Top 10 Differences About Driving in Florida
Driving in Florida or indeed America I believe is easier then driving in the UK. As with doing anything in a different land you have to allow for differences. Here is my top 10 list of differences in the driving experience in the US of A from my 6 or 7 times driving in America
- The roads are wider, smoother and less twisty, this means it is a more relaxing experience to drive in America generally
- Traffic in Florida can be heavy but most of the time it is not when you are around the main parks, if you have not been to Florida then you will be shocked by Disney having their own road systems. In my opinion the Disney roads are better then any single road in our entire country! (In fact this is true of nearly any road I have driven in America, including upstate New York)
- 4 Way Stops – This is the biggest single item I think and something most people hear about, afterall we have all watched the police stop videos. Four way stops are the US version of a roundabout, the general rule of thumb is the person that arrived at the four way stop first has right of way. Take them gently and they should all be fine
- Gas Stations – It is not unusual to have to prepay for petrol in station in the US. If this is the case there will be a not on the pump and you should either use a card in the pump as is increasingly normal even in the UK or go into the cashier
- Speeding – I have to say that my experience of driving in the US is that there is little speeding that happens. Speed limits are slightly lower then in the UK and nearly all the traffic will go the speed limit unlike the UK. This I suspect in linked to the higher fines there are in the US as well as the use of cruise control!!
- Cruise Control – This normally in any car that you drive in the US due to the large straight roads, this is a little lost in the UK as you have to brake every 15 yards for traffic, bends or potholes. Basically to use cruise control is quite simple as you get the car to the speed you want (roughly) then you press the cruise control button and you should be able to remove your feet from the peddals and the car continue at the same pace. You then have the option on the steering wheell to add or reduce speed using a button, there is also the option to turn off the cruise control – Also pressing the brake will also turn off the cruise control no matter how hard to press it for obvious reasons
- Undertaking is illegal in the uk whilst in normal driving conditions, in the US the general definition is that is is normal practice to undertake on the roads UNLESS there is a sign expressly saying you cannot
- Turning Right on a red light – Those familiar with Jeremy Clarkson (who is not a fan of the US) will have heard him describe this rule as one, if not THE, best thing about America. The rule is generally that you can turn right when faced with a red light unless there is a sign that forbids it, this could be a standard road sign saying no right turns OR if there is a turning traffic light
- Police stopping – Being stopped by the police in the uk is an annoyance but not something that agitates people unless they are in the wrong. In the US with the greater use of weapons and the police of course being armed, keep it simple. If you are signaled to stop by a marked police car pull to the side of the road where it is safe to do so then stay in the driving position with your hands on the steering wheel. It is not uncommon in the UK to get a wallet from the glove compartment or play with the stereo or get a wallet out your pocket but put yourself in the policemans situation, you could just as easily be getting a weapon. Stay still till he is alongside your window and generally just be sensible
- Finally – Check the laws. At the end of the day it is your responsibility to know the laws of where you are driving and whilst this list cover the more practical day to day driving there will always be other things that are more relevant to you and your driving situation.
I hope that you find this useful. I prefer driving in the US rather then the UK for lots of reasons but one is probably that you tend to end up with a car that is much nicer then my own, sometimes with a soft top or a 4 x 4.
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