BORDER CROSSING
Crossing the US–Canada border at
Niagara Falls, the St Lawrence Seaway
(Wellesley Island State Park, Ogdens-
burg or Massena) or on Hwy 87 north of
Champlain, NY on the way to Montreal is
generally straightforward, though lines can
be a hassle. All travelers entering the USA
are required to carry passports, including
citizens of Canada and the USA. If you’re
driving a rental car from Canada or Mexico
you’ll need documentation from your
rental car company showing permission to
bring the car to another country (check the
policy before making the trip). Otherwise,
you’ll simply need documentation proving
you’re the owner of the vehicle.
MAPS
Detailed state-highway maps are distrib-
uted free by state governments. You can
call or write to state tourism offices to
request maps, or they can be picked up at
tourism offices.
Another excellent map resource is
DeLorme Mapping Company (www.
delorme.com), which publishes individual
state maps – atlas-style books with de-
tailed coverage of backcountry roads. The
scales range from 1:65,000 to 1:135,000.
The Mid-Atlantic box set includes Dela-
ware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania,
Virginia and West Virginia for $75.ROADS & CONDITIONS
The quality of roadways varies widely,
from potholed, suspension-killing sec-
tions of ‘expressways’ to smooth-as-glass
highways, to sandy, rocky and everything-
in-between rural byways. Rush-hour traffic
around major cities could test the patience
of Buddha. In the DC area, each lasts as
long as three to four hours, and tunnels
and bridges into and out of NYC can be
backed up for miles. Northern Virginia is a
nightmare of exits and fast interchanges
between major roads.
̈ Road signage is not always well-placed or
easy to interpret.
̈ One-way streets can make navigation in
some cities and towns difficult.
̈ Roads to the region’s beaches and shore ar-
eas are best avoided on Friday afternoons and
Sunday evenings. Tune into local radio stations
for traffic updates, especially at these times.
Tolls
The shortest and fastest route between
two points often means taking a toll road.
Most bridge and tunnels, in urban areasDriving Problem Buster
What should I do if my car breaks down? Call the service number of your car-
hire company and a local garage will be contacted. If you’re driving your own car,
it’s a good idea to join AAA, who can be called out to breakdowns at any time.
Many car insurance companies also offer roadside assistance.
What if I have an accident? If there are no serious injuries and your car is op-
erational, move over to the side of the road. If there are serious injuries, call 911
for an ambulance. Exchange information with the other driver, including names,
contact and insurance info, and license tag numbers. Then file an accident report
with the police or Department of Motor Vehicles.
What should I do if I get stopped by the police? Stay in your car and keep
your hands visible. The police will want to see your driver’s license and proof of
liability insurance. As long as you’re not a serious threat, you probably won’t end
up in the pokey, although you’ll probably get either a ticket or a warning if you’ve
broken a road rule.
Will my E-Z Pass work in every state in the region? Yes, E-Z Pass, the elec-
tronic toll collecting system used in the northeastern US, is integrated so that
you can pay tolls everywhere regardless of the state agency you are registered
with.DRIVING.IN.NEW.YORK.&.THE.MID-ATLANTIC(^) BORDER CROSSING