Joanna

I'm not a driver, but was the navigator for a 2 month driving tour of Britain 12 years ago. We requested a manual, but got an automatic. There was no extra cost involved. Our main problems were not being able to see far in the south with the hedges lining the windy roads. At home we're used to signs advising of curves in road, recommended speeds for same, etc. but there were not so many over there. Slow farm machinery on the B roads was also a problem - they always seemed to pull out just in front of us! Also, trucks hogging most of the smaller roads. In the Lake District we were forced by a truck right over to the stone wall and got a big scrape on the side of the car. <BR> <BR>We were concerned when we brought the car back that the rental company would want extra money for the scrape, but they weren't even interested in looking at it. They said that they have had some people from the USA return to the rental yard about 1/2 hour after leaving with their car totalled. I also recall one man from New York telling us that he wasn't used to roundabouts and kept going round on one for half an hour! <BR>Also Charles, remember to 'pay and display' at the car parks in the larger towns. Double yellow lines on the sides of the road means no parking. Wouldn't want to get your wheels clamped.

steve

I have been over twice in the past year and I recommend getting right off the plane at Gatwick (haven't been to Heathrow) and into the rental car. It is an easy exit from the airport and right onto the motorway - the easiest place to drive. (no, I'm not kidding) <BR> <BR>It helps to have a navigator - or at least a person to remind you which side of the road to get on when you are exiting from a parking lot. <BR> <BR>I had almost no trouble easily adapting to the left side. One thing I noticed is that I used the right hand side outside mirror like I normally would use the inside rear view mirror in the US. <BR> <BR>Roundabouts were very little trouble - if you miss a turn, just continue around. British drivers seen to ignore the speed limit as much or more as drivers in the western US.

John Oliva

Tiea handkerchief on the left-hand side of the steering wheel. This will serve as a visual reminder of which side to drive on and helps to prevent the drift caused by "muscle-memory." Be careful about determining distance on the left since your depth perception is generally geared towards judging and estimating on your right. My wife adn I spent 10 days driving around Engalnd and Scotland without problem using this technique. Also, simply say "left, left, left" everytime you sit in the car. As silly as it sounds, it works.

mike

Told to me as true by an Irishman (my father was Irish, and he could spin a yarn, too, and am I gullible). <BR> <BR>A West Coast Irishman of a certain age went into town one day. When he got back into the car, he tried to put the vehicle in first gear. No good. Second gear. No good. Any gear? Ahhh! REVERSE!! (Settle down there, Father Jack). <BR> <BR>No worries. Off he went, one hand steering, looking out of the back window, homeward bound. <BR> <BR>"Of a certain age"? Well, one of the major wedding anniversaries was upon him, so he had organised a trip to the big city a few months later for his wife. Perhaps a mistake in retrospect, because a shocked Garda pulled over a man and a woman observed driving backwards at 30 mph down O'Connell Street. <BR> <BR>Give the feller his due - he had become very good at driving cars backwards. <BR> <BR>So you wouldn't be the first. <BR> <BR>As for worries. You think you've got problems! The Swedes decided (early 70s I think) to change over from driving on the left to driving on the right. Just like that. Today this side, tomorrow the other side. <BR> <BR>Talk about reinforcing national stereotypes. The accident rate actually went down. <BR> <BR>Why do people drive on the "wrong" side of the road (the left was a very sensible original choice)? Because Napoleon was left handed. Good reason.

Rob

Tony Hughes, <BR> <BR>I've seen your snide commentary in more than one post now. <BR> <BR>At first, I decided that you'd probably just had a bad day -- looks like you have a much more serious problem. <BR> <BR>If you were to opt for a more constructive approach in your communication, you might find life more pleasant. <BR> <BR>Oh, BTW....do you comment more often on male driving habits, or on the size of their genitalia? Just thought I'd ask.... <BR> <BR>R. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>Better get that

Tony Hughes

Rob whoever-you-are <BR> <BR>It's called a point of view, an opinion if you like. That's what forums are for, petal. But you can 'decide' (as you put it) on what you like, it bothers me not. <BR> <BR>And if you dont like it, with respect, you can cram it with walnuts! <BR> <BR>I can comment on what I like - Oh and seeing as, out of the two of us, only I put my email address, it would seem that I am the one with the balls!! And you don't need me to tell you what you can do with them! <BR> <BR>regards <BR>

Liz

Tony <BR> <BR>Apparently, just like the Swedes, the Irish are going to switch to driving their cars on the right, from January 2001. <BR> <BR>And if it works OK, the buses are going to do the same, from February!

Tony Hughes

Liz, I hope they remember to tell everyone.

