Southern California has an excellent network of interstate and state highways. Interstates are designated by an ‘I' and a corresponding number. Speed limits on interstate highways vary from 96kph (60mph) to 112kph (70mph). Urban speed limits are generally 40-48kph (25-30mph). Traffic drives on the right. U-turns are legal in the State of California, unless posted otherwise, as is turning right at stoplights. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. The minimum driving age is 16, with restrictions. Children under the age of six years or less than 22.39kg (60lb) must be carried in a child restraint seat.

California does not require International Driving Permits. It accepts all foreign driving licences. Car insurance is mandatory in the state of California.

The local automobile association is Automobile Club of Southern California (tel: 1 800 400 4222 for roadside assistance, and 1 877 428 2277 for membership services), a regional affiliate of the American Automobile Association (website: www.aaa.com). There is a reciprocal service agreement between the AAA and the UK AA.

Emergency breakdown services: ACSC (tel: 1 800 400 4222) or Good Sam RV Roadside Service for RVs and travel trailers (tel: 1 800 842 5351).

Routes to the city: San Diego is California's most southern coastal metropolis. It is the hub of three major interstate highway systems - I-5 (running north-south from the US-Canada border to the US-Mexico border), I-15, which begins in San Diego and runs northeast to Las Vegas, Nevada, and I-8 East, which also begins in San Diego and connects with I-10 outside of Phoenix, Arizona. San Diego also has an east-west corridor, which was designed to accommodate the increased rush-hour traffic to suburban areas east of San Diego. The four-lane State Route 56 (SR 56) highway, also called the Ted Williams Parkway, has helped ease much of the congestion on San Diego's main easterly corridor, the I-15. The I-5 is the connecting artery for most of California's large cities - Los Angeles and San Francisco are both directly north of San Diego via I-5.

Approximate driving times to San Diego: From US-Mexico border - 45 minutes; Los Angeles - 2 hours 30 minutes; Phoenix (Arizona) - 5 hours 40 minutes; Las Vegas (Nevada) - 5 hours 45 minutes; San Francisco - 8 hours 45 minutes.

Coach services: Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; website: www.greyhound.com) operates buses throughout the USA, as well as to numerous destinations in Canada and a limited number of locations in Mexico, from the Greyhound Terminal (tel: 619 515 1100), 120 West Broadway, at First Street. Tickets for specific destinations can be purchased at the terminal before departure.