Driving in LA

Amnesiac_ie

I'm looking for a bit of advice (and encouragement!)

I'm going to LA on Wednesday and I've rented a car for the week. I've never driven outside of Ireland before and I'm reading a lot about the horrors of driving in LA which is making me a little anxious! I was just wondering whether anyone here is familiar with LA and would have advice/tips for someone who's only driving experience is here in Ireland.

Thanks in advance.

Random

rent a satnav with the car. have your passenger reminder you to drive on the right all the time.

Amnesiac_ie

SatNav is booked and I will have at least one very attentive, very worried passenger on board most of the time!

Ferris

Driving in LA is a piece of p1ss. The surface streets are easy, the highway is a little bit more challenging as cars pass you on both sides. Also everyone does 80 - grannies, mums, trucks everyone, so keep up. Traffic can come to sudden stops though. And if you leave a space it will be filled. The satnav is worth having. Also look up the 'right on red' rule.

Driving in the US is actually a great experience so enjoy.

dr.fuzzenstein

This helpful video contains everything you need to know about driving in LA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoU39Rpp4FI

PCPhoto

just remember to drive normally - oh and if you venture on the i5 mototway .... dont indicate to change lanes ....they love to drive faster to stop you getting into lane.

outside of the motorways ...the rest of the roads ore fine ....oh and you are allowed to turn right on red (ie. if you have a red light and there is no traffic and its safe to do so .... you can turn right)

NOTE: Dont park facing the wrong way when parking - its illegal !! (when I say the wrong way....I mean against the direction of the traffic)

Kerb your wheels if parking on a hill (turn the wheels towards the kerb to stop the car from rolling in case of handbrake failing)

have fun and enjoy the trip.

Berty

Driving in the US is simple. Just make sure you pay attention to the junctions where there might be a

Turn right on Red or NO Right on Red. If there is no sign saying you cannot turn right on the red then even if the light is red you simply yield to traffic coming from your left.

My missus is very nervous about driving yet we drove across 4 countries this summer over 5000kms in total. It was great fun.

Amnesiac_ie

Thanks guys, I've been getting a bit worked up and all your advice is pleasantly reassuring!

High energy

I know you have it booked but I think it's cheaper to actually buy a satnav than rent one, they are about €10 a day iirc.

Alanstrainor

High energy wrote: »

I know you have it booked but I think it's cheaper to actually buy a satnav than rent one, they are about €10 a day iirc.

Yeah i was thinking the same, it's mad money renting one.

MagicMarker

What car did you rent?

I'd rent the biggest fúck off truck I could find!

TwoShedsJackson

I drove across the US during the Summer and drove in New England a couple of years ago, driving in general in the US is far less stressful than it is here. You'll almost certainly be in an automatic which is a piece of piss to drive, the satnav is essential, you will find American drivers generally to be considerably more courteous than they are here with regards to letting people out, stopping at pedestrian crossings etc.

Interstates around and in cities are more aggressive than other roads there, but that's to be expected really. Bear in mind previous advice about turning right on red, also don't pass a stopped school bus even if it is stopped on the other side of the road (on a one-lane-each-way road), don't exceed the speed limit too much (you can easily do 5 mph or so over the limit on interstates), undertaking is legal there so make sure you check your wing mirrors constantly, and make sure you remind yourself to keep right when you turn left at a big junction

Welease

... and STOP at a stop sign!!!

City driving is easy with the wide lanes etc, just follow the car in front...it's when you go out into the countryside jump in the car and set off in the left lane that can be the problem if you forget

CreepingDeath

If a policeman stops you, don't immediately start rummaging for your licence/papers in the glove compartment, they'll think you're going for a gun.

When I was driving in DC, school buses have these "Stop" signs which swing out to stop the traffic in both lanes, so that kids can cross the road.
So be very wary of school buses when stopped.

+1 on the satnav, they're invaluable driving in the States.

Also, make sure you've a credit card with a chip in it.
At garages, you can pay for the fuel at the pump by putting in your credit card.
If you don't have a credit card you must go into the station and pre-pay.

Also, as a rule, if you have to use your windscreen wipers then you also have to turn on your lights.

Esel

Freeways can be a bit mental! Loads of lanes; exits sometimes on 'wrong' side (20 years ago, not sure about now!). Pay attention, and ensure your partner can help you navigate when necessary.

pete4130

I drove from Detroit to LA and LA to SF and once your on the main highways its simple. The trickiest thing is turning at intersections to remember you need to be on the right. Satnav is a must in LA. It's massive.

