driving in california ...

[chokkie]

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.

[ojread2]

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 :)

[murraymints]

And DON'T be tempted to go over 50....I was caught by CHIPS several times !!!

[tonyav]

LOL.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

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

[murraymints]

And do not buy a tram ticket cheap from a passing hobo...it will be about to expire !!! and DO go to Alcatraz..spooky !!!..have a grrrrrreattt time...I did.!

[naomi24]

The main highways around LA can be a bit hair-raising, especially during rush hours, so keep your wits about you, but apart from that, it's fine. Agree with Murrarymints. Alcatraz is fascinating. Not to be missed.

[BlueToffee]

And don't forget to drive on the right!

[gness]

San Fransisco is a great place to spend time in and to drive in. If OH is twittering the main street is wide enough to do a handbrake turn to shut him up.

[BlueToffee]

Forgot to say, drive down Lombard Street, it's quite an experiece and you'll not get caught speeding down there either!

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Not easy in a Lincoln Navigator BT!

[LDC134]

If you are parallel parking, you can only do this in the direction of traffic (I learnt the hard way !)

[friedgreentomato]

Oh what fun - we did that - never had a problem apart from filling with petrol - you have to go in and pay a deposit first and then they will release the petrol - very wierd.

Stop at hurst castle and pop down to the beach to see the elephant seals - so close you can almost touch them.

[murraymints]

go down to the pier to see the pelicans !

[gingejbee]

I seem to remember having to pa

[gingejbee]

........to park with the front wheels pointing in to the kerb, so the car can't roll off by itself.

[spudqueen]

gingejbee - I think the reason you have to park that way in the States is that not every State requires cars to have a license number plate on the front of the car. This way the number is always visible when parked.

[chokkie]

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.

[Hymie]

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.

[zebo]

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.

[237SJ]

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).