British Guy Reacts to 6 Ways British and American Driving is Very Different

[@AndrewL209]

Noti Squad📍

[@willsofer3679]

Strange, because personally, I never received the notification for this one. Ha.

[@doobiedave9686]

You said that on country lanes in the U.K. that if two cars meet on a country road, heading in opposite directions, that one of them has to back up to allow the other to pass. How do you guys decide which car has to back up ? Here in the U.S. that could lead to a fight between drivers, lol. Live your channel man ! 👍👏✌️

[@ConsistentEthics]

@@doobiedave9686 I don't know how they do it in the UK, but in Northern Michigan if we are driving through the national forest roads, we generally use the same approach. It is usually whichever driver has the least amount of distance to back up before reaching an intersection/crossroads (or at least until there is a safe spot to drive your 4x4 off-road).

[@TheBeesleys99]

Yeah exactly what Ross said! Whichever makes the nmost sense in terms of distance and difficulty :)

[@Dragon-Believer]

@@TheBeesleys99 - That 14 year old is just so that farm kids can drive tractors. I mean they're going to do it anyways and i'm sure most of them do it younger than that. But the government likes to control things. For 99% of Americans we get our 'learners permit' is the older term at 15 and a half. They've now changed it to 'restricted license' for whatever reason. I guess 'learners permit' was too self explanatory and made too much sense for the government. Those tractors are dangerous. Not because they'll run into you but you'll run into them. You'll be going around a curve on some country road and run smack into the back of a tractor that is barely moving. They might as well just be a giant rock in the middle of the road.

[@aroxinn]

I'm from South Dakota, and the reason for driving so young is for farm kids.

[@americansmark]

Yep. I learned to drive at 12 and have driven farm equipment since I could reach the pedals.

[@ch3rryb0mbthe1st4]

Same, in Oklahoma my classmate, 16 at 5 ft-ish, drove a truck because it's legal for him since his family owns a farm and his ability to drive could mean the family finance survival.

[@st3von00b]

I got my license at the age of 14 in North Dakota but started driving in kindergarten. As a result, I am a much better driver than those that must wait until 16, 17, and even 18. It's a huge disservice to society starting drivers so late in life. They really are clueless..

[@nativetexan9776]

and now they rarely exist..... mostly city kids

[@matthewweng8483]

Right? totally...

[@Counterpoint1951]

I literally laughed out loud when you said a 30-minute to hour-long drive is a long time, and I say this as someone who doesn't go on many long road trips. I was reminded of the saying "Europeans think 100 miles is a long way, Americans think 100 years is a long time."

[@leonstrand329]

That was my commute for about a month, one hundred miles one way

[@rtyable]

Oakland/San Francisco to San Jose is about 30-40 mins on a traffic free time. And that’s all close. I feel ya man.

[@Minalkra]

That's how long I drive to work ... one way.

[@daniellegroves4830]

30 min is what my daily drive to college used to be. I regularly visit my parents who live 4 hours away, and make trips to Chicago which is 3 hours away. It's only long when driving takes up half the day.

[@MAB1273]

I drive 30 minutes to work each day.

[@mermaid1717]

Yellow Speed Limit signs are suggested speeds.. like when going around a sharp curve or past a park. White speed limit signs are the actual ones.

[@pjschmid2251]

Yes and they’re always coupled with another sign that tells you about the hazard that prompted the suggestion of a lowered speed. That’s what happens when you have a non-driver doing a video about driving LOL

[@baird329]

If you drive a top heavy vehicle like a 18 wheeler those signs are life savers.

[@tmanknoll9702]

I'm glad someone pointed this out, though, to be fair, in some states (like VA) they are now technically enforceable, though i still haven't heard of it being enforced.

[@mermaid1717]

@@tmanknoll9702 Virginia also clocks your speed by aircraft. I swear that is the one state that is the biggest pain in the ass for drivers.

[@Highline17]

@@mermaid1717 they never enforce the speed via aircraft, it’s too expensive

[@jeffburdick869]

18:30 they're generally referred to as tractor-trailers or semis, depending on region of the US. Some areas also call them 18 wheelers.

[@emsolo]

The US purchased the three US Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917. At the time they drove on the left and the US didn't bother to change it. Some years ago I travelled to St. Thomas, V.I. on business, and made the mistake of riding shotgun in the taxi from the airport to my hotel. I was terrified! When he made a left turn I almost had a heart attack!

[@odemusvonkilhausen]

Manual transmission cars are also called manuals in America. They're also called sticks, stick shifts, standards, or the number of forward gears, ie. 5-speed, 6-speed, etc.

[@papamaniac2410]

Or the really old '3 on the tree'. Manual gear shift is on the steering column. 1,2,3 and reverse.

[@Rogn1]

@@papamaniac2410 yeah, I learned to drive a ‘three-on-the-tree’ pickup truck.

[@rich7447]

The use of standard comes from the time when manual transmissions were standard and the automatic was an option. It really doesn't work anymore since most cars come standard with an automatic.

