How difficult would it be for an American to drive in the U.K. for vacation?

[ratatoskK]

I'm a good driver but I've always driven on the right side of the road. Have you gone on a driving vacation where you have to drive on the left? Is it really hard and dangerous, or would it be a reasonable thing to do?

[Lemur866]

Oh, drive IN the UK.

Nevermind then.

[Sampiro]

Oh, drive IN the UK.

Nevermind then.

I read it exactly the same way!:)

Here's a non-scholarly "handy tips (http://www.rotorbrain.com/foote/follies/ukdriving.htm)" site that says:

Most people find that driving on the left is not a problem and get used to it pretty much immediately: the hardest part is remembering which car door to use! Left/right confusion is most dangerous in car parks [parking lots] and places where lanes are not clearly marked: be careful not to let your instincts take over. It's particularly important to remember that the bulk of the car is ON YOUR LEFT, and thus you should hug the right kerb [curb] closer than you think. For this reason, be sure to give cyclists [damnfool idiots] an especially wide berth when overtaking [passing].

Official U.S. Embassy advice for Americans driving in the UK (http://www.theamerican.co.uk/pr/driving.php).


Personally, having never been there or driven there, I can only say "I wouldn't do it" unless I actually moved there, and even then I'd only drive in uncongested areas until I had the hang of it. In addition to the left-right difference, simple things like differences in road signs (http://www.rebeccarose.info/yankee_site/theuk_driving.htm)and converting kmph to mph would be so alien.

[RickJay]

I've known a lot of people who did it (either in the UK of some other country that drives on the wrong side) and all report you get used to it surprisingly quickly.

[Sampiro]

PS- Take a practice Driving Theory test (http://www.learnerstuff.co.uk/theory-test/mock-theory-tests.htm)here. (God it's hard to believe there's a country where it's called "Driving Theory"- I have so got to go there.) The UK Driver's test is evidently a lot harder than the US versions.

[Giles]

You get used to driving on the other side of the road pretty quickly, especially if there are other cars on the road. Things that an American driver might find hard in the UK are:
(1) Most cars have a manual transmission. If you've only driven with an automatic transmission that takes time to learn.
(2) A lot of roads are more narrow and winding than the equivalent American roads would be.
(3) Don't drive in the centre of London, for many reasons (including the congestion charge).
(4) You need to get used to roundabouts. Apart from driving round them clockwise, you must give way to traffic already on the roundabout.

[Quartz]

You will find that your biggest problem comes when you get back home: you'll have to be very careful to drive on the correct side of the road.

[TJVM]

I did it in while on vacation in Australia, and it wasn't difficult. I did find that I had to concentrate on driving more than usual; sometimes when I was going through an intersection or making a turn, I'd have to kind of consciously map out what I was going to do.

[Philster]

Yes, the biggest challenge, indeed, will be getting used to the wrong side of the road only to come home and have to drive on the correct side. :)

[mutantmoose]

and converting kmph to mph would be so alien.

all the road signs are in mph (or miles if indicating the distance to the next town).

Nobody knows what a kilometre is in the UK.

[Enderw24]

I'll fourth (fifth?) the chorus saying it was pretty easy adjusting to driving on the other side of the road. What actually surprised me is that we (or at least I) tend to unconciously move to one side of the lane to avoid objects like cars parked on the side of the road But in the UK it's completely reversed. So while you you're constantly reminding yourself what lane to be in, you end up coming REALLLLLLY close to objects you never would in the states because your sense of compensation is completely reversed. I'm sure that too adjusts in time, but I was only driving there for a few days.

[cormac262]

I took on this particular feat when I decided to rent a car and drive around england back a few years ago. It is doable, and it is stressful, but you can survive.

First: when you sign up for a rental, be sure to get an automatic. One less thing to have to worry about will be shifting with your left hand !

Next, don't plan to use the car in the large cities (like London). You're better off using the underground or cabs in the city. So I would only recommend a car if you need to travel outside the big cities.

I talked to some people, and one guy told me that if you just think "the driver is closest to the center of the road", you will be okay. That is, since you'll be seated on the right, then you need to drive in the "left" lane in order to keep the driver closest to the center. Seemed to make sense.

Starting out is the most stressful, but once you get over the initial shock, it isn't too bad. Next is the (damn) circles. These are VERY stressful. There's an entire ettiquite (sp ?) associated with handling circles that we never figured out, and therefore got honked at...a lot. The good thing is that if you mess up, you can just keep circling ;-) For sheer madness, there are circles that also have traffic lights. Never did figure out the logic to that one, and fortunately these tend to have better directions painted in the lanes.

The easiest are the highways. Once you're on, it's pretty straight forward. Perhaps next easiest are the small country roads. Some of these are so narrow, there is no "left" or "right" lane - just The lane. So you can't be wrong !

For spending 12 some days on the road, we only had one lapse where I instinctively pulled into the right lane. It was kind of funny, when we came upon a car coming directly at us, both my friend and I had the same reaction "What's that idiot doing in our lane ??? !!!" But I quickly figured it out, and disaster was averted.

Hope this helps.

[Ximenean]

Whenever I've driven on the "wrong" side of the road, the hairiest moments have been on the less busy roads (fortunately, such roads are rare in Britain :)). It's easy enough when you have other cars to lead the way and constantly remind you which side you should be on. But turn off into a quiet country lane with no traffic and if you're not careful you might find yourself on the wrong side. The most dangerous moment is pulling out on to a road - you check for oncoming traffic, it's all clear, you pull out, and wham, a truck coming from the opposite direction hits you.

[dangermom]

My husband and I did it several years ago. It went just fine, but here are my tips--

Driving in London is not a good idea (we rented on the edge of the city to drive out, but then got back after closing time the next day, so had to drive the car into Southwark, where we were staying).

We found it invaluable to have me looking at the map and giving directions while he drove. I think it would be quite a bit more difficult to do alone, without a navigator as companion.

[Sampiro]

all the road signs are in mph (or miles if indicating the distance to the next town).

Nobody knows what a kilometre is in the UK.

Hmm. Ignorance fought. (Since Europe and Canada use km I assumed the UK did.)

[ryan]

Nothing new to add, just agreeing with those who posted about the benefits of an automatic transmission, not driving in London and the difficulty dealing with the damned roundabouts.

I did most of my driving on that trip in Scotland and if you're on the highway up in the Highlands be aware that people will drive at outrageous speeds.

[yandoodan]

I've done it quite a lot -- about 20 trips in the last two decades. I've never gotten used to it. The problem is that English roads are horrid, English traffic is California-esque, and English drives are hyper-aggressive. My tips:

1. Do not attempt to drive more than 200 miles in a day. Ever. This means you.

2. Have your passenger remind you to drive on the left every time you pull out of a parking lot.

3. Backing will be your biggest problem -- you'll loose perspective on where your passenger mirror and bumper are. Avoid parking garages, and any turning to the right while backing.

