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Driving in the US and other countries

Driving in the US and other countries

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by: J_A_Durkin Active Indicator LED Icon 4 OP 
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 11:38am  
I'm a relative newcomer to the U.S. - 3 1/2 years in Texas. I'm from Scotland, but have lived in 6 different countries (multiple times) in the last 12 years.
 
During this time I've compiled in my mind a list of the best to worst countries to drive in.
 
Of course there are good and bad associated with each, but I will list them from the most enjoyable to the worst (so far). And with each I'll add Pros and Cons.
 
US -
Pros : large wide roads, petrol / gas prices are extremely low (compared to Europe, except the Middle East), large SUVs to transport the mutts, the infrastructure is set up for RVing (which we love). The 4 point full stop works great, IF people obey the rules. You could argue they're safer than roundabouts. Generally the drivers are courteous.
 
Cons : having 6 lanes on the highway and you can pass / overtake in any lane. If there was a regulated AND ENFORCED system of gradational slow to fast then passing lane (like Europe), there would be a lot less accidents and idiotic driving maneuvers. The high number of automobiles without bumpers / parts of the car missing / held together by rope. How is this legal? DWI - seems the message hasn't hit home here. If you're caught drink driving in Scotland, you automatically lose your driving license and your car is impounded. You are banned from driving (could be years) and you may go to prison. Not just that, but you become a social porriah overnight. It's seen as one of the worst crimes. Not enough police patrolling the roads. Car insurance is astronomically high. My Dad can insure his car for �75 / $100 a year - fully comprehensive.

More to follow...
 
4951
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ForeCPA90 Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 11:42am  
Where in Scotland are you from?  I also came over from Scotland, albeit 20 years ago. 4951
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cbenton Active Indicator LED Icon
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 11:56am  
That's a pretty fair assessment. I'm having an issue with car insurance, it's utterly ridiculous here in Kingwood, a bit more than twice what I paid in California and almost 3 times more than Ohio. Ugh. Texas roads used to be decent to drive, the country roads and back roads are much better and people are more considerate than in the city. 4951
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CBP210 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 11:59am  
Man I need to visit Scotland. I always wanted to visit the Loch Ness. The farthest I have driven in the UK is Northrumbia to visit the castles. I really enjoyed my time in London and staying in the Kensington district. 4951
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ET Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 12:22pm  
They do take the designated driver thing very seriously in GB.  On the plus side you can usually walk to a pub. 4951
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CBP210 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 12:32pm  
They do take the designated driver thing very seriously in GB.  On the plus side you can usually walk to a pub.
 
@ET: They are everywhere in London.
4951
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ET Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 12:34pm  
Yup, not unlike drinking at the neighbor's house. 4951
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notfromhere Active Indicator LED Icon 12
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 2:06pm  
I agree with the assessment too. I think a lot of the DWI is to balme on the fact that public transport is non-existent here. Houston is huge. If you want to go out (especially here in Kingwood) there is nothing. A taxi to and from downtown would be $150 at least. It's no excuse to drink and drive, but it kind of explains why people end up driving home after one too many.  4951
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ET Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 2:23pm  
If they rip up your license and impound your car on a first offense, I bet everybody would come up with a new plan. 4951
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FoFa Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 2:40pm  
Cairo, Egypt was the worst/scariest for me.Roads were just a suggestion, let alone directional lanes, traffic lights, etc.Asia was next (never been to India, so can't say about that part), but both Korea and Japan were pretty bad.I drove in Korea, so got used to it.Aberdeen was mildly scary, but mostly because of the thin roads and that whole left side thing.London is just a mess, take the tube.Oman, Saudi and Dubai were pretty easy, pretty much like the US large cities.Chicago was pretty bad to drive in. I would put it up there high, mostly because their laws allowed people to take advantage of you, like slam on brakes, let you rear end them, then sue your butt. 4951
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ET Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 2:55pm  
Left side takes a lot concentration, making a left run at an intersection was daunting as we are so used to swinging wide.  My wife's sole job while we were driving around England was to say "stay left".  4951
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TXSunDvl Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 4:44pm  
Driving in Jakarta, Indonesia is a suicide mission.  All laws and courtesies are ignored.I drove around Aberdeen several times.  The only problem I have is the roundabouts.  I have to remember to look right instead of left.  Shifting with my left hand was also an interesting experiment.Perth, Australia is much the same.  Much of the same issues in New Zealand, except I actually tried to parallel park there once.  That was really interesting.  4951
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iCarr Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 4:50pm  
Sicily was the worst driving experience for me, and I've driven in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Spain, Bahrain, Mexico. They would actually hit you from behind if you didn't take off quick enough and I lost 2 outside mirrors on different cars from mopeds splitting lanes and knocking them off. 4951
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J_A_Durkin Active Indicator LED Icon 4 OP 
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 10:12pm  
@ForeCPA90
 
Born in Glasgow, lived just outside there in a wee place called Croy, moved to South east Ayrshire (Muirkirk) until I was 15, then moved up north to Lossiemouth until I was 18, then went to college in Aberdeen, then started working offshore.
 
Anyways, back to the driving...
 
Next best place to drive : Germany
Pros: autobahn - unrestricted speed limit in portions of the motorway. And I DO MEAN "NO SPEED LIMIT". The autobahn has absolutely NO trash or roadkill. It's like a billiards table. Honestly. It would have to be as you can literally go as fast as your car can go. Drivers are very courteous and obey virtually all traffic rules. The pedestrian has the right of way, including cyclists. Which makes you even more aware of your surroundings, hence less bumps and scratches. The roads are heavily patrolled by the police and they're very very thorough but fair. No tailgating or other bullying is allowed The roads and infrastructure are very well planned.
 
Cons: You need 2 pairs of eyes to drive on the autobhan at high speed. One second there's nothing in your rear view mirror... And the next there's a bmw merc Audi up your ***... And you're doing 130 mph!!! It was my first time driving on the right side of the road. We drive on the left side in the UK. So naturally I found it awkward for several months until I became comfortable making a left turn, especially as it was a manual transmission. Of course I learned manual in the UK, but shifting gear with my left hand, not my right. This led to a few panicky situations where I attempted to change gear and actually wound down my window! Funny but true. Don't do THAT any more.
 
More to come... 4951
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Odin Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Jan 27, '15 10:22pm  
Man I need to visit Scotland. I always wanted to visit the Loch Ness. The farthest I have driven in the UK is Northrumbia to visit the castles. I really enjoyed my time in London and staying in the Kensington district.
 
@CBP210:
Scotland is awesome!  The very best place I've ever visited.  Edinburgh is like a city out of a historical novel. 4951
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CBP210 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Jan 28, '15 12:13am  

- - - - - - - -
>> Man I need to visit Scotland. I always wanted to visit the Loch Ness. The farthest I have driven in the UK is Northrumbia to visit the castles. I really enjoyed my time in London and staying in the Kensington district.
 
@CBP210:
Scotland is awesome!  The very best place I've ever visited.  Edinburgh is like a city out of a historical novel.
 
@Odin: I so badly wanted to go to Scotland but was not given enough time.
4951
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