[@odemusvonkilhausen]

@@papamaniac2410 Or 4 on the floor

[@odemusvonkilhausen]

@@rich7447 That's true, but nobody calls an automatic a standard.

[@gotham61]

The reason they put the steering wheel on the side nearer the centerline of the road, is so you can see more easily whether it is safe to pull out and pass.

[@billpickard7848]

Virgin Islands are in the Caribbean. They're near the British Virgin Islands

[@willp.8120]

Literally right beside each other.

[@shawnbflannigan]

Are non virgins allowed? Hopefully not virgin drinks!

[@operator0]

@@willp.8120 The closest part of the American Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands is .63 miles apart (1.01km)

[@emmteemee]

Check out the Bailey's Bushwhacker at Paradise Point, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

[@pegacorn856]

They are a U.S.A. Territory. Not a state but part of America. Sort of like India used to be a territory of England.

[@VivaCohen]

They actually call the "restricted license" a learner's permit in most of the US ... don't have to learn manual in the US either. My drive to and from work is 30 miles total and I got excited that it was such a short ride lol

[@kentix417]

I think in many states a learner's permit is what you have while you're taking lessons. You always have to have another licensed driver in the car. A restricted license is what you get after you pass your test. You can drive by yourself but there are limitations on when you can drive and how many passengers you can have and what their ages can be. You get a full license when you turn 18 and those restrictions are lifted.

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@kentix417 There are Federal licence plates and licences, but the States are in control of roads and driving with National or Interstate highways being partially Federal. In order to force the states to adopt standards, the Feds had to threaten/bribe them by offering or blocking funds for highways. Only one or two states refused to be bullied or bribed.

[@kentix417]

I was talking about the difference between a restricted license and a learner's permit. They are generally not the same thing. One comes after the other. Here's a nice summary of the system in Alabama. www.alea.gov/dps/driver-license/license-and-id-cards/graduated-driver-license In their "graduated" system a learner's permit is stage one, a restricted license is stage two and a regular license is stage three.

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@kentix417 That's logical but it is still by state as the powers not given to the Federal government nor denied to the states are the purview of the states. I personally think that the Feds have usurped far too much power, using the commerce clause to do so. Medicine and licencing are in the reserved for the states category, making a cash crop with medical benefits [a.k.a. weed] illegal in Federal law, [arguably because of lobbying from the paper pulp, alcohol and tobacco industries] strikes me and many others to be a corrupt and unconstitutional overreach. There seems to be movement in this, against entrenched interests, probably now mostly Big Pharma. No I am not a conspiracy believer, but there are real conspiracies that need to be exposed, not covered up by phony ones. The real 911 conspiracy has seldom been mentioned.

[@shawnmiller4781]

@@JMM33RanMA that how the feds forced the age-21 drinking limit

[@hollybrooke322]

Even 4-5 hours is not long. When you get to about 6-7+ it starts to get “long”. I personally have taken a day trip multiple times 5 hours away each way. So 10 hours round trip in a day. Also in rural areas like where I live our closest wholesale store is about an hour away so when we need to buy in bulk that’s a two hour round trip.

[@willp.8120]

We do something similar. Drive from north Georgia to Tybee Island. Will leave about 7 in the morning, arrive at the beach around noon. Play at the beach for four or so hours and then come home and arrive around 9pm.

[@Joy4everM0RE]

I consider a 4+ hour drive to be long. Any drive that’s 10+ hours is a very long drive.

[@doug4036]

It’s a routine all day drive from Key West to New Orleans

[@JMM33RanMA]

I was in a rush-hour traffic jam outside Boston, 8 lanes of stop and go [4 N and 4 S], the car in front had Wyoming plates, and I was wondering how the driver felt in a traffic jam with more people than his whole state! There are differences in attitude here in the small but densely populated states versus the larger, sometimes largely empty, states. The concepts of too long and too far are different. Our narrower and sometimes winding or 1-way roads cause people from out West to feel nervous or claustrophobic, especially with trees arching over the road or large buildings towering over it. New Englanders usually give directions this way: go straight for 2 intersections, ignore the white church but turn right at the red one. About a mile later, turn left after the X-Brand supermarket, not the Y-brand one. Pass by the cranberry orchard and pull into the parking lot with the sign of a duck. Westerners often use highway numbers and road names, not land marks, though they do sometimes use very famous land marks.

[@scottbilger9294]

Someone should introduce him to the American pastime known as the "Road Trip": a festive outing spent largely in the automobile on the way to a destination less significant than the road there.

[@MyWasteOfTime]

If I saw a "Man Walking" sign, I would think it meant you COULD cross there?

[@JMM33RanMA]

Here there are green WALK and red DON'T WALK pedestrian signs, but some states or cities use a green icon for walk and red icon for DON'T WALK, sometimes the green one is animated. There are annoying but necessary sound effects for the benefit of the visually impaired. I don't see how a 4-way crossing with sounds could be anything but confusing, unless 4-way absolute stop. In the US, with right turn, after stop, on red in most places it requires more care. This is different from most countries where stop means stop, and from those where traffic laws and rules, if they even exist, are ignored.

