Grant Holliday

The first thing I did after the 20+ hours of travelling via CBR-SYD-SFO-SEA was get in a hire car and start driving. Here’s some advice for others doing the same.

Before you travel

You should go to your local Australian Automobile Association office (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, etc) and purchase an International Driving Permit (IDP). You don’t need to be a member, but you’ll sometimes get a discount if you are. Just present your valid driver’s license, give them a passport-sized photo and they’ll give you the permit.

Although an IDP is not technically required to drive in the USA, rental car companies may require it. (The Avis I went to didn’t.)

Before you drive

When I got to the hire car, I took some time to familiarise myself with it.

• How do I adjust the seat?
• What side are the indicators on?
• Where’s the park brake?
• How do I turn the lights on?

Driving

Before leaving Australia, I had a catch up with Rocky. His advice on driving was this:

It’s easy. Driving on the opposite side of the road isn’t a big deal. It doesn’t take very long for something in your brain to flip and it becomes normal.

Then came the scary bit. I drove out of the parking space and my mind got a bit frazzled - it felt very strange to be on the opposite side of the car, on the opposite side of the road. But then I came to my first intersection and followed another car through it. That’s when my brain flipped and I’ve haven’t been on the wrong side of the road yet!

Turning right / left

The second moment when something else in my brain flipped was on my first right turn at a traffic light. It felt a bit weird turning in that direction and hugging the kerb (just like turning left back home) - but now it feels normal.

The third moment was turning left at traffic lights. Once again, it felt weird traversing an intersection on the opposite side, but now it’s normal.

When sitting at intersections, I now find myself thinking about what line (like in racing) I’m doing to take and where I want to end up.

Right turn on red after stopping

In Australia they have selected intersections signposted with “turn left on red after stopping”. In the States they have a similar rule. You can turn right at any intersection after stopping unless otherwise signposted. Similarly, if you wait at the intersection, the light will eventually turn green anyway. I learnt this one through observation and somebody beeping their horn at me

Always give way to pedestrians

In Australia, people often stand on the kerb or footpath and wait for a gap in the traffic so that they can cross. In the States, the traffic will generally stop for the pedestrian - regardless of whether it’s at a crossing or not. Pedestrians are worshipped.

4-Way stop signs

Mitch has spoken about these before. These are mostly what Americans have instead of round-a-bouts. The rule is that everybody must stop and the first to arrive is the first to move off.

My Advice

The best bit of advice I can give is:

• Take your time,
• Be observant,
• Follow other people!

The best way I’ve found to learn is to drive a little bit slower and follow other people through intersections. It helps you get used to being on the opposite side and you learn different things. It’s also useful for speed control. If you’re not sure what the speed limit is, just travel the same as everybody else.

Other

Some other things that I’ve noticed:

• Most cars automatically lock the doors once you put it in gear, or get above a certain speed. (strange??)
• If you park illegally, there’s a high chance you’ll get clamped & towed. Especially around apartment complexes, etc.
• Everything has a drive-through option. There’s drive-through banks, take-away, coffee, post offices, etc.
• When I’m a passenger, I always go to the wrong side of the car. This habit will be hard to break.

After I get my Social Security Number (SSN), I can sit the written knowledge driving test for Washington State. It’s 25 multiple-choice questions and you need to get 20 correct to pass. Then after the knowledge test is the driving test.