USA (California) Road Rules?

[Fishcop]

Okay, as most of you reading this will know the wife and I will be over for a holiday to California next month.

Like most blokes, I reckon I know how to drive a car . But I'm not above asking for some help... I have never driven a left hand drive car, nor driven on the right side of the road. I have a hire car currently arranged to be picked up and dropped off at LAX. I wondering if this such a good idea? Everything I'm told indicates I am up for a nightmare getting out of LA, and that's without having to use the other hemisphere of my brain I create GIS mapping as part of my job and have downloaded a heap of maps and road files, along with setting up my PDA/GPS in a sort of quasi "Street Pilot" but I'm not sure this is the best idea.

Would I be smarter to pick up a car at, say, Santa Monica and drive to Ventura (Autofest) and on to SF, before dropping it off there again and using public transport to get there and back from the airport? Or do you think in all good sense that I'll be fine negotiating my way in and out of LA?

Also, does anyone have a website I can download some California road rules? I'm sure there will be some differences between our countries.

Cheers

[Paul Franssen]

Hi Fishcop. I dunno nuthin' about California regulations, but I (LHD driver) have driven RHD cars in England.
It is surprisingly without problems, even the shifting with the other hand...
I don't think there are many "roundabouts" in California, but DO consider that those would then "turn" in the OTHER direction! I have found that to be a major "trap" the first day!
Other than that, well, be careful.

[MFAFF]

Fish,

Don't worry about it..Driving the 'other way' is pretty straight forward. But you won't be able to drive as confidently and quickly as you normally do, at least for a few hours....

Take it easy and get the other half to help, strange I know but two brains remembering you are on the other side are always better.

Its not unkonw for me to drive a RHD car to the airport, fly to France, drive LHD car to site and back, fly home and then drive the RHD car again, all in a day. Gets a little confusing at times, but I remind myself not to do anything other than drive as carefully as I can then its OK....

[oldE]

John,
Don't worry. I did the same thing (in mirror image) when we flew into Heathrow for the first time, picked up the rental and headed north. Hardest things: 1/ momentary panic on twisty two-lanes meeting a big Jag suddenly appearing on "my side..no his side" of the road, and 2/ finding gears with my left hand.
I don't suppose you'll find a manual transmissioned rental car in the US without looking real hard, and just remenber: driver is on the side of oncoming traffic. Have fun!
Les

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Fishcop


Would I be smarter to pick up a car at, say, Santa Monica and drive to Ventura (Autofest) and on to SF,

Taxi from LAX to Santa Monica is about $20us. Then you can relax when you start driving at your leisure. LAX can be a hectic exit under your unique circumstances. So it'll be a ZTQ 1st drive in the US.

ZTQ = Zero Tension Quotient

[investlt]

Fishcop,
Your biggest issue will be traffic, and lots of it. I used to live in San Diego and drive up to LA. Both the lanes and highways are big. Even PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) is a good size road. Once you're outside of the city limits of LA you'll enjoy the ride up the coast. Don't forget to pull over at some of the vistas and enjoy the scenery. Tons of things to see and do along your way to San Fran. There is Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey to name a few places. Enjoy.

[Jim Richards]

Don't know about driving competence in Australia, but in the US, it sucks. Don't assume the other driver will act rationally. For example, I've seen a car suddenly come to a dead stop on the Interstate highway around Washington DC, just to make a lane change. Everyone else was going around 60 mph. Just plain scarey. Anyway, 95% of the people drive reasonably, watch out for the other 5%, and ease into it slowly. Your Santa Monica plan makes a lot of sense. Best wishes for a great stay here in the US.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I do a lot of wrong-side driving as the automotive editor of Conde Nast Traveler, on trips for the magazine to England, Australia, Japan and other countries. The single biggest danger in driving on the "wrong" side of the road is not those situations where you get a moment to think about it--entering a roundabout, say--but the things to which you react instinctively. I had a friend, my managing editor at Car and Driver back in the '70s, who very badly hurt a passenger on a drive in Australia when he came over a hillcrest to be confronted by a truck pretty much in the middle of the near-deserted road, and Dave instinctively pulled to his right. Of course the truck driver pulled to his left, to get back into his lane, and they hit head-on.

It's the kind of thing where you've got to be thinking about it all the time--keep right keep right keep right--rather than ever let your mind wander from the driving. Particularly since the tiny minds of most American drivers have permanantly wandered...

Stephan

[stuartj]

John
Ive done this rather a lot. Be VERY aware of jumping in a car in LA after 16 hours in the air. Its great to have a partner in the car, have a rule- she screams when you are on the wrong side of the road.

Things to watch out for. Entering a carriageway from a private driveway or minor road, and driving off down the wrong side of the road. Making a LH turn on a dual carriageway, our equivelent to a RH turn. Its very easy to drive off into three lanes of oncoming traffic. Cars parked on the wrong side of the street, especially little residential streets- these provide the visual cue that you are back on the other of the road. I never figured out who had ROW in uncontrolled intersections in CA, even where a minor carriage way enters a major (unsigned) and never met a Californian who could explain it to me.