[@andrelee7081]

@@JMM33RanMA As someone who is red-green colorblind, I would appreciate just putting the words on a sign XD

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@andrelee7081 There were complaints about English only signs in areas with high non-English speaking residents or visitors/tourists. I've seen better overseas, however a palm out that means stop in the US and Europe can mean death in some places, so even icons are cultural. Possibly Stop ⌧ / Go⇮ would work.

[@theresatrahan2147]

Stick shift. I had to learn that before I was allowed to drive an automatic. I made my son learn the stick shift first also. I also got my hardship license at 13. Now you can only get one at 15. Learner's permit is for practice before you get your actual license. There's a regular license and a kind of minors license. I was so happy to find that Germany drove on the right hand side. Air Force sent me there. To get to the nearest town from my house, it's 18 miles. And that's to get to the city limits sign. The next closest town is 32 miles. We have duck crossings, cattle crossings, deer crossings, and even alligator crossing. The list goes on and on.

[@AndrewL209]

yes most cars here in america are automatic. we definitely have manuel cars but theyre not as common as automatics

[@dawnsoger2934]

I think you mean manual transmission in cars, not Manuel....

[@chrisrobinson4480]

The British "interchange road sign" is going to cause me nightmares! It would be so stressful to come upon that while driving. How could anyone read and understand all of that quickly while driving?

[@danpals7678]

In Iowa we drove to school from the age of 12. We also drove tractors and combines and also hay ballers and every thing else. The cops didn't even care unless you were starting trouble.

[@jbs454]

If an interstate road sign is an odd number it runs north to south, even number highways run east to west

[@briankirchhoefer]

Nearly 40 years ago when I got my driver's license, we had about 50 percent automatic and 50 manual transmission cars. Now most cars come automatic, you don't have an option unless you order it on certain sports car models or find an older vehicle.

[@carolburnett2926]

I grew up in rural North Carolina and I was driving both a pickup (straight drive/stick shift) and a farm tractor by the time I was 10. Kids had to help out and, because I was a girl and, more importantly, allergic, I drove the tractor or truck while my father and brother tossed the hay bales on. My son learned to drive the same way on visits to my parents. I don’t remember it being mentioned, but in NC, drivers education is taught in school.

[@garycamara9955]

I had a freind in Wyoming once. We went to Casper (from Riverton) to get some ceramic tile for her kitchen counter. The trip instructions were easy drive north 25 miles to Thermopolis then turn right (east) drive 150 miles to Casper take the first exit? Two turns 175 miles.

[@kurarisusa]

HALF AN HOUR?!!! Dude...that's not even considered a long work commute here. In the US I'd say it has to be 1.5 hours min to even be considered a road trip.

[@nathanmeece9794]

Out in rural areas there are yellow triangle signs with a tractor warning about farm equipment .

[@brianlewis5692]

we call it manual or stick(shift). you don't *have to* know manual here, but many do. I do.

[@poohbearsmom2964]

Automatics are just more common now. But, when I was learning to drive a manual was called a standard transmission. Because, an automatic was uncommon.

[@Fridge56Vet]

More fun to row your own gears, tho.

[@nicolivoldkif9096]

@@Fridge56Vet for fun yes, if you need to do a lot of driving especially in high shift traffic or roads it gets old quickly. It's much more apparent if you drive a semi like myself. Know how to double clutch and love the control, but would never give up my automatic after my first time in rush hour traffic.

[@Fridge56Vet]

@@nicolivoldkif9096 Yeah, I bet, esp. w/out synchros.

[@nicolivoldkif9096]

@@Fridge56Vet the lack of synchros isn't a big thing once you get used to it. It's the fact that when you slam into 5th gear at 25mph and realize you still have hit your high range switch yet.

[@jonh7480]

We do have grade percentage signs in the US that actually show a truck/lorry on a hill with 15% or whatever the percentage is for that mountain or hill. Those are helpful for truck drivers, I used to be one. When you are hauling dozens of tons of cargo it's hard to slow down if you're going to fast for the amount of incline.

[@jeffburdick869]

7:44 the US Virgin Islands are right next to the British Virgin Islands ;) In the Caribbean...just east of Puerto Rico.

[@mermaid1717]

He looked so confused about the Virgin Islands.. I instantly though.. dude y'all have some too!

[@rich3371]

When I was younger, my friends & I would jump in the car & drive to Seattle for the weekend (7 hr drive) on a whim. Now I think 14 hours of driving for 2 nights of fun seems a bit excessive but at the time we thought nothing of it

[@andrewreynolds8100]

2:50 "Stick shift," "stick," "manual" or "5 speed" are generally used in the US in reference to a manual transmission

[@jonunya1163]

I live in Montana (the large state to the north of Wyoming). Some people drive half an hour to get to work, then half an hour to get home again. Every day. Other people drive up to three hours just to get groceries

[@YetiUprising]

omfg, i never knew that's what the UK's speed limit sign was. In British shows when I would see that I always assumed it was the name of the road like "Interstate 40" or something you would see here.