4. Do not drive in the major cities. Instead, park and use mass transit.

5. Above all, do not try to drive around the entire island in two weeks. Instead, pick a spot and stay there at least three days. Then move (no more than 200 miles!) to the next spot.

Roundabouts, oddly enough, are not that bad, except for when they paint a dot in the middle of the intersection and claim it to be a "roundabout". I never really figured out how you are supposed to circle around a dot painted in the middle of an intersection. The locals seem to just charge over them.

Personally, I always rent cottages for a week apiece, and stay within 30 miles of home. The less you drive, the more fun you'll have.

[Brynda]

I will defer to those of you who have done it, but as someone who has beeen driven around a lot in England, I think driving there looks hard as hell. The roads are tiny, and people seem to have no problem coming within inches of you. To me, that is worse than the other side of the road thing.

[Maeglin]

I am a fairly lousy driver. I live in the city, do not own a car, and only have the occasion to drive a few times a year. I am also cursed with a relatively poor sense of direction.

That said, I have done two driving trips, mostly sticking to country lanes in Wales. I adjusted much faster than I would have thought. The signage is on the whole very good, and most of the roundabouts made perfect sense. I only got turned around perhaps once per trip. I did not drive casually: my wife and I drove all over the country, often several hundred miles at a time.

I liked it so much, I did it again two years later. I had no trouble renting a car with an automatic transmission, for what it's worth.

[Morbo]

The only problem I kept having while driving around New Zealand for ten days was constantly turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals.

[Xema]

I've done this in several countries (England, Japan, New Zealand, Australia & South Africa) - it never seemed like a big deal. OTOH I have a friend whose brother was killed in an accident in Wales that was probably due to his confusion about which lane to drive in.


Next is the (damn) circles. These are VERY stressful.
Funny, I find them sensible and logical - wish we had more of them in the US (they exist in places like Massachussetts, but they're rare).


The only problem I kept having while driving around New Zealand for ten days was constantly turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals.
If you were consistently able to walk to the correct side of the car, you are unusual - that's the hardest thing for many.

[Hedda Rosa]

My family stayed in England for 6 months when I was just out of college. I drove on back country roads. B roads I think they were called? That was easy, fun even.

My parents drove while we were in towns and highways. Once while my stepmother was driving we went aroundaroundaround a roundabout 7 times before finally being able to lunge off onto what turned out to be the wrong road anyway. No joke, we counted and all still laugh about it today.

The hardest thing to get used to for me - after yes going to the wrong side of the car - was looking into the mirrors. It never became automatic.

[mutantmoose]

B roads I think they were called?

Yeah. There's three types of road - motorway (freeway), A roads and B roads.

A roads are wide, well-maintained, often with two lanes. B roads can be anything from A road standard down to just wide enough to fit one car with maybe an inch of space either side before you get hedge and God help you if you meet someone coming the opposite direction.

Well, they do have passing places every so often but you learn to drive those roads carefully, especially when you come near a bend.

[dalej42]

It has been years, but I used to work for an international rental car company. The best piece of advice is to not try to drive when you get off a USA-Europe flight. I have a hard enough time trying drive after flying across the United States. I would want my first experience in driving on the left to be after several hours in the air when I'm jet lagged.

[Reply]

Oh, drive IN the UK.

Nevermind then.

Dude, it's 2009. If Paris was possible (http://www.ramacorp.org/images/funny/google_maps_new_york_to_paris.jpg)...

[Freddy the Pig]

Do you know when you really need to be careful in an opposite-side country? Walking. You're fighting a lifetime of instinct to turn your head one way when checking for traffic before you cross the street.

But yeah, driving is no problem. It's mostly follow-the-leader.

[GorillaMan]

For sheer madness, there are circles that also have traffic lights. Never did figure out the logic to that one, and fortunately these tend to have better directions painted in the lanes.

This tends to be found at locations where the traffic density has risen above that which will freely flow through a standard roundabout - the lights, while being more expensive and inconvenient, allow things to be controlled more effectively.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

I read it exactly the same way!:)

Here's a non-scholarly "handy tips (http://www.rotorbrain.com/foote/follies/ukdriving.htm)" site that says:



Official U.S. Embassy advice for Americans driving in the UK (http://www.theamerican.co.uk/pr/driving.php).
I haven't been there either, but I would think it takes some weeks of getting used to. I don't consider myself that great a driver anyway, especially in unfamiliar places. (Sebastian Flyte's quote comes to mind: "Please return the bits to him if we crack up the car. I'm not very good at driving...")

And it wouldn't just be when driving. Even just waiting for buses and trains would be different as I've lived my life watching to the left for the next bus in the distance, or waiting for trains to come in on the right-hand platform, looking in the direction you are traveling. Jaywalking across a busy street with an island...no traffic coming on the left, OK it's clear to the center.. off I go.....SCRRRREEEEECCCCHHH..SMASH...SPLAT!! (Oh yeah. I needed to look to the RIGHT here..!! It was a nice life anyway. Please send the bits back to Hardcastle, as he said...)

[Petrobey Mavromihalis]

I talked to some people, and one guy told me that if you just think "the driver is closest to the center of the road", you will be okay. That is, since you'll be seated on the right, then you need to drive in the "left" lane in order to keep the driver closest to the center. Seemed to make sense.I go between Greece and the UK a lot, so swap over quite often, and I also used to give advice to British people hiring cars here in Greece, and this is the best tip I've come across.

Forget about the left vs. right thing and just focus on the fact that the driver is closest to the middle of the road and the passenger side is closest to the verge - exactly the same as when you drive back at home.

You're probably best to get an automatic, but doing the gears with a different hand is not as hard as you might think.

[Wallenstein]

all the road signs are in mph (or miles if indicating the distance to the next town).

Nobody knows what a kilometre is in the UK.

While it's true that all roadsigns are in miles, pretty much every car speedometer in the UK has MPH and KPH marked on it* (example (http://www.ukcar.com/road_tests/Saab/saab.93/small/car.speedo.jpg)).



*I think some of the newer digital displays are MPH only, but all dial speedos will have both

[jjimm]

Most of us Brits switch sides for vacations, several times in our lives. It's much easier than you think to make the switch - it takes me about 10-20 minutes before I start to look in the correct spots for the mirrors without having to make the effort consciously.

The biggest issue is coping with the other side of the road, and a new driving style. For that reason I would recommend spending about 20 minutes driving around some quiet streets before getting into traffic.

If you've never driven a manual transmission, definitely try to book an automatic, as you don't want to add a third hassle to the experience.

A good trick from my parents, who switch between the US and the UK for months at a time, is to stick a big arrow on the dash pointing at the side of the road that you are meant to drive on (bring the arrow home with you and put it there for a week after you get back). Once, after several days in the US, I was distracted and thinking about something else, and set off on an empty street on the wrong side of the road. As a truck barrelled head-on towards me, I was thinking "what's that idiot doing driving on the wrong side of the road... oh... it's me... HOLY CRAP!" ::swerve::

[Baron Greenback]

*I think some of the newer digital displays are MPH only, but all dial speedos will have both

All the digital ones I've seen can be switched between the two. Good luck trying to actually do this though, even with the manual on hand.