One thing to watch out for is to know what exit you need to take from the highways. you might have to cross 3 or 4 lanes to get to the exit so dont be afraid to be a bit more aggressive to change lanes. Like someone else said, don't indicate. The traffic flows (when its moving) so when you see a space slot into it.

Our man in Havana

Indicating in LA is a sign of weakness. Just change lanes, let the guy behind you deal with it.

ardmacha

Also, make sure you've a credit card with a chip in it.

Why would this be an issue, given that US credit cards don't have chips typically and almost all Irish ones do?

Do beware of 4 way stop signs in residential areas. People need to move off in order of arriving at these. This is usually easy as there are in quiet areas where only one or two cars are there simultaneously.

TwoShedsJackson

ardmacha wrote: »

Why would this be an issue, given that US credit cards don't have chips typically and almost all Irish ones do?

Do beware of 4 way stop signs in residential areas. People need to move off in order of arriving at these. This is usually easy as there are in quiet areas where only one or two cars are there simultaneously.

I found that my Visa card worked in some pumps but didn't in others, near as I could see it was down to the particular chain of garage, some had them enabled, others didn't.

Yes always make sure you stop fully at a Stop sign in the US, the cops are quite keen on pulling people over for not doing that, and when you come to a 4 way stop, everyone continues in the order they arrived, it sounds odd but it makes perfect sense.

opinion guy

Driving in the states is fantastic.

But LA you say....hmmm....how are you at dodging bullets ?:D

Del2005

CreepingDeath wrote: »

If a policeman stops you, don't immediately start rummaging for your licence/papers in the glove compartment, they'll think you're going for a gun.

If you get pulled at night turn on your internal lights and regardless of the time of day keep both hands on the steering wheel till the officer asks you for something. Also make sure all your passengers keep still and if possible have their hands visible.

When I was driving in DC, school buses have these "Stop" signs which swing out to stop the traffic in both lanes, so that kids can cross the road.
So be very wary of school buses when stopped.

If there's a solid concrete divider on the road you can drive past a stopped school bus, but if you aren't sure just stop the locals will let you know if you need to move:D

Never speed in a school zone when the school is open, they have signs telling you when they are active. These are the only places I regularly say speed checks in any State I drove in and while you usually get a warning for speeding on most roads, in a school zone there's no lee way.

Our man in Havana

I found that my Visa card worked in some pumps but didn't in others, near as I could see it was down to the particular chain of garage, some had them enabled, others didn't.

The problem with petrol pumps is that some of them have anti fraud measures which only allow certain cards to be used and many ask for a zip code. If the card won't work you simply go inside and get the pump activated.

Berty

It always pissed me off in the US when I didnt want to use my credit card. I normally just "FILL" the car but you have to put money on a pump and then go back in and collect any applicable change. Two trips to the cashier FFS.

Also, this may be the problem people are facing, Ireland has its own version of Maestro(of course we do :rolleyes:) so that every other country that has Maestro works easily but ours sometimes gets rejected.

Savman

I think I got an Irish card to work over there once by pressing 00000 for zip code on the forecourt self service machine, mostly though it just would not work. Pain in the arse tbh.

Driving in LA is fine, the highways can be a bit mad as you would expect but nothing insurmountable. Really have to keep telling yourself every five seconds to drive on the RIGHT!

GiftGrub100

Have fun, and a few tips:

Drive on the right. when leaving the airport i always have to remind myself - Turn right into the right lane, turn left into the right lane.

Rent the biggest car you can afford a large SUV like the Ford Expedition or GMC Yukon should do. The bigger you are the more room people tend to give you. all automatic and easy to drive, the car park spaces in the USA are huge so parking them is not a problem.

Forget about using the credit card at the pumps, normally wait till you need $50 dollars worth and just prepay for the $50, saves a second trip back into the station.

Try to check your route on mapquest so the passenger can have their own map and directions, handy just in case Sat Nav is programmed wrong.

Double check all addresses entered into sat nav reduces risk of wrong destination.

Have your drivers licence with you and car rental documents in the car at all times, if you are stopped for any reason by the police they will want to see these.