[@uwbadger79]

4 or 5 hours isn't necessarily a long trip here. When I was young we used to go on road trips in the summer. One year we drove from our home in Wisconsin to Nova Scotia, Canada (about 5,000 miles round trip). The next summer we drove to San Francisco, up to Seattle and back. Another 5,000 miles.

[@JMM33RanMA]

I have real nightmares about driving between Boston and NYC. The worst and longest drive I ever took was Greensboro, NC to Boston. The NYC-Boston traffic is a nightmare, the DC-Baltimore stretch is a nightmare. Sometime the nightmare was Boston to NYC to Seattle via Chicago. I've never done that and wouldn't want to, and neither would I want to revisit the NY or DC scenarios. In the latter, the traffic jam now starts south of Richmond and extends north of Baltimore, while north of Wilmington, Del, the Philadelphia-NYC-Boston Mega Traffic Jam starts. Driving in the Northeast really requires nerves of steel, a butt of iron, and maximum temper control. It also pays to know alternate routes like staying east or far west to avoid Philadelphia and staying inland to avoid JC and NYC traffic, use I-87, I-84, and I-601 to avoid the horror of I-95. Getting "Lost in the Pond" is nothing compared to Getting lost in the Bos-Wash Megalopolis traffic jam.

[@lisamcbride8921]

Yeah my folks Wes big on road trips too! Michigan to all over Florida every Easter break for years

[@1776SOL]

Originally from southern NJ, so length of time & distance of day trips, weekend trips, & road trips are about perspective of population density. Now I live in South Carolina & willing to drive for longer & further for trips than in NJ. BTW I agree on I-95 Chester, VA to Perryville, MD is so mentally & emotionally exhausting part of my road trips back to NJ. On a funny note, was out visiting my brother in Denver, CO, while at a Rockies/Phillies game I saw a hilarious ad. Wyoming tourism board was advertising Jackson Hole & Yellowstone NP for weekend trips. A 500-600 mile (1way) weekend trip??? My brother told me his Colorado native co-workers would act like it was a normal thing & no big deal.

[@JoeCensored]

"Automatic test"? In the UK do you have separate automatic vs manual tests? In the US you get a drivers license, which doesn't specify transmission.

[@lindastarr4699]

Where I live(Houston) most people spend at least 2 hours or more a day in traffic going to work. Average mileage would be around 15,000 miles per year. Everything is spread out and most households have at least 2 vehicles.

[@JMM33RanMA]

2 only?!?! When I went off to college I had a car, my mother had a car, my grandmother had a car, my brother had a motorcycle, and my father if still alive would have had a car. The parking problem at our house was horrible, even after ¼ of the back yard was paved for a parking lot!

[@robinmills8675]

I had a visitor from Austria. She was most excited by renting the largest SUV she could.

[@robparke2323]

I was travelling with friends visiting from Norway. They rented a humongous Lincoln Town Car for the two of them, pretty certain just because it was so huge and fun!

[@pamelareeves3574]

The US are gluttons of fossil fuel and there is nothing honorable about that.

[@BlueDebut]

Driving here is very important. Every kid waits for the day they can drive since that opens so many new doors for them

[@kathyp1563]

Due to Covid, State govt shut down the driver's tests 2 DAYS before my boys was to take is test for his Temps. You probably heard his scream, but didn't know what it was...

[@kennedyhuff]

@@kathyp1563 Aw, he has my sympathy. I took my driver's test a couple months before the shut down

[@juliamartin4141]

Yes! My final drivers test was delayed by one or two weeks (I can’t remember which, it was literally 50 years ago) because of a freakishly early snow storm. Of course at 16 I about had a cow. And I didn’t learn a manual until I was 27 because I had asthma as a kid and didn’t have to work much outside on the farm. But I learned and it wasn’t too hard.

[@carlopton]

When I got my driver's license in Hawaii in 1978, part of the test was Parallel Parking. This was the hardest part of the civilian licensing test for me. The hardest part of my Army licensing test, was holding a 2.5 ton truck, a deuce and a half, on a hill at a stop light, without using the brake. Whew. There was some gear grinding that day. LOL To get back to the point: A year or so ago, we were downtown center, and I found a parking space. I had to parallel park. It had been years since I did that. I got it on my first try, and it was perfect, I was in a Tacoma truck. My wife was so surprised, and kept talking about how surprised she was, that I could do that. It felt a little insulting.

[@angelicahuber5857]

I live in kansas, got my license when I was 14. You are allowed to get a license at 10 if it's for the farm. During the summer you can take drivers ed class at high school to learn.

