The sheer size of the United States, coupled with the lack of one uniting rail system, makes traveling by car one of the most practical ways to get around the country. Unless you are planning a trip that remains strictly within the confines of the downtown areas of New York City, Chicago, or San Francisco, you might consider looking into renting a car for the maximum accessibility and ease of travel during your trip.

The United States has a very large, very well established and well kept system of roads including  both country roads taken care of by the states they are in (the remains of Route 66 is an example) and  much larger ones faster ones known as the Interstate System. The Interstate snakes its way through most areas of the country and using it is a very good way to see multiple parts of the nation if one has the time or inclination.

Part I: Getting a car

 In the United States, renting a car is a fairly common practice that local businessmen, families on vacation, and foreign visitors engage in. Car rental agencies (such as Herz, Budget, Enterprise and many more) have branch offices in nearly every city in America, although they are most commonly found at airports.  A wide variety of car makes and models are available to rent -- everything from a huge 4X4 truck to a tiny VW Beetle (and yes, passenger vans are plentiful for families.) Prices typically vary depending on the make and model (a Mercedes-Benz  S Class will be very expensive, whereas a Ford Aspire will be much less, for example)  and charges per day can vary -- anywhere from $15 to $85 or more.  Reservations can be made in advance, usually without the need for a credit card, although you can usually pop into a rental office and secure a car without a reservation, depending on the time of year. Hybrid cars are available and popular, so if this is your aim, you may want to make a reservation, and you will expect to pay more than for a typical compact car.

Below are listed a few things to remember at the dealership:

• Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the controls on your rented car. You may find that many of the controls are on or around the steering wheel and not on the dash. You don't want the radio on full volume instead of the wipers when its raining. Some states require lights when its raining so find that switch too. (Even when it's sunny.)
  
• For British or Irish drivers, remember that the steering wheel will be on the opposite side of the car you'd expect it to be-driving is on the right, so it makes sense to have the steering wheel on the left so you can see what is coming in the other direction. Be careful as you handle the keys as well: many cars in America have keys which double as a means to lock the car by remote either on the key itself or attached to it.
• Purchase insurance when driving a hired car. It is available at most rental car dealers and can be of great assistance in the event of an emergency. Imporatant Tip: Before you leave on your trip, you should check t see if your current car insurance covers your car rentals as well. Double-check to ensure you will be covered for liability, collision, and loss-of-use coverage. This can save you in excess of $20 per day -- car rental agencies typically make most of their profits on insurance, and it will be quite expensive (but not advised to go without).
• Some rental cars have  built in GPS systems that  are accurate and can typically  tell you where you need to go very easily-some will even talk to you as you are driving.  They are, however, an added feature that costs extra. If you cannot afford a GPS system, most car rental agencies will provide you with a free map of the city center, and nearly any gas station you can find will stock road atlases and area maps that are quite affordable. Furthermore, online map sites like Mapquest and Google Maps work for both the U.S. and  most other countries as well. Before your trip, it might be worth printing out the directions and area maps for each location you plan to visit. If you already have a portable GPS system, bring it along -- the same system will likely work just fine on US roads, but check with the manufacturer first.
• The legal minimum age to obtain a driver's license in the United States varies from state to state but the average age is about sixteen. However, it is generally the aim of most car rental agencies to avoid renting cars to young or very old drivers as statiscally they are involved in the most accidents and mayhem involving automobiles. For those under 25 or over 70, check with the car rental agency before you leave on your trip to ensure that they will rent you a car – many have policies that prohibit rentals to people of a certain age, even though you may be legally able to drive.
• Many makes and models of minivans and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) come equipped with DVD players.  It might be a good idea to invest in one with this feature if you are traveling with children or teenagers on the long journeys typical between American cities – children who are entranced by Spiderman tend not to ask, "Are we there yet?" as much.
• Read your rental contract, and keep a copy of it in the glove compartment.  It will come in handy if you encounter any trouble and the fact is you haven't actually rented the car until you have signed the agreement. If there is anything you object to within the agreement or if you find something not to your satisfaction with the car, it is much easier to negotiate with the agency before you have signed the contract and driven the car off their lot.
• It is of great benefit to carry a passport with you, in addition to your drivers license and whatever credit card you used to book the car. Your passport is a valuable proof of ID that can be used in a multitude of settings, including this one.  The license you use at home is also crucial to take with you and have with you on the road – you will likely not be allowed to rent a car without one, and if you are pulled over by a police officer, you may be sent to jail if you can't show proof of a drivers license. When you are driving, keep your passport, license, and rental car agreement with you at all times as you may not know when you will need them next.

