Hints for new drivers in Orlando from UK

**Nostromo** · 16-09-2004, 21:20

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrizzy100[br
Blotted out.........too funny.........[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

I hope that the Boss Lady thinks so too! [msnscared][msnscared]

**Colin** · 17-09-2004, 00:12

Driving in US is fairly straight forward.

Problems we encountered ...

The road signage is extremely poor - especially for a tourist centre such as Orlando.

Also lanes generally disappear without warning - beware of that.

Roads can also become very tight corners without warning also.

One thing I particularly remember ...

Always, always look left before pulling out at a T-junction.

Colin

**finishrich** · 17-09-2004, 01:40

when you pick up the hire car, find out where all the controls and buttons are before you set off. My DH set off and half way into the journey the heavens opened, and it was torrential rain, needless to say he couldn't find the control for the windscreen wipers and ended up with his head out the window to see where he was going. Can laugh about it now but was quite frightening at the time.

**Tim Barry** · 17-09-2004, 02:00

Hi All

One good tip for those new to driving in the left handside of the car - keep your left foot out of it don't try as we have all done to use both feet. Just use the right foot.

Just another little tip don't try an dget out of your car of you get stopped by the police as they will feel threatened by that and you could end up seeing a gun barrel, so just pull over and stay in your car.

Tim

**UK Jane** · 21-09-2004, 15:34

Blott

You seem to have missed the repealing of the 'hanging, drawing and quartering' for minor traffic offences.

It has been replaced by 'boiling in oil'.

Other than that you are spot on ... driving in the US is actually a pleasure. Then you land back at Heathrow on a cold wet morning, and join the traffic jam on the M25.

Now, let me see, how long is it until I am back in Florida again ......?

**tezz7628** · 08-10-2004, 03:24

an example of the sequence on traffic lights

**flyrr100** · 01-11-2004, 19:55

The thing most folks get stopped for are speeding and not stopping. Americans tend to follow the speed limits more than Europeans. It's crazy. I have a Mustang that can exceed 140mph, but I drive it on a freeway with a limit of 65mph!
Stop at a stopsign. Stop at a stopsign. Stop at a stopsign! You will get a ticket!

Oh. The entrances to DisneyWorld are notorious speet traps. It's 45mph in DW. State Troopers love to ticket rental cars comming into the parks.

Enjoy!

**E. Cosgrove** · 01-11-2004, 20:11

Been there, done that and as you say, quite frightening[msnscared]<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by finishrich
My DH set off and half way into the journey the heavens opened, and it was torrential rain, needless to say he couldn't find the control for the windscreen wipers and ended up with his head out the window to see where he was going. Can laugh about it now but was quite frightening at the time.
[/quote]

**Nostromo** · 01-11-2004, 20:16

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
The thing most folks get stopped for are speeding and not stopping. Americans tend to follow the speed limits more than Europeans. It's crazy. I have a Mustang that can exceed 140mph, but I drive it on a freeway with a limit of 65mph!
Stop at a stopsign. Stop at a stopsign. Stop at a stopsign! You will get a ticket!

Oh. The entrances to DisneyWorld are notorious speet traps. It's 45mph in DW. State Troopers love to ticket rental cars comming into the parks.

Enjoy!
[/quote]

I know and agree with what you say Flyrr100, but the funny thing is, I never seem to get the urge to drive fst in the US. It might be partly the fear of being ticketed in a foreign land, but at least some of it is due to the fact that other drivers in the US, particularly in Orlando, do not tend to 'challenge' you like they do so often in the UK. The entire traffic flow is smooth, orderly and automatically keeps to the limit. My wife says that I am a far better driver in America than in the UK; she may have something there.