alan64

You'll usually encounter roundabouts once you exit the motorway.

Gavin

A word of caution about automatics: you might have one reserved but it might not be there for you. I drive standard at home but use my right hand to shift not my left. Having had a "free upgrade" to an automatic in 2004, and liking it, I decided that for 20 pounds on the rental period I would reserve an automatic this time. The first question I was asked at the Hertz desk at Heathrow was: "Is manual a problem?" They did not have any automatics, or so I was told. I agreed to a manual at a lower rate and had no trouble. I don't know what would have happened if manual was not a viable option for me. They may have been only short of automatics that day and needed to sort out wants from needs.

Guy18

Yes, I figured that the roundabouts were not on the motorway. Those would be difficult to manage at 70 mph. But I wanted to be certain I wasn't missing something...

Gavin, I'm a little confused. Are you someone used to driving on the right who drove in England on the day of your arrival and used a manual? If so, that is good news for me.

If they don't have the automatic I requested, they will just have to upgrade me to a Land Rover or something

twk

I'll be doing something similar when I arrive in Glasgow next month, driving from the airport to Inveraray (55 miles), although I will have the benefit of a passenger to serve as navigator, and a laptop computer with Microsoft Autoroute 2006 with the GPS attachment.

Having satellite navigation would certainly be a plus, but if you'll be travelling alone, it still would help (and may be more important) for you to familiarize yourself with the route as much as possible prior to arrival. The best way to do that is to use a mapping program or one of the online mapping sites, like Via Michelin or Mappy, then study the route in detail. And, even better, compare those detailed route maps with aerial photos from Google Earth. If you can pinpoint the address where you pick up your rental and look at the beginning of the route, and any major road junctions, in the greatest possible detail, that will help you anticipate the instructions you would receive from the GPS.

I've done exactly that with my route from the airport to Inveraray, and have looked at the route in detail up to the point that Google Earth's detailed mapping ends, giving me a bird's eye view of the airport roads, the roundabouts, and other features which might trip one up after getting off a transatlantic flight.

Gavin

Guy,

My arrival, in this instance, was after a short flight from Lisbon and after being in the same time zone as the UK for over a week. No sleep deprivation issue. I have driven manual in the UK previously and always drive manual at home. The two instances when I have picked up a car immediately after trans-atlantic flights were day-time departures so it was about 6:30 PM home time when I got the car, again no sleep deprivation issues. The other time we had flown overnight to Glasgow but were carless for the first four days. I don't drive immediately after overnight flights. For me the risks seem too high.

I am assuming that you do not normally drive with a manual transmission and wanted to warn you that even a reservation for an automatic is not a guarantee that one will be available. If you are comfortable driving manual at home then it is the same skill and not that difficult to make the switch to shifting with your left hand.

Judy

Guy18, I'm one of the earlier posters who said we frequently do 2 hours drives after an overseas (from the East Coast) flight.
I've had to accept a manual transmission in Ireland when I had reserved an automatic based on my thinking that left handed shifting would be too difficult to master. I was truly amazed at how easy the transition was. It was still a chore to stay on the correct side of the road but shifting gears was not a problem....and I only occasionally drive a manual transmission now at home.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

janisj

I won't nag anymore - (the poor horse died a few hours ago)

But will just comment about the automatic vs stick issue. Many people just assume they couldn't cope w/ a stick and never even try a stick.

I am totally (I mean <b>totally</b useless w/ my left hand and I haven't had a standard transmission car in the States since maybe 25 or 30 years ago. Even so - I <u>ALWAYS</u> rent a stick in the UK. Mostly because of the fairly substantial savings, But also becasue I actually think it makes for a safer trip.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but most people get in trouble when they sort of go into &quot;auto pilot&quot; and forget where they are supposed to be. Having the gearshift on your left and shifting w/ your left hand is just one more mental cue that helps keep you alert.

And - afterall you won't be doing any power shifting or pulling anyone off the line (at least probably not). Just simple shifts up and down through the gears - and you likely won't even get into 5th until well into your trip as you get more comfortable w/ the roads/signs/driving.

I LOVE driving sticks in the UK (after a restful night's sleep - couldn't help myself ).

Guy18

I have driven sticks before, including the times I've driven in Italy and France, and it's been no problem. But it takes some getting used to, and I figure I don't need that extra stress.

A couple of questions about roundabouts: Is it required that I stop before entering, or is yielding okay? Also, if the traffic is light and the way is obviously clear, will people be annoyed if I stop anyway, just to be safe?

(I do plan to take a look at the highway code which is apparently on-line, but I have a few weeks.)

Finally, there is a discrepancy between my Michelin map and the Via Michelin and Mapquest websites. The computer sites say that I'll be turning off of the M6 onto the A590 to head for Ambleside and later turn onto the A591. The paper map says it's A591 that I'm turning onto from the M6 and that it stays the A591. I'm thinking the computer knows best, but I thought someone could corroborate.

janisj

I can't believe I'm enabling you here -- but it will be the A591 off the M6. The sign will probably look something like this: <b>A591 (A590)</b>. (###) on a sign means the road w/i the parens is accessible from the road you are taking.

