Quizzes & Puzzles11 mins ago
driving in california ...
Hi folks, we're visiting California in a co uple of weeks time, flying into San Francisco airport and hiring a car for just under two weeks. Is there anything we should know about driving on Ca roads, speed limits, etc. - we'd be grateful to be told, please. (In the same way that, when you're driving in France, you have to keep high-vision vests in the car, a spare pair of specs, a breathalyser kit, etc)
Can't seem to find any information about this on the web nor in any of the books that we've got at home.
Hope someone can help, many thanks,
Chox.
Can't seem to find any information about this on the web nor in any of the books that we've got at home.
Hope someone can help, many thanks,
Chox.
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by chokkie. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
http://www.caldrive.com/
Click on the pic and everything you need to know will pop up. Lots of links, what to know and how to's :)
Click on the pic and everything you need to know will pop up. Lots of links, what to know and how to's :)
Keep to the speed limits...the cops come from nowhere..no open bottles of booze in the car...you can turn right on a red light at most intersections..if its clear..watch the early morning mist along the west coast..stop telling everyone how cheap the gas is compared to blighty...have a great time and you must go to Venice Beach
HI folks, thanks for all the tips, your input is much appreciated. Have made a few notes about various places to visit - OH doesn't really fancy Venice beach, but I do and I shall get him to take me there by hook or by crook. The Caldrive link is great, but I will get OH to read it before we go - there's far too much to print off sheet by sheet. A real book would be great.
Anyway, thanks again everyone, much appreciated. Chox.
Anyway, thanks again everyone, much appreciated. Chox.
Having taken a number of fly-drives to various parts of the USA – I offer the following information that may be of use to a novice:-
The hire car will be an automatic.
On interstates, many right hand lanes approaching an exit are ‘exit only’ (you must exit if in this lane), they are highlighted by a yellow background to the ‘Exit Only’ sign above the lane.
Unlike the UK, where vehicles entering a motorway must give way – the lanes merge with neither having priority (the system seems to work quite well).
It is not uncommon for road junctions to have a ‘right turn only’ lane, (the signage for these is quite small) once in such a lane with a solid white line to your left – you must turn right at the junction.
I have encountered a number of quite major interchanges where the only signage is for Highway (number) e.g. East/West with no town/city given for either direction.
At road junctions, you might see a sign giving the road name (e.g. Ridge Drive), this is not the name of the road you are driving on – but the name of the road you are crossing.
The hire car will be an automatic.
On interstates, many right hand lanes approaching an exit are ‘exit only’ (you must exit if in this lane), they are highlighted by a yellow background to the ‘Exit Only’ sign above the lane.
Unlike the UK, where vehicles entering a motorway must give way – the lanes merge with neither having priority (the system seems to work quite well).
It is not uncommon for road junctions to have a ‘right turn only’ lane, (the signage for these is quite small) once in such a lane with a solid white line to your left – you must turn right at the junction.
I have encountered a number of quite major interchanges where the only signage is for Highway (number) e.g. East/West with no town/city given for either direction.
At road junctions, you might see a sign giving the road name (e.g. Ridge Drive), this is not the name of the road you are driving on – but the name of the road you are crossing.
Lane discipline is in its infancy in the US, they'll drive at any speed, in any lane, it can be very frustrating though there are signs appearing to keep right unless passing. US not as anal as the French re all the extras you need to carry. Check the car over, even if you're exhausted after the flight and get everything noted down. If you're staying in SF, don't bother with a car, it's hard and expensive to park, collect it when you're ready to move on. Go North of SF, it's glorious, especially at this time of the year.
A fantastic place that you can drive to from San Fran is Yosemite. At this time of the year the trees should be on the turn as well. I think it`s about a 4 hour, easy drive and you go through little towns and almond growing areas. It`s easy to get a lodge for the night there at short notice. Yosemite Lodge rings a bell but I know we went to the Ahwahnee for breakfast (they`re famed for their eggs benedict).
