[N/A] Driving on the "wrong" side of the road

[Matthew]

How quickly have you adapted to driving a right-hand drive car on the left side of the road?

I'd be worried about getting in an accident making the first turn out of the parking lot.

 

[Sac Arrow]

There is a learning curve, but generally, it's not too bad if you're driving a right hand drive car. You need to really watch yourself for the first few days but then it starts to click.

Biggest problem I had was turning on the wipers every time I want to make a right hand turn.

 

[Matthew]

There is a learning curve, but generally, it's not too bad if you're driving a right hand drive car. You need to really watch yourself for the first few days but then it starts to click.

Biggest problem I had was turning on the wipers every time I want to make a right hand turn.

I know most rentals will be manual, no problem with that, you can't get through high school and college driving a stick unless you learn how to shift with the opposite hand across your body while holding a beverage, burger, and whatever else as you steer with your knees.

I've been told that the visual angles of being on the opposite side of the car do help in reminding you which lane to turn into. My first experience with this was in a cab after a very long flight. The cabbie laughed when I started to get into the driver's seat. But when he pulled out of the lot almost immediately into a traffic circle my jet-lagged self said, "Self, this would have been very bad if you had been driving." I found that cabs were very cost effective compared to rentals - until you wanted to get out of town. After three or four days of cabs and buses I did get the feel and would have felt comfortable giving it a try myself, but not in a city.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I know most rentals will be manual, no problem with that, you can't get through high school and college driving a stick unless you learn how to shift with the opposite hand across your body while holding a beverage, burger, and whatever else as you steer with your knees.

I've been told that the visual angles of being on the opposite side of the car do help in reminding you which lane to turn into. My first experience with this was in a cab after a very long flight. The cabbie laughed when I started to get into the driver's seat. But when he pulled out of the lot almost immediately into a traffic circle my jet-lagged self said, "Self, this would have been very bad if you had been driving." I found that cabs were very cost effective compared to rentals - until you wanted to get out of town. After three or four days of cabs and buses I did get the feel and would have felt comfortable giving it a try myself, but not in a city.

Yeah it helps a lot. I think if anything, traffic circles screwed me up more than anything. And it's really easy to just drift off on the wrong side while you're thinking about something else.

But even as a pedestrian, you have to be careful too, and look right before you cross a city street. Often times you will actually see that painted in to the sidewalks at intersections, "Look Right."

But once you get used to it, it's no big deal.

 

[kyleb]

The challenge is when you make a snap decision at an intersection. It is pretty easy to make a mistake in those situations. BTDT

The other thing is when you transition back and forth frequently from one convention to the other. I've had at least one moment of panic where for the life of me I couldn't figure out which side I should be on in a parking lot.

 

[Matthew]

But even as a pedestrian, you have to be careful too, and look right before you cross a city street. Often times you will actually see that painted in to the sidewalks at intersections, "Look Right."

You're not kidding about that, all it takes is one close encounter with a bus to remind you to look the opposite direction and keep your head on a swivel.

The challenge is when you make a snap decision at an intersection. It is pretty easy to make a mistake in those situations. BTDT

That's one of my biggest fears - years of training to bail out on the right side to avoid crossing the center line can come back to bite.

 

[Ghery]

How quickly have you adapted to driving a right-hand drive car on the left side of the road?

I'd be worried about getting in an accident making the first turn out of the parking lot.

There is a learning curve, but generally, it's not too bad if you're driving a right hand drive car. You need to really watch yourself for the first few days but then it starts to click.

Biggest problem I had was turning on the wipers every time I want to make a right hand turn.

The challenge is when you make a snap decision at an intersection. It is pretty easy to make a mistake in those situations. BTDT

The other thing is when you transition back and forth frequently from one convention to the other. I've had at least one moment of panic where for the life of me I couldn't figure out which side I should be on in a parking lot.

