Driving in the United States (I)

Driving is something we have internalised and carry out mechanically, so doing it should not present any difficulty. This is the case in most situations, but if it is done outside our natural environment, where we normally drive and feel most comfortable, things change. And they can change a great deal if we are driving in other countries. In this and a future post we will try to explain the particularities and peculiarities of driving in the United States.

It is by no means the most difficult country to drive in, but it is one of the most visited by Spanish tourists, so these articles may prove interesting to many future visitors to the country of long highways, the large pick-up trucks and SUVs, the hamburgers and the roadside motels —yes, all the clichés of American films are true, although some of them, such as the idea that the United States only has large vehicles with enormous six- and eight-cylinder engines, or more, are beginning to stop being so, or at least to be no more than part of the reality—.

In general, driving in the United States does not present any difficulty; it is very similar to driving in Spain or any other European country. However, there are a number of circumstances that make it special. The first two, and among the most important, are that distances are measured in miles and not in kilometres —one mile equals 1.6 kilometres— and that speeds are expressed in miles per hour (mph), not in kilometres per hour (km/h). In addition, when refuelling, the unit of measurement is the gallon, which equals 3.78 litres.

All of this means that you have to get used to distances passing more slowly, the sense of speed while driving being lower, and visits to the petrol station to fill the tank requiring a certain mental agility with numbers if you want to keep track of the amount of fuel purchased and the kilometres driven.

In this sense, you must be aware that in the United States vehicles express their average consumption in miles per gallon (mpg), that is, they tell you how many miles can be covered for each gallon of fuel. With some simple calculations it is possible to convert these figures to litres per 100 kilometres (l/100 km) to have a valid reference in Europe.

If you are travelling as a tourist, and although it is not compulsory, it is advisable to obtain an International Driving Permit, which in Spain is issued by the provincial traffic offices. It is the ideal complement to the Spanish driving licence should the American police ask for your documentation, since it is translated into English, as well as German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian. It will be a great help if the officers do not speak Spanish and cannot understand the Spanish driving licence. The international permit is valid for one year.

In general, the American driver, or at least the average of those I have encountered on the road during these months, is patient, does not exceed speed limits, does not use the indicators (turn signals) much, and does not leave much safety distance. This may be a generalisation that could be challenged by someone with more driving experience in the United States, but I believe it matches the reality I have lived after travelling the roads of four states —California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah— and covering more than 3,000 kilometres, mostly by car but also by motorcycle and bicycle.

Motorways and roads

If there is one thing the United States stands out for, it is its extensive road network. It currently has more than 164,000 miles (262,000 kilometres) of motorways, called ‘Highways’, for a total of more than 4 million miles of roads and streets throughout the country, almost 6.5 million kilometres.

Many of the motorways are of a width almost unknown to European drivers, with up to six, seven or eight lanes. In fact, the United States is home to what is today the widest motorway in the world. It is the so-called ‘Katy Freeway’, a section of the ‘I-10’ (Interstate 10) that reaches 26 lanes at Houston (Texas). They are divided into 12 main lanes, 8 for access to and exit from the motorway, and 6 for high-occupancy vehicles.

American motorways are, as a rule, crowded with all kinds of vehicles. It is not unusual for all the lanes to be almost full, even when the road has more than four lanes in each direction, and on many occasions major traffic jams occur, especially at the approaches to large cities. It is customary for some drivers to position themselves in the left-hand lanes and drive at the maximum permitted speed, without those approaching from behind getting angry and trying to make them move over, as often happens in Spain. The American driver is used to this situation: if they want to overtake and find that the car in front does not move over, they simply pass on the right without any major problem, since this is legal.

On many American motorways, the left lane, and sometimes another one to its right, is reserved for public transport vehicles (buses) and high-occupancy vehicles —‘HOV’ or ‘High Occupancy Vehicles’—. In the latter case, it must be occupied by a minimum of two people. Traffic is normally smoother in these lanes.