[jjimm]

Missed the edit window: "definitely try to book an automatic in advance, as they're not the default choice in most European car hire places".

[cormac262]

re: roundabouts


Funny, I find them sensible and logical - wish we had more of them in the US (they exist in places like Massachussetts, but they're rare).



For me, the larger roundabouts/circles were very disorienting. We would look at the map and determine that we needed to go "right". But you never actually make a "right" turn. You will always make a "left" - it's just a question of when. (obviously this was more an issue with the larger roundabouts).
Not being used to this, my brain had a hard time catching up to having made an "effective right". I think I was so used to the sensation of actually turning right when making a right, this input from my "servos" (mostly optical, I'm sure) would help with my sense of then proceeding in the desired direction. Without the expected servo input, and in fact, getting the opposite (when making a "right") was very disorienting to me. Maybe having a compass along would have helped, but there were many times (night was even worse) when I felt like I was either going the wrong direction, or backtracking where I had just come from.

[Lillith Fair]

June, 2001

We were visiting friends in England so I had the experience of being a passenger while my friend drove for several days. My husband had the bright idea that we should rent a car and that I should be the driver because I am always the driver. The rental place gave us a brand new Mercedes automatic. (Don't be too impressed, it was not a fancy Mercedes.)

They force you to buy the insurance. The insurance that you would not buy in the U.S. because you would be covered under your own insurance policy. This is a good thing.

I did okay, mainly. I tended to be to close to the curb and sometimes touch it.

So this one day I was pretty tired. We were in Shrewsbury looking for Brother Cadfael, but his Shrewsbury looked a lot different from the one I was driving in. We kept following these PARK signs and could not find the parking lot. Then I needed to turn right and I simply forgot that I didn't have the right of way. A guy in a pick up truck hit me because he just could not believe that I was going to do something so stupid. His truck was fine. My car did exactly what it was supposed to do, I guess. It crunched up in the front.

The guy was really nice and let us use his phone to call the rental car place. We were right near a police station so many police drove by, completely ignoring the accident. That was okay with me.

The tow truck man drove us to our B&B. The next morning he picked me up and drove me to the rental car place. They were mad at me. It was a new car!

This experience cost me about $500, I think. That's what I had to pay.

They assigned me another car which was a stick shift. Could I please have an automatic? NO. WE DO NOT HAVE AN AUTOMATIC.

I didn't have to drive this car too much, but it was weird to shift with my left hand. The pedals were the same as in the U.S. I had to drive in some traffic on the highway but I did pretty well. I had to concentrate too hard, though.

So, next time. I don't know. It was hard for me. Maybe you can do it.

We turned the car in then took the train to London.

[elfkin477]

(4) You need to get used to roundabouts. Apart from driving round them clockwise, you must give way to traffic already on the roundabout. You have to give way to people already in the traffic circle in the US, too, you know. I've heard that there are parts of the US that don't have any, but they're as common as dirt up here.

I don't think I'd want to drive in the UK, and I find it startling that apparently it's okay to just rent a car and take off, without any lessons on the differences first.

[Hanna]

It's pretty easy. Just be extra careful in the roundabouts and also when you make turns that you remain in the correct lane.

[Wallenstein]

and set off on an empty street on the wrong side of the road. As a truck barrelled head-on towards me, I was thinking "what's that idiot doing driving on the wrong side of the road... oh... it's me... HOLY CRAP!" ::swerve::

I once worked in a small orchard restaurant near Cambridge which is on a narrow, winding rural road.

We regularly got foreign tourists turning out of the entrace on the wrong side of the road, as there are no other visual indicators (parked cars, roadsigns etc) that show the direction of traffic. In fact we had a recovery firm on speed dial as you'd get sevearl incidents each summer.

I did exactly the same on a road in the Fens after living in Germany for a year - it's worse when it's quieter, as you slip into automatic driving mode and lack the visiual cues (like oncoming trucks!) to tell you which side to choose. Busy roads are, perhaps counter-intuitively, easier as the presence of an oncoming bus tends to focus the mind!

[John DiFool]

Drove in South Africa for 3 weeks 8 years ago. Only had one brain-dead moment, turned out from a side street and almost went onto the right side (divided road). Caught myself just in time and just went into the opposite side street and turned around. Even found shifting with my left hand to be pretty easily learned.

[brad_d]

I drove in England on a vacation about three years ago. I loved it! Points I'd make:
Even a day or so spent as a passenger can be extremely helpful just in seeing "how things work" over there.
I very much wanted to get a manual transmission, and was glad I did. Shifting with the left hand is a bit odd, but you get used to it. For several days I'd whack the door as I reached out with my right hand for the nonexistent shifter over there. If you have little/no experience with sticks here, you may not want to try this; if you are comfortable with one, though, I recommend it.
Roundabouts are great - I wish we had more here. (There's one, that I'm aware of, in Los Angeles County - it's in Long Beach, and is unambiguously referred to simply as "the traffic circle".)
I heartily second dangermom's advice about the benefits of having one person drive and somebody else navigate.
Never, in a week or so, did I end up on the wrong side of the road.
Once, towards the end of the trip (curiously), I absently walked up to the car and actually sat down in the passenger seat before realizing my error.
I immediately re-adjusted to driving at home upon arrival, even though I feared that it would take some time. (I drove our pick-up vehicle home from the airport, and it felt 100% normal.)
There were many highlights to that trip, and the driving experience was definitely one of them.

[Driver8]

All the digital ones I've seen can be switched between the two. Good luck trying to actually do this though, even with the manual on hand.My Prius has a big prominent button on the dashboard that switches between the two. I always thought that was somewhat gratuitous, since how often are you going to need to switch them? I imagined there was some regulation about easily displaying both miles and kilometers.

As to driving on the left, I did the reverse when I moved from South Africa to the United States. I think that was a little easier, especially moving to South Florida with its luxurious, wide and straight boulevards. Intersections and choosing the right lane should come pretty quickly - there will usually be tons of visual cues (as others have noted be careful on the quieter streets). The longest thing for me was getting used to having so much more car on my right hand side. Initially I would tend to drift right since I never felt like I was sitting in the correct part of the lane. This too went away after a while.

[Wallenstein]

My Prius has a big prominent button on the dashboard that switches between the two. I always thought that was somewhat gratuitous, since how often are you going to need to switch them? I imagined there was some regulation about easily displaying both miles and kilometers.

In the UK many people drive in Europe after taking the Chunnel / Ferry to France etc.

We had many self-drive holidays in France when I was younger, and you'll still see loads of British cars in Calais etc.

[amarinth]

I went on a driving vacation in NZ a few years ago and did several thousand kilometers on the left side of the road.

Luckily, my plane landed early Sunday morning, and I had a few hours where there were few cars (which was good, because there were some interesting turns for those first 5 or so minutes) but after that, you kind of get used it.

