< I cannot adjust to driving on the wrong side of the road. It is a genuine concern. >
IMD, have you tried and failed? Not arguing, just genuinely curious. I consider myself to have quite average driving skills and yet I took to it like a duck to water.

Yes, and I made the mistake of renting in London to see something outside the city. I must have driven about 7 blocks and I was afraid I was going to kill someone. But even walking about London and other UK locations, which we have done on numerous occasions, I continually look in the wrong direction. As noted above I am not a faint of heat driver as I leaped into Sicilian driving, driven mountain roads, and in the middle of cities, as I live in Manhattan, among many other places. My skills are pretty good, it is instincts that are off.

And I drive a stick, as all the cars I have owned, except the first one, and rented in Europe, were sticks.

>> I made the mistake of renting in London to see something outside the city. I must have driven about 7 blocks and I was afraid I was going to kill someone.<<

OMG -- of course that was a horrible experience. Haven't you read maybe 1000000 times to not drive IN London?

I lived in the Uk for 5 years and can drive in London (and have done so several times) . . . but never EVER by choice. There is simply no need. No wander you are a panty waist when it comes to driving in the UK. Next time, pay attention to the advice :)

Unfortunately my driving in London predates the admonitions of the Internet. Yes, youngens people actually traveled before advice from strangers existed. From that I did learn to rent cars at a facility at the perimeter of a city.

Listen, if I can embrace Italian driving and brave death defying hills in mountains in many countries, I would have no trouble in the UK, if they drove on the correct side of road. And as a native NY'er, I understand how to negotiate city traffic.

How many countries have painted instructions on the pavement, as to which way to look for traffic? The problem remains with the contrarian nature of the fallen empire.

Japan? India, Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-_...t-hand_traffic

If memory serves me correctly India and Australia were colonies of England who inherited their bad habits.

Well Japan and Indonesia cannot claim either and of course the US and Canada could claim either.

India and Australia were colonies of Britain, I don't think England had their own suite :-)

Sweden drove on the left until 1967;).

Austria drove on the left until the Anschluss in 1938. Perhaps driving on the right is a fascist thing?

Time might be on the side of the right side drivers. Due to the number of murders on all the British detective shows, soon there will not be many people alive to drive in the UK, right side or left. It seems to be especially bad in Yorkshire and Oxford.

I am a 62 year old US citizen. EVERY year for the last 15, I have driven rental cars in Ireland (and the UK)and typically average 2-4,000 kilometers per visit.
I've had to buy a couple of tires -- due to potholes -- but, other than that, there have been NO accidents -- major, or minor.
Most car hire companies allow rentals up until aged 75 -- Beyond that age can become problematical, though, as Irish LAW requires Resident Drivers to be cleared for driving by Medical Examination.
There MAY be an 'Age Supplement' Fee -- similar to that charged for youthful drivers, however.
I would recommend that you contact the Dan Dooley office located in New Jersey via their '800' number for specific, definitive answers.

I want to thank everyone for their messages to my question about renting a car and driving in Ireland after the age of 70.
I have rented cars in Ireland for many decades. I remember hearing 25 or 30 years age that Americans can't rent cars in Ireland after 70. I guess that info is wrong. I hate to drive on the wrong side of the road at any age, but you just have to.

thanks again
John