Bill

<BR>&gt; Apparently, just like the Swedes, the <BR>&gt; Irish are going to switch to driving <BR>&gt; their cars on the right, from January <BR>&gt; 2001. <BR> <BR>Now THAT will truly frightening! It's bad enough for American's like me to be shifting with their left hands going clockwise on a roundabout, but to have the WHOLE COUNTRY trying to adjust is almost beyond imagining! Has the State Department sent out a traveler's advisory on this yet? *grin* <BR>Seriously, though, as others have said, driving on the left becomes almost second nature very quickly... ALMOST. I found it very helpful to have my significant other repeat the mantra "drive left... drive left" at strategic times. Pulling out of a parking lot onto an empty street was my worst time for forgetting.

Charles

My biggest concern is when driving on the left I may misjudge the distance to the sidewalk and hit it and with sudden the shock making me lose control of the car for a while. <BR>So why did the Brits take the dumbass decision to drive of the left when we and the european folks all drive on the right?

Clive

I think you've just shown youself to be the 'dumbass' Charles. <BR> <BR>Unlike the USA, Britain has some history, and in days of old it was preferable to ride on the left, because it was easier to draw your sword with your right hand. And it's the logical side for jousting. <BR> <BR>The Americans chose the right side of the road to spite the British, as did a few of the European nations. <BR> <BR>Also bear in mind that a large part of the world still drive on the left. For example much of Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. <BR> <BR>Why do Americans always believe that their way is the correct way? <BR> <BR>

John

Ireland moving to the right?! Wow, that's some news! I've been looking all over to see the formal notices of this, but can't find any. Can anyone provide an official web link? <BR> <BR>Sweden's experience should be looked into...as I recall they changed over in the early '60s, and did it one day at noon or some such - I remember a famous film clip showing all the cars switching sides at one time. Imagine the disruption with road signs, signals, etc., not to mention pedestrians looking right and meeting their neighbors the hard way... I also recall (right siders visiting Britain and British and Japanese visiting everywhere else take note) that everything in Sweden was fine for a month or so, then folks got comfy with the new rules, relaxed, and pow, major wreckage. My own experience confirms this; after a few months of observant driving I pulled casually out onto the wrong side of a dual carriageway in Lancashire and had shall we say a moment of gastric distress until I bailed onto the shoulder (verge). Pay attention.

Beth Anderson

um, the British ALWAYS drove on the left. <BR> <BR>we, the colonies, made the decision NOT to. <BR> <BR>to be continued... <BR> <BR>

Steve Mueller

Charles: Driving on the left is easy. The hard part is getting used to driving from the right side of the car. The tendency to drift to the left, mentioned by several posters, is surprisingly strong. Also, it takes awhile to become accustomed to shifting with your left hand. Backing up can be tricky as well, since your looking over the opposite shoulder and working the steering wheel with the opposite hand. <BR> <BR>The best advice I can offer is, if possible, arrange to pick up and drop off your car outside of large metropolitan areas. The first time I drove in the UK, I picked my car up at Waterloo and had a very stressful time getting out of London.

Tester

Good thread!

Steve

The worst part was the embarassment I suffered when I kept climbing into the car on the left side and then had to get back out and walk around to the right side. I did it nearly every time. BTW I get an automatic transmission everywhere I go even though I drive a manual at home. It is much easier to sightsee as you drive if you don't have to be fooling with shifting gears.

harzer

Good on you Tony Hughes, sock it to them. All this crap about adjusting to LH drive is just to rub in how superior everyfuthing American is and how backward the British are. <BR> <BR>For my part, having finally saved enough to trade in my horse and buggy, I drive a RH drive automatic, the only automatic in Australia, by the way, and it takes me about ten minutes to switch when I am forced to go LH manual in Europe. THe only problem is that they haven't learnt to mount the washers and indicators on the right stalks over there, so if you want to know which way I'm turning just keep an eye on my windscreen.

Ann

Charles, I agree with previous posters who recommend going immediately to a motorway. After you get over the shock of traffic going in the opposite direction being on the "wrong" side of the road, it all starts becoming much simpler. And the "drive left" mantra also helps. But I truly believe what worked for me (and I spent a month driving on small back roads as well as in big cities with no incident) was repeating to myself for about a month prior to departure for the UK, "Look right." That's a phrase useful for pedestrians as well as motorists! The stick shift was no problem at all, but the embarrassment of ALWAYS going to the passenger side of the car to get in was very bad...

frank

Driving on the right can start tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere. <BR>Seemingly 2 large trucks passing in opposite directions at speed can start one. <BR>Caution - many on this forum have complained about arranging to hire an automatic then being forced to take a manual on the day.

Charles

Thank you Ann. <BR> <BR>Is there a highway from London Heathrow airport to Stratford and then on to Devon?