Driving in America

In a country as vast as the US, it’s often imperative to drive. Jo-ann Hodgson looks at the things all Brits should know about driving in America before they hit the road.

They speak English – okay this is debatable – and have place names that seem mighty familiar to us Brits, but don't be fooled; in many ways America is wildly different from good old Blighty, and one of these ways is driving. Of course, when in America, you will be driving on the right-hand side of the road, from the left-hand side of the car. This can totally throw-out your sense of perspective and for this reason, among many others; it is recommended that when driving in the US for the first time, you pick routes which avoid freeways.

Another major difference about driving in America is that automatics are highly favoured above the 'stick shifts' that fill British roads. So be prepared to loose those left-arm muscles and listen up to the three basic rules of Auto-driving:

Firstly, unless you want to stand out from the crowd as an Auto-virgin, always have the parking brake on when putting your vehicle into 'drive', otherwise it may jump forward, and that would be embarrassing. Secondly, most automatics will 'creep' at 'tick-over' without the brake on and you are able to move slowly forward or backwards by releasing and applying the brake pedal. This can be a useful technique to use in slow-moving areas such as car parks. And thirdly, only use one foot, namely your right one, for operating the accelerator and foot-brake pedals and keep your left foot well away from the pedals. Otherwise, your automatic reaction to hit the brake with your left foot when stopping suddenly may result in you hitting the accelerator, which wouldn't help anyone.

When it comes to the species that is American drivers, it's useful, or even life-saving, to note that it's not illegal to 'undertake' in the States; to 'overtake' on the inside or right-side. So be prepared for cars coming at you from all sides. Illegal manoeuvres that are common among American drivers include ignoring lane discipline and regarding red lights as nothing more than an advisory sign, especially at night. It's important to be uber-Alert, at least for the first month, when driving in America so as not to fall foul of these bad and highly dangerous habits. Not that you would, but if you are stopped by the 'cops', the experience is likely to be far removed from that you may have had in Britain. For one, many Americans carry fire-arms in their vehicles and the police are likely to be very cautious of any threat caused by these. If you are pulled over, you are advised to sit with your hands on the wheel until the police approach and ask for your drivers licence. Avoid leaning down or making any sudden movements that may lead the authorities to believe you are reaching for a fire-arm.

If you have an in-date British driver's licence, you will be required to hand this in and get a licence from the state you are residing in, in order to buy a car, register it and get insurance. Unfortunately, even if you had a no-claims record in the UK, this won't usually be taken into account in the US and you will often be required to pay a higher rate for insurance than your American friends, at least for the first year. If you don't have an existing licence you will be required to sit a driving test in the state you have residency in. The learners licensing age differs from state to state and starts from as young as 14 in Michigan and increases to the more common age of 16 in New York.

Driving tests in the US are said to be relatively easy if compared to British standards which may be a contributing factor in America's high road-death rates. In 2003, for example, the nation had a per capita death rate of 14.66, meaning that for every 100,000 members of America's population, 14.66 people were killed in road accidents every year, the equivalent of the September 11 attacks happening every 23 days. This rate is more that two and a half times worse than the death rates of countries with good road-safety standards such as Britain, which has been named the country with the safest roads more times than any other in recent years. An article in the Sacramento Bee, published on 3rd July 2005, stated that "The job of driving instructor in California today is easy to get, and not highly valued. Schools sometimes pay instructors beginning salaries under $10 an hour, less than some supermarket baggers earn. Turnover rates among the state's 3,000 instructors are higher than 30 per cent a year, an analysis of state data indicates. That forces schools to scramble continually for new instructors, at times scraping the bottom of the job-market talent pool." According the article, California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) officials last year dropped the special behind-the-wheel test for applicants, saying it duplicated the test for a driver's licence, rather than making the test harder. Driving instructors in California are required to have a high-school education, a driver’s license, 60 hours of training and to pass a written test. In comparison, the average training period for a new driving instructor in Britain lasts several months and involves three demanding tests. This is not to say, of course, that all driving instructors in the US are incompetent and drivers dangerous, but quirks in driving behaviour will require the US driving virgin to be extra cautious and alert on the roads until they get used to American habits and laws.

For more information visit: Driving in the USA
Drive and stay alive

Key state differences:
Florida
Learners licensing age: 15
Permit expires after: 6 years

You can't get Florida car insurance until you actually arrive in the state as the authorities need to see proof of residency documents.

Since a Florida law change in 2002, it is hard for Brits with no USA driving record to get insured and you will usually be expected to pay a higher rate for a while.

British permanent residents must get a Florida driver's licence. This form of ID is also asked for in most shops, bars and restaurants in the state.

Visitors from the UK and non-resident Brits will only be issued a Florida driver's licence until the expiry date shown on their immigration documents.

To get a Florida driver's licence you must go to the nearest driver's licence centre with a UK passport and current immigration documents.