Page 221 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  219

Tips and Safety Advice for Drivers Cemetery, Alexandria Old
Town, and Charlottesville;
• Traffic drives on the right- • Driving while intoxicated All Washington DC Tours is a
hand side of the road. (DWI) is a punishable offense national chain that represents
• Seat belts are compulsory in that incurs heavy fines or even several tour companies in the
front seats and suggested in the a jail sentence. Do not drink city. Most bus tours depart
back; children under three must if you plan to drive. from Union Station. Some
ride in a child seat in back; belts • Avoid driving at night if tours offer a hotel pickup
are also compulsory in cabs. unfamiliar with the area. and dropoff, at a fee.
• You can turn right at a red Washington’s streets change
light as long as you first come from safe to dangerous in a
to a complete stop, and if there single block, so it is better to Trains
are no signs that prohibit it. Be take a taxi than your own car
aware, however, that turning if you do not know where Amtrak trains (see p215) travel
right on a red light is illegal in you are going. from DC’s central Union Station
Virginia and will incur a fine. • Single women should be to New York City and most of
• A flashing yellow light at an especially careful driving in the surrounding area, including
intersection means slow down, unfamiliar territory, day or night. Williamsburg, Richmond, and
look for oncoming traffic, and • Keep all doors locked when Baltimore. The MARC (see p215),
proceed with caution. driving around. Maryland’s commuter rail, also
• Passing (overtaking) is allowed • Do not stop in a rural area, or runs from DC to Baltimore on
on any multi-lane road, and you on an unlit block, if someone weekdays for a few dollars less.
must pass on the left. On smaller tries to get your attention. If a
roads safe passing places are fellow driver points at your car,
indicated with a broken yellow suggesting something is wrong, DIRECTORY
line on your side of the double drive to the nearest gas station
yellow line. and get help. Do not get out Car Rental
• Crossing a double-yellow line, of your car.
either by U-turn or by passing the • Avoid sleeping in your car. Alamo
car in front, is illegal, and will • Avoid short cuts and stay Tel 1-855-533-1196.
incur a fine if caught. on well-traveled roads. ∑ alamo.com
• If a school bus stops to let • Avoid looking at a map in a Avis
passengers off, all traffic from dark, unpopulated place. Drive Tel 1-800-230-4898.
both sides must stop and wait to the nearest open store or gas ∑ avis.com
for the bus to drive off. station before pulling over.
Budget
Tel 1-800-218-7992.
∑ budget.com
Bus Tours companies offer bus tours of Car2Go
Although Greyhound buses DC’s historic surroundings. Gray Tel 877-488-4224.
(see p215) do serve some Line takes you on the Black ∑ car2go.com
towns beyond DC (such as Heritage tour, to Gettysburg, Hertz
Charlottesville and Richmond, Colonial Williamsburg, or Tel (800) 654-3131.
with serveral departures daily), Monticello; DC Tours (see p217) ∑ hertz.com
the easiest and most enjoyable organizes combination day Zip Car
way to see the sights by bus is trips covering Gettysburg, Tel (202) 737-4900.
on a private tour. Several Mount Vernon, Arlington ∑ zipcar.com
Breakdowns
American Automobile
Association (AAA)
701–15th St, NW, Washington, DC
20005. Tel (202) 481-6811.
Breakdown assistance for members:
Tel (800) 222-4357. ∑ aaa.com
Bus Tours
All Washington DC Tours
Tel 702-749-5720.
∑ allwashingtondctours.com
Gray Line
Union Station, 50 Massachusetts
Ave, NW. Tel 1-800-862-1400.
∑ graylinedc.com
A Gray Line tour bus at the US Capitol

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