The biggest problems were:

accidentally turning on the windshield wiper when I meant to hit the turn signal (and vice versa)
walking back to the car and attempting to get into the passenger seat
looking the wrong way before turning. But I was so conscious of that, I kept looking both ways back and forth several times before turning (or crossing a road on foot).
parking. I can't parallel park (there's a thread about it somewhere) trying to even pull up into a space on the wrong side of the street while I was on the wrong side of the car was not easy.
edging toward the left side of the lane. (It turns out, I position myself in the lane by putting my body ~1/3rd of the way in from the left of the lane. Do that while on the wrong side of the car, and all of a sudden, I'm slipping off of the road.)


By the end of the day Sunday, though, I was fine.

[mecaenas]

Wow, I just learnt something new. I didn't realise that so many people never look both ways when crossing the street. I just assumed that everyone in the world did the "look right", then "look left", then "look right again" (or reversed). Even if it's a one way street surely it makes sense to look both ways since I've seen people drive the wrong way down a one way street before. Is this common for people to only look 1 direction before stepping off the curb?

I went on a driving vacation in NZ a few years ago and did several thousand kilometers on the left side of the road.

<SNIP>

You must have done a lap or 2 of the entire country including both islands since NZ's only about 1,500km from top to bottom! ;)

[Xema]

Is this common for people to only look 1 direction before stepping off the curb?
I think it is. There's no question it's a dangerous habit when you get to a country where they drive on the "wrong" side.

[Xema]

In the UK many people drive in Europe after taking the Chunnel / Ferry to France etc.
I've always thought this has to be really strange and somewhat dangerous, since the driver will be near the edge of the road so his view for passing will necessarily be restricted.

[Ximenean]

I actually think it's trickier than driving a LHD car in a LHD country. The "driver is nearest the centre of the road" trick doesn't work, and it does feel weird to be so near to the edge of the road. And as you say, it can be dangerous.

Also, maybe having everything switched over, rather than driving your own car, gives you a stronger visual and psychological cue that you "aren't in Kansas any more", and that you should pay more attention to things like what side of the road you're on.

[TruCelt]

I do this every few years in Ireland. Definitely listen to the people above about the automatic transmission. Just pay the money. I'd say, even if you normally drive stick, your brain needs all it's processing power for navigating.

Get a car that is smaller than you are used to. People drive VERY close to each other there, so be ready.

Pay for the navigation system too, or download the local maps to your own GPS unit (most can handle this with just a memory card.) The roads there are not well marked, and the directions you will get are often useless at night. (Was that the big Rowan tree we just passed?" "No, I think it was a cow. . .") It may be cheaper just to buy yourself one before you go. Be sure to put it in your checked bag.

For the first three days there I chant in my head while driving "left side, left side, left side" for the first three days after I get home "Right side, right side, right side".

If you don't like traffic circles, make yourself drive through a few several times before you go.

Keep a bag of change in the car at all times. You never know when you might need it to cross a bridge or leave a carpark.

Print a big, red, letter "L" on a piece of paper and stick it in the rear window of the car. This stands for "Learner" and will greatly increase the patience people show to you. They'll give you a lot more space to operate in as well.

[Saintly Loser]

You'll be fine. I've done it a number of times, both in a car and on a motorcycle.

The only thing that I found tricky is remembering which way to look for oncoming traffic. Very important when turning into a road. I had the same difficulty as a pedestrian. We here in the U.S. get very, very used to looking left when stepping off the curb.

If you want a car with automatic transmission, you'll have to reserve it in advance. Not every rental place will have one, and you'll pay more. If you're comfortable with a manual transmission, fine, but you'll be shifting with your left hand. Not a big deal.

I found the whole process much easier on a motorcycle, for some reason.

[jjimm]

Print a big, red, letter "L" on a piece of paper and stick it in the rear window of the car. This stands for "Learner" and will greatly increase the patience people show to you. They'll give you a lot more space to operate in as well.Except in Dublin, where they'll honk at you and try to overtake you by default.

[Snickers]

I lived in Australia for 6 months in college and drove both there and in New Zealand, and it was cake. (My friend from Nottingham bought a car over there, and she had me drive it most of the time, which I thought was some strange.)

However, in the UK you'll need to be careful on their narrow roads. And I wouldn't drive in the city at all.

As for the manual, that was simple too. My mistake was in thinking that the pattern was mirrored too (it isn't), so I was constantly putting it in the wrong gear. Just remember that 1st is furthest away from you (instead of closest) and you'll be right.

[amarinth]

You must have done a lap or 2 of the entire country including both islands since NZ's only about 1,500km from top to bottom! ;)Started in Aukland, drove up to the Bay of Islands, meandered around on the west side of the north island and eventually arrived in Wellington, flew to the top of the south island and drove almost all the way to the south (Dunedin) and then back up to Christchurch. Google maps puts it at about 3500 & that's not including the "got lost for a few hours" meanderings.

[GorillaMan]

I've always thought this has to be really strange and somewhat dangerous, since the driver will be near the edge of the road so his view for passing will necessarily be restricted.
It's not the easiest thing, and needs extra attention from the driver, but it's not all that wierd.

[An Gadaí]

Print a big, red, letter "L" on a piece of paper and stick it in the rear window of the car. This stands for "Learner" and will greatly increase the patience people show to you. They'll give you a lot more space to operate in as well.

This isn't a good piece of advice for at least two reasons.

1) Learner drivers are not allowed drive on motorways.
2) Many drivers are MORE aggressive with learner drivers.
3) Hi, Opal!

[Noone Special]

You have not really driven in England until you have driven all around the country in a Manual shift, Left-hand drive, large-ish French minivan (rented in Paris, taken across on ferry) :)

No problems to report except taking and inserting your ticket to get in and out of paid-parking lots was a royal pain.... :smack:

Granted, this was after several previous cases of driving (a "standard" RHDrive) in England. First time out ever, at least, was not out of Heathrow, but out of a small agency in Luton, at 11 AM -- time and place specifically chosen so I could get 5-10 minutes of practice under my belt before hitting heavy traffic.

What works for me when driving in England is mentally reversing Right and Left, to the point I think of cross-over turns as "turning left" (even though I'm really turning right, of course. But "left turn = difficult, cross-traffic turn" instinctively.)
Interestingly, I manage to follow directions despite this mental reversal.

[Really Not All That Bright]

I've always thought this has to be really strange and somewhat dangerous, since the driver will be near the edge of the road so his view for passing will necessarily be restricted.
It's not a big deal, really (driving an LHD car in a RHD country or vice versa).

It is a pain trying to see around things, but remember there are no pickup trucks, and far fewer SUVs and minivans, so you can usually see through the windows of whatever you're following.

Of course, if it's a commercial vehicle or horsebox or somesuch, you're screwed.

