>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Are there any audio books anyone would like to recommend for listening to in the car? TIA.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Personally I would not listen to a story while driving. Your focus should be in driving and not on anything else that requires concentration. So some sort of mindless drivel would probably be best. Maybe Mills and Boon or Harry Potter. :-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>A robot could be trained to do this drive. It's highway almost the whole way, long, flat expanses where you can do a steady 70 mph or more.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Whats the US speed limit at the moment ?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>It starts about half way through the essay, but you should read it all.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/137118-dave-barry-drivers-speed-limits.html
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>All true.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Dave Barry has been about as good as it gets as a newspaper humorist. For years I was in the habit of reading his syndicated column every Sunday, and still do when I see it. (He was also a pal of Warren Zevon, which is extra credit in my book). He is witty without having that grating quality that can alienate people. He draws on the observational humor of George Carlin without ever giving the reader the idea that, hmmm, this guy may be a little nuts. Barry is not nuts at all. He's like the funny neighbor or coworker we'd all like to have, if only we were lucky enough.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>At least in the UK the guidelines for issuing a ticket are public (10% over + 2mph):
>>>>>>>>http://www.cprsp.gov.uk/resources/res.aspx?p=/PublicAttachment/attachmentFilename/23/speed_enforcement_guidelines_web_v7_foi.doc
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Also (presumably in the US as well) speedos in vehicles always over-read by 5-8%.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>In practice, conditions permitting, I usually drive at 85+ on UK motorways and have never had a ticket.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Do you also use miles per hour system or km per hour?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Still MPH. Odd in a way since we've gone metric for most things (buying in metres/kilograms).
>>>>>
>>>>>I'd bet the is a certain amount of trepidation in changing signs that currently ready "60" to "100" <g>
>>>>
>>>>:-}
>>>>I was just trying to remember which European (Scandinavian?) country switched from dirving on the left to driving on the right. Must have been in the '60s or '70s. I think it happened in the early hours of the morning but I remember imagining all drivers having to make a perfectly choreographed swerve across the road at the appointed time :-}
>>>
>>>
>>>This link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-_and_left-hand_traffic#History says Sweden in 1967. Think I remember the teacher saying they changed (most of) the traffic signs overnight.
>>
>>I think they just covered up the old ones and uncovered the new ones. I assume that, in reality, there was a short ban on all moving traffic. Also a lot easier to achieve back then with few roundabouts and roads with central reservations.
>>
>>Something gleaned from the wiki link that I wasn't aware of was the number of LHD countries which actually ban the import of RHD viehicles and vice versa.
>>
>>Personally I'm comfortable with all combinations - partly through having spent a lot of time in the UK with a LHD and a lot of time in the US driving a RHD.....
>
>I've driven a lot in UK and in SE Asia with RHD so I'm comfortable with it ( though manual shifting on jeeps and trucks in SE Asia took a little getting used to - fortunately the pedals are the same ) But what has always befuddled me is Brits taking their RHD cars on the Channel ferry and driving in France. *That* would be scary. Drove a RHD car ( classic MG ) a couple times in the US and thinking about the experience still makes my palms sweat.

I did about 20K miles in a RHD Sliver Cloud in the states and at the same time had a Firebird and a Camaro in the UK (you get strange company cars in the record business :-} ). For me the biggest downside of driving a LHD in a RHD country (and vice versa) is the inherent danger of pulling out in the face on oncoming traffic when you want to overtake :-{