict fines on drivers disobeying the rules.
School zones – If you see a sign telling you to slow down because you're in a school zone, you must slow down to the speed stated even if there are no pedestrians around and even if the speed stated is as low as 10mph. Similarly, if you pass a school bus with a STOP sign sticking out from the side of the bus, this is a precaution against hitting a small child who might run out from the front of the bus. You may not pass the bus under any circumstances.
2) What do you feel are the worst traits of Americans drivers? What do you think could be done to solve these traits?
My biggest beef is that a lot of people drink and drive. They wouldn't appear drunk but have definitely had more than they should. In Chicago, you can quite easily flag taxis down but when my husband and I go out and cab it, our friends usually assume it's because we're worried about finding parking. Obviously, having more drivers pulled over would send the message that this is not acceptable, as would stricter fines and license suspensions. In some states the suspension period can be as short as 90 days.
It should also be noted that many states do not allow open containers of alcohol in any part of a vehicle (with exceptions such as coaches, limousines and buses), by either drivers or passengers.
The other irritant is that drivers don't often let you in when you need to change lanes, and you can sit at a junction for quite a while before someone lets you pull out. This may be just Chicago, where the traffic is appalling anyway.
Americans drive everywhere. I rarely use my car and people are often surprised at the amount of walking I do. Sometimes the driving is more to save time than laziness, but I know of people who literally will drive a few blocks. It hardly seems worth it. In many communities there is no reliable public transport and any shops are literally miles away, so people have no choice. Better town planning, with a corner shop here and there would solve this problem and help people stay fit.
3) Have you yourself had any scrapes/near misses on US roads, caused by somebody else's bad driving?
All the time; you really have to drive defensively here. Very few people "indicate" you can be sitting behind a car with no idea why it has just come to a complete stop. The other thing to bear in mind is that the worst drivers may often be driving around with no insurance, so if you are involved in a collision, you'll have to pay for all the damage to your car. Granted the other person might receive a citation, but that's of little use to you when you're looking for his or her insurance to cover your costs.
4) Do you think British drivers may be in for a surprise when taking to US roads?
Definitely. Most people assume that the "driving on the other side" issue will be the biggest challenge, and are not aware that the rules of the road are often very different. For example, you can turn right (ie. with the traffic) on a red light unless it specifically says not to, in most places. In fact, if you're sitting in the right turn lane and you don't seem to be making an effort to turn against the light, you can often be beeped by the drivers behind.
Brits don't know the rules when it comes to four-way stops and this can cause accidents. The rule is usually that the first car to the Stop sign has right of way, and if there's any doubt, you let the person to the right go first. In reality, cars usually get into a comfortable routine with opposite cars taking turns to go through. Once you disturb this routine, everyone either gets very confused or irritated and then everyone starts making a move through the Stop sign at the same time.
The great thing about the 4-way Stop procedure is that it's used as a default if a traffic light goes out. You'll see drivers voluntarily taking turns to go through the light, which wouldn't happen in the UK.
If you are stopped for any reason by a police officer or sheriff stay in your car, roll down the window and wait for the officer to approach. Don't make any sudden movements as they don't know whether you are armed and/or likely to harm them. You will be asked for you driving license and insurance papers, which you should have with you. There's a great urban myth about a lady who was pulled over, and got out of the car to greet the officer, as you would in the UK. The cop pulled a gun on her and she promptly fainted!
- Toni Summers Hargis is the author of "Rules, Britannia; An Insider's Guide to Life in the United Kingdom", (St. Martin's Press.) www.rulesbritannia.com
She also co-hosts Pond Parleys, a UK/US discussion blog. http://pondparleys.blogspot.com