[The Stafford Cripps]

For me, the larger roundabouts/circles were very disorienting. We would look at the map and determine that we needed to go "right". But you never actually make a "right" turn. You will always make a "left" - it's just a question of when. (obviously this was more an issue with the larger roundabouts).
Not being used to this, my brain had a hard time catching up to having made an "effective right". I think I was so used to the sensation of actually turning right when making a right, this input from my "servos" (mostly optical, I'm sure) would help with my sense of then proceeding in the desired direction. Without the expected servo input, and in fact, getting the opposite (when making a "right") was very disorienting to me. Maybe having a compass along would have helped, but there were many times (night was even worse) when I felt like I was either going the wrong direction, or backtracking where I had just come from.
The way British people do it is say that they're taking 'the third [or whichever] exit' rather than turning right. Ahead of almost every roundabout is a sign with a diagram of the roundabout, with you at the bottom. You count the number of exits you need to pass as you go clockwise before turning left onto the one you need. Apart from anything else, if there are more than 4 exits at a roundabout, saying which one is 'right' isn't possible .

[PunditLisa]

We drove in the Virgin Islands, where you drive on the left. Oddly, the automobiles still had the steering wheels on the left...

Anywho, adapting was okay (especially when everyone kept shouting "Stay left!") except for pulling in and out of restaurants, gas stations, etc. For some reason, my brain couldn't figure out what side I needed to be on. So I just waited for a car to pass and followed it, the roosters, pigs, goats and donkeys not being particularly helpful in this regard.

[Sunspace]

So are all the controls flipped between RHD and LHD cars?

I've been in England, but I didn't drive there. It was strange even getting used to the pedestrian aspects of things: walking out the door and thinking that I had to be on the far side of the street in front of me instead of the near side to catch a bus heading to my right; turning to the right instead of the left when boarding that bus, etc, etc. I seem to recall that pedestrians walked on the left as well.

Very helpful were the LOOK LEFT and LOOK RIGHT signs painted on the sidewalk at pedestrian crossings in central London, presumably to help clueless tourists such as myself. There were so many one-way streets and odd angles that it wasn't necessarily obvious which way traffic was likely to emerge out of smaller streets anyway.

A lot of the acclimatization is really about retraining muscle memory.

[Really Not All That Bright]

So are all the controls flipped between RHD and LHD cars?
Not really. The volume knob on the stereo is still usually on the left, the pedals still go clutch-brake-throttle from left to right, and the gearshift still has 1st on the left and 4th/5th/6th on the right.

[Infovore]

I didn't read through all the posts, so sorry if I repeat anything (consider it reiterating good advice! :) )

We went to England and Wales in 1997 and did most of our own driving. Actually, I did most of the driving and the spouse navigated, which is a great idea because I'm a more assertive/aggressive driver than he is and he's better at reading maps and adjusting directions on the fly than I am.

I got used to the wrong side of the road fairly quickly. Roundabouts, too, once I got the hang of them, and ended up enjoying them a lot. The parts I had trouble with were mainly:

1. Making turns into the wrong lane, particularly when making rights (which would be our lefts). Even after I was getting pretty good at the whole thing, I still had to adjust many times to avoid turning into the wrong lane.

2. I can't count the number of times I went to use the turn signal and ended up activating the windshield wipers. :P

We had an automatic, so I didn't have to worry about shifting. And, contrary to everybody's advice, we did actually drive in London. During rush hour. And lived to tell the tale. The secrets of my success were two: I was aggressive and forced my way in the same way the locals were, and I had a very good navigator. We only ended up driving the wrong way in a buses only lane once! I don't actually remember why we were driving in London anymore, since most of the time we took the train in from outlying villages where we were staying. But it's not *quite* as bad as people describe it, at least not in my opinion.

[FalconFinder]

Can't add anything to the advice, but I'm curious. I drive a stick and am curious if the gear progression is the same. Meaning, in my car, first gear is up to the left, second is down left, etc.

Is this reversed on a UK car, or is it the same?

I've dreamed of someday going to Ireland and, if that ever happens, it would be nice to be able to get around when and where I wanted to go.

What concerns me is the shifting. I'm right handed. When I try to do things with my left hand that I can do with my right, it automatically does things in mirror image. I can freak people out by writing backwards with my left hand with absolute ease. Other motions are automatically "backwards" as well. It's really quite bizarre.

Anyway, I'd be terrified that I'd be constantly putting the car into the wrong gear...

[matt_mcl]

Do you know when you really need to be careful in an opposite-side country? Walking. You're fighting a lifetime of instinct to turn your head one way when checking for traffic before you cross the street.

To the point that a lot of crosswalks in London have reminders to look both ways.

[Giles]

To the point that a lot of crosswalks in London have reminders to look both ways.
That may be partly because a lot of London streets are one-way streets, so you should look both ways unless you are completely sure which direction traffic is going.

[Ximenean]

I drive a stick and am curious if the gear progression is the same. Meaning, in my car, first gear is up to the left, second is down left, etc.

Is this reversed on a UK car, or is it the same?

I've dreamed of someday going to Ireland and, if that ever happens, it would be nice to be able to get around when and where I wanted to go.
Really Not All That Bright addressed that question a couple of posts ago. The gearshift and pedals are oriented in the same way as you're used to. Ireland, the country, is not actually part of the UK, but it's the same there.

[GorillaMan]

Can't add anything to the advice, but I'm curious. I drive a stick and am curious if the gear progression is the same. Meaning, in my car, first gear is up to the left, second is down left, etc.

Is this reversed on a UK car, or is it the same?
It's the same. Superficial things can be changed for RHD/LHD, but nobody's going to build mirror-image gearboxes. You might think you'll find it weird, but by the time you've trained the correct hand to change gear, you'll have no problem negotiating them.

[GorillaMan]

That may be partly because a lot of London streets are one-way streets, so you should look both ways unless you are completely sure which direction traffic is going.

Yes, I've never seen those instructions as particularly intended for tourists as opposed to the general pedestrian public - although I seem to remember a few, around Tower Bridge, which have French as well as English inscribed on the road.

[Ximenean]

Never really noticed them outside the touristy bits of central London, though. But I suppose they may be aimed at British tourists/occasional visitors, just as much as foreigners.

[Lillith Fair]

I liked the traffic circles. We should have them in the US and force people to learn how to use them.

There are a lot of roads out in the country that are quite narrow and bordered on each side by hedges. There are occasional little spots where you can pull your car over to let someone get by. When you come up upon a car and there is not room for both cars, one backs up to a good spot to let the other by. I found that usually people would go ahead and back up for me because it would take me so long to figure out where to back up to. (I hope makes any sense.)

[FalconFinder]

It's the same. Superficial things can be changed for RHD/LHD, but nobody's going to build mirror-image gearboxes. You might think you'll find it weird, but by the time you've trained the correct hand to change gear, you'll have no problem negotiating them.

Thanks, Ximenean. I didn't want to call Ireland "UK" but wasn't sure what to put there! Sorry if I offended anyone! (Though, isn't Northern Ireland considered part of the UK?)