[@ESUSAMEX]

To get a driver's license in the US, you must do the following in NY: 1)Pass a written test to get a learner's permit. The permit allows a learner to drive with an adult over 21 years old during daytime hours only. 2) Once you feel ready to get your license, you must pass a road test. 3) If you pass the test, you can go down to the DMV and obtain a full driver's license.

[@lonelywind3511]

The adult must be a licensed driver. Most people know that but some may not.

[@bryanbeers7209]

Beesley - I'm old! My high school driver education department had a small fleet of automobiles. They featured a mix of manual and automatic transmissions. The manuals featured a popular style of 3-speed transmission with the gear shift lever (selector) mounted on the right side of the steering column. This configuration was oddly called "3 on the tree." There are still a few domestic car models available with manual transmissions. However, even some of the historic "muscle cars" have moved to straight automatics or steering wheel mounted, paddle-shifted hybrid transmissions that you can shift as an automatic or a manual.

[@SGlitz]

Most cars are automatics. I have been driving a stick (manual) since 1993 and prefer it. But I also have sticker in my back window, "Millennial Anti-Theft Device" with a stick shift graphic. ;)

[@deborahdaniels9619]

I was so glad when my daughter reached 16. We got her first vehicle. 1979 GMC standard shift pickup. Get out of jail free card. She drove herself to school, school events and work. (Yes, she had a part time job to pay for her gas and things she wanted.)

[@SRHS83]

Actually we call what he said is a "restricted license" a learner's permit. Teens have to drive with their parents in the passenger seat.

[@SGlitz]

Some states do use "restricted" or "provisional".

[@nicolivoldkif9096]

A lot of states have three levels. Permit requires you to be with a licensed driver to learn. Provisional/restricted for below 18 allows you to drive alone with restrictions on passengers and time on the road. And a regular license for after you turn 18 with only vehicle type restrictions.

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@nicolivoldkif9096 When I got my licence there were more regulations here. If you were tested on automatic, your licence was restricted to automatic, no standard, no trucks. With my standard licence I could drive all cars some small vehicles and rental trucks of the smaller sort. Now the rental trucks are often automatic too.

[@garycamara9955]

Once, a couple of decades ago a freind went to a wedding in Idaho. He dropped another freind off in Wyoming on the way. They left from northern California. The British forget that their roads are really narrow and they don't really have much of an interstate freeway system. Maybe a couple of them. Drive from San Francisco to Boston sometime thats a bit more than 3,000 miles.

[@darrinlindsey]

The example he used for the speed limit signs must be a bigger deal to us. In the U.S. the sign he showed for UK looks like what would mean highway number 40 here.

[@mikem1194]

Also, in California the speed limit sign shown is a cautionary speed limit, or suggested speed limit sign, usually in the area of a curve or other than normal driving condition for a certain part of a road/highway. California speed limit signs are white with black numerals.

[@randlebrowne2048]

@@mikem1194 So, California and Texas *do* have a few things in common, after all! :o)

[@andyloy7809]

I'm in American I prefer a manual, however only about 18 percent of Americans can drive a manual, one great way to avoid auto theft.

[@lennyo5165]

Having a car here in the U.S. is quite important since our mass transit system is somewhat lacking. We travel two and a half states away twice a year to visit family (about a 6 hour drive). For a frame of reference the round trip is about the same as driving from Paris France to Venice Italy. My wife and I have often joked about taking a few months off and visiting all our siblings and close relatives (aunts and uncles) for a few days each, spread out over 13 of the 48 continental states.

[@JUSAGUYNKY]

We also sometimes call it a “5speed”

[@jenniferrodriguez5337]

Zebra crossing? Wait....what? Am I missing something? Did Great Brittain at one time herd packs of zebra across it's streets? That's just weird.

[@holmqer]

One thing I noticed when I was driving in the UK for 6 months was "Roadway liable to subsidence" in the US "Bumpy Road"

[@richardy.6572]

Great video as always 👍 when I was growing up many years ago we had to take a course in school called Drivers Education before we could ask for a permit.

[@mermaid1717]

You still have to have Driver's Ed & it's still taught in school to 14 year olds.

[@richardy.6572]

Well that’s good to know, thought with all the budget cuts these days that would be on the chopping block.

[@jonburford633]

It depends on the state as well last I checked Florida doesn’t require Drivers Ed to get your license but where I live in Maryland it is required.

[@mermaid1717]

@@jonburford633 Florida also doesn't require 90 year olds to retake an eye exam when renewing. In fact in Florida all one has to do is mail in their form to renew their license. But then again that's why Florida has so many old people in wrecks or driving through the fronts of buildings.

[@francismesina9341]

I remember when I took Driver’s Ed in the early 1990’s in Virginia in my high school, if you got a grade of an A including the road part in Behind the Wheel, you can get your license without taking any other tests at the DMV. Not too sure if that is true now.

[@gdravenknight6312]

I learned how to drive on both a stick or manual shift and an automatic

[@pFoz]

I rode a bus from Wales directly to Heathrow. It was a 5 hour trip. A 5 hour trip from NYC doesn't even get me across NY state.

