Fear of driving in San Francisco/USA
 

Hi,

Hubby (65) and I (61) will arrive in USA early November. When we reach San Francisco my husband is planning on hiring a car. After a serious car accident I experienced 8 years ago and also the fact my son and his wife's family experienced losing 2 members of their family in a car accident, I am very nervous about driving in another country when one has to drive on the opposite side of the road to what we are used to. I am wondering if it would be possible to book a one off driving lesson for hubby so both he and I feel comfortable with him driving there? Is this something driving schools would do? or do you need to book a series of lessons? If it is possible could someone recommend a company. We plan in staying in the area near Fishermans Wharf.

Do you really need to rent a car?

Unless you plan to drive outside of the city, a car IN the city is a pain in the bum. It is very expensive to park at hotel and you really can't drive to different sites, as parking is difficult and again, expensive.

Public transit IN San Francisco is the way to go along with walking.

There are passes available that are used for bus, cable car and street car and light rail [it does NOT cover train to and from airport, which is on BART]

Even if you are going to do day trips out of SF, it is easier and cheaper just to do a single day rental, picking the car up in San Francisco [as opposed to at the airport] early in the morning and returning it before the rental agency closes. That way, you don't have to pay overnight hotel parking which runs around $40

http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/...tor-day-passes

I agree, a car in San Francisco is, for the most part, a liability. You might want to tell us why you think you need one, in case there are alternatives.

SF has good public transit.

It also has a TON of hills - that's not conducive to feeling comfortable with driving if you're already skittish.

What are your other destinations? If you're traveling in NoCal, why not hire a car upon or after leaving SF?

As debitNM says, If you are only going to be in SF or the general SF Bay area there is no reason to need a car. If you are taking a road trip after leaving SF, then depending on which direction you are going, you can collect your car outside of the city - which makes the driving much easier.

I don't think a 1-day driving lesson would be feasible/useful . . . ESPECIALLY in SF since the driving conditions are different than anyplace else in the entire state (SF has steep hills, LOTS of buses/trams, is very congested). Driving in the City is just very different than driving anywhere else.

Maybe if you tell us what your itinerary is like we can give you options re where you'd need/want a car and how to avoid the worst congestion.

we were posting at the same time . . .

I live in the city, and for the most part my car stays in the garage!

Meant to post >>LOTS of buses/streetcars<<

I am sorry, I should have been more clean on our intentions. Hubby plans on hiring a car to take us from San Francisco to Los Angeles via Highway 1. We would stop on the way at places of interest.

Then pick up the cat at SFO (After finishing up any SF stay). It is an easy drive from SFO as long as you leave after the busiest commit time in the morning.

I'd personally forget about a driving lesson. I have a lot of friends/acquaintances from NZ/OZ, the UK and all enjoying driving in CA and have not had any problems.

Hmmm, driving highway 1 south from SF to LA, for someone used to driving on the other side of the road...I might rethink it.

>>Hmmm, driving highway 1 south from SF to LA, for someone used to driving on the other side of the road...I might rethink it.<<

The folks I mentioned in my post (friends from the UK and OZ) have ALL driven hwy 1 at one time or another. We are talking maybe 12 or 13 different people/couples I've known for the last 10-20+ years. All have holidayed in CA and have rented cars. Several have done it multiple times. And each has driven on the coast - either just the territory between Big Sur and SF, or the whole coast, and two - SF to Crescent City..

oops . . . and as yet none has had any 'driving issues'.

I don't think anyone in this group can recommend how to get a driving lesson. And yes, you should be able to book one - and I think it's a good idea.

Also: do you drive a stick shift or automatic? Rental cars here are all automatic.

Just Google "driving lessons in San Francisco" - and the driver in a car with 2 steering wills will arrive to start a lesson in your location (hotel). After you find a company, Google this company's name for reviews.

Even after many trips to The UK I have never rented (hired) a car. I have sort of a right- left dyslexia that I fear may result in a fatal accident .

I think it is a good idea to take a driving lesson, if only to increase your confidence.

DH and I found the northern part of HW 1 (twisty turns and steep cliffs) stressful enough that we just had to leave it for a while. (And we're from the US, though the flat midwestern part.)

The southern sections are much more relaxed and easy to drive. You might consider driving inland on the interstate for a couple hours and then cutting over to the coast. The interstate is a divided highway so you don't have to worry so much about that right/left thing -- everybody is going the same way.

I dunno how you'll arrange a driving lesson. Puttering about an unoccupied parking lot would be good. Honestly, the right/left issue wasn't one for me when I drove in Australia - just seemed natural to be on the wrong side of the road when the steering wheel was too. Is the hubby as worried about this as you?

Californians generally drive like mildly aggressive Americans (i.e., less road raged than Bostonians or New Yorkers), so they're a bit rougher to be around than Aussies (who are polite drivers - completely ditched the European roots on this) although better to deal with than Europeans.

Capxxxxxxxxxxxxxx idea of splitting the ride between Hwy 1 and I-5 may be a good bet.

CA1 from Pacifica to Monterey is much less twisty than between Monterey and Morro Bay, especially since the Devil's Slide area is now by-passed by a tunnel. I would use that stretch of road to get used to driving on roads that are not divided highways.

I believe in the supernatural powers of concierges, so if your hotel has one I would suggest asking about a one-off lesson. I would imagine such a thing is possible, but I have no specific knowledge to share.

I agree that the driving you are talking about is in and of itself not dangerous or particularly difficult--droves of tourists do it every day. And my experience as an American with driving in the UK was smooth sailing--I thought it would be a problem, or at least a challenge, but it was not. Everything in the car and on the road tells you which side you should be on.

That said, of course you must do whatever makes your vacation more enjoyable and less stressful. I have a friend who was in a serious accident decades ago and she is to this day a cautious driver. I hope you can find a driving school to ease your mind.

""...idea of splitting the ride between Hwy 1 and I-5 may be a good bet."

I suspect it's Hwy 101 that was being suggested, not I-5.

But Hwy 1, as mentioned, all the way until south of Monterey will be easy and scenic, places to pull off and enjoy ocean views and beach towns. And even farther south, through Big Sur, the advantage will be that no one will expect you to drive fast. Well, maybe a few but everyone is enjoying the view and taking it easy is natural. I wouldn't bother with a detour, all will be well.