It takes me a day or so when I drive in the UK. I don't do it all that often. That first day or so I'm mentally saying, "Keep left, keep left, dammit, keep left!" Fortunately my typical trip has me pick up the car at LHR and head west on the M4 to Swindon, so I've got about 70 miles of freeway to settle in. And, it's like driving on a freeway in California - the fast lane is on the right.

I've had cars in the UK with a stick shift. That does take some getting used to. I admit I've tried to shift the arm rest more than once, and no, it does not work. Thank goodness the pedals are in the same order. I think that would be a show stopper for me if they were reversed.

 

[flyingron]

I had no problem adapting, the only real confusion was when approaching a roundabout, the predisposition is to go (as they say there) anti-clockwise. The biggest problem I had is that every time I wanted to signal a turn, I'd turn on the windshield wipers.

 

[Norman]

After two years in England, my sister came home, went shopping, and promptly started driving against traffic.

 

[MAKG1]

Let's put it this way.

I took a 12.5 hour flight to New Zealand, arrived at 7AM with next to no sleep, picked up a butt ugly rental car, and negotiated the maze-like streets of Auckland during Monday rush hour without dying.

It's not that hard. The hardest part is shifting with your left hand. That feels just wrong.

On the other hand, a couple of the old-timer astronomers I work with have a story about a deployment to Christchurch, where they grab the cargo truck and immediately turn the wrong way around a roundabout just outside the Christchurch airport. Maybe it was left hand drive...

 

[Gerhardt]

Google Matthew Broderick's tragedy trying this. For this reason I've never even tried driving on the wrong side.

 

[Henning]

How quickly have you adapted to driving a right-hand drive car on the left side of the road?

I'd be worried about getting in an accident making the first turn out of the parking lot.

Not really a problem since you still drive seated to the center of the road. Judging exactly where the left front corner is takes a few hours, but for me what took longest was getting over momentary panic as I'd turn right across two lanes 'knowing' I forgot to look behind me as I cut them off. After about two weeks it was totally normal and the only issue I would have is walking to the wrong door to get in if I was distracted. After 4 years driving on the other side, I now switch back and forth with no issue. Oh, I suggest you not do what I did and make the London CBD your first experience, that can be a bit nerve wracking.

 

[Henning]

There is a learning curve, but generally, it's not too bad if you're driving a right hand drive car. You need to really watch yourself for the first few days but then it starts to click.

Biggest problem I had was turning on the wipers every time I want to make a right hand turn.

Ugg, and it depends what brand car you get in which side the stalk is on. Go for the high beams and get a windshield full of washer fluid was another 'Arggg' moment that occurred not infrequently. Plus my SAAB had that key in the console thing so from the right side the parking brake made it so you had to do some contortions with your hand and wrist to start the car.

 

[JHW]

Like driving anywhere, it depends on where you are. Some places are so sleepy, you'll have time to browse POA, see a question about driving, and post a photo of it in real time.

What did we do before smartphones ?

 

[timwinters]

Is that a one way street or do they use white striping on center lines there?

Edit: never mind, I now noticed that the crossing signal on the right is on the other side of the tracks.

I think white center lines would screw with me just as much as driving on the left.

 

[Matthew]

We are thinking about an anniversary trip next fall to either Ireland or Scotland, so I was starting to look into the logistics. I've been to the Highlands a few times and would love to get back. Never been to Ireland. When I was in Scotland I took cabs around town, then a bus tour when I wanted to get out of town. I haven't started looking into trains yet, but I was considering "hiring" a car for some out of town travel.

 

[Tflhndn]

I always found that driving on the "wrong side" is an easy enough transition.

The danger for me, has been once I get comfortable on the "wrong side", when I come back home I have trouble changing back, because I had gotten comfortable with it the other way


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[KRyan]

I constantly hit the curb with the left front wheel. At most rental car places, they check that wheel first when you turn in the rental if they know you're an American.

 

[kgruber]

It can be a hazard just walking on the sidewalk. One tends to look the same way when stepping into the crosswalk, and cars are coming from the opposite direction.

That, plus in Europe they don't stop or even slow down for pedestrians.