[@shannimonet]

Wtf??? Really?

[@Kaya084]

I technically started driving when I was around 3. My grandpa would put me on his lap and let me steer when we were going somewhere. I started driving alone when I was around 10. Living in the south it’s common for people to start driving at a young age (tractors, 4-wheelers, farm trucks, etc). My grandma said she had a brand new car and drove herself and other kids to school when she was 12. I drive around 25,000-30,000 miles a year. My round trip just to work is 30 miles. But to go grocery shopping it’s a 30 mile round trip. Furniture shopping, car shopping, bigger items it is 120 miles round trip. I made a 798 mile, 12 hour one way trip and back in a 36 hour period.

[@LanMandragon1720]

Not just in the south in rural America in general. Greetings from Illinois and certainly not Chicago.

[@webbtrekker534]

Driving across country I drove the 700 miles from Sparta Wisconsin to Spearfish South Dakota. The most I've ever driven in one day. It was dark when I left and dark when I stopped. (It was November) Only stopped for gas once. I was pretty worn out from that. I can't imagine another 100 miles!

[@Kaya084]

@@webbtrekker534 I have driven 19 hours straight from Florida to Oklahoma with only stopping for gas. I think it was somewhere around 1200 miles. When I lived in Knoxville, I drove the 754 mile trip home to Oklahoma and back in 36 hours. I think I was home for less than 12 hours, before I had to head back to Knoxville.

[@webbtrekker534]

@@Kaya084 WOW can't even imagine that. I was 59 years old when I did my trip in 2005. I was beat when I stopped.

[@leonstrand329]

I remember that north Dakota's driving age was 14, but that changed, also if you lived on a farm, you can get a special driving license called a farmers permit that let's you drive at 14

[@hollybrooke322]

We have lots of people who prefer or drive manual. The only real difference is when you take your road test you can use either type. Neither are mandatory. If you own or have learned on a manual you use that if you learned or own an automatic you use that.

[@kathyp1563]

He spoke as if it were a separate test. I find that fascinating. Wonder if that's true.

[@jeffrichards1537]

I drove a manuel or stick shift for first 4 cars. They were cheaper plus don't have to worry as much as transmission problems. I drive way too much a day lol

[@richardjones4662]

As long as you actually know how to drive a manual properly. I've seen people having to replace the clutch constantly because they burn it out by not using it properly.

[@tobyobeyonecanobey1979]

I have lived in wyoming b4. That mileage is because their towns are soooooo far apart

[@virginiarobbins7539]

In in Fl and had a 74' Austin mini cooper..4 speed right side steering. It was zero problem to drive it even with it being stick.. just going thru drive thru was hilarious.. sometimes I would go in backwards so I could reach the window.

[@davidstephan5116]

Post office mail carriers have left hand steering.

[@Bob-jm8kl]

I drive a manual car, but I think If I had to shift with my left hand I'd send everyone through the windshield. So I think I'd have to rent an automatic to drive in the UK.

[@richardjones4662]

OMG, I'd never considered that. I hope the clutch, brake and gas pedals are at least in the same position.

[@hiheeledsneakers]

Also, "Watch for Falling Rock" caution signs where roads were cut out of a hill or mountain side.

[@Michele_224]

A 10 hour drive for me starts to be long but it's not that bad

[@omgitzzari5585]

Just the idea of trying to have to multitask using my left hand to do anything sounds like a nightmare… the car would probably never move if it was my left hand that needed to shift anything… it can barely roll down the correct window

[@rhoetusochten4211]

That was my thought as well. Holding a steering wheel still, I can do left handed. Anything else requires conscious thought.

[@andrewreynolds8100]

9:40 Yeaaaaaa...we Yanks love owning cars. For example, it's just my wife and I living in our home together, no kids. But I have my daily driver sedan, she has her daily driver SUV, we have a light pickup truck, and I have my '77 Triumph Spitfire. Four cars for two people. Madness. Of course, we aren't unique in this.

[@andyboog2010]

Me and my wife drive to Texas from Indiana every year. It's a 16 hour drive straight through. sometimes we drive straight through but mostly stop over night in Texarkana to re energize. Then 8 or more hrs drive to finish. Then drive back again.

[@alphaspursncowboys]

16:20 that isn't the speed limit sign it's black and white, that one is a advisory sign so saying it's recommended a lower speed than the limit. Also the parking sign has text because it ca have certain times when you can park there.

[@lmagoddess]

I took my written test and received my "Learner's Permit" on my 14th birthday. I had my first drive with my dad the same afternoon. Was on a gravel road (no painted lane lines) and mildly freaked out when I had to move over for an on coming car. Almost went in the ditch. Didn't try driving again for several months. Oh, also a full license is at 16 (after drivers training class or pass a driving test) but you can get a "School Permit" that is only valid for driving alone to and from school, home or work at 14 yo.

[@Gabepedaler]

As far as my experience taking the driving test in Washington state you can take it in either a manual or automatic. Most cars in the US are automatics and also for a new driver easier for testing. If you stall your manual you'll probably fail the test.

