Driving on the West Coast

[mickeymouseears]

There are some youtube videos that explain the rules of driving.
One thing that I find helpful is to say out loud:
short right, long left
as I arrive at a junction. This way I remember that the right line is immediately on my right, and the left is the one not on my left immediately but the next bit (long turn left). Does this make sense or do you want me to draw it.
I think the red light on red, after a while not only you get used to it, you think great I can go.
It's great to have the other person has a navigator so they can remind you in case you are about to make a mistake.
Also same as in the UK, lane discipline.
You shouldn't really cross a double yellow line.
The traffic lights are further than the stop line. You get used to it.
I found driving in LA stressful at night, it was ok during the day so I would tell anyone to avoid this.
Like others said, driving is enjoyable out there.
San Francisco, I would just use uber and lyft so you don't have to worry about parking. Driving down the PCH / highway 1 is a joy, a bit like a country road where most people drive slowish to take in the views / for the stops.
We did SF, Monterey / Carmel, PCH drive down to SLO, Yosemite, Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP, Hollywood / Warner Bros, Disneyland.
Hope this helps

[Ils]

Originally Posted by mickeymouseears

There are some youtube videos that explain the rules of driving.
One thing that I find helpful is to say out loud:
short right, long left
as I arrive at a junction. This way I remember that the right line is immediately on my right, and the left is the one not on my left immediately but the next bit (long turn left). Does this make sense or do you want me to draw it.
I think the red light on red, after a while not only you get used to it, you think great I can go.
It's great to have the other person has a navigator so they can remind you in case you are about to make a mistake.
Also same as in the UK, lane discipline.
You shouldn't really cross a double yellow line.
The traffic lights are further than the stop line. You get used to it.
I found driving in LA stressful at night, it was ok during the day so I would tell anyone to avoid this.
Like others said, driving is enjoyable out there.
San Francisco, I would just use uber and lyft so you don't have to worry about parking. Driving down the PCH / highway 1 is a joy, a bit like a country road where most people drive slowish to take in the views / for the stops.
We did SF, Monterey / Carmel, PCH drive down to SLO, Yosemite, Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP, Hollywood / Warner Bros, Disneyland.
Hope this helps

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Appreciate the advice and it all makes perfect sense. I have watched a couple of videos on YouTube and it all looks pretty simple once you get your head around being on the other side of the car.

Just got to decide whether we fly into LAX or SF.

[400ixl]

If you are ending your holiday in San Fran, then don't bother with a hire car and drop it at the airport as you enter SF. You can get a service like Wingz / Uber to pick you up at the airport car centre and take you to your hotel. You won't really need a car whilst in SF as you can walk most places, will want to try the trams and probably do a tour like Dylan's. Car Parking is expensive in the two main areas of Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square and will cost you more than a car service. Its only free parking when you go to some of the motels a bit further out (20 minutes walk or so). When leaving SF get an Uber to the airport.

LA as people have mentioned is busy. If you find you are nervous on the busy freeways then you can stick to the local roads (often quicker). The local roads have more traffic lights but not really an issue. On the freeways they do tend to drive closely to each other (frightened someone might get ahead of them if they leave a gap) so you do need to plan ahead for junctions. If you know what junction you want then make your way over to the exit side a junction early. That pretty much takes the stress out of it.

[Bella Girl]

Trying right at traffic lights was fine so long as I remembered!

[pritch]

top tip look for a cheap California loaded sat nav on ebay, go one for £25 saved hours and a lot cheaper than paying the hire company. get the best insurance you can, better to be safe than sorry.

[jdouds]

Hi with ref sat navs, load destination on your I pad and phone .

[cornishfrogboy]

I bought a Garmin Nuvi US Satnav around 6-7 years ago with free lifetime updates for around £30.

Best investment ever, as I use a Garmin In the U.K., am familiar with it and thus, it is one less thing to worry about,

[400ixl]

No need to buy a sat nav for the US, just use your existing smartphone.

If you have data you can use then just use Waze or Google Maps, and you will get realtime traffic routing.

If you don't have data you can still do offline maps with Google maps where you pre download the areas you will be going, but just won't get live routing.

All you need to buy is either a cheap phone holder or dash pad if you don't already have them. Although most cars now have USB ports for charging and Android Auto or Apple Carplay for displaying the phone screen on the stereo.

[400ixl]

As for insurance, in most cases you will get the cover you need in the main rental. Crash liability waiver is the main one. You can add tyre, roof and recovery if you wish.

Don't get pushed into buying add ons at the depot as they are not needed for non US customers.

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by 400ixl

No need to buy a sat nav for the US, just use your existing smartphone.

If you have data you can use then just use Waze or Google Maps, and you will get realtime traffic routing.

If you don't have data you can still do offline maps with Google maps where you pre download the areas you will be going, but just won't get live routing.

All you need to buy is either a cheap phone holder or dash pad if you don't already have them. Although most cars now have USB ports for charging and Android Auto or Apple Carplay for displaying the phone screen on the stereo.

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That is ok if you use your smartphone at home. I do not. I use a Garmin and therefore want to use the same in the US.

It’s a horses for courses thing!