 

[MAKG1]

Is that a one way street or do they use white striping on center lines there?

Edit: never mind, I now noticed that the crossing signal on the right is on the other side of the tracks.

I think white center lines would screw with me just as much as driving on the left.

Most of the world uses white centerlines. Most of the world also drives on the right.

Frankly, what would screw with me would be taking a car through the Chunnel and switching sides.

 

[Ghery]

Oh, I suggest you not do what I did and make the London CBD your first experience, that can be a bit nerve wracking.

Amen to that. There's no way I would consider driving in the London CBD. Between the tube and buses (and, if necessary, taxis) you don't need a car.

That, plus in Europe they don't stop or even slow down for pedestrians.

No kidding. I sure made the driver of the car behind me MAD when I stopped for a pedestrian while driving into York a number of years ago. How DARE I stop for someone in a crosswalk!

 

[BigBadLou]

That, plus in Europe they don't stop or even slow down for pedestrians.

Negative, Ghostrider.
Depending on the country but most civilized countries in the European Union now have a stupid law giving pedestrians absolute right of way. (or is is "left of way" in Britain? LOL)
Which leads to all those great lawsuits with poor pedestrians jumping in front of cars to claim a huge monetary award in court.
And there are those who stand by a crosswalk and when they see a car approaching, act like they want to cross. When the driver stops for them, they turn away. They do it for every single car, screwing with drivers. Lovely people!

So careful. When driving in a foreign country, learn their driving laws, they might be vastly different from what you are used to. Including no right turns on red (in most of Europe - this is only a great invention in the US).

 

[Matthew]

Is there an "International Driver's License" or equivalent for a US DL in the UK or Ireland?

 

[Sac Arrow]

Is there an "International Driver's License" or equivalent for a US DL in the UK or Ireland?

All an "International Driver's License" is, is a translation of your own license to the language of the country you're visiting, it isn't an actual separate license. You can drive in the UK on a US license.

 

[Henning]

It can be a hazard just walking on the sidewalk. One tends to look the same way when stepping into the crosswalk, and cars are coming from the opposite direction.

That, plus in Europe they don't stop or even slow down for pedestrians.

In Italy you sure do. I loved driving in Italy, while at first glance it appears like it's combat driving, it is actually the opposite, it is based on expected courtesy. If there is a gap, you are expected to floor it into the gap and the person behind can be expected to lift off the gas as required, but expects in return that you are courteous enough to use full acceleration so they don't have to hit the brakes. This keeps everyone moving at the best rate traffic will allow. Pedestrians can expect that if there is a slight gap being left they will be able to cross, and they do not dawdle, OTOH they will also will wait on the side if the traffic is rolling until it slows and someone waves them across.

 

[Henning]

Is there an "International Driver's License" or equivalent for a US DL in the UK or Ireland?

Yes, you can go to AAA and get an International DL, you do not however need one in Europe, we have reciprocity agreements.

 

[Pilawt]

You're not kidding about that, all it takes is one close encounter with a bus to remind you to look the opposite direction and keep your head on a swivel.

Amen. My wife and sister-in-law just got back from a Rick Steves tour of England. One of their fellow tour members didn't "look right" and was hit by a car in Ironbridge. Fortunately the injuries were minor and she was able to complete the trip.

 

[Pilawt]

Yes, you can go to AAA and get an International DL, you do not however need one in Europe, we have reciprocity agreements.

You definitely need the IDL in Italy, at least.

 

[Henning]

You definitely need the IDL in Italy.

I definitely did not.

 

[Pilawt]

I definitely did not.

This from the US Embassy website (emphases theirs):

Americans visiting Italy as tourists and intending to drive should obtain an International Driving Permit before leaving the U.S. [...] Unfortunately, there is no agreement for reciprocal recognition of drivers' licenses between the United States and Italy.

 

[Dav8or]

Not really a problem since you still drive seated to the center of the road.

