Almost every hire car will be an automatic - no gear changes required. Be careful to keep you foot on the brakes when you have stopped to prevent you from rolling forward.

Speed Limits

Speed limits are much lower than home (typically max 55mph or 65 mph on the fastest stretches) - This gives you much more time to think. Speed limits are strictly enforced with Florida State Troopers unashamedly collecting dollars income from speeding tourists. Speeding tickets for UK residents have to be paid - though no points are added to UK licenses.

Air Conditioning

Most cars will have air conditioning: This is a must in the Florida heat, and a welcome break once it "kicks in"

Power Steering:

Also very common - no "heaving the steering wheel" - much more civilized!

Toll Roads:

If you are going to use the Greeneway (417) or Beeline Expressway (528) you will have to pay tolls as you travel along.

The layout of Orlando:

Please click here for location map

Interstate 4

The road that run South West / North east through the city is the Interstate 4 (I4) - which is the lifeline of the city / area. You are about 4.5 miles from the I4 Ramp!

The best way to drive this road is to get into the middle lane (at the correct speed of course.) This is because, it alternates between 2 and 3 lane carriageway. This has the effect that, if you are happily sitting in the slower right hand lane, minding your own business, you suddenly find yourself on an "exit only" stretch of road - and you need to then quickly get across a lane to your left, to avoid prematurely leaving the road. Since cars can overtake you quite legally either side in the US, this presents no problem to other drivers. It is a very busy road - but essential for getting around the key tourist sites!

Highway 192

Many of the top attractions including Disney can be reached from the 192. This is a road you are likely to know well before you leave. It has many sets of traffic lights, so your journey would be characterised with many stop-start situations

Highway 27:

This runs North South at the West end of town - Highlands Reserve is just off this major highway. Use it to connect to the 192 (to the North) or the I4 and beyond (to the south.)

Traffic Lights:

There are lots of these! In the USA you can turn right on a red signal as long as you have checked the way is clear. This can save a lot of waiting at busy junctions. In Florida there are few (if any) roundabouts. All major junctions are governed by Traffic Lights. If lights are on red, you can legitimately turn right if the way is clear (unless you are specifically forbidden with a sign at the junction.)

Turning Left:

If you are expecting to turn left up ahead - give yourself plenty of time to get across the lanes. Usually left turn have their own "funnel lane" which allow you to sit and wait without getting in the way of cars form behind who may have wished to go straight on.

These area give you a chance to wait until the "coast is clear" and you can cross over the opposite carriageway.

Getting Lost

Its easy to get lost! If you do - and you know it - do a U turn at a convenient turning point up ahead. Everyone seems to do this. Its also useful if yo're not quite sure where your turn is - and you don't want to hold traffic up by driving slowly. Go past your exit - then double back - if you haven't got time to get into the turning position.

Road Signs

When we first arrived in Florida, we made the mistake of assuming that the Road name over the road we were travelling on was the name of the road we were travelling on. They are not - they indicate which road you can access at the junction where they are inevitably positioned!

Headlights

Put them on when it is raining!

It is almost impossible to even get to the shops without a car in the USA... You can see by the size of the car park of even a small restaurant that a car is essential. Most holidays to the USA from the UK have car hire included as part of the packages this means somebody will have to drive the car.
Driving a car in the USA isn't as traumatic as you may think and can be quite enjoyable. The first thing to say about driving in the USA is that generally it is more relaxed than in Europe. Driving speeds are lower. Drivers are more polite and aware of their fellow road users and everywhere they show respect for the laws.
If you have never driven in the USA before, read through this section and get to know the differences. You will be in a strange place, getting lost at home is bad enough, getting lost here can be easy if your not concentrating.

Preparation
Try to find out as much as possible before you leave home about exactly where your Hotel or Rental Home is in relationship to the airport. Ask on the Forums if your unsure. Don’t forget your driving license (both plastic and paper parts) and any vouchers or paper work about car hire that your travel company or agent has given you.

Your first 'drive' will be from the airport to your accommodation. Very often you will not get any directions from the tour operator until you arrive at the airport. Obtain directions before hand, if at all possible, you should be able to get directions from the members of the forums. Study maps or online resources for as long as you can before you depart. Get an idea of where you are going. Go over and over your directions trying to get a general picture of where you are going. Write down a list of the major roads, junctions and turning points as a quick reference, it's easy to lose your way on a map.

If you're going to be driving then don't drink alcohol on the aircraft. Drink Driving law is very strictly enforced and you will be charged if caught and spend a night in the cells. Not a good way to start the holiday!

The most obvious difference with driving in the USA is that they drive on the right hand side of the road. You may be familiar with this after driving your own car on the continent and if you have done this you will know that strange feeling of being on the wrong side of the road, but at least you were in your own car and everything was familiar. The biggest difference to this is that in the US you will be on wrong side of both the road and the car. We have all got used to judging the greater distance on our left side but now the width of the car will be on the right. The arm you lean out of the window is the wrong one, the gear change (shift) is on the right and it’s an automatic.

