[Evan_Green]

How hard have folks found it driving on the other side of the road when travelling across the pond (East or West).

I live in the US and one factor that dissuades me from travelling more often to GB&I for golf is the driving. I have been to GB&I a couple of times, but fortunately have gone with experienced "left side drivers" who did all the driving.

Is my concern valid or unfounded? What have others experiences been driving on the other side of the road than normal. Any suggestions?

[Bob_Huntley]

Evan,

Give it fifteen minutes and you will be at home right a way.

Trust me, if you are a competent driver at home you will have no trouble in Blighty.

Just remember at round-abouts just give way to the right.


Bob

[David_Elvins]

Its easy.

I would recommend taking a GPS navigator as it helps you plan what you are doing.  The major problems are when you have to make a refllex judgement.

[Peter Wagner]

I have found a few areas to be aware of:

1.) Round-abouts or circular intersections.  These require 100% attention when on the other side of the road from what you are familiar with.

2.) Rural driving.  Urban driving is easier because you just follow the car in front but pull off a rural road for fuel or lunch and be very careful when you take the road again.  It's very easy to forget.

3.) Do not get a manual shift car as it takes a while to get used to shifting with your left hand.

[RSLivingston_III]

Have a navigator repeatedly saying: left side, left side, left side, left side, left side, left side.
Once you get used to roundabouts you will wish the US had more of them.

[Terry Thornton]

Driving in the USA I found the greatest difficulty was making left hand turns at lights, turned into oncoming traffic lanes a couple of times.
Expect to walk to the passenger side of the car instead of the driver's side when going out a few times as well

[Sean_A]

How hard have folks found it driving on the other side of the road when travelling across the pond (East or West).

I live in the US and one factor that dissuades me from travelling more often to GB&I for golf is the driving. I have been to GB&I a couple of times, but fortunately have gone with experienced "left side drivers" who did all the driving.

Is my concern valid or unfounded? What have others experiences been driving on the other side of the road than normal. Any suggestions?

Evan

I wouldn't let wrong side driving put you off.  A few things to help:

1. Many wrong siders are nervous about the width of the roads.  Instead of driving on the centre line, drive along the outside line.  You are in a rental so the minor scratches from hedges don't matter. 

2. Pay particular attention to be on the correct side when leaving parking lots.  Leaving some place is often auto time.  If you have to, tape a note near the stereo or someplace to remind you.

3. Don't make any snap decisions on roundabouts especially if you are are the inside.  You always have the opportunity to keep going round until you feel comfortable exiting the roundabout. 

Ciao

[Brent Hutto]

I found it not a problem at all my first time except for one thing...judging where the left edge of the road was. For some reason my depth perception over there was terrible and I spent the first couple days hugging the margin and occasionally scraping up against a curb. I think I was just too skittish about the narrowness of the roads, as Sean said.

Here's how I prepared myself. Starting a couple months before my first trip to England I got in the habit at home of looking both ways every single time I cross or enter an intersection, exit a parking lot or make a turn. By not "favoring" one direction or the other consistently at home, when I got to England I didn't accidentally "favor" the wrong side and ignore something from the correct one. A nice side effect is that habit has stuck with me and I think I'm more aware of people doing things unexpected and stupid around me even driving at home.

Based on my experience, if you have someone with you to navigate it is absolutely no problem after the first few miles. If you are driving solo, just do as Sean says and be willing to go an extra loop or two around a roundabout and (as much as it pains a "real man" to do this) be willing to pull aside and consult your map while not trying to drive at the same time. The signage and such will seem totally insufficient so just bite the bullet and take your time without gawking at a map atlas while driving with half an eye on the traffic around you.

[Anthony Gray]

  Before my first trip in 1999 a friend told me "dummy in the middle". As long as you keep your body on the centerline in the middle of the road you will always be OK. Strange but dummy in the middle works for me.

  Anthony

 

[Mark_F]

How hard have folks found it driving on the other side of the road when travelling across the pond (East or West).

I live in the US and one factor that dissuades me from travelling more often to GB&I for golf is the driving.

Are you serious?  Man up and go for it.

It is no more difficult for a foreigner to drive in GB than it is for Australians to walk amongst all those murderous blacks and Hispanics in the USA.

[TEPaul]

The only problem I've ever had was pulling out of someplace and onto the road---sometimes I momentarily forget but it doesn't take long to remember when you have something like a big lorry coming right at you. 

