Driving on the left vs driving on the right.

[TheJDMan]

I recently returned from a short business trip to Australia. Mind you this is the first time I have been to a country where they drive on the left. I was offered a rental car while I was there but I declined it opting to use a taxi instead feeling it was probably unwise to try driving. I have been driving for 45 years on the right side and I found the concept of driving on the left just too overwhelming. I know many people travel back and forth between the two countries on a regular basis and my question is, how do those of you who drive in both countries make the driving adjustment between left and right? Driving on the right has become so second nature over the years that I feared driving on the left would result in an accident. It was interesting, by simply walking down the sidewalk people would make comments about me being from America because I walked on the right.

I would love to hear your comments on how you adjust for left vs right driving.

[Greg from Aus]

It's a peice of cake, I am at LA airport, ready to leave after 3 weeks and 2000 miles.

Greg

[Twentyover]

In the last 20 years, I've been to the UK three times and OZ once,so I don't drive on the left regularly. The only time I had a problem on the road was the first time in the UK, I'd drift into the oncoming side when going down unmarked lanes. And I'd go straight to the passenger side the first thing in the morning.

The level of difficulty is not great if you pay attention.

[parsonsj]

I've done it many times due to business trips to the UK. After a while you adjust, but the things I never quite got over was looking at my rear view mirror and getting in the proper side of the car.

We're used to looking up and right to see the rear view mirror, but it's up and left on a right hand drive vehicle. Most of my colleagues opted for automatics (which are relatively rare in the UK), but I was happy to snag a manual transmission.

All in all, it's a cool experience.

[surnufz]

My wife and I went to Ireland about 5 years ago. While there I just had to experience driving on the left, so I rented a car. It was a small Ford (forgot the model) with manual transmission so I got the full effect with the shifter on the left. So a friend and I set off for a round of golf (my wife wouldn't ride with me, said is was too dangerous!). Anyway, I didn't have any problem till I came up on a couple traffic circles. That was a little confusing. But we made it through with the bumpers and fenders still on the car.
I'm glad I got that experience, but now more than before, I don't see why they drive on the WRONG side of the road.

[rfalker1]

Ohhh a manual transmission sounds crazy difficult. I would be overwhelmed. But atleast the footwork would be the same.
ANd the only reason they drive on the wrong side of the road is because of where the driver seat is positioned I think

[parsonsj]

I have to add that I found (in general) drivers in the UK to be superior to here. Motorways, traffic circles, parking: all better.

[Slick68]

That's because there's no room for error. They have to pay close attention to how they park and drive in congested areas. Nowhere near like the soccer moms in their enormous SUV's and no concern for fellow drivers here. I went to Bass Pro Shops Saturday, and watched some idiot almost take out the sides of two cars in his crew cab F150. Keep in mind, my DD is a crewcab pickup as well, so I know how hard they can be to navigate in tight areas. This idiot, however, was trying to fit his big truck in a spot barely big enough to keep from walking another 20 feet.

OK- rant over.

Back to subject. I would like to try driving opposite. When I win the lottery(HA), I'm importing a Holden Maloo Ute pickup to learn to drive that way. :woot:

Also, right hand drive has traction benefits due to weight distribution and engine physics.

[dipren443]

I have to add that I found (in general) drivers in the UK to be superior to here. Motorways, traffic circles, parking: all better.

I second this. Primarily I noticed the attentiveness of drivers in the UK to be far superior.

I drove a manual every trip I took to the UK. I decided that I needed to pay careful attention to everything while driving and I didn't want to feel complacent with an automatic and become too comfortable.

The hardest part of the experience was learning where the left front of my vehicle was from the right side of the car. Overall, I enjoyed it. Mind you, my trips are mostly to the English countryside, far away from big cities. I drove around Manchester quite a bit, that was the biggest city I had the pleasure of driving in there.

Oh, the most annoying bit. I was wearing work boots to and from work. The center console cramped my left foot big time as the clutch was seemingly right on top of the console. Eventually just started wearing regular street shoes and just putting on my steel toes at the job site.

[NJSPEEDER]

It's really not too bad once you do it. I had a harder time getting used to shifting with my left hand in the UK than I did driving on the other side of the road. All the same basic driving rules apply everywhere so it's not terrible.

[dropit69]

Try this in St.Thomas ..US Virgin Island.......you drive on the left but the steering wheel is still on the left...so you are away from the center lane..very odd to do !!!!!!!!!

[rfalker1]

Try this in St.Thomas ..US Virgin Island.......you drive on the left but the steering wheel is still on the left...so you are away from the center lane..very odd to do !!!!!!!!!

thats is not cool loool

[andrewb70]

Try this in St.Thomas ..US Virgin Island.......you drive on the left but the steering wheel is still on the left...so you are away from the center lane..very odd to do !!!!!!!!!

I had the same experience driving in the Bahamas. The roads are set up like in the UK, but the cars are left hand drive.

I have a friend that for a whole drove those giant mine trucks. You know the ones that are as big as a house? He was working in a gold mine in Elko, Nevada. Anyway, the traffic pattern for those trucks is set up like in the UK. The reason being is that it is safer, for reasons that I can't recall now. I am also all for round-abouts because they definitely keep traffic flowing as opposed to traditional traffic lights.

Andrew

[Simmo]

Takes a bit of practise...

My Elco's left hook, left indicators, but column shift though. As its over 20 years old here it's legal. Just gotta make bloody sure the way is clear overtaking! Everyone thinks it must be the Mrs's car as I'm sitting closest to the curb lol. Everything else RHD.

As for driving on the other side, just gotta pay attention I guess!

[DRs 69]

Try this in St.Thomas ..US Virgin Island.......you drive on the left but the steering wheel is still on the left...so you are away from the center lane..very odd to do !!!!!!!!!

Sounds somewhat familiar, a few years back a friends mom worked for the post office and had her own Subaru wagon, right hand drive for delivering mail. We took it out a few times, try being a passenger with someone behind the wheel that didn't drive it much and wasn't exactly the best driver to begin with. YIKES!

[LeighP]

Done thousands of US miles over the years on trips.....isn't really an issue switching back and forth.
The main thing to remember is....whichever side of the car the driver is on is always towards the centre of the road....easy.
Now manual gearboxes are something else....I drove a friend's 79 Trans Am 4 speed in Chicago once....felt wierd shifting with my right hand, and it was worse because he had a Hurst T bar on the four speed...I can't stand T-bars on a manual box, lol.

[Damn True]

I recently returned from a short business trip to Australia. Mind you this is the first time I have been to a country where they drive on the left. I was offered a rental car while I was there but I declined it opting to use a taxi instead feeling it was probably unwise to try driving. I have been driving for 45 years on the right side and I found the concept of driving on the left just too overwhelming. I know many people travel back and forth between the two countries on a regular basis and my question is, how do those of you who drive in both countries make the driving adjustment between left and right? Driving on the right has become so second nature over the years that I feared driving on the left would result in an accident. It was interesting, by simply walking down the sidewalk people would make comments about me being from America because I walked on the right.

I would love to hear your comments on how you adjust for left vs right driving.

It takes about 5-10 min of concentration when you first arrive but after that its second nature. It's harder to stop telling bellmen to put your bags in the trunk rather than the boot.

[Damn True]

I have to add that I found (in general) drivers in the UK to be superior to here. Motorways, traffic circles, parking: all better.

This is true of nearly all of Europe. Former Soviet Bloc nations being the exception.