Sometimes these lanes also accommodate other vehicles. For example, in California, motorcycles, hybrid vehicles and low-emission vehicles, which are identified by a sticker issued by the competent authorities —the ‘Department of Motor Vehicles’— can also use these lanes. They are signposted with a diamond-shaped symbol (◊) and, usually, also with the words ‘Carpool Lane’.

When driving on American motorways, perhaps the aspect that most surprises European drivers is the American habit of not giving way when merging, so it is almost compulsory to move out of the right-hand lane to let vehicles entering the road pass. Therefore, you should move to the nearest left-hand lane or, if that is not possible, brake. If you do not perform this manoeuvre and stay in the right-hand lane without giving way to drivers joining the motorway, a reprimand is almost certain. It will not be in the Spanish style, with flashing headlights and honking, but with gestures and shouting. By the way, the lights of American vehicles, or at least some of them, dazzle more than those of European ones.

In California, the state where I have been able to drive the most, it is common for the right-hand lane of the motorway to be used only for exiting and joining the road, so that traffic density in it is often much lower than in the rest.

American motorways generally have lower speed limits than Spanish ones, although in some states they come quite close to what we are used to in Europe. Thus, on most motorways the maximum speed permitted is 65, 70 or 75 mph —105, 113 or 121 km/h. Curiously, the states in the east of the country have lower maximum speeds than those in the west. Thus, looking at the map of the United States, from the middle towards the right the limit is 70 mph (113 km/h) —65 mph (105 km/h) in a few states— while from the middle towards the left the maximum permitted is 75 mph (121 km/h). The dividing line roughly coincides with the Mississippi River.

Since the summer of 2013, there has been a toll motorway with a higher limit: 85 mph (137 km/h). It is the I-35 (Interstate 35) between Austin and San Antonio, in Texas. As a curiosity, the state with the lowest maximum speed on its motorways is Hawaii, with 60 mph (97 km/h). It is the only one in the whole country with such a low limit.

If the first image that comes to mind when thinking of American roads is that of the large motorways, these are not the most common by extent, as mentioned above. The most popular roads are those with one lane in each direction. On these, limits vary greatly. And so does their condition. Some are very well maintained, while others have surfaces in terrible condition. Something similar occurs on motorways. This, therefore, is not unique to Spain.

In some cases, single-lane-per-direction roads can have speed limits very similar to or the same as some motorways. A characteristic of conventional American roads, or at least those in California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah, the states where I have driven, is that there are not many stretches where you can overtake. This, together with the proliferation of motorways, means that the average American driver is not used to overtaking. And this shows, because sometimes they are unable to do so when conditions allow it, or they do it with little safety.

When driving on two-way roads in the United States, as well as in towns, you need to be cautious about a manoeuvre that is prohibited in Spain and Europe: U-turns. American rules establish that, as a general rule, it is legal to turn around on any road or street in the country, unless there is a sign prohibiting it (‘No U-Turn’). There are also exceptional cases, such as streets with a nearby fire station, changes in gradient, or level crossings.

Many American roads have rumble strips to prevent drivers from drifting, both at the sides and in the centre of the road, on the road markings that separate the two directions of travel. As a curiosity, these road markings that separate the lanes from each other and from the hard shoulders are generally yellow, not white as in Spain and almost all of Europe, although white ones also exist. Roads with yellow lines are one of the iconic images of American roads, just like roadside motels. And yes, this is a reality. There are countless of them along the edges of motorways and roads. Many are of low quality, as Hollywood films sometimes show, but others offer a very good value for money.

The signposting of American motorways and roads is, as a rule, correct and abundant. However, the satnav will be the foreign driver’s best friend, especially in large cities, something that in most cases happens as soon as you leave your city or usual driving area.

There are many signs with text, so if you do not speak English you may run into some problems. Examples include signs warning that two-way traffic is ahead (‘Two way traffic ahead’) or the one requiring slow vehicles to keep right (‘Slower traffic keep right’). There are many examples. Signs without text are similar to European ones and easy to interpret.

