Like motorists in all countries, Americans have their customs and idiosyncrasies, many of which are peculiar to a region, state or city. Chicago has the reputation of being one of the worst places to drive, and the traffic in New York City may frighten you to death.
It’s debatable where the worst drivers come from; some say Bostonians or New Yorkers are the worst, while others cite redneck southerners.
Drivers on the east and west coasts tend to be more disciplined than those in the Midwest, west and south. The worst cities to drive in based on traffic density are New York, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco and Washington DC. Wherever you drive in the US, the traffic density and different road rules (or lack of them) can be intimidating. In cities, one of the main causes of accidents is drivers ‘running’ red lights.
Attitudes towards pedestrians vary from hostility to deference, according to the locality and driver. As in most countries, drivers are usually more polite and respectful of pedestrians in small towns than in major cities. In country or wilderness areas, you should keep an eye open for deer and other wildlife which may run into your path. (Also beware of drivers who stop suddenly to look at the wildlife.) Many Americans, particularly southern Californians, are fair-weather drivers and are totally lost in heavy rain (or any weather other than bright sunlight), when they’re likely to slow to walking pace and are a hazard to other motorists.
In general, however, Americans have a reputation for being good and careful drivers. Drivers tend to be relaxed, courteous and considerate and, unlike many Europeans, are usually happy to give way to a driver waiting to enter the flow of traffic or change lanes, although road manners have deteriorated in recent years. A combination of straight, wide roads, big comfortable cars, low maximum speeds (compared with most other western countries) and vigilant police tends to result in a relaxed and civilised driving style.
The extra comforts provided as standard in many American cars, such as automatic transmission, cruise control, power steering and power-assisted brakes, and air-conditioning, also help make driving more relaxing. That’s not to say that there aren’t crazy, incompetent and aggressive drivers in the US (as in other countries, ‘road rage’ is on the increase), but they’re very much in the minority (contrary to the impression given by American films and television).
One of the main differences between motoring in the US and in other western countries is that on most roads with more than one lane, it’s legal to ‘pass’ on the inside, i.e. on the right. This is strange at first and can be unsettling when you’re being passed by giant lorries on both sides. Officially, it’s illegal to overtake on an inside lane, i.e. to deliberately move to an inside lane in order to overtake a slower vehicle and then return to the outside line, and lane hopping can earn you a ticket (sometimes to the next life). Passing, however, is when you’re already in an inside lane in which traffic is moving faster or you have a clear road.
Needless to say, there’s a thin dividing line between ‘passing’ and ‘overtaking’, and many Americans swap lanes (lane dodge) continuously without signalling (Americans rarely signal when changing lanes on freeways). You should, therefore, take care when changing lanes, as it’s the major cause of freeway accidents. You should look over your shoulder first, as wing mirrors (particularly on monster American cars) usually have a blind spot as big as a house.
Although freeways usually have a ‘slow’ (through) and a ‘fast’ (passing) lane, because of the passing either side rule, many motorists stick to ‘lane driving’, i.e. get into one lane and stay there. However, in some states the outside lane is exclusively for overtaking. Take care when passing lorries, as they’re often large and long, and create considerable side winds.
American drivers often drive too close (tailgate) to the vehicle in front of them, particularly on freeways, and have no idea of safe stopping distances. This is particularly true of lorry drivers, who often try to intimidate you into driving faster or moving over by driving a few feet from your rear bumper (fender). (Lorries aren’t allowed in the outside lane of freeways with three or more lanes.)
After passing manoeuvres, driving too close to the vehicle in front is the biggest cause of accidents in the US. As a safety precaution, try to leave a large gap between your vehicle and the one in front. This isn’t just to allow you more time to stop should the vehicles in front decide to get together, but also to give a tailgater more time to stop. The closer the vehicle behind you, the further you should be from the vehicle in front.
Wherever you drive in the US, drive defensively and always expect the unexpected (or the worst) from other drivers. However, provided you avoid rush hours, you will probably find driving in the US less stressful than in many countries. If you come from a country where traffic drives on the left, take it easy at first and bear in mind that there are other motorists around just as confused as you are.
This article is an extract from Living and Working in America. Click here to get a copy now.