As for the roundabouts - yes. It is a yield, not a full stop - Unless there is a stop light at the entrance to the rounbabout - which is common on large, busy ones often at motorway exits/entrances.

Most roundabouts have very clear signs for each exit. And remember - nothing prevents you from going round again if you are not 100% sure which exit you want.

Guy18

Thanks, janis. That parenthesis thing is very helpful.

Guy18

One other thing. Talk to me about lanes in a roundabout. Is there more than one? If so, what are some reasons to move to the right?

rkkwan

Yes, many roundabouts have more than one lanes. For example, if a large A-road with 2 or more lanes (each direction) feed into it, then it will have 2 or more lanes in it.

Yes, there are times when you need to go to the right.

For example, you enter a 2-lane roundabout from the large 2-lane (each way) A-road. But instead of staying on that A-road, you're trying to take that other road at the 270-degree position. In this case, you need to go to the right lane before you enter the roundabout. Stay on the right lane inside the roundabout for the first 180 degree. Right after the exit for the continuing A-road that you're NOT taking, then you signal left and move to the left lane, and then exit at the 270-degree point.

In general, just be very observant, and use common sense. Look at how local drivers use their signals going into and out of a roundabout, and do the same.

Guy18

Thanks, rkkwan. That seems like a lot of maneuvering in a short space. Since I may not be sure when I'm exiting, is it okay for me to get to the right lane and go around until I see where I need to go and then move left? And if I were to find myself to the left as I bypass a turn or two, which of the following is the problem: is it illegal, rude, or dangerous?

rkkwan

It can be illegal and dangerous in some situation, like that one I desribed. That's because traffic on the left lane MUST EXIT at the 180-degree point, as both lanes can exit.

But keep in mind that I am only giving an example. Each roundabout is setup differently. And if you have some common sense, it's NOT THAT DIFFICULT to figure out.

Also, before each major roundabout, there's always a very large and clear roadsign that has the layout of the roundabout. In those multi-lane situation, there's often writing on the roadway which lane is for which road.

You really shouldn't be going around and around to find out your exit. You should know about it before you enter it. If you don't know already, you won't figure it out while you're IN IT. Get off the the roundabout to any road, stop the car at some safe spot, read your map, and then figure it out before heading back in.

dcdee

I know that Guy has already made his decision but for any future traveler who has the same question and perseveres to this point in this thread, I'll mention our experience flying into Manchester from the US a couple of years ago which illustrates that circumstances sometimes are different than you plan or anticipate.

Our plan was to pick up our rental car and drive to York which, as I recall, was approx. 90 minutes away. Unfortunately, we arrived in Manchester during a driving downpour that persisted until we arrived in York after a three hour drive, most of the travel time being spent surrounded by tractor-trailers spraying mist so that we could barely see our hood ornament, not to mention road signs.

It was probably the longest three hours of my life because the driving conditions were terrible and exhausting after the initial excitement of being in England wore off (which didn't take that long after we hit the road) and because it brought my DW and me the closest that we have come to divorce. Every trip I have proposed to Europe since then, DW starts by saying OK but we have to spend the first night near the airport.

janisj

&quot;<i>Get off the roundabout to any road, stop the car at some safe spot, read your map, and then figure it out before heading back in.</i>&quot;

Often that would be a REALLY bad decision. If the exit is onto a dual carriageway (divided road) or worse yet onto a motorway, you may have to go miles before you would get to a place where you could head back.

Xenos

Guy

Since you have decided, against most people's advice, to do this, could you please let me know exactly when you are arriving in Manchester.

I live 10 minutes from the airport and on most Saturdays I drive past there and onto the same motorway that you'll be taking up to the Lakes, so it would be handy to know what day and time I should avoid being in the area.

Guy18

Thanks for the reminder about the signs with the layout of the circle. I remember these from when I was in England many years ago--but wasn't driving. And thanks again for all of the helpful advice!

Intrepid1

Guy:

I think you asked earlier about exits...yes, it would appear they will be &quot;ramps&quot; from the more major roadways so you'll have no difficulty with that.

Also remember that on some roads the signs are marked with the final destination rather than the next town.

You <b>realize</b> of course that we <b>EXPECT</b> a full <b>trip report</b> (yes, you can lie a little bit like a lot of other people probably do) after this or all deals are off!

Again, have a wonderful trip. because we want to hear <b>everything</b>!

Guy18

Thanks, Intrepid. You're a sweetheart. Yes, a full trip report will be presented, including all of my driving triumphs and (hopefully few) woes.

Xenos--I really thought you were about to offer me a place to spend the night! Alas, you will have to be wary of me along with all of the sleep-deprived lorry drivers, hung-over partiers, inexperienced teenagers and slow-responding elderly to whom you offer up your safety every day. Sorry.