The far left lane on a lot of the freeways is a HOV lane (carpool lane), anyone with two or more persons in the car can use these, if you are in the HOV lane watch out for exit information as you cannot just exit this lane when you want.

If you come across a roundabout which are very rare but do exist then be wary as the locals don't have a clue how they work.

As previous posters have mentioned obey road signs, if it says STOP then you must Stop, if there is a no U turn sign then don't U Turn etc.

When you first leave LAX you will be quite nervous, but after about an hour things will seem like normal to you.

Be aware the exit from the freeway for your destination can be on the right or left side of the road, don't be surprised if you have to exit on the left.

Del2005

GiftGrub100 wrote: »

If you come across a roundabout which are very rare but do exist them be wary as the locals don't have a clue how they work.

Same can be said for Ireland, apart from the rare bit.

randomer

I drove in LA a couple of weeks ago, and was amazed at how many accidents I saw on the freeway. Cars do drive very close together, but if you use some common sense, and keep your distance you will be fine.

Secondly, you have to stop at stop signs. Seriously. There are lots of stop signs, and you do actually have to come to a complete stop. This is the biggest difference I have noticed with driving in the US (other than driving on the wrong side of the road).

Thirdly, another strange thing about driving in the US is that there are exits from freeways on the left and right, so you need to be aware of that. And, if you are going to miss a turn off, don't worry and do something stupid like cutting across three lanes. There will be another exit soon after.

randomer

GiftGrub100 wrote: »

Forget about using the credit card at the pumps, normally wait till you need $50 dollars worth and just prepay for the $50, saves a second trip back into the station.


Have your drivers licence with you and car rental documents in the car at all times, if you are stopped for any reason by the police they will want to see these.


If you come across a roundabout which are very rare but do exist then be wary as the locals don't have a clue how they work.

If your credit card doesn't work in the automated machine, just bring it into the store and they will swipe it, and hold onto it until you fill the car, then you can collect it.

Really important to carry your license, and or a photo id. Every time you enter a pub, they want to see your ID, even if you are in your 30s or older!

I have only seen a handful of roundabouts in the US, but there is one difference with them. They have stop signs associated as opposed to yield signs, so you must come to a complete stop. I am still amazed that almost everyone comes to a complete stop at stop signs.

Piri

If you see a STOP here in Ireland why dont you stop?? :eek:

randomer

Piri wrote: »

If you see a STOP here in Ireland why dont you stop?? :eek:

Personally I do stop at stop signs in Ireland, but from what I have witnessed, the majority of drivers in Ireland treat them like yield signs.

Big Nasty

Piri wrote: »

If you see a STOP here in Ireland why dont you stop?? :eek:

Many of us would roll up to a stop here without coming to a complete standstill and proceed if the coast is clear. This is not illegal here, or at least if it us it is never acted upon. In the states you must come to a complete stop each and every time no matter what the circumstances.

Overature

yeah make sure you park the right way (facing the way the lane goes) i drove in CA once this year and got a 60 doller fine for not doing this, remember the cops have a zero tolerance attitude and will give you a ticked for most things, be carefull

Savman

Piri wrote: »

If you see a STOP here in Ireland why dont you stop?? :eek:

Ah sher, y'know like.

-Corkie-

I drove from east coast to west coast years ago. I hired a Mustang.. Best holiday ever. I can still hear the roar of the b1tch.

dr.fuzzenstein

Piri wrote: »

If you see a STOP here in Ireland why dont you stop?? :eek:

Well, Stop signs are kind of optional, along with yellow boxes, double yellow lines, lanes in roundabouts, right of way at junctions, traffic lights, zebra crossing, pedestrian lights or any kind of rules of the road and road markings of any kind.
As long as you have tax and insurance up to date (in theory NCT too, but that's already asking too much of the "police" here), you can drive up and down the road with your car on fire, naked, in reverse, with your arse hanging out the window and never mind all those silly rules and/or road markings.
Ireland has the opposite approach to Zero Tolerance which is called "Ah sure, she'll be grand, ah he's not doin' any harm now, ah let him off, be grand now, no worries".
This assumes that as not enforcing the small rules of the road will teach people to obey the big ones, like drink driving, speeding, watching where you're going, etc...
It doesn't.
And when there is a crash, simply wheel out Gaybo and blame it on boyracers.
Everyone's happy, problem sorted and you can still block an entire junction with your car because it should only be right that if you're not moving, no one else should be.