Nobody walks in the United States of America...

There is a saying in America....nobody walks in the United States of America.

Almost 1 in 2 Americans own and drive a car. It is easily...one of the most convenient ways of getting around...but the road infrastructure are not necessarily the safest. This is especially so if you are new to the country and being Singaporean, we are pretty used to driving on the left side of the road and driving on a right hand drive car. So, switching over to another type of driving environment and type of car can bring about some amount of anxiety.

In the big Apple and most parts of Europe, the cars are left hand drive and cars drive on the right side of the road i.e. you keep right and the divider is on the left hand side of the driver.

Hence, I thought of offering some tips on driving overseas, particularly in countries like the USA.

(i) Provide adequate insurance coverage on your car. Have at least Collision Damage Waiver. This is especially useful if you are driving long distance. We normally request from our car insurer for this when we planned our long trips. It only cost us USD$1 /day for that kind of coverage.
If you are driving a rental vehicle, the insurance coverage is already in the package.

(ii) Let your families and friends know where you are going...maintain contact with them.
Have autoroaming on your handphone...my wife always tops her Go Phone package whenever we go on long trips. You might never know when you need assistance.

(iii) Know the local laws. Know the laws adequately...the important ones so that you won't break them. Keep in touch with the local AA, they will offer you free maps as well as free advice.
If you get stopped by the cops, pull over safely to the side of the road. Stay in the vehicle at all times and follow the instructions given by the officer.
After a number of cop killing cases, the highway patrol has a particular SOP to follow through.

(iv) Be picky when it comes to selecting a rental car....No amount of advice is needed here. Pick the wrong car and your holiday could well be ruined as a result. If you feel that you can't handle a large saloon, don't choose one.
Rental car companies like Avis, National, Hertz...have cars that are 1-2 years old. So, rest asssured on the serviceability and reliability of rental cars from reputable car rental companies.
I would strongly recommend an auto car for Singaporeans who are already so used to a right hand drive car.

(v) Driving long distances...Last the pace by having frequent stops. You will need them or you will start to feel the cramps. For the rental car, get one with cruise control. That will allow you to set the speed that you would like to travel and allow your foot to be off the pedal and let the car go on auto-pilot, more or less!
Along the highways, there will be eateries, restaurants and petrol kiosks.

(vi) Observe the speed limits...In Singapore, the speed limit are typically 90 km/hr. In California, it is about 100 miles/hr. That makes it about 130 km/hr.
Stay on the right, to allow other cars to pass if you can't keep up with the neck breaking speed.

(vii) Road conditions...When going up mountainous roads, step down the gears to a D2..or 2. It gives you more power on the uphill and more engine braking on the downhill.

Be extra alert, because you don't know what is coming round the corner on mountainous roads. Usually, there are speed signs... a lower speed sign usually indicates a certain degree of risk as in the tightness of the bend.

(viii) Control the kids... Have them well settled before driving off. Kids can be a major source of distraction on the roads.