Advice for Newbies?

patr · Post by **patr** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:05 am

I have some friends who will make their first trip to St John in 3 weeks.

They are having the most anxiety about driving on the left. Any advice or reassurance to help calm that anxiety?

RickG, I was searching for your newbie guide that you posted earlier in the year, but can't seem to find it. Can you send a link or perhaps a word doc? I remember it was great and quite detailed.

I know they will love STJ, as they love to explore. It will be fantastic to have friends to share our obsession!!

FlaGeorge · Post by **FlaGeorge** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:32 am

It’s pretty easy, especially with left drive (American) cars. Because you’re on the left side of the jeep and you’re driving on the left – just keep the left wheels close to the edge of the road. The only time you need to think about it is – when making a turn – remind yourself to keep left. After a day or two – you won’t even think about it. Just keep telling yourself – stay left, stay left, stay left..

Jerseyboy · Post by **Jerseyboy** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:45 am

Actually it's the front passenger that should be worried, they're right against oncoming traffic! My wife calls it the "death seat".

Also be aware when walking across the street: look right, left and right again.

patr · Post by **patr** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:54 pm

Jerseyboy, I never thought about that "deathseat" concept. I am the one always in that seat as my husband does ALL of the driving and I have to admit, I usually take it for granted.

They are thinking about that knee-jerk reaction to pull right while in panic-mode. Did you see the photo of the 2 yellow jeeps that look kinda like magnets stuck together at the front grills? I saw it either in the Tradewinds or on-stjohn.

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:57 pm

In our car, it is the passengers duty to continually chant - stay left, dear, stay left.

My husband doesn't seem to mind it, but it he does need to focus on the driving and won't even consider driving if he's planning on having a few drinks in town.

janet

Genral · Post by **Genral** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:13 pm

FlaGeorge is right. It's pretty easy. The only thing I'd add is that when you go around corners, stay as far to the left as you can. I usually put the left wheels right into the concrete drainage ditchs. It helps you make a tighter turn, just in case there's another tourist coming at you that forgot to 'stay left'. After awhile, it seems only natural to drive on the left - the tough part is when you get home and you have to get used to driving on the right again! No worries. Genral

RJ in Wisconsin · Post by **RJ in Wisconsin** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:22 pm

Do they know that you only go betw. 20-30 mph almost all of the time on St. John & even slower in Cruz Bay? Gives you a little more time to keep thinking "stay left".

What's much scarier is returning from laid-back, stay left St. John, and driving away from Chicago/O'Hare area at 85 mph making sure to get right & stay right in a big hurry! Yuck!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:28 pm

Here's a link to the site. I need to add my last trip report. I also have not updated to reflect the new intersection at the Texaco.

http://www.garvin.us/STJ/St_John_US_Virgin_Islands.html

Cheers, RickG

Steve S · Post by **Steve S** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:30 pm

"Death Seat" is real, so be prepared. The driver usually catches on quickly to left side driving. I've found the hardest part is parking lots; pulling in and out of and maneuvering in. I've gotten my share of skyward glances while negotiating the parking lots at the Marketplace and Mongoose Junction

.

patr · Post by **patr** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:49 pm

Thanks Rick! That web site is great!!!

You should add on-stjohn also, it has really become a favorite of mine, second to this forum of course!

Jerseyboy · Post by **Jerseyboy** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:55 pm

Steve S wrote:I've found the hardest part is parking lots; pulling in and out of and maneuvering in.

Steve S, I totally agree about the parking lots. Here are 2 photos taken by my wife from the "death seat".

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:56 pm

One of the "cuteist" (is that even a word) things I saw was at Marketplace when I pulled up next to a tourist rental car and they must have had 10 stickers that they had made at home that said "Stay Left" or had a huge arrow drawn pointing left that they had stuck all around the driver

Another saying to remember is "Shoulder to Shoulder" meaning the drivers shoulder is next to the shoulder of the road

Pia

VaGirl · Post by **VaGirl** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:44 pm

Pia, thanks for the "shoulder to shoulder" hint, I never thought about that! And Rick, thanks for the link to your website, it's awesome!! I swear as many times as I've been there, there's so much I still don't know about STJ!! There's just so much to do, along with the best idea of doing absolutely nothing!!!

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:05 pm

Another helpful hint for those hairpin blind curves: Give a little "beep beep" of the horn to give any oncoming traffic a hint that you're coming.

This is especially helpful along the North Shore road on the way to Coral Bay.

A little "beep beep" goes a long way!

Betty · Post by **Betty** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:21 pm

I drove my husband crazy this past trip,

everytime we got into the car I would start singing Beyonce's Irreplaceable or I should say the part where she says "to the left, to the left". I would do her hand motions too

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