Last update:
12-Dec-99

On the road in America

Please note that the information quoted is for general guidance only - it must not be taken as definitive!

Driving in America isn't difficult - in fact it can be fun. But one thing is certain - it isn't like driving in the UK! Okay, I guess you already know that they drive on the right - but there are some other fundamental differences. However you'll need to remember that some of the rules of the road vary from state to state but the most important rules are fairly consistent.

Speed limits
Perhaps speed limits are the most misunderstood aspect of driving on American roads where there is still a perception of a country where 55mph is the maximum speed you can travel. In many states that hasn't been the case since about 1984, when limits on rural interstates were increased to 65mph; and in 1995, the brakes were taken off completely allowing states to go back to deciding their own limits.

The current situation is that some states have retained the 65mph limit for rural interstates, others have increased this to 70mph or 75mph, and Montana has taken the limit away completely on some roads (the maximum permitted speed on some roads is "safe and prudent speed").

In some places, especially in school zones, the limit can be as low as 15mph. Usually there will be some indication of whether the zone is in force, such as "when lights flashing", or "when children present", or "between 7am-8am and 3:30-4:30pm".

In general, American limits are enforced much more rigorously than in the UK, especially the school zone limits. Speed is enforced using radar and through aircraft, and if you're driving a rental car the first you know about the fine could well be after you return home and it has been deducted from your credit card by the rental company!

Turning right on red
This is something that comes as a pleasant surprise to many British motorists. If you approach junction controlled by traffic lights and the lights are red, you are allowed to turn right provided that:

There is no sign saying "no turn on red", or equivalent
You're not in New York city
You are in the correct right-turn lane
You come to a complete stop
Your way is completely clear of pedestrians and oncoming traffic

Also, bear in mind that if you're involved in an accident when turning right on red, the blame will fall on you almost automatically.

Four-way junctions
It is possible to drive for years in America and never come across a roundabout. However, "four way junctions" replace them and are very common on rural or suburban roads. They are indicated by a stop sign, usually with some caption underneath it saying "4 WAY", although there are variations such as "3 WAY" and "ALL WAY".

When you approach a STOP sign, you're going to have to stop anyway (and not a rolling stop that you can usually get away with in the UK!) Then, if it is a 4-way or similar, priority is given to the vehicle which arrived and stopped first, and if several stopped at the same time, priority is from the right.

4-ways are not easy to learn and I always find that, if you can contrive to be the last vehicle to stop then there is no ambiguity ... you simply wait until the other vehicles move off, and then go on.

Overtaking on the inside, or undertaking
Another quirk of American driving, and probably the most difficult to get used to, is the fact that American drivers are permitted to pass on the inside. But this doesn't mean that you can "undertake".

If you come up behind another vehicle travelling in the middle lane, and deliberately pull into the inner lane just to pass, you may have commited a moving traffic offence. It will depend on which state you're in. But if you were already in the inner lane, then you can pass with impunity.

The consequence of this is that you need to be doubly vigilant when changing lanes on a dual carriageway. Someone may well be coming up your inside, and fairly quickly at that. This is a particular problem when you're looking for the exit of a motorway in the US, as you may not get a lot of warning. You just need to be thinking ahead.

There is a particularly important caution here! What the British call (and I have called in the above) the inside, the Americans call the outside!

Driving licence
Your British driving licence is enough to get a rental car, and to present to the police if necessary. However, it will save a great deal of difficulty if you keep your licence and passport together. US police expect to see a picture of the driver with the licence, and while they can be persuaded to accept the non-picture British licence, the picture in the passport will keep them happy. The new British photo driving licences should make this a great deal easier.

Some states require that you carry your licence whenever you're driving. I would always recommend that you carry your licence, passport and car rental documents at all times you're driving. Not only will it keep you within the law, but if you do end up being involved in some incident, it could save you a lot of time and effort.

Incidentally, some books recommend getting an International Driving Licence. There actually is no such thing. What there is is an International Drivers' Permit (IDP), which is a record of the categories of vehicles that you're permitted to drive, in a number of languages, plus a certified photo of you. Your driving licence is the document which allows you to drive, the IDP simply offers additional support and cannot be used on its own. For the US, your passport is just as good, but if you feel that you don'ot want to carry your passport with you all the time, then get an IDP from the AA.

Drinking and driving
In many states in the US, the tolerance level on drinking and driving is zero, or almost zero. For visitors to the US, it's very simple - don't have even a single unit of alcohol if you're planning to drive. Apart from the odds of getting caught being very much greater than in the UK, the penalties in some states impose a mandatory prison term and it's likely that you won't be allowed in the US ever again.

The lack of tolerance on drinking and driving extends to prohibiting having open bottles of drink anywhere in the car. All alcohol should be locked away in the boot in unopened containers.