My curiosity was based on the fact that if the steering wheel was on the left, etc., that maybe the gears were done in an opposite manner.

My weird thing with my left hand doing the almost exact opposite of my right is so strong that I would be too afraid to go stick should I ever get to Ireland since it's the same as here. I guess if it ever happens that I get to Ireland, I'll get an automatic!

[Really Not All That Bright]

I liked the traffic circles. We should have them in the US and force people to learn how to use them.
They're called roundabouts, and the term was coined by an American, so I don't want to hear any of that, "well that's not what we call them here!" nonsense. :D

[Freddy the Pig]

Aren't they called "rotaries" in Canada?

[GorillaMan]

Thanks, Ximenean. I didn't want to call Ireland "UK" but wasn't sure what to put there! Sorry if I offended anyone! (Though, isn't Northern Ireland considered part of the UK?)
Yes, Northern Ireland is part of the UK. 'Ireland', depending on the context, can mean either the Republic, or the whole island.

[MaddyStrut]

I've driven in England and Ireland many times and did just fine. I'm not the world's best driver by any means. I am very much a creature of habit. So, if I can do it, anyone can! You'll be surprised how quickly your brain switches over.

My experience with manual/automatic transmissions is that when you're used to driving a manual, you do fine. If it's been a while or you've never driven enough for it to be second nature, you have a bit more trouble trying to think through switching gears, driving on the left, figuring out how you're going to read a map that you're holding with the opposite hand from usual, etc.

Roundabout aren't that hard. Read the signs before entering so you know where you have to go, yield to traffic in the circle, signal before you exit (we have traffic circles here and no one signals; in the UK, they do).

Frankly, the hardest thing is that some of the country roads are very narrow with hedges or stone walls on the side. It's nerve wracking just driving them by yourself, but there always seems to be a giant tour bus headed in the opposite direction and they never give you room! I second the advice to get a SMALL car (gas is frightfully expensive anyway).

Also, plan your route ahead of time. The street directions are a bit different in that they always indicate the next town not north/south/east/west. Luckily, even the small roads through the villages are well marked. Also, exits from the motorways are numbered by which exit they are not how many miles you've driven (so exit "3" could come 15 miles past exit "2").

Almost forgot: everyone puts on their handbrake when they park, even when they have an automatic. I never do that here, but I don't tend to park on the same inclines as I did there. If you decide to use the handbrake, don't be a dork and forget to disengage it before driving off. Not that I've ever done that or anything... :rolleyes:

[ALICIA21]

Oh, drive IN the UK.

Nevermind then.

great article. I will bookmark this

[Thomato]

I don't think I'd want to drive in the UK, and I find it startling that apparently it's okay to just rent a car and take off, without any lessons on the differences first.

I find that scary too! There are so many differences.

Obviously there's the right-left thing. Then you have the difference in road signage, size of roads, priorities etc. Many American citizens have never driven a manual car, yet that's the norm in the UK. Did you know that if a British driver passes a test in an automatic, they are not legally permitted to drive a manual vehicle under that licence: if they later wish to drive a manual, they have to take a test in a manual vehicle to prove themselves capable of it! This means an American tourist can turn up, travel-weary, possibly never having even seen a manual "shift" in their life, and drive one on what in the UK would be an automatic-only licence, something a Brit would not be allowed, and on the other side of the road! No wonder there are accidents... at least we Brits have had Europe as a practice-ground if we hire a car in the States.

Speaking of the States, there are a couple of USAF bases about 50miles south of where I live. The Americans living there drive US-spec LHD cars both on and off base, but are limited to a lower speed limit by their own military rules. The US military police patrol both on and off base too, an interesting sight on UK roads! I'm not sure what their advice to drivers is, but it might be an idea to contact the USAF and ask - they probably have an info pack they send out, as service men are very often only in the UK for a few months at a time, so there are always new arrivals. I think they recommend not driving at all for a week or so after arrival, but obviously on a short break that may not be possible.

I remember a few years back a US citizen hired a car and turned out onto the road after looking the wrong way. He was untouched, but a coach swerved to avoid him and crashed: the driver of the coach died in hospital, I believe. Always, always, look both ways lots of times before joining a road and never drive abroad when you're tired. Changing roads is the easiest time to slip up, especially on quiet roads, as many people have said. The other thing to note is that if you find yourself on a small country road with not much room for two cars you may come round a corner and see someone heading straight for you. The natural thing to do is to pull to "your" side of the road - ie left for Brits, right for US drivers - which of course could cause a problem! If you can have more than one person in the front, ie have your front seat passenger act as co-driver and keep watch both on you and the road, it could save lives. Don't forget that although so many of us do it regularly, roads are very dangerous.

However with care it is possible to get used to. Living in the UK and holidaying in France, I've driven many a time on the other side of the road, both in British RHD cars and French LHD hire cars. I think the strangest experience I had was in the French car, driving from the passenger seat - less the changing gear with the other hand, but the feeling of being in the wrong place! I'm quite happy with either now, on either side of the road. Driving in America I find interesting - it seems strange to me to drive on the right, yet have road signs in English! Most of the time if I'm on the right it's in Europe, so all the signs are in other languages...

Anyway, I've babbled on for long enough now and really should get some sleep!

Goodnight all, and happy holidays, wherever you take them!

PS feel free to email me if you want more advice, or have any specific queries. I trained as a driving instructor and often drive abroad, so am fairly knowledgeable.
tfcmonument@aim.com

[Thomato]

I liked the traffic circles. We should have them in the US and force people to learn how to use them.


Ok, I really will go to sleep in a minute - but this reminded me of something:
I seem to remember a few years ago that a State in the US introduced a roundabout where nobody knew what one was. It was opened on the Friday and closed again on the Monday after, I believe, over 200 accidents! Perhaps the introduction of these should be done with more information in advance? :)

[Baron Skinley Von Clipper]

I'm from the UK but I've drove (or driven)? in Spain and Germany. It took about 15 minutes to get used to it.

It's no big deal, I found it much more difficult driving a left-hand-drive car in the UK.

[Baron Skinley Von Clipper]

What's the point of the five minute edit window?

Anyway, as I was saying, My Aunt from Los Angeles (that's in California, for those that didn't know) comes over to England about once every five years or so, she has no difficulty adapting.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

PS- Take a practice Driving Theory test (http://www.learnerstuff.co.uk/theory-test/mock-theory-tests.htm)here. (God it's hard to believe there's a country where it's called "Driving Theory"- I have so got to go there.) The UK Driver's test is evidently a lot harder than the US versions.It's not too different from my time in HS in the halcyon days of well-funded public schools which provided separate classes in driver education and driver training.

Driver Ed was strictly a classroom course which covered rules of the road, safety related advice, and so on. Probably there were also some gore films to emphasize the dangers of drunk driving, but I've forgotten. The teacher, who normally taught English, was blind, which sounds bizarre for a course on driving until you know that it was just theory. In general, driver education probably was about equivalent to the material on the written driving tests.