Part II: Rules of the Road

Basic Highway Primer

The United States Interstate Highway System has definite rules and regulations: East of the Mississippi River the typical speed limit is 65 mph and west of the Mississippi it is roughly 70-speed limits are determined by population size so the more rural the area, the higher the speed limit (i.e., New Jersey's limits will always be lower than Arizona's).  It is also true that one can tell what direction they are going in if they pay attention to the interstate's number:  in either direction, odd numbers usually head north-south, even usually run east-west.

Highway signs are often color coded to indicate what they mean:

Signs with a green field and  white letters indicate information; these are the most common and they indicate places, distances, and places (including exits.) These are normally found on the side of the road or are overhead and some will quote the distance between where the sign stands and a destination the highway passes through.

Signs with a blue field and white letters are hospitality signs. They indicate rest areas, food, hotels, hospitals,  gasoline, and often most importantly for long trips, where the next bathroom (or "rest area") is. In more remote areas, please note that the last two of these amenities are less common -- be careful about how much gasoline is in your tank if you are crossing the desert or plains.

Brown signs with white letters are heritage signs. These indicate historical attractions, entertainment (amusement parks), campgrounds, and natural attractions like national parks or protected natural areas.  These are important to tourists in particular as most often it is the desired destination: normally they occur within a twenty mile radius of the location and some (but not all) will tell you which exit to use. 

Red or orange signs equal "caution, danger, or stop."  They must be heeded-in America, it is very foolish to take this only as a suggestion as one may find himself being blindsided by another car and endangering anyone with him. A blinking red light means the same thing as a stop sign -- stop the car completely for 3 seconds, and proceed when safe to do so.

Yellow signs or lights mean "caution." A blinking yellow light means "proceed with caution," but does not incidate that you should stop the car. Yellow signs with black lettring are most commonly found in areas that contain the presence of wildlife or small children – a useful thing to know, since neither are known for their judgment around cars or roads. In areas with children (usually suburbs and near schools) it is wise to keep an eye on the road, especially during daylight for little bicycles and little feet tramping about. It is important to remember that in America animals large enough to do damage to your car are not necessarily restricted to wilderness, wildlife sanctuaries , or rural areas – they can and do live in suburban areas or abandoned/public land. For example, a section of Interstate 90 less than 40 miles from Boston has become infamous in recent years  for fatal accidents involving moose – an animal weighing up to a ton and over 7 feet tall (2.5 m). Similar events happen in other states with bears, cougars, and deer every year, especially during the spring and fall, so if you are driving in fog or past sunset and see one of these signs it pays to keep your headlights on and keep an eye open for animals like these. Deer "in rut" who are chasing a mate can appear out of nowhere in a matter of seconds, and the results are often deadly.

Other signs (of many shapes and colors) indicate when you have crossed into another state.The designs on the sign are usually unique to the state  and are larger than normal. They are found at the exact border where the interstate crosses into another state.

It is also should be mentioned that distances are not measured in meters on any road unless one is close to the Canadian border: one mile is roughly equal to 2 km.  Paying attention in particular to signs that indicate how far away something is is a worthy idea as exit ramps may appear sooner than anticipated!

Driving rules

If you are a first time visitor to the United States and are planning to rent a car during your visit, there are some driving rules  and customs you might not be aware of. Below are a few highlights

