Driving in the USA

There are a few things that British visitors to the US may be confused about when driving. Generally, there are fewer rules of the road, which can actually make things a bit confusing. Here are some things that threw me when I first started driving here!

Undertaking/Passing on the Right
Drivers in Colorado pass you on both sides. This can be a little unnerving. Most people stick to the middle lane, unless they want to exit. Staying on the right can mean you end up exiting unintentionally! Be extra careful to check when changing lanes that someone isn't coming up quickly beside you.

Stop Signs
Unlike "Give Way" or "Yield" signs, these require an actual stop, even if there is no-one coming. Denver's streets are on a grid system, so there are a lot of 4-way intersections. Always check whether there is a Stop sign on the right corner of the road, there are often no lines on the road to tell you to stop. Driving in the UK made me very used to relying on the road lines, rather than signs, without realising it.

4 Way Stop Signs
At an intersection, check if it is a 4 way stop sign, meaning everyone at the intersection has to stop. It often says "4 way" on the signs. In this situation, everyone stops, and the first person to arrive goes. If two people arrive at the same time, give way to the person to the right of you.

Right Turns at Traffic Lights
It confused me no end when I would see people appear to just drive through red lights. This is because you are allowed/expected to turn right at a red light, after stopping and giving way to any oncoming traffic. Likewise, if you are driving on a one-way street, and you are turning onto another one-way street, you are allowed to turn right or left at a red light, after giving way. If you choose not to do this, no-one would mind, except for the odd impatient person.

Giving Way to Pedestrians
If you have a green light to turn left or right, pedestrians often also have a green light to cross the road you are turning onto. Make sure you give way to them before turning.

Exiting/Entering Highways/Motorways
This can occasionally be a bit stressful, mainly on the busy I-25 North-South road through Denver. Still, I think it is much easier than the M25! The slightly awkward designs of the US interstate highways sometimes mean people need to exit from a lane that other people need to get into. The same lane often serves as a slip road on and off the road. Slip roads are also quite short. If you'd rather avoid I-25, the busiest road, then there are loads of other ways to get out of the city.

Rush Hours
These begin really early in the afternoon! Avoid I-25/6th Avenue if possible between 6-9am and 3-6pm on weekdays. If your flight arrives during that time, it is maybe best to use Colorado Blvd south into the city, rather than I-25.

Always Carry Your Driving Licence...
...as well as your insurance details from the rental company. The police will ask for "Licence and Registration", and you are expected to have it on you. The good news is if you do get stopped for speeding, they will often take one look at your licence and let you go - a foreign one is too much hassle!
With a UK Licence, you are allowed to drive in the US for one year. You do not need an international driving permit.

Speed Limits...
...seem to be purposefully ambiguous! Don't expect big red signs; they are small, black and white, and irregularly posted. The main ones you will see are '55mph' zones on the highway (often speed traps), and '25mph' zones in residential areas. The usual speed limits are 70 on the highway, 30 on small streets, and 40 on wider multi-lane roads in the city. The good news is that with all the mountain roads, people rarely drive faster than 70. Beware of the journey downhill back down I-70 to Denver. It is a speed trap and way too easy to drive fast on. America hasn't discovered the speed camera yet, so you are most likely to get caught by a cop with a speed gun.

America, and Denver especially, is very reliant on the car, and public transport can be difficult to find. I do think that anyone who has previously driven through France however, will find Colorado a piece of cake! The main danger is staring too long at the scenery, and not enough time on the road!