Question:
Does anyone have any tips on living in Europe, we are off to England
for a couple of years, I have heard that driving can be quite scary,
should I sign up with a driving school? -- Rachel Smyth
Answer:
Dear Rachel, Driving on the “wrong” side of the road can indeed be
worrisome. It takes a long time for driving on the left to feel natural
to Americans. The fact that the steering wheel is also on the “wrong”
side will help you feel better (or worse) immediately. Don’t worry; you
will stop trying to get in on the left side of the car after just a few
weeks time.
Taking a few driving lessons might be helpful, but mostly what you will
need is practice, and lots of it. I suggest starting in places which
don’t have much traffic so that you can concentrate on staying left. A
huge lorry (that means truck in American) can be intimidating and
something to avoid hitting at all costs.
Going around corners at first is tricky when your inclination is to end
up in the right lane. Round-abouts are also new to most Americans, and
children in the back seat will definitely not be helpful. The other
thing to be aware of is that most English cars are equipped with
standard transmissions. Are you familiar with the word “clutch?” If you
think this just means what you do the night before taking a test, you
might want to learn to use a standard transmission before you even
leave the US. Definitely check out the traffic rules as well as the
parking regulations. Your American driver’s license will be good for
six months. If you will be in England for a longer period of time, you
will need to get an English license. Sorry, but that includes a road
test. Or you can get an international license through AAA before you
leave the US, which will be good for a year.
If
you are going to live in England, you might find yourselves in a place
where you will welcome the opportunity to leave your wheels behind. I
can’t imagine even wanting a car in London nor can I imagine finding a
parking place there. Public transportation in some locations is truly a
better way to get around. Talk about sticker shock; wait until you see
the price of petrol, that substance Americans prefer to call “gas.”
Cars are just not as mandatory in England as they are in the US.
Remember that old fashioned thing called “walking?” It does have
possibilities.
If you need to get behind the wheel, go for it. In time you will be
cruising along like everyone else on the left side of the road and your
palms will barely be sweaty. People make the transition back and forth
all the time, and many are still alive. Count me for one, and good luck
to you! -- Linda Byard
<<O>>
Driving
in the UK
I read your tips on driving in the UK with interest, and as a UK
expatriate who has had to convert "the other way", I would like to add
some more points. I found the biggest danger was after a few days, when
you start to relax, and you may inadvertently go onto the wrong side.
You are at risk when you are going back on to the road, say from a gas
station forecourt, and there are no other vehicles on the road to
remind you.
The
second point is at crossroads, where you and oncoming traffic both wish
to turn right. In the UK, the vehicles will pass each other first
before initiating the turn (i.e. pass with driver side to driver side)-
it is like there is an imaginary island that both cars must go around
in a clockwise direction.
And
finally on multi-lane highways, don't linger in the fast lane... all
over Europe this is a passing lane, and you will incur the wrath of all
motorists if you block this lane to faster traffic. Keep left means
exactly that - as far left as you can! --Regards, Les (Les Forth)
<<O>>
Hi hints-n
tips
Drive on the left and save lives, what the USA
government will not tell you
I read
your interesting information about driving on the left, I
would put it this way:
In the
UK we of course drive on the left. I think we should always
drive on the left because driving on the left is correct for right
handed people which is the great majority, please
read on.
Keep
your right hand on the steering wheel when changing gear if you are
right handed.
When
changing gear in a UK car with the steering wheel on the right , which
is of course correct in the UK etc for driving on the left---------in
the UK your left
hand changes gear and
your right
hand stays on the
steering wheel.------------ this is safer for right handed
people.
The
reverse is the case in countries where one must drive on the right.--
in other words if you live in the USA you hold the steering wheel with
your left
hand and change gear with your right hand
because of course the steering wheel is on the left in the
USA--------this is dangerous
if you are right handed.
Bicycles.
Bike riders are in real danger in countries where driving on
the right is mandatory again assuming you are right handed------Try
mounting a bike in the USA and you will find yourself in the
stream of traffic
when getting on the bike---- try it
yourself---------: Mounting a bike in the UK is
done from
the sidewalk by right handed
people who find it easier to put their right leg over the
bike. , Much safer and this must have saved many
lives.
