Summer honeymoon, LA - LV - SF.

[Livetodrive]

I've done the day trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and it is a bit of a long haul. I would recomend the North Rim for scenic reasons and there is a great hotel on the top edge of the canyon called Grand Canyon Lodge, perfect for a honeymoon if you can get a reservation. Perfect for a drink at sunset if you can't.

[W. Larrison]

Speeding on the California highways, at excessively high speeds is really not a good idea. You'll be doing 70-75 mph (125-130 kph) anyway... That's the speed limit once you get out of the city. Most of the problem is that its still going to take a while to get to places -- so like 2-3 or more hours at that speed.

Typically the speeding detectors are accurate within about 10%, and most cars' speedometers are only accurate to this, so if the speed limit is 75 mph, you can typically run at about 80 mph without getting a ticket. So its not *strictly* enforced, that you'll get a ticket at 75.3 mph, if the limit is 75.

At the same time, the roads are patrolled -- by vehicle and by air in the desert. Really excessive speed is going to make you stand out, and you're more likely to get a ticket. I always try to be the 2nd or 3rd fastest car in sight...

But, the bottom line is the law says "to what is safe" -- you CAN get a ticket for going under the speed limit if you are driving either in an unsafe manner, or the road conditions are such that it isn't safe (such as in a thick fog).

So.. I guess the bottom line is be sane, and safe and you should be OK.

[scotengirish]

Your advice seems great, it seems you have a very similar style of driving to myself. I can definitely say im not an insane speeder but ill happily drive at 80 when its safe. Im glad there seems to be a common sense approach by the police to driving those distances.

After driving 300 mile round trips every so often, that little 5 mph can make a large difference by the end of the journey. At the same time i would probably be the kind of person to get stopped for driving too slow outside schools and hospitals, even though most limits around schools here are around 30, you'll never catch me doing more than 20 during the day, its just not safe.

[PNW Judy]

Because in my state, the speed limit is 20mph around schools when kids are going to/from school. I assume that it's a lowered speed limit in all states. Since most of my roadtrips are in the summer, school isn't in session so I'm not sure of that. Just watch for signs posted to slow down in these types of areas.

I always figure I can go about 5 miles over the speed limit without concern. Like Larrison, I tend to drive just a tad less fast than the fastest cars on the road. As long as I follow this rule, I've been fine. It's only when I decide to be brazen and be the fastest on the road that I've gotten into trouble. And I love twisty-bits. Especially hilly twisty-bits. I have a hard time not pushing pedal-to-metal on them. Sounds like we'd enjoy cruising together. :)

As an international visitor, you might want to be a tad less daring though.

[Mark Sedenquist]

At the same time i would probably be the kind of person to get stopped for driving too slow outside schools and hospitals, even though most limits around schools here are around 30, you'll never catch me doing more than 20 during the day, its just not safe.

In Nevada the speed limit around schools in either 25 mph or, in most cases, 15 mph and since most of our schools in the Las Vegas area are 12-month schools.... You had better slow down. One of my trucks will barely run at 15 mph unless I am in 4-WD.... A typical speeding ticket for driving 35 mph in a 15 mph zone is $400 and because of our point system could easily lead to a suspension of the driving license on a first-offense....

Mark

[jif001]

I'll not say im a fast driver, but ... driving at a high average speed is second nature to me ... The few motorways we have i use regularly and have no problem with lane switchers etc.

Now when i get to California i guess this way of driving might as well be forgotten. From what i've been told is that most roads are very wide and multi-laned in California.

If Irish motorways are anything like those in the UK, you'll have plenty of space in your lane. Not so around LA - the freeways are much wider with more lanes, but the lanes are narrower. You really need to keep your wits about you as you keep pace with the traffic, stay strictly in lane, and avoid the weavers who dodge at speed from lane to lane to find a quicker route through the traffic. These lane switchers are nothing like any you'll have encountered in Ireland!