Driver Training, by contrast, was taught using actual driving simulators, as well as us being taken out to drive actual cars. Again, it's amazing to think we had all this on the public school district's dime in those days.

As for driving in the UK, I feel disoriented every time I see this being done on TV or in films. I suppose one gets used to it though, in practice. I wouldn't want to try it with a manual transmission though.

[Gary "Wombat" Robson]

I have done this several times and had no problem with driving on the left. It was MUCH harder getting used to shifting left-handed and getting used to the VERY narrow roads with high speed limits and 6 foot hedges.

[pulykamell]

I just did a trip in July, and found it surprisingly easy. I had a manual tranny, and the things I thought would be problematic were not. Left-hand shifting literally took no time to get used to. Getting used to driving on the left side of the road? Also, surprisingly quick to adapt. What did take me about four or five hours of driving to real feel comfortable about is my position in the lane. As a poster mentioned on the first page of this thread, I was constantly drifting much closer to the left side of the lane than I intended to. So, while everything else about driving in the UK came naturally, my spatial sense was still skewed a bit leftward. It took several hours of conscious attention to the lane markers, but eventually my brain recalibrated.

I'm not exactly sure why this took conscious effort in the beginning, but the others did not, but that was the main thing I found odd about driving a RHD car in the UK. Oh, and actually looking to the left for the rear-view mirror took a little bit to get used to.

The narrow roads were a bit harrowing and stressful the first few days, but after getting used to them, they were kind of fun. They are surprisingly narrow, though, the equivalent of maybe a lane and a half in the US.

[Gary "Wombat" Robson]

My problem with the left-hand shifting was that in the US, first gear is closest to the driver, and in the UK, first is farthest from the driver.

[pulykamell]

My problem with the left-hand shifting was that in the US, first gear is closest to the driver, and in the UK, first is farthest from the driver.

Makes sense. I'm sure different things will trip different people up. For me, the shift was easy, because it was natural for me not to think of it in relative terms, but it in fixed terms (i.e., first is always top-left, not top-towards-body), but it was this same sort of perspective that threw me off when it came to lane positioning. I imagine a fair amount of drivers adapt to that with minimal adjustment, while for me it took several hours and a helpfully vocal SO to remind me to stay farther right into my lane.

[Liche]

As a native of these islands, I'd like to add that if someone uses their horn in your direction, this means:

1) You're stationary when you should be moving (e.g. at a green traffic-light) and the person behind is giving you a gentle wake-up. Expect this after maybe 5 seconds of being unjustifiably static in city traffic, less in rush-hour.
2) They nearly crashed into you, and it's your fault.
3) They nearly crashed into you, it's their fault, but they're convinced it was your fault.

Tooting of horns in moving traffic generally means someone screwed up and compromised everyone's safety - it's not used lightly. A good driver almost never gets tooted - if you get "honked at all the time" in moving traffic then I'm afraid you are dangerously incompetent and shouldn't be on the road.

Britain is surely a wonderful place for a driving holiday for natives and non-natives alike, and if you can drive safely then you will doubtless be very welcome. If not, best to look into other modes of transport.

[Ms Boods]

1: Ask your English sweetheart if you can have a go at driving his gigantic (by UK) standards car.

2: Assure him you can drive a stick. Do not mention that the last time you drove a standard transmission was around 1988.

3: Re-enact the driving lesson-that-ends-up-on-the-freeway/motorway scene from Clueless.

4: Get chauffeured everywhere as a consequence. Result!

[Jackmannii]

I had no real problems visiting England and driving on the left. I didn't do a lot of city driving, but enough to appreciate the highways/motorways.

Scotland was more nerve-wracking, but only because of the narrowness of many of the country roads, plus "shoulders" are an unknown concept in many places. Driving along one narrow track that eventually petered out to nothingness near the edge of a cliff was especially nightmarish; I occasionally dream about it even now.

[Hilarity N. Suze]

The hardest part was when I checked into the B&B and signed the card slip with my left hand.

[Gary "Wombat" Robson]

1. Do not attempt to drive more than 200 miles in a day. Ever. This means you.Why? Every trip I've taken over there has involved drives of over 200 miles. Heck, I drove over 500 miles one day. What's the problem?

[tetranz]

Almost forgot: everyone puts on their handbrake when they park, even when they have an automatic. I never do that here

That's something I noticed when I arrived in the US. Most Americans never use the handbrake. Bad practice I think. The park position was never intended to substitute for the brake.

[sandra_nz]

Coming from New Zealand, I didn't have to learn to drive on a different side of the road, but the thing I really noticed was how terrifyingly narrow the roads were. We drove a rental car from Manchester Airport to our farm stay which was about a 90 minute drive, and I was terrified the whole time. We laugh about it now, because we're so used to the road width, but at the time it was very scary.

[Mk VII]

Most European (i.e. not domestically designed) cars are adaptations of the native design, thus the hood or trunk release may be on the 'wrong' side.

Most people here learn to drive on a manual shift model and, if they wish, change to an auto transmission after they pass the driving test. The great majority never change; my late father was of the view that 'automatics are for cripples and people who can't drive properly' . I've certainly no wish to own one.

It's illegal to display the 'L' plate if a learner (or strictly speaking, Holder of a Provisional Licence) is not at the wheel (though you'll see people doing it anyway).

The driving test was made somewhat more difficult a few years ago at the insistence of the EU; in particular, a theory test had to be introduced.

[DragonAsh]

American here, been driving in the UK for a year or so. Some of the suburban roads can get very narrow - not because of the road, but because everyone parks on both sides of the road. You get good real fast at figuring out when you need to stop and let cars in front of you pass, and when you need to boogie on through.

Roundabouts are easy. Apparently some places in the US are getting them now as well, I love 'em, because traffic is rarely held up. Some US friends don't like them - they want the decision on when to turn made for them, wimps <g>.

One thing that was weird at first: traffic signals are generally at a lower eyesight level than in the US. I almost blew through a couple of lights at first because I just wasn't used to seeing them that low in my field of vision.

Maybe you can buy or rent a Tomtom navi system? I have one and absolutely love it.
It tells you exactly where to go, which roundabout to take, which lane to stay in, etc. Highly recommended.

I had to take the theory/hazard test and driving test to get my license. Wasn't all that hard; the hardest part was being able to make an appointment for the driving test!

Liche is right about the horn thing - I can't remember the last time I heard someone hit their horn, either while I was driving or otherwise. A welcome change from NY, let me tell you...

Anyway, driving in the UK is fine. Roads are (generally) well-marked, the drivers are (mostly) courteous, and there are some really beautiful areas to drive around - we've already done the Cotswolds twice, and may go back again this fall.

[El_Kabong]

I've driven UK-style on the island of Antigua, in the UK many times, and for several weeks during two trips to Zimbabwe. For whatever reason, I didn't have much trouble adjusting to driving on the left-hand side of the road; just, as some have mentioned, remembering which side of the car to get into. Almost always drove manual-transmission cars and that went fairly smoothly as well.