[Carl Johnson]

One word: focus.

[Matthew Rose]

I moved to Australia, from the US, at age 25, armed with nine years of driving experience on the right. I'd visited twice prior to doing so, so it wasn't the kind of thing I wasn't expecting. I got my license within about a year; I certainly wanted to sooner but it took me that long to save for a car.

Oddly enough, it really wasn't as daunting as I thought it would be. The roads look different, the cars look different, so you're always reminded that you aren't "in Kansas" anymore. Plus there's so much damn traffic in Melbourne anyway that you just sit on the bumper of the 100 cars in front of you and follow them.

[J_ Crisham]

Evan,   It doesn't matter what side of the road you are on when out on a narrow coastal road when a very large touring bus is coming towards you! I can remember several trips driving out to Waterville in foggy,rainy,windy conditions and see a bus come around the bend and have little or no space to hide. I'd take driving on Big Sur anytime over the Ring of Kerry for safety reasons.       Jack     

[ed_getka]

Evan,
   Lots of good advice given so far. When I went to the UK the first time I purposely avoided getting a rental car in London at the airport. I figured that would be a bit much for my first time. When I headed up north I flew into Aberdeen and that gave me time to get used to a different perspective. As Bob pointed out it only takes about 15 minutes to begin to feel comfortable. Roundabouts are brilliant outside of town, I wish we had them here. I didn't do any city driving so I don't know how much more intimidating it would be there.
   My main caution to you would be not to be really tired the first time you attempt to drive on the other side of the road. Avoid any situation that would require a reflexive decision. Just slow down and ease into any situation that you feel unsure about. I'm sure the locals would rather be annoyed at someone puttering along than to have to deal with an accident.

[Jim Tang]

When I was 22 I spent 5 months down in Australia and did some driving down there on the "wrong side of the road."  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. 

I am headed to Ireland for 10 days in July and will be driving myself about.  I am taking a navigational unit and trying to drive mostly during the day, rather than at night. 

[john_stiles]

Once you get going down the road,  it is all the other things that get you at first.    Like backing up, turning around, etc.

Just don't get in a  'hurry' and  'leave early' are two great tips someone gave me.  You do have to think about 'driving' a little over there.     When in a hurry, after a wrong turn or something, trying to make a tee time, with three guys chirping in your ear,  take a deep breath, slow down, and take it easy.

[Pete_Pittock]

  I'm not super-coordinated, but had no trouble shifting with the left hand with a manual transmission. The clutch/brake/gas pedals were all in the same sequence.
  As far as the left side of the car is concerned, park in a parking lot with lined spaces with the wheels about a foot off the line and then find a sight marker on the left side of the bonnet which keeps me at the same attitude.
  Always know which side has the petrol fill and how it opens.

  Roundabouts is always timing and anticipation. Just be careful in the wet when you chicane through on the side road - there can be a lot of oil set down. Just miss the kerbing. I did have to replace a hubcap which is near King's Lynn.

[mike_beene]

There used to be a sign a few roundabouts out of the Edinborough airport that said "Scotland drives on the left". If you hadn't figured it out by then you would have never made it to the sign.

[Bill_McBride]

Two best pieces of advice so far:

1. Auto transmission

2. Always say before starting off - "I am driving on the left!"

[James Bennett]

1.  auto transmission.

2.  GPS

3.  watch out for roundabouts - UK/Oz you go clockwise!

4.  Be careful in carparks, country roads and suburban streets.  You will probably forget which side of the road to travel.

5.  If you have a second person with you, assign the role of navigator to the non-driver, even if it is your wife.

6.  Be careful crossing the road - you won't have looked to the right before you step off the kerb.  And guess which way the cars are coming!

7.  Right hand-turns in the UK/Oz will be the most difficult to get right.

Lastly, do it.  And don't panic.  When in doubt, think twice and take your time.

James B

[Sean Leary]

The only problem I've ever had was pulling out of someplace and onto the road---sometimes I momentarily forget but it doesn't take long to remember when you have something like a big lorry coming right at you. 

Me too. Closest I have come to death was 15 minutes in on my first trip to Ireland.  Came inches from getting hit by a semi when I pulled after looking the wrong way.

[Bill Gayne]

Only rent cars with full insurance. It's expensive but Thrifty rental car and the rest of the pack in Shannon will screw you given an opportunity.

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