• Did you know that you are supposed to stop in BOTH directions for any school bus with flashing lights? This rule is strictly enforced in every state and the penalties can be severe, not to mention the risk of running a kid over if you don’t stop! If you live in the U.S. this is one of the most basic driving rules, but if you are a foreign traveler you may not be aware of it and that could get you into trouble.
• At a stop sign, drivers proceed in the order in which they have arrived at the intersection.  If there is a tie, the vehicle on your right has right of way; or the driver traveling straight if someone is turning on a head-on approach. Remember, to actually bring your vehicle to a brief-but-complete halt for a few seconds at every stop sign.
• A lower speed limit is strictly enforced in front of schools when there are signs that indicate when and at what hours this is the case. Watch for kids, because they are everywhere.  Go slowly (25 mph) in neighborhoods, and keep an eye open particularly in the morning (6-9:30 a.m.) and later in the afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.) Generally these are the times of day when children are going to school or leaving it to return home.
• Another speed limit problem is how fast to go on major highways and interstates. The legal speed limit is posted on a sign and typically ranges from 55-75 miles per hour.  However, you will probably find that most people are exceeding the speed limit by 5 to 10 miles per hour. If you are driving with the speed of traffic, you generally won't be ticketed.  (If you're really worried about it, buy a radar detector once you're in the country -- they're legal in most states.) Generally, on roadways in the USA the leftmost lanes are considered to be the "fast" lanes and the rightmost lanes are considered to be the "slow" lanes; therefore, if you are on a multi-lane highway and find the traffic is passing you frequently on the right, you should probably move over a lane or two so as not to hold up traffic.
• Watch for lanes on the freeway which have a diamond shape painted on the pavement.  Generally found in urban areas, these lanes are designated for "car pools," and should only be used by vehicles containing more than one person (check posted signs for minimum number of passengers). Fines are hefty for driving in these lanes without the correct number of passengers, so be aware of when these lanes appear and make sure you are in the correct lane at all times.
• In most areas, cars already in a rotary, traffic circle, or roundabout have the right of way.
• You must stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.  Crosswalks are implied at four-way intersections. In most states, you must stop for any pedestrian who steps out anywhere in the road. Be on the lookout or you could face manslaughter charges.
• Making right turns on red signals after stopping (and ensuring the path is clear of pedestrians and oncoming traffic) is allowed in most states, unless there is a specific restriction posted at the intersection or the traffic lights show a red arrow in place of the standard red light.  Some areas will allow you to make a left turn on red going from a one-way street onto another one-way street.  (Note:  There is no "Right on Red" in New York City.) 
• In urban areas, be careful not to block intersections (with or without traffic lights) when traffic backs up.  This is called "blocking the box" and if there is a police officer around, you will get a ticket because it can cause gridlock.
• Exert great caution if you find yourself in a situation with an angry, "kooky" driver.  If someone is tailgaiting you, just let them pass. I DO NOT purposely slow up, then go fast, then slow up again, to annoy them.  Let them in, if they need to get in. Otherwise, you may incite an incident of "road rage" -- which isn't safe for you, anyone in your car, or anyone around.
• Most gas stations require you to pay before filling up -- even if no sign is displayed. In many areas it is payable by credit card – swipe the card, indicate the kind of gasoline you want, how much you want. and the pump will activate. Be aware, however, that some gas stations can and will put a hold on up to $200 of your credit balance if you swipe at the pump. Paying inside can alleviate this problem in some cases, but the best thing to do is simply to pay in cash whenever possible. Some gas stations offer a small discount to cash payers, so it could be well worth your while to prepay with cash for that reason as well.
• Plan your journey.  Route numbers and final destination signs are different from the signs you may see in your home country. 
• If you get lost, park in a shopping area, rest stop, or seek a restaurant.  You will usually see some signs to get you back on track.  People will usually be eager to help.
• Be aware of road signs that require you to put on the vehicle's lights during daylight. 
• In the event of a flat tire or loss of gasoline, try to ease yourself to the right side of the road where there is a lane nobody is using-this is the shoulder. Put your  emergency blinkers on-this indicates to other drivers "I am stuck."  Use a cell phone and dial 911, or find a call box (located periodically along the interstate).
• In a few rural areas (like Lancaster County, Pennsylvania or portions of the West)  one may encounter horses or horse and carriages. Slow down, keep your distance,  and do not honk the horn. Give the animal wide berth -- these are not like the horses policemen ride in cities and they can and do spook!
• Some areas of the West will allow you to go off road as these places are public land.  Please take the sign that says "four wheel drive only" very seriously: a typical European built sedan or American minivan WILL NOT be able to withstand hairpin turns, rocky trails, craggy surfaces, and icy conditions up a mountain pass or mesa even if they may have more horsepower. (Such types are usually designed either for higher speed highways like the Autobahn or for leisure.)  If you wish to explore the thousands of miles of rugged terrain, it is best to rent a Jeep or . All of the above are available from car hire dealerships,  all are designed for multiple types of terrain (the Jeep still gets heavy use from the United States Army), all have the option of four wheel drive, and all have a good  set of shock absorbers.    [All shall also be available as hybrids within the next four years.]

More serious problems

• Wear a seatbelt. This is the golden rule of driving in the U.S. as most jurisdictions require it for all passengers, even children (some places even require a special seat for children under 50 pounds.)  A policeman that stops you and finds you without your seatbelt fastened can ticket you and any of your passengers.  Babies are generally discouraged from being held in the arms or on the lap of a parent while the other one is driving: it is considered too great a risk as baby could go flying through the windshield or smash against the seat if the car stops short and most law enforcement discourages it.
  
