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-   -   Driving on the left (https://www.fodors.com/community/australia-and-the-pacific/driving-on-the-left-584939/)

WallyKringen Jan 29th, 2006 06:46 PM

You can always tell - overseas tourists are the ones with the cleanest windshields.

WK

ozgirl Jan 29th, 2006 11:06 PM

Hi DasFX, some good advice given here. My first experience driving in your country involved heading down an entry ramp onto an interstate in LA and seeing five lanes of non-stop traffic bearing down on me (well that's what it looked like!) and my husband and I recently survived the Washington DC 'beltway' - neither of which you will find between Sydney and Canberra!! You will be fine but if you have a passenger ask them to be alert when you are turning as they will remind you of the basic keep left when you are concentrating on other things. Where you have another car to follow it will be easy, it's only when you are the only car making the turn that you are likely to forget. Have fun!

DasFX Jan 31st, 2006 06:17 AM

Thanks Ozgirl. I'm sure my wife will be very dilligent in keeping me aware of any driving errors I make.

Also, for the record, "my country" doesn't include interstates in LA nor Washington Beltways. They include Autoroutes and 400-series highways. I'm Canadian, not American.

No big deal, but I gather you wouldn't like to be mistaken for a Kiwi. :)

kodi Jan 31st, 2006 06:37 AM

I find that sometimes when I have to make a quick decision, I might get a bit flustered thinking of left and right. SO, I repeat, just make sure, as driver, you are at the centre of the road. The same as you are here. Sometimes when I get home, I question myself, after being on the 'other' side . So I just remember, driver ..centre of the road. ( that's assuming you are on a 2 lane road, not the 401 !!)

You'll be fine. Have a great time.

kodi Jan 31st, 2006 06:41 AM

One more thing. I would advise getting an automatic. The first few times I drove in Britain, I did ok with a 5 speed, but my left arm ached after a few days. I just wasn't used to shifting with it. So make it a bit easier on yourself and go for the automatic.

ozgirl Feb 2nd, 2006 01:46 PM

Oops! Sorry DasFX, hope to be driving in your country (Canada!) next year.

SamH Feb 6th, 2006 04:44 PM

I did pretty well learning to keep to the left. Haven't tried a manual shift yet but that would be a challange. The earlier post did remind me that I had a lot of trouble finding the rear view mirror on a regular basis. The roundabouts are a thrill.

Everytime I would go to the car and open the right side door I'd casually toss im my book, map or whatever I had in my hand and proceed to the driver's side as though I knew what I was doing.


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