Driving in UK
 

I am going to Scotland and London for 3 weeks in September. In Scotland I would like to rent a car to go see the highlands and other areas but am somewhat nervous about driving there. I am looking for tips and experiences that might help relieve my fears.

I take it you're from the US, as am I.

Assuming you're an experienced driver, I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you. I had similar reservations my first time, but easily and quickly adjusted.

You'll need to be able to operate a manual transmission, of course, using your left hand. Rent a (relatively) small car, a compact, because the roads there are narrower. The roundabouts are a wonderful invention, simple and safe.

There's no better way to see the countryside than from a car. Have fun!

Good drivers who are careful but skilled enough to drive fast will probably have no problems. Many Americans do not know how to drive a manual transmission equipped car but automatics are usually available. They do cost more.

Having a co-driver reading the map and looking for signs helps but is not required.

Driving in the countryside and small towns in the UK is easy. Know how to drive in a roundabout (circle). Those in the circle have priority.

Be cautious when making turns. Traffic cops in the UK say that many head-on car accidents involving tourists happen when the foreign driver turns and drives into the right hand lane, instead of keeping to the left.

And be careful on roundabouts when there are no other cars; it is easy to turn the wrong way. Otherwise it is easy. I have found British drivers to be mostly very friendly.

Yes I am from US. I have been driving for 30 years. I unfortunately do not drive a manual so will be getting an automatic. Thank you for all the advise and encouragement. Where would I find information about the roundabouts. Do they give you information when you rent your car or can I educate myself ahead of time.

When we moved to the UK in '94, I learned to drive a manual AND learned to drive on the other side of the road/car, all in one go. Scaaaaarrryyy! But my husband and I both survived, lol.

As all the other posters have said, just be cautious, but don't freak out about it. You'll miss so much, if you're just white-knuckling it all around Scotland.

As far as roundabouts....the traffic will be coming from the right, and you must ALWAYS ALWAYS yield to the person/people already in the roundabout. When you do get into the roundabout lanes, if you pass your turn off, just keep going around, and then take it on your next pass.

There is NO SUCH THING as "right (or left, as the case may be) on red" here in the UK. If the light is red, it means STOP, period.

Have an awesome time on your trip. I know you will be amazed at the scenery!

Found this website with some info and a moving diagram of roundabout traffic. Thought it might be helpful:

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout_intersection

A roundabout is a method of merging, which we do all the time whilst driving. In the UK the merging operates in a clockwise motion, you enter at 6 o'clock at watch to your right at 3 o'clock. Wait for your opportunity and proceed toward 9 o'clock and leave the circle (having observed the graphically displayed direction sign before the intersection) at the appropriate time. After a couple of times, you'll be used to it. Just keep looking right.

P.S. On my recent trip through France, I saw that they have adopted the roundabout there - in a counter-clockwise manner of course. It's a safer system than traffic lights everywhere.

Oh wait, here's a much better website. It interactively teaches all about roundabouts:

http://www.2pass.co.uk/roundabout.htm

British drivers have to learn the Highway Code before taking their test.

It's available online at http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/

It contains instructions and rules of the road. There's a section on rounabouts.

Largs - if you are ordinarily a careful driver you shouldn't have any problem at all. My niece and I picked up an automatic and off we went and I was really surprised how easy it was. The only difficulty we had was the road signs. Maps were just not helping us and we kept getting lost. What really solved the problem was we bought an atlas with every little town in it. Perfect!! Most people have a tendency to hit something with either the left hand rear view mirror or the left wheel. Our hubcap was missing already when we picked the car up and there was a car in the lot with a taped up mirror. We made sure we had them make a note of all dents and thankfully we didn't add any upon return. You will love driving through the countryside. Have fun and don't worry - you will be fine.

Thanks for the web sites and information about roundabouts (and encouragement). Still a little nervous but am going to start hunting for a,automatic :), rent a car for our trip. Thanks you have all been so helpful.

If you have never driven on the left before, try to pick your car up at a rental outlet that is not in the middle of a large city. Learning to drive on the left while being immediately thrown into big city traffic can be nerve wracking. I know, the first time I drove on the left was in a rental out of Waterloo station in London.

By the way, driving on the left is not too difficult to get the hang of. I found the fact that the steering wheel was on the right side of the car to be much more difficult to deal with.