• If baby has been fussy, avoid problems and sit in the back with him-it avoids distracting the driver and makes it easier to care for him. (And remember, rest areas and little stops along the road are plentiful enough that you can stop and attend to him if it gets really bad or he has soiled himself.)
• Typically a park ranger, state trooper, policeman, or highway patrolman will want to see your "license and registration" if he pulls you over.  If he asks for this, hand him the license you have from home, your passport, and your rental agreement.  
• Babies and small children generally are not encouraged to sit in the front seat in America: the passenger's side airbag can suffocate a child or baby if it deploys in an accident.  If you are traveling with a baby, see to it that he has a front facing car seat firmly buckled into the back seat behind the driver and then buckle him in snugly. If traveling with a child under twelve, know that some jurisdictions don't permit children under 12 to ride in the front passenger's  seat. (They are usually not tall or heavy enough to withstand the rigors of a car crash.)
• In January 2008, the state of California passed the country's first mandatory seatbelt law for dogs; other states are seriously considering doing the same and generally it is a good idea to at least investigate getting one of these special harnesses if you are traveling with Rover: leaving him unsecured in the backseat can be dangerous if there is an accident. If you are out with Rover, don't allow him to ride in the bed of a truck as is sometimes shown in some films: this is actually extremely dangerous.
• It should be obvious, but never drink alcoholic beverages and drive.  Make sure there is one in your party who is the "designated driver," who will not drink.  The courts are levying more and more severe penalties for drunken drivers.  Please don't be one of them.  Do not have (or keep) any open bottles of alcohol, even beer, in the car.  If you are pulled over by a police officer or state trooper, the open bottles will get you a ticket, and there is a good chance you shall be asked to get out of the car and take a breathalyzer test if the police officer has reason to suspect you are too drunk to drive.  (Blood-alcohol levels to be legally inebriated are lower than in Europe.) 
• In regards to drugs and driving, it is illegal to possess certain drugs let alone drive with them; if you carry them or are under their influence you will be arrested. You may face fines or jail time at the discretion of a judge and the severity of your punishment shall be dictated by the kind of drug you were found with: marijuana faces slightly lighter sentences, but heavier drugs like LSD, methamphetamine, heroin, or cocaine shall face much more severe punishment.  (Woe betide the man who is involved in a car accident with any of these in his system: he may be held responsible for the death or injury of any involved.) Remember, as a traveler you are under the jurisdiction of a foreign nation and if you break their rules you may not get the same treatment as you would at home!
• If you do hit somebody, STOP. DO NOT CONTINUE ON.  You can be held at fault if it is proven you have damaged somebody's car or worse perpetrated a "hit and run".  If it is a person, get out of the car and find a way to call an ambulance and the police immediately if they appear to be hurt. Do your level best to help the injured.  Answer any questions the police ask, truthfully-they want to know what happened, how, and who's at fault. Pay close attention to the injured party's welfare: if the person dies charges of vehicular manslaughter may be levied, especially if malicious intent /negligence is proven. If it is simply a damaged car, exchange information with the other party and inform the rental dealership and police as soon as possible. They will want to know of it as it happens and if you have any questions they most likely shall oblige.

There are variations depending on the municipality you are visiting; you are strongly encouraged to review the traffic laws of each for your personal safety as well as that of other drivers.

Natural Disasters and Phenomena

Earthquakes

You can check out the latest earthquakes in the U.S. in the past 7 days at this website: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/r...

If you're driving and notice there's an earthquake (it has to be quite big for a driver to notice), your car may feel like its tires have gone flat. Pull over, but away from anything that could fall on you.  Afterwards, drive much slower (so you can stop in time) and keep your eyes open on the road ahead of you--bridges may be out, bridge sections may be out, etc.  This is one of the biggest threats and endangers many people.  

As a general rule, there's always the juggle of speed and safety.  Try not to loiter around anything that could fall on you.  As  all learn in driving school, always know your "way out."

Hurricanes 

Hurricanes affect the entire eastern seaboard of the U.S. and  the Gulf of Mexico,  The season lasts from late spring  through the late fall typically and if the lessons of Hurricane Katrina teach anything it is that it pays to pay attention to the National Weather Service and the Weather Channel during the months when hot, moist air is most plentiful.  There are some rules to abide by in the event of a hurricane:

• The difference between a hurricane watch and a warning: A hurricane watch indicates a possible path of the storm, but a hurricane warning  indicates its probable path.  The latter is obviously the more dangerous classification and may  be the precursor to having to cut your vacation short.
• Do not attempt to surf if a hurricane lies offshore. Even if it is not going to hit the area you are in, it still is a powerful enough storm to affect the tides and weather.  The waves can grow to be temptingly high indeed, but so can the risks involved with big riptides and undertows.
  