Except in the US Virgin Islands. There they drive on the left side of the road, but they use the same cars we have here with left hand drive. Everybody drives like a mail man, or meter maid. The memory aid they give to tourists at the rental agency is, "Remember, shoulder to shoulder." Your outside shoulder needs to be against the road's shoulder.

I've only driven twice in a land that drives on the "wrong" side, England and USVI. In both cases it was an easy transition. Takes about two days to stop looking the wrong way and nearly pulling into the wrong lane. That and gear shift in the wrong place.

 

[Dav8or]

I definitely did not.

Did you get pulled over? I got the IDL both times I drove there. The first time I did get pulled over and nearly arrested. (or so they threatened!) I had a valid California license and the IDL and I did nothing wrong traffic law wise. They pulled me over because I looked to young... and I was!! I was 18 at the time, but you have to be 21 over there to drive the car I had. Fortunately, my Dad was with me and he took over driving and they let us go. No ticket either.

 

[Pilawt]

Imagine an entire country switching from one side to the other, as Sweden did in 1967 ...

http://www.wired.com/2014/02/throwback-thursday-sweden/

 

[Sac Arrow]

There are very few countries that won't recognize a US drivers license even if there are no formal reciprocity agreements. I haven't encountered one yet and I drive a lot in Southeast Asia and have driven in Europe on my US license with no issues.

 

[Ghery]

Except in the US Virgin Islands. There they drive on the left side of the road, but they use the same cars we have here with left hand drive. Everybody drives like a mail man, or meter maid. The memory aid they give to tourists at the rental agency is, "Remember, shoulder to shoulder." Your outside shoulder needs to be against the road's shoulder.

I've only driven twice in a land that drives on the "wrong" side, England and USVI. In both cases it was an easy transition. Takes about two days to stop looking the wrong way and nearly pulling into the wrong lane. That and gear shift in the wrong place.

I remember hearing when we were in the USVI about 16 years ago that they tried switching to driving on the right. Mayhem resulted and they switched back. The accident rate was horrendous.

 

[Matthew]

Imagine an entire country switching from one side to the other, as Sweden did in 1967 ...

http://www.wired.com/2014/02/throwback-thursday-sweden/

I remember hearing when we were in the USVI about 16 years ago that they tried switching to driving on the right. Mayhem resulted and they switched back. The accident rate was horrendous.

That would be a heckuva transition. Looks almost like Sweden made the switch during rush hour! Seems like it would make more sense to swap sides at 2am on Sunday morning like we do for time changes.

 

[Sac Arrow]

That would be a heckuva transition. Looks almost like Sweden made the switch during rush hour! Seems like it would make more sense to swap sides at 2am on Sunday morning like we do for time changes.

Yeah really. Then the drunks would already be on the correct side.

 

[Pilawt]

Depending on the country but most civilized countries in the European Union now have a stupid law giving pedestrians absolute right of way.

That would indeed be news in Italy. Don't count on it.

One of the Italy guidebooks on our shelf has photos of "walk/don't walk" signals in Rome. Under the "don't walk" photo the caption says, "Don't even think of crossing here." Under the "walk" photo the caption is, "Slightly less dangerous."

 

[Ghery]

That would be a heckuva transition. Looks almost like Sweden made the switch during rush hour! Seems like it would make more sense to swap sides at 2am on Sunday morning like we do for time changes.

I recall being told when I was in Norway in 1971 that the Swedes did it over a weekend. Shut down the roads, repainted and re-signed as needed and on Monday you drove on the right. Must have been ugly for a while.

That would indeed be news in Italy. Don't count on it.

One of the Italy guidebooks on our shelf has photos of "walk/don't walk" signals in Rome. Under the "don't walk" photo the caption says, "Don't even think of crossing here." Under the "walk" photo the caption is, "Slightly less dangerous."

I believe it. Rome is a zoo for driving. On the other hand, I worry far less in a taxi in Rome than I do in Shanghai.

 

[Henning]

This from the US Embassy website (emphases theirs):

Cop had no problem with my FL DL nor did the rental car company. The only place I've ever needed an IDL was Indonesia, it's a $5 fine there.