Reversing
up a steep drive: My drive in the UK is very
steep----------when I reverse out I hold the steering wheel with my right hand and look
over my left shoulder to the rear window. In a USA car you
must hold the steering wheel with your left hand and look
over your right shoulder to look out of the rear window.. So you must reverse with your left hand on the
steering wheel.. Or stick your head
out of the window if you want to use your right hand on the
steering wheel. ---dangerous
for the majority who are right
handed.
OK for
left handed people to drive on the right---lucky them Yours
sincerely Christopher (Chris)
Davison London UK
<<0>>
Chris
Many thanks for your contribution. In your posting you raise several
very interesting points. Lets see if our American cousins see sense and
get back on the right side (left, I mean) I am sure that we can expect
some comments! - Dave - Webmaster www.hints-n-tips.com
<<0>>
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply, if a debate starts I would be very pleased to
contribute. The sad thing is that whole countries including the USA are
denied this information because it would "embarrass" national thinking
and education. They should give a rational answer to the points raised
and an honest reply.
I think
it was Sweden which actually converted to the right side driving not so
long ago, perhaps because of the EU, the same EU which has the nerve to
tell us that the English word for chocolate must mean chocolate with a
certain cocoa butter content, even in the English language. - Regards
Chris
<<0>>
An American
replies
Hello I
just read Davison's argument on why the left side is the correct side
and I am affaid I must disagree. I am a professional driver and have
driven in most places around the globe; first it should be noted that
even in F1, before the invention of the paddle shifter, the shifter was
on the right not the left. This is because the shifting of the vehicle
is more complicated then holding it straight or even turning it
slightly as you would do, only in racing.
The bike
argument can be negated by the fact that if you are in a car in either
country and pull to the side of the road you must exit the vehicle on
the traffic side, at least on a bike you have a choice. You say it is
more comfortable to mount on the right, well that just sounds like you
are trading safety for comfort which is your choice of course.
As far
as backing out of the drive way the correct way is to keep both hands
on the wheel and use your mirrors. Turning around impedes your vision
to one side as you cant turn your head more than 90 degrees. I hope
this clears things up.
Yours
sincerely Christopher Jarmon, Walton On Thames,UK but
still American.
<<O>>
Road
Trip in Scotland. Hello,
I'm an American living in Germany. I am planning a vacation to Scotland
this summer, and my family and I thought it would be fun to make a
road-trip out of the experience. However, we just realized that we
might not be able to drive our American-made car (Ford Fusion) in the
UK... Do you have any info re: how that might work (or not work)?
Thanks for any advice! -- Brianne Grogan, DPT
Comment:
You should
not meet with any problems other than the fact that in the UK everyone
drives on the left. After a while you can get the hang of it. A tip is
to leave a post -it note or similar on the dashboard or windshield to
remind yourself when you set off. Do this for the first few days at
least. Prime a travelling companion to keep reminding you to keep to
the left.
Driving a right hand drive
car on the 'wrong side' is not much of a disadvantage and under some
circumstances has benefits, but you do have to be slightly more alert.
Ensure that in the first few days you limit your travel time as the
stress will result in your becoming fatigued a bit earlier than you
would otherwise. Read Linda Byards article (above)
Tourists have no problems
with Continental European or American made cars. This applies to all
European territories.
There is no legislation
banning LHD vehicles from entering the country and being used on UK
roads. All signatories - and the UK is one - to the 1968 Vienna
Convention on Road Traffic allow the import and even the registration
of either type of car.
Enjoy your road trip to
Scotland and drop us a line to let us know how it went. The scenery in
the Highlands can be quite stunning and the people hospitable, but do
look out for the Midges (little flying and biting insects) --
Ed
UK license in
America: If you are visiting the US you can use your
driving licence for at least 30 days and much longer in some states.
You can do something similar here if you are American. I believe that
the validity period for American licence is in the UK is one year-- Archie
Fisher Perth Scotland -
US driving
license in UK: I've rented cars in England, Spain,
Japan, and Ireland with no difficulty, have driven, and have even been
pulled over (a little right-left confusion) and my California license
has not been a problem. Enjoy! – Jon
Links - 1968
Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
Never
bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye --
Helen Keller