City

If driving on American motorways and roads does not present major difficulties in general, it is not a problem to drive in urban areas either. Although you must bear in mind a series of circumstances that Spaniards and Europeans are not used to. For example, traffic lights are not located before junctions, but after them. You must stop at the white line at the intersection and look a few metres further on to find the traffic light that will indicate when to proceed. Signs, however, are placed just before the intersections.

Another striking aspect is that, as a rule, turning right on a red light is permitted, provided it does not interfere with vehicles that have priority of way (green light). Turning right on a red light is only prohibited when there is a specific sign (‘No turn on red’). The city of New York is an exception to this rule, as this manoeuvre is not allowed there, except at intersections where a specific sign permits turning right with the red light on.

In the United States there are hardly any roundabouts, so popular in Spain and Europe. Junctions where several streets meet are handled by intersections with stop signs. All vehicles are required to come to a complete halt, and all of them do. And they make a real stop, unlike many Spanish drivers who simply give way. Priority at four-way stop junctions in the United States goes to whoever arrives at the intersection first. It is a rule that is widely respected, and if it is not observed it may lead to a reprimand in the form of some insult or hand gesture, but rarely with the use of lights or the horn. If two vehicles arrive at the junction at the same time, the rule is the same as in Spain and Europe: you must give way to the vehicle on your right.

The American driver is very respectful of pedestrian priority, and even more so, as a general rule, in the case of pedestrians and cyclists: they have no problem stopping to let them pass. In California there are many cities with cycle lanes, usually without physical separation from the rest of the traffic, and drivers are used to the presence of cyclists. They are very careful with them and try to facilitate their movement as much as possible. On the other hand, the pedestrian is a strange figure in many American cities. There are few places to cross the streets, and the pedestrian crossing lights are excessively short. Pavements are, on many occasions, narrow. It is a country where the private car is above all other possible protagonists of traffic.

One of the most respected vehicles in American towns and villages, if not the most, is the school bus. You must never overtake it or pass one coming the other way when it is stopped with children getting on or off. If the rules are broken, the penalties can reach $1,000 (€750) and a year without a licence. Emergency vehicles, from police cars to ambulances and fire engines, are also respected to the utmost: drivers stop and pull over to the right as soon as they notice them, when they are operating with sirens and lights on.

On many streets there is a central lane, intended for left turns and changes of direction. It is marked with a solid line (outside) and a dashed line (inside). It may only be used for 200 feet (61 metres). This lane allows vehicles wishing to turn left or make a U-turn to do so without obstructing the rest of the traffic.

In American cities, the generic limit is 25 mph (40 km/h). There are areas where the maximum permitted speed is lower, such as some residential zones where you may not drive faster than 15 mph (24 km/h). In general, streets are poorly lit as there are not many street lamps. To compensate for this lack of light, the lines separating the lanes have reflectors that reflect vehicle lights.

One of the iconic images of American cities is that of a car parking without making a single manoeuvre, pulling over to the right and approaching the kerb. Well, sometimes they end up further away than close. This way of parking is possible in many cities because the parking spaces are very large and are often mostly empty.

There are different types of parking bays, which are distinguished by the colour painted on the kerb. If it is white, only a stop to load or unload passengers or goods is permitted. If it is green, you may park for a limited time, indicated in minutes by white characters or shown on a nearby sign. If the kerb is yellow, loading and unloading of goods and passengers may be carried out, but private vehicle drivers must remain inside —only drivers of delivery vehicles may get out—.

If the kerb is red, stopping and parking are prohibited, and if it is blue, only disabled people may park. A special sign or plate indicating this must be displayed visibly. Parking time is unlimited. If the kerb is not painted any colour, you may park without any limit, except for times when there are parking meters. These, in many cities, are very expensive. As a curiosity, in San Francisco, where there are many hills, almost all vehicles are parked with their wheels turned towards the kerb to prevent them from rolling downhill.

All of this is just a few glimpses of the curiosities of driving in the United States. In a future post we will look at others such as the varied car park, traffic fines, fuels and other details of the car world on the other side of the Atlantic.

Photos | Jaime Arruz