And ofcourse, alchohol. It tends to exacerbate all of the above.

And most improtant. Crossing the street on foot its easy to get runover cause you looked the other way.

And make lots of eye contact with the locals, especially on the freeway. They love it.

stuart

[scottb]

John:

I've been a "left side" driver my whole life, and I've driven all over the world (including Europe and Australia). If I can get in a car in London and drive to Scotland, then you can certainly get in a car at LAX and drive to Ventura. If I were you, I'd get the car at LAX and ask for directions to Ventura via Pacific Coast Highway. That will allow you to drive up there without much (or any) freeway usage. Take your time, relax, and don't let yourself be intimidated by LA's reputation.

Welcome!

Scott

[GettinHeadStuds]

No worries! Traffic is so bad around here you won't get moving above 25 mph. Perfect speeds for "re-wiring" the brain.

[cegerer]

"And most improtant. Crossing the street on foot its easy to get runover cause you looked the other way. "

Amen. I was recently in the Bahamas and had a couple of close calls .......

[IROC]

I live in Alabama, which is an entirely different country than California. :>) I have been to LA a few times and in reality, traffic there isn't that bad. Much better than Atlanta for sure. Or Newark, NJ (my life was in jepoardy there last month due to getting lost in the wrong part of town).

The biggest thing I would recommend in LA is to keep an eye on the signs and enjoy it! And allow more time than you think to get places. I drove from Huntington Beach to Camarillo one morning thinking it would only take 45 minutes or so. I was wrong.

Mike

[Zeke]

Originally posted by stuartj
........... I never figured out who had ROW in uncontrolled intersections in CA, even where a minor carriage way enters a major (unsigned) and never met a Californian who could explain it to me.

................

And make lots of eye contact with the locals, especially on the freeway. They love it.

Easy, driver on your right has the ROW. Eye caontact, hope you meant that with a wink......

Plan your moves to get off a freeway well ahead. People don't give way around here. You have to move over when you can, not wait for someone to yield. Same thing goes for changing lanes on a four lane street. Use your turn signals, that will be novel to see someone who does.

BTW, it would be cool not to use this thread as an outlet for frustration about our state or country's driving (as I was starting to do). For the most part, drivers are obeying the rules and simply trying to travel on their way. There are always the few who seem to stand out as jerks, but if you really think about it, the other 95% are doing OK. There's just a lot of cars here all trying to move. London, Tokyo and New York have to be as bad.

After all, we don't want to intimidate John, but hope he has an enjoyable and successful trip to the US.

[MarkY]

The biggest adjustment you'll have to make is getting use to all the morons camped in the left lane completely oblivious to what a passing lane is.

BTW, this isn't just California, but the majority of the U.S.

[porcupine911]

lane discipline is nonexistent...
when there is little to medium traffic, there is a large disparity in speeds between left and right lanes on motorways. however there will undoubtedly be a 1990 nissan sentra (edit: TOYOTA CAMRY) camped in the left lane at 20mph below prevailing speed. DO NOT expect them to get out of your way.

"the 405" means "interstate freeway 405"

santa monica is right next to lax. don't waste the cab fare.

people have no clue what flashing your headlights means.

indicator usage is nonexistent.

there will be massive vehicles blocking your view wherever you are.

have fun!

[vash]

just take whatever manners you parents raised you with and toss the stuff out the window. drive with a defensive chip on your shoulders.

[Danimal16]

Fishcop,

If you are looking to stay in Ventura for a time there is another option that you may want to consider. There is a van shuttle, the "Roadrunner" shuttle. There are both round trip (returns you to LAX) or you may want to consider a one way and than rent a car in Ventura and go on to your other stops from there. The nice thing is that you could get an idea what traffic is like and you would not be faced with LA driving your first night in. It has the added advantage of door to door service, you are delivered to your hotel in Ventura County. Anyway here is the link to their website Be aware that you must make a reservation. I hope this offers you an alternative.

And welcome to the states!!! I live in Camarillo, and welcome you to Ventura County, I hope you like it as much as we do!!

Dan and Tracy Bleskey

[stuartj]

Originally posted by Zeke
Easy, driver on your right has the ROW.

So, vehicle travelling in a major carriageway gives way to a vehicle entering from a minor street on the right?

I found this really confusing especially around places like Redondo Beach, where many such interstion didnt seem to marked with a stop or give way sign.

Generally I have observed (especially) CA drivers to be very well behaved, especially in residential precincts. The freeways were bit different, a lot of autopilot going on.

stuart 86 carrera 964 C4

[Zeke]

Yeah, Camarillo is some nice country. Dan, why don't you scope out some roads for us to run in your area?

John, take note of this area on your way to Ventura. It is typical of CA's huge agricultural industry mixed with suburban homes and golf courses. Wonderful weather and beautiful rolloing hills near the ocean with a very diverse use. Finally far enough from LA, that traffic is reasonable except at peak and seemingly enough clear land to to feel like you're in the country. It's the way it ought to be. This is an example of CA that we would be proud to show a foreign visitor.