Diving an Automatic
OK, you have found the car and put all your baggage in the trunk, everyone is in the car and you have familiarised yourself with the controls, you put the key in the ignition, check the shift is in Park and start the engine. Now your ready to pull out of the parking bay, but wait the gear shift will not budge.. How do you get it out of Park? Well in most US Automatics you have to apply the brake pedal before you can move the gear lever to Drive.
There will also be a hand/foot brake (Parking Brake), most have a ratchet type foot brake, it acts like a handbrake and it is usually in the upper left of the footwell. Sometimes it will be on the steering column.

With the Parking Brake 'On' (just in case the engine is revving or tick-over is set too high. Otherwise the car may jump forward) Depress the brake pedal and put the vehicle into 'Drive'. Only use one foot (the right one!) for operating the pedals. You can keep the left foot well over to the left or tuck it up against the seat. There is a slight (but only slight) possibility that when you stop quickly you will instinctively stab at the non-existent Clutch pedal with your left foot. Possibly hitting the Brake pedal with way too much force. Most automatics will 'creep' at tick- over without the Brake. You can move slowly forward by just releasing and applying the Brake pedal. Use this technique in slow areas and only use the accelerator to finally pull-away. Rules & Regulations all these things can seem daunting, but fear not, they can all be absorbed by your brain in a very short space of time. Thank goodness the pedals, are at least, in the right order.
You can study the Driver License Handbooks here
Follow the links to Driver License Handbooks Index.
They will tell you many things -including the 'Free Right Rule'... When you come to a traffic light in the Right Lane, you may turn Right if it is safe to do so against the light. Ensure you come to a complete stop and indicate.

Enjoy your driving experiences...

Things to Note:-
Do not park within 10 Feet of a Fire Hydrant.
You must park on the right (Your Car must never face the traffic).
Never park in front of red or yellow painted curbs, these are reserved for emergency vehicles.
Never park on a white line at a Bus Stop.
Remember where you left your car! Especially in the Theme park Car Parks as they are HUGE.

STARTING
Depress and hold the brake pedal down while turning the key to the "start" position. Engage the starter for 3-5 seconds at a time until the engine starts.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Your car will almost certainly have automatic gears unless you have ordered a specialist car. The gear lever("gearshift") will either be mounted by the steering wheel, or between the front seats (console-mount). Console mounted gearshifts include a "thumb button" required to be pressed to allow movement of the lever.

USING YOUR GEAR SHIFT
Most cars normally have 6 gear positions-P Park, R Reverse, N Neutral, D Drive, 1 first gear, and 2 second gear. The last two gears are designed for use when crossing difficult terrain or climbing steep hills. Drive is the normal driving position, and the gears will automatically adjust as the car changes speed. The gears will automatically change down when the car needs extra acceleration to overtake or drive up a hill.

MIRRORS
Many cars have remote control side mirrors. The controls are normally toggles or "joysticks" that are located either on each door, on a control panel on the driver's door, or on the dash panel.

HEADLIGHTS
The headlights on your car may be turned on by one of the following methods:
Pull or rotate knob located on lower left-hand dash panel. On most
Chrysler cars the pull/push headlight knob is also the dimmer switch for interior lights, (speedometer etc.). Please make sure you turn the knob "OFF" or you could drain your battery.
Rotate indicator lever forward.
Press button/lever on upper left-hand dash panel
Push lever mounted on right side of the steering column upward. You can normally flash your lights by pulling or pushing your indicator lever.

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
They are normally found either on top or below the steering column.

WINDSCREEN WIPERS
Most windscreen wipers controls are found on the indicator lever. Rotate the lever to the required speed. Press in the lever to activate the washer.

FUEL TANK FILLER RELEASE
If your car has a locking petrol cap the release is normally a button or switch located in the glove compartment or on the floor between the driver's seat and floor. If you can't find it look for an emergency release cable which may be in the boot on the side wall nearest the petrol cap. Pull to operate.

AUTOMATIC BOOT (TRUNK)
Some larger grade cars have "automatic" boots that slowly close themselves when you push them shut. Please do not force them!

BOOT (TRUNK) RELEASE
If your car is equipped with an interior boot release it may be located on the floor, between the driver's seat and door. Pull the lever to activate the release. Some models have a release button located in the glove compartment, on the dashboard or the driver's door.

HAND BRAKE (PARKING BRAKE) RELEASE
Some cars have a foot operated parking brake located next to the brake pedal. Operate as follows: a release lever or pull tab may be located on the lower left dash panel. Pull to release. If no release lever is found, press the parking brake pedal a second time to release.

CRUISE CONTROL
Many cars are fitted with cruise control and the controls are usually on a lever attached to the steering column. To set the speed that you wish to "cruise" at turn the cruise control button "ON". Once the desired speed is reached, press the "SET" button. To disengage simply tap the brake pedal or turn the cruise control button "OFF".

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