On motorways in the UK passing on the left is illegal, but no analogous restriction applies in the US (if it does, I've never seen any evidence of it!). That means that in order to change lanes you must make sure the lane you are moving to is clear alongside and behind, regardless of whether it is left or right.

When you're out of the city, freeway driving is a breeze. Driving from LA to Las Vegas is a joy (at least, I think so!). I've travelled the route a few times and always found it therapeutic after the mayhem I've just left behind. My advice is to chill out. Forget driving at 80+ to get anywhere - on a road trip, by definition, the driving is part of the experience. Don't rush it - take in the scenery, relax, stop off here and there for refreshments or just to take in the air for five minutes.

By taking it easy you'll also free yourself of the need to be vigilant looking for traffic cops!

[Eris]

It can happen to the best of drivers :-)

Once received a speeding ticket on the 1-40 near William AZ. Happened a year or two back so things may have changed but there was a hill section where the speed limit reduced from 75 to 65 which was easily missed - as though someone had designed the road layout as a speed trap.

Wasn’t consciously speeding.

Where the police car came from I’ve no idea but was flagged down with the obligatory blue flashing light. The police officer was polite, non-committal and to the point – as though he did it on a very regular basis. Issued with a $60 (no doubt inflation has changed that) which I paid via a post office.

Speeding hot spots are there ….. a hazard of driving I suppose.

[scotengirish]

"you'll have plenty of space in your lane. Not so around LA - the freeways are much wider with more lanes, but the lanes are narrower."

Thanks for that, i really thought that american freeways were really wide, not sure why. If the hire car company do give me a dodge charger i think i'll be very conscious of the tightness. Seems like American cars are just generally bigger.

"On motorways in the UK passing on the left is illegal, but no analogous restriction applies in the US (if it does, I've never seen any evidence of it!). That means that in order to change lanes you must make sure the lane you are moving to is clear alongside and behind, regardless of whether it is left or right."

This will make things very interesting. I would guess then that the middle lane would be the best bet, although it would be interesting to know if your obliged to stick to the 'slow' lane when there is no traffic, as over here we are told to always keep left on motorways.

Another thing i noticed is that all the hire cars are automatic. Considering i drive manual (stick), all the time driving an automatic is probably going to be boring, but probably easier on the long journeys and hills of san francisco.

And maybe its just because we pay high costs for fuel, but American cars seem to be really inefficient, a 3.5L petrol engine only giving 200bhp, and 19mpg. Here we expect even the cheapest 2.0L petrol engines to be more powerful.

Anyway, once again thanks to everyone for the advice.

[jif001]

Most American rental cars are automatic. If you're not used to driving an auto then a good tip is to keep your left leg tucked right up against the seat, preferably at an angle so the foot is under your right knee. It's very easy to forget youself and try to stomp on the clutch pedal - and since American autos have a wider brake pedal than you'll be used to, you end up stomping on that, with predictable results.

I've never understood the American preference for large engines. Over here, as you suggest, we have smaller, lighter, more fuel-economical engines with at least the same poke. I once had a rental car with a 6.5 litre engine. It was (if I remember correctly) a Cadillac Seville. A beast of a car, and sluggish despite its capacity. Absolute power is one thing, but what's important is the power-to-weight ratio. Accelerating from 60 to 70mph to pass seemed to take forever! I also once had a Ford Taurus, which (again, IIRC) had a 4.5 litre engine. It was a Mondeo on steroids.

Some cars are dogs, others are rather nice - I think that's par for the course the world over. I once grew rather attached to a foxy maroon Buick Century (here's hoping I've not just made an admission I'll later regret...)

[PNW Judy]

The only cars I've had that I've enjoyed driving are German. Although you Brits could lure me over with a Mini Cooper. (Yeah, yeah, I know it's owned by BMW, a German company, now. But it will always be an Austin and British at heart, right?)

Anyway, I agree with you. As an American, I will never understand the taste of most Americans in automobiles. And I'm perplexed trying to figure out the lure of the maroon Buick??!! Sounds like there's a story in there. :)