[@glennkelley2307]

In north dakota you got a learner's permit at 15. Drivers license at 16. Exception was for farm kids. Stick shift or manual transmission. Manual is much harder to find anymore. Big city (Dallas, texas) early morning or afternoon commute is brutal in a manual. Constantly on the clutch for an hour.

[@Trenton-om9qs]

Most cars here are automatic but we do have quite a few Manuals and americans love their cars more i think especially if they are older vehicles.

[@travis79109]

And the name “truck lover” proves it. 😃

[@Trenton-om9qs]

@@travis79109 lol

[@cfromcass]

We have both manual (trucks/ok ok lorry)and automatic (cars). Non of our younger people drive manual except my niece's first car was a stick and I taught her on the way home from the dealer.

[@pageribe2399]

We can get a Learner's permit at age 15. At 16, you take a written test & a driving test. If I remember correctly, a person with a Learner's Permit can drive anywhere as long as said person is accompanied by a licensed driver.

[@Gantzz321]

a real sign that I have seen here in Canada that I am not to sure exist in many places "LAST GAS FOR 500KM"

[@mortimerbrewster3671]

I've seen similar kinds of signs when driving around the US but they are not as common as they should be. There was one road trip I went on that I was sighing in relief when I finally saw the gas station stop (six gas stations) in the middle of no where and EVERYONE was stopping. I was on fumes when I got to it because there had been no warning that the next stop was 100+ miles away (in the middle of the desert). Definitely need more warnings.

[@Gantzz321]

@@mortimerbrewster3671 my first trip across the Canadian prairies (solo) the first night it was 10pm when I told myself I would stop at the light in the distance and sleep in my car for the night. 5am rolled around and I was still driving at the same light in the distance. I finally said enough and just pulled over. Woke up the next morning and the "light" was a house about 300m down the road, I couldn't even tell I was that close to it when I finally pulled over.

[@mortimerbrewster3671]

@@Gantzz321 We definitely don't have the luxury of smaller countries like the UK to drive without filling up when an opportunity arises in the middle of the countries. Never know when that opportunity you just past is the LAST opportunity for far too long.

[@JMM33RanMA]

@@mortimerbrewster3671 I've seen that kind of sign on the Turnpike [MA I-90/NY I-87] . I think it actually says "Last gas before NY, and that's because the cost of gas is much higher in NY [in both states the price is much higher ON the highway than OFF].

[@conniwitzig9523]

My husband learned to drive at 10 years old. He grew up on a farm.

[@4theloveoflife]

In Idaho you can get a farmers License at 14. Which still allows you to drive on public roads just not at night.

[@josephheitzmann7745]

Lol I love to drive a “Stick” manual.. mainly because most people don’t know how hence they can’t ask to borrow my car.. lol it also comes in handy with thwarting most would be car thieves

[@bfun4615]

I live here in South Dakota. It is a very rural state even in the "big" city of Sioux Falls. The most traffic here is a line of cars trying to overtake a farmer's tractor. On my 37 mile commute to and from work I have only TWO traffic lights I have to pass through.

[@pattiland3452]

I started my driver's education at 4 sitting on my Papa's knee. At 8 he put me in his pickup truck (I was tall) in the middle of a pasture & told me not to hit anything. Practice is so important. My grandkids learn to drive by sitting on my lap with my lawn tractor and steering at about 6-8 years old. By the time they are 8 they know how to drive the tractor safely. Once they are 11 I put them in my farm truck in the pasture & tell them not to hit anything. So far so good. I have launched 7/17 of their driving careers. Next on the list is driver's Ed. We either teach them ourselves or pay for a private school ($500-1000).

[@carrieadams921]

Grew up in Arkansas, live in Texas...started driving on my own at age 13, learned on an automatic and a manual. I currently drive 50 to 60 miles to nearest Wal-mart...drive 20-22 hours from Texas to Virginia every 3 to 4 months to see grandkids! 😆

[@raven2795]

Pause to your hearts content.....we’re here to see YOU! Drove coast to coast twice, took a solid week WITHOUT sightseeing. Never again, the last trip from east coast to west coast Kicked my butt...rain storms, wind storms and just getting through Texas was enough to put quits to that habit 😂😂😂

[@randlebrowne2048]

Drive from the Canadian border to Brownsville, Texas (at the southern tip) and you'll spend most of the trip in Texas!

[@piratetv1]

I agree. I've already seen Lawrence's videos. I want to know what you think of them.

[@exessivemite9478]

my dad drives from new castle to indianapolis everyday which is 50 miles, plus driving from a warehouse to the customers location

[@jbabs100]

I learned to drive at 8 years old. I had to drive all kinds of vehicles on our ranch

[@Wiley_Coyote]

Every time a Brit marvels over the reverse driving (and many scorn or mock it) I feel like reminding them most of the world drives that "opposite" way.

