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First time driving LHD and auto, tips?

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Comments

  • #32
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,949 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Save the location where you pick up the car on your phone/sat nav. Makes it much easier when returning a few days/weeks later.


  • #33
    Voodoomelon
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Voodoomelon


    My biggest mistake when I started driving on the right was not keeping enough to the left. I found I let the car drift far too much to the right side of the lane I was in. Stay as tight to the left line as possible as it's hard to judge where the opposite side of the car is with the steering wheel being on the other side.


  • #34
    Turbulent Bill
    Registered Users Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭Turbulent Bill


    A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread, turned out to be an enjoyable experience. For the benefit of the next newbie reading this:

    1. Apart from remembering which side to use when entering / exiting roads, LHS driving is a doddle.

    2. I've belatedly discovered that (for normal driving at least) getting an auto is a no-brainer. just do it.

    3. American lane discipline and indication is worse than in Ireland, you need to carefully watch traffic beside you on the freeway. The lanes are wide, though, so there's space to move.

    4. 4-way stops are still a mystery...


  • #35
    zilog_jones
    Registered Users Posts: 6,641 ✭✭✭zilog_jones


    My understanding of 4-way stops is that they're "first come, first served", not much to it really.


  • #36
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users Posts: 5,540 ✭✭✭Leonard Hofstadter


    In the US there is no equivalent to the 'keep left' rule on our motorways/dual carriageways, you're allowed drive in whatever lane suits you over there.


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  • #37
    tcawley29
    Registered Users Posts: 1,829 ✭✭✭tcawley29


    zilog_jones wrote: »
    My understanding of 4-way stops is that they're "first come, first served", not much to it really.

    This is how it is supposed to work yes.


  • #38
    kyote00
    Registered Users Posts: 1,562 ✭✭✭kyote00


    - obey the speed limits as there are many many more police doing speed checks.
    - park very carefully if downtown otherwise you will be towed...

    - right turn on red allowed unless indicated otherwise
    - stop sign means "stop" and not yield
    - no parking in front of red fire hydrant

    if you go wrong, don't panic - just let the satnav recalculate....and go around the block (rather than uturn)

    biggest danger of ending up on wrong side of road
    - is when taking left turns at night as it can be hard to see the lanes ......
    - after a few days when you relax


  • #39
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,111 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    zilog_jones wrote: »
    My understanding of 4-way stops is that they're "first come, first served", not much to it really.
    tcawley29 wrote: »
    This is how it is supposed to work yes.

    When I was in Texas earlier this year I was told by the locals that the general rule of thumb when vehicles in different roads approached a 4 way stop junction at the same time, is that you always gave way to the vehicle to your right. I got caught out a few times at first where I waiting at the stop sign for a vehicle opposite me to move while they were waiting for me to move too. The majority just politely waive you on when they see the out of state license plate while a few got impatient and just crossed the junction while I was still indecisive.

    Also if the 4 way junction had a pedestrian crossing then pedestrians had right of way to cross the road over vehicles every time irrespective of there being traffic lights there or not. So you had to be on the ball if you were making a left turn.

    FWIW I found the rental car's GPS useless so relied on my phone most of the time. I found Waze way more accurate over Google Maps too. Waze also updates you on traffic conditions which is a godsend in the US where they just decide to shut lanes/exits on the freeways when they feel like it for roadworks.


  • #40
    BraveDonut
    Registered Users Posts: 1,019 ✭✭✭BraveDonut


    I found "here we go" a very good sat nav option on the phone as you can download maps to use offline to avoid data charges. The tip is to try to ensure you search for your destination when online on wifi in your hotel, etc. as offline search is not as good.

    Also if you are worried about LHD, a reasonable tip is to put your watch on your other arm to make sure it is to the kerb side of the road.


  • #41
    mikeecho
    Registered Users Posts: 5,039 ✭✭✭mikeecho


    Leonard Hofstadter wrote: »
    In the US there is no equivalent to the 'keep left' rule on our motorways/dual carriageways, you're allowed drive in whatever lane suits you over there.

    In Ireland we have a keep left rule, but you just drive in whatever lane suits you.

    .... Well that's just my observations.


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  • #42
    Third_Echelon
    Registered Users Posts: 4,889 ✭✭✭Third_Echelon


    zilog_jones wrote: »
    Left foot is still useful for hill starts. In places like San Francisco, you can still roll back in D.

    And use L or B for steep descents to get some engine braking.

    Most new cars have a rollback delay when you lift your foot off the brake pedal when the car is beyond a certain degree. Gives you time to get your foot onto the gas pedal. Very handy in San Francisco.


  • #43
    zilog_jones
    Registered Users Posts: 6,641 ✭✭✭zilog_jones


    I wouldn't make any assumptions as it's not a standard feature - hill-start assist or auto-hold may need to be activated manually, depending on the car.


  • #44
    rabbitinlights
    Registered Users Posts: 4,002 ✭✭✭rabbitinlights


    Turbulent Bill wrote: »

    4. 4-way stops are still a mystery...

    Kinda like the Walkinstown Roundabout.....


  • #45
    stecleary
    Registered Users Posts: 1,114 ✭✭✭stecleary


    BraveDonut wrote: »

    Also if you are worried about LHD, a reasonable tip is to put your watch on your other arm to make sure it is to the kerb side of the road.

    you cant go wrong if you drive on the right side ;)


  • #46
    Spook_ie
    Registered Users Posts: 10,896 ✭✭✭✭Spook_ie


    Turbulent Bill wrote: »
    A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread, turned out to be an enjoyable experience. For the benefit of the next newbie reading this:

    1. Apart from remembering which side to use when entering / exiting roads, LHS driving is a doddle.

    2. I've belatedly discovered that (for normal driving at least) getting an auto is a no-brainer. just do it.

    3. American lane discipline and indication is worse than in Ireland, you need to carefully watch traffic beside you on the freeway. The lanes are wide, though, so there's space to move.

    4. 4-way stops are still a mystery...

    You might not have been Stateside long enough but I found it almost as bad returning, it just felt weird driving on the left for a few days.


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