Driving in London was definitely not a pleasant experience, but then driving in any European city is something of an ordeal. Nor is walking, for that matter, if you are not used to the reversed (compared to the US) traffic flow. I almost got flattened by buses or trucks a couple of times.

[Hippy Hollow]

I don't think it's too difficult at all, but it requires you to focus on driving. Don't get distracted, because that's when you'll make a mistake. For that reason, if you know how to drive a manual tranny, I'd get one.

The problem tends to be when you're on a B road with little traffic and you need to turn. It's easy to drift to the right as there's nothing (and sometimes no traffic) to orient you. But M roads, A roads were dead easy.

Signage in the UK is a little different. Roads are numbered radiating from London - so the A1 heads to Norfolk, the A40 to Oxford, and so forth. And unlike in the US, there are no "A1 North" or "M4 South" signs. You're just on the M4, and you need to know the towns toward your destination. (But the motorway signs typically have the end destination on them, like Birmingham, so if you know your basic UK geography, that should help. I suppose GPS units largely solve this issue.

M and A roads are particularly good at signage well before you need to exit, etc., unlike in the US. I seem to recall that the M25 has "Get in lane" signs about 5 miles before you need to! I hate that about American roads - there'll be a sign for you to get in a certain lane less than a mile from the exit (I'm looking at you, L.A.) - which causes massive traffic delays because all of the visitors have to shift lanes at the last second. :(

I love driving in Britain. Just map out where you're going, be patient, take your time on roundabouts, and you'll be fine.

[Chefguy]

I've driven in Japan (6 months), England (week's vacation) and Uganda (1 year) and never had any problems. You just need to pay attention to what you're doing. Traffic circles (roundabouts) can be confusing at first, however.

[madmonk28]

I just can't do it. It is something to do with the clutch being in the same place, but the gearshift is on the opposite side, it really threw me. My wife had no problems, but she is left handed and those people are freaks.

[sleepy67]

ISignage in the UK is a little different. Roads are numbered radiating from London - so the A1 heads to Norfolk, the A40 to Oxford, and so forth. Almost, roads are numbered on a radial system based on a few major cities. So the M1, A1, M11 etc start in London and head north, The M4 starts in London and goes west. The M6 starts in Birmingham and heads north.And unlike in the US, there are no "A1 North" or "M4 South" signs. You're just on the M4, and you need to know the towns toward your destination. (But the motorway signs typically have the end destination on them, like Birmingham, so if you know your basic UK geography, that should help. I suppose GPS units largely solve this issue.Again some signs do indicate North, South, West or East.

And if you ever wondered why some English roads are very bendy its cos cows don't walk in a straight line.

[Giles]

And if you ever wondered why some English roads are very bendy its cos cows don't walk in a straight line.
But some English roads are very straight because the Roman legions liked marching in straight lines.

[Mk VII]

When you come upon a dead-straight-for-miles-and-miles road here it's very likely a Roman road.
My impression of US Interstate roads from some twenty years back was that they were light on signboards compared with British ones. You probably wouldn't get any advance warning at all until the sign at the exit ramp itself, and even then it would say something unhelpful like 'East'.

[FallenAngel]

I've done it several times. It's a breeze. You'll be so conscious of everything the first day that you'll likely make no mistakes, and by the second day it's almost natural. Of course you will, out of sheer habit, go to the wrong door at first pretty much every day.

One thing that's REALLY interesting is driving on some of the Caribbean islands that drive on the left rather than the right. What makes that so much of an adventure is that in most cases your rental cars will be U.S. cars intended for right side driving. That gets a little troublesome, at times.

[Novelty Bobble]

Something perhaps not mentioned so far is the general high standard of driving in the UK. This should be a comfort to you.

Of course we get our morons but on the whole (and having driven tens of thousands of miles across the globe....and 1500 across the continent last week!) those who'll be driving around you are comparable to any other country in the world. They will probably do their best to mitigate any mistakes that you make.

This is probably due to the effect of a strict test, and Darwinian process involving high speeds, busy traffic and narrow roads. The only thing we are crap at is snow, for that the Scandinavians are undisputed kings.

[Mijin]

Another vote for "don't drive in London".

I'm an experienced (british) driver. But after my first two weeks in the capital I sold my car, because I'd got so annoyed with trying to park the thing.

And london's public transport is very good (the tube only runs til about 1am, but the buses are 24 hour)

[The Stafford Cripps]

Signage in the UK is a little different. Roads are numbered radiating from London - so the A1 heads to Norfolk, the A40 to Oxford, and so forth. Almost, roads are numbered on a radial system based on a few major cities. So the M1, A1, M11 etc start in London and head north, The M4 starts in London and goes west. The M6 starts in Birmingham and heads north.

No, Hippy Hollow had it right. English and Welsh road numbers centre only on London, based on the A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6. The A7, A8 and A9 radiate from Edinburgh. Some of these roads have been superseded by motorways and other A roads. The M1 and M5 should probably have been given different numbers but most other motorways fit in with the system for A roads.

[Mk VII]

That was the way it was supposed to work, when the numbering scheme was begun in the 1930s. Since then the road network has grown, and sections of the old roads have been superseded and renumbered so it isn't as tidy/logical as it should be. Some anomalies have been produced; the M11 really ought to have been the M10 as it superseded the old A10 Great Cambridge Road, but this number had already been used for a short offshoot of the M1 - which has now lost its M-number altogether and been renumbered as part of the A415.

[Colophon]

Roundabouts, oddly enough, are not that bad, except for when they paint a dot in the middle of the intersection and claim it to be a "roundabout". I never really figured out how you are supposed to circle around a dot painted in the middle of an intersection. The locals seem to just charge over them.
This is quite an old thread, but I'll just point out that many of these "mini roundabouts" simply indicate that roundabout-style priorities apply to the junction (i.e., give way to traffic from the right). While the letter of the law states that you are supposed to treat the painted circle as a solid island, in practice (especially when the road is quiet) you can just drive over it.

Mini roundabouts can also give rise to a "stalemate" situation like a four-way Stop-signed intersection, where everybody sits there waiting for everyone else until one breaks the deadlock. If a car approaches on each of the three (or more) roads that meet at the mini-roundabout, in theory they each have to give way to the car to the right. In practice, of course, the BMW driver has priority. ;)

[Mijin]

If a car approaches on each of the three (or more) roads that meet at the mini-roundabout, in theory they each have to give way to the car to the right. In practice, of course, the BMW driver has priority. ;)

Heh, just saw that exact scenario play out: BMW driving on to a mini-roundabout so carelessly another car had to emergency stop. Some stereotypes are true :)

Just to add that usually mini-roundabouts are painted on intersections that are busy but with insufficient space for a "real" roundabout. So it terms of going around the circle, my understanding was, trying to go around the circle on the narrower ones is more dangerous than just cutting across, so it's OK to do the latter.