[@Gabepedaler]

Freeway mainly comes from the vast amount of highways that do not have tolls. Interstate comes from interstate highway system created in 1956. Before that and even now they were referred to as highways.

[@jeffburdick869]

18:28 in my hometown, we generally refer to that as a "directional." Through moving to other parts of the US, I've learned, most places do not call it that.

[@Hephzibah16]

Forget road trips. I'm northern MN, where I grew up, I had the shortest commute in my family at 10 miles one way. But, in any given work day I would probably drive more like 25-30 miles just getting errands done and with the work commute. Also, our nearest large shipping area was 60-80 miles away!

[@jimgreen5788]

Beesley, yes, we call running through the gears stick shift, and the alternative is automatic. Also, when you get a provisional license here, in Illinois, where I live, it can be had at 15, therefore making it possible to taking driver training classes as one of your high school classes, with a driving teacher sitting beside you in the "shotgun seat", or with a parent. Either way, until you get your license, you can't drive without a licensed driver who is in the front seat with you. The US Virgin Islands are right next to the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean just east of Puerto Rico.

[@mariahwatts3468]

I'm in a smaller city and our buses only run until 6pm on weekdays and don't run at all on sundays, so if you don't have a car you can't get anywhere outside of those times.

[@richardjones4662]

You have buses? Where I live you couldn't even get a taxi (and I doubt an uber). You can get a limo to the airport (I assume).

[@mikegrantham7440]

In Texas, we measure distance in time instead of miles. For example, it is a 5 hour drive from Dallas to Houston. Which is about 250 miles. It is a 12 hour drive between Dallas and El Paso Texas (about 700 miles). I could drive from Dallas to Chicago Illinois in about the same amount of time.

[@caseyflorida]

When I was in college, my older brother worked for a year in the U.S. Virgin Islands and I visited him on Christmas break. He picked me up at the airport, and we pulled out of the airport and he started racing down the left lane on a two lane road and I freaked out! I had no idea that they drove on the left in that U.S. territory!

[@toreetotz6661]

I use to drive from San Diego to Phoenix almost every weekend, about a 6 hour drive. Same drive a few times just for lunch at a favorite restaurant.

[@johnniekight1879]

And you can turn right on red after stopping. (at least you're suppose to stop)

[@lianabaddley8217]

There are some places you can't but at least here in Utah they are very clear with signage.

[@Blondie42]

Last I saw in WA the minimum age for a driver's permit/learner's permit was 15 and one could get a full license at 16. The permit allows one to drive so long as there's someone in the front passenger seat who has a valid driver's license and a minimum of 5 years driving experience.

[@RE-bg9ds]

Most people drive an automatic however I learned on a stick shift or a manual shift and I taught both of my children on a manual shift however my daughter prefers an automatic and my son and I prefer manual gear shifting I think it really is a preference

[@elkins4406]

The move from driving on the right to the left, or vice versa, is really much easier than you might think it would be, provided you also change the car you're driving to one appropriate to the region. Basically, either way, you're still seated on the side of the vehicle closer to the center of the road, which makes it very easy to adapt. The only somewhat tricky bit is remembering from which direction oncoming traffic will be coming when you need to turn or navigate an intersection. I smiled when you talked about worrying about having to use your off hand on the steering wheel, because I remember worrying about having to use my off (left) hand to shift gears! That's my less coordinated hand! How was I to shift properly with that clumsier hand? But really, it was no problem, and I'm sure it wouldn't be for you either.

[@livelaughlove669]

I live in Nebraska and I got my license at 14 and was taking driving classes before that. I’ve seen kids on the farms who start at about 12.

[@Wiley_Coyote]

The first half of the 20th century, the US actually had a robust network of inter-state buses. There are a lot of reasons it went away. There are a few videos around about it, but I don't have the URLs.

[@halicarnassus834]

I got my first stick shift Porsche in the very late 1990s when I was first allowed to drive as a teen. My dad was a Car Lot owner and I begged him for a Porsche. It was a used 1988 model which was still considered newer at the time, only 11 years old. Needless to say I believe he got me that to prove no matter how Luxurious the car, Americans, at least those born after the 1950s aren't meant to drive manual transmission. I learned well. No accidents, but I learned fast to never want a stick shift again.

[@bobstewart8032]

Lawrence is so funny! I don't know if it is the same in Great Britain but our post office vehicles have the steering wheel on the right side (our passenger side) of the vehicle because if is easier to put the mail in the boxes along the street. You can definitely still buy a stick/clutch/manual vehicle here but the majority of vehicles have an automatic transmission. My wife and I have 3 vehicles and they are automatic but I can drive a stick.

[@nicolivoldkif9096]

One difference that is rarely mentioned is the absence of a red+yellow light combination on traffic lights in the US. We go straight red to green with no warning to get in gear.

[@maxpeck7382]

Driving on the left was common for horse and buggy driving in the US. The person on a bank stage coach sitting on the right was the man holding a shotgun, hence the phrase riding shotgun.