• If you are staying in a rented  beach home on stilts or have rented an RV, LEAVE.  Neither can withstand the winds.
• When the authorities tell you to evacuate, DO IT.   Take anything of value with you and unplug electrical appliances.  Depending on how close the storm is to hitting, you shall be directed to a shelter where the storm shall have little effect.  Observe the signs marked as evacuation routes. Ask questions of the authorities  and locals and they shall guide you to safety. Pay attention to the radio before, during, and after the storm. Staying behind if you are unaccustomed to high winds and flooding is a deadly mistake!!!
• If the storm is far enough away it is wise to pack up and head as far inland as you can-hurricanes thrive over water and moist air but cannot sustain that power over land for long. (Think hundreds of miles.)
• Do not expect plane routes  to run if the storm is upgraded from watch to warning. The FAA typically grounds all planes into and out of an area once it is certain where a hurricane will strike.  If you absolutely must leave, drive overland to an airport far away from where the storm will strike and try to get a plane there.
• If you find yourself stuck in the storm, don't attempt to drive away-by then it is too late.  You cannot overcome winds that can pitch a car around like a ragdoll and you cannot outrun it; if you try you are exposing yourself to even greater peril.  Stay away from windows. If there is a basement available, use it. If not,  go to the inner-most closet or bathroom without windows and hide under heavy furniture. 

Tornadoes  

Every state is at some risk for tornado damage, but states in "Tornado Alley" (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Illinois, South Dakota, Texas) have the highest frequency and the strongest storms. Tornadoes can form any time of the year, but the typical season runs from March to August.

Folklore also used to advise that if you are driving and a tornado is suspected or sighted, you should turn and drive at right angles to the storm. This advice is not recommended because tornadoes do not necessarily travel in straight lines; you cannot always tell the direction the storm is coming from; the road you turn onto may curve and head into the storm, rather than away from it; and there may be more than one tornado associated with a strong storm system, but you may not see it because visibility is diminished by heavy rain and wind-blown debris. The safest thing to do is go to a nearby sturdy building and go inside to an area on the lowest level, without windows: there is a reason why Aunt Em made a beeline for that cellar in The Wizard of Oz! If a sturdy building is not available, then get out of the vehicle and lay down in a low spot on the ground not subject to flooding, protecting the head and neck.

Severe  Thunderstorms

           These are  most common in summer but can occur in any season. Though there are no specific warnings if you are indoors, there are some if you are outdoors:

                 Driving
 

• Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road and stop, making sure you are away from any trees or other tall objects that could fall on the vehicle. Stay in the car and turn on the emergency flashers until the torrential rains subside. Heavy rains produced by thunderstorms can greatly reduce visibility. Vehicles will provide better protection from lightning than being out in the open. Emergency flashers will alert other drivers with limited visibility that you have stopped. Keep car windows closed.

• Slow down a little.  Even if it is not a monsoon outside your car window, you should not speed-you risk hydroplaning.

• Avoid contact with metal or conducting surfaces outside or inside the vehicle. Lightning that strikes nearby can travel through wet ground to your car. The steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Rubber tires provide no protection from lightning. Avoid contact with potential conductors to reduce your chance of being shocked. Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.

• Avoid flooded roadways. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. The depth of water is not always obvious. The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. Rapidly rising water may stall the engine, engulf the vehicle and its occupants, and sweep them away. Look out for flooding at highway dips, bridges, and low areas. Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.

             Outdoors

•             Get out of the swimming pool if it starts thundering.  Where there is thunder, there shall be lightning. It is very unsafe to swim in a thunderstorm as the pool water can conduct electricity and kill you.
• Don't seek shelter under trees.  Lightning likes to hit the tallest objects around and you shall find it rather unpleasant if a large oak tree falls on top of you. If at all possible, seek shelter indoors where it is dry.

Snow

Many places in the U.S . are subject to snowstorms, including the Northeast, most of the Midwest, Alaska, and parts of the Rocky Mountains. Here is what to do if you encounter one:

• Drive slowly.  Keep about one car length between you and the driver in front of you and keep your headlights on.
  
• If the news says to stay off the roads, don't take it lightly-it means that the snow is going to be thick and getting stuck out on the road in a storm will be difficult as it may take time for somebody to get to you.
  
• If it becomes too difficult to see, be sensible and pull off to the side until the storm subsides or at least lightens. If you think you've been caught in a blizzard, preserve the heat in your car and preserve the battery. Bundle up as warmly as you can and phone 911, telling them roughly where you are.  Sit tight,  stay with the car, and don't panic.
• If the weather has been snowy in the city you've landed in, consider renting a car with four wheel drive. They are a bit better on roads after and during a snowstorm.