At age 66 I find that when I drive I lapse more and more into "autopilot." Even when I'm driving in a new place (western Spain, Oregon, Northern Germany, etc.), at some point I kind of relax and at least some of the driving becomes automatic--I'm thinking especially turns. On our first trip to England (1970) we drove all over, but suddenly both my husband and I have become a little scared. We're both excellent drivers and have driven stick shifts for years too, but the thought of adjusting to shifting with the left hand AND driving on the "wrong" sinde has us shivering like a couple of old coots. Anybody else feel this way? Since we'd like to go from the Cotswolds to Cornwall this fall our fears are very inconvenient. Any suggestions?

I share your pain Sharanov,

I like to think I have it all covered re right/left side when in UK (or New Zealand) but the other day, back home in Massachusetts--I totally blanked after I started the car up. I had to ask myself--which side of the road do we drive on in here? --and I had no hard answer until I came to a stop sign and waited for the puzzled driver trying to enter "his" lane from the cross street-and finding me in it. I dunno--just totally blanked.

Having lived in the UK a lot I still maintain alert status when I'm driving with my husband (watch the kerb!) and know that the real hazard is which way you automatically steer to when a car is coming in yr direction. If you tend to steer right--you're in trouble.

Still--knock on wood--have never had an accident but perhaps that's due to paying attention. The motorways are easy and I like to think I drive as quickly and accurately as any native on narrow roads but always on the look out for that errant oncoming, the overtaker and...the sheep. Plus (she says modestly) have become masterful at backing up-uphill on single lane track--my most exemplary skill.

My guess is that you'll be fine once you put hand on stick and arrange yr mirrors. The right/left stick shift is not the enemy--it's the alert rotary (stay in lane! stay in lane!) and fast pace that deserve full attention.

cheers,

Greetings,
When we drive in the UK, we always reserve a car with an automatic transmission.

My car has a standard transmission and my husband has no problem driving a car with a manual transmission. However, when we are in the UK, it's much easier to drive with an automatic.

It does cost more to rent a car with an automatic transmission but there is also one less thing to think about when driving if one doesn't have to shift manually.

hope this helps.

Tracey

Welcome to our problem, only in reverse.

We won't drive in Europe (GB excepted) because the designated driver has to concentrate more intensely than at home and misses much of what to see.

NZ and much of Indonesia and Asia is also left side of road.

Elly

Driving in the UK is fine for us, but if we need to hire a car in Europe I always ask for an automatic - it's one less thing to worry about! I find after a couple of hours I leave the panic behind, although night driving worries me. When I see lights come towards me, I automatically veer to the 'wrong' side of the road.

Enjoy!

Provided you are driving a car designed for the territory you are in, the rule of thumb I use is: keep the central white line nearest to the driver. So far, I've found it fool proof. Even if you feel yourself lapsing it's a quick way to remember and correct yourself.

Great advice BeeBee--and given my recent left side/right side dilemma here in the US--the one I mentally have stored for use anywhere! Now if I could just remember which side of the car has the steering wheel....

Tie a coloured ribbon to the steering wheel on the correct side for the country you are driving in.

I love this idea--would certainly cut down on the number of times I knock into the passenger trying to climb into the same seat!

Thanks for all the good ideas. I should also probably tie a ribbon around my right arm so I remember which way to look before I cross the street. London has wisely written "Look Right" and "Look Left" on the streets for idiots like me, but of course not every place in England has such a warning. I almost got run over in Capetown last fall and of course it was my own fault. If anyone has ever read the "Stuffelpeter" (a German book written to scare kids into behaving correctly, which I'm sure I just spelled incorrectly) I am like Hans Guck-in-die-luft." Hans drowned in a river because he didn't look where he was going. Not as bad as the girl who burned up because she played with matches.............but I digress.

I once told a London taxi driver about why I wasn't driving, and he said "smart lady. We see bad accidents all the time caused by people from the continent and America."

quote:

Provided you are driving a car designed for the territory you are in, the rule of thumb I use is: keep the central white line nearest to the driver.

This is why driving in the Virgin Islands (eg, St Croix) is SO confusing. Driving is left side of road, steering wheel is left side of car.

As for crossing street in London: Yes, those signs are a big help for the slow-witted non Brits like me.

We drive a stick shift here, and I grew up in the UK so driving on the left isn't a huge issue.... the thing I find REALLY difficult is changing gear and indicating with the same hand - especially when entering and exiting roundabouts!

Here I can flick the indicator whilst holding the steering wheel with my left hand, change gear with my right hand. I wonder why those controls (indicator/windshield washer) aren't reversed on a left hand drive car.

By and large, those "Look Right" and "Look Left" notices tend to occur in places where crossing might otherwise be confusing even to Brits, such as at the corners of squares or where there are one-way streets or several roads converging. They're not just reminders to us drive-on-the-righters-look-to-the-lefters. So you simply can't count on seeing them.

As navigator in Britain, I've found that a big part of my job is to repeat the mantra "keep left" to my travelling companion who's at the wheel. This is especially important when making turns, where the natural inclination of us drive-on-the-righters is to make large lefts and small rights, and in parking lots or other places without lane markers. When making turns, I always check for traffic, just like the driver, and may say "look right." The drivers like getting this help, and I recommend this to other individuals who will be riding shotgun. Plus, I guess this means I can't be easily replaced by a GPS .

quote:

I wonder why those controls (indicator/windshield washer) aren't reversed on a left hand drive car.

Sometimes they are. When renting those cars, it gets to be a joke how many times my travelling companion turns on the windshield wipers to indicate making a turn!

These are great tips. Several of my recent trips have been to left drive countries and I'm finally starting to get the hang of it. I struggle more walking and looking the correct way. And remembering to stay left on escalators.

I second or third getting an automatic. I drive manual here in the states and for a long time got a manual in left drive countries. Australia had mainly automatic rentals and we found it how much easier it made driving on the left. I paid extra in Malaysia to get an automatic so I would have one less thing to worry about.

I typically have problems leaving parking lots. On streets, you are aware of where to go, etc but I find exiting parking lots really prone to making mistakes. Especially if there is no white line. That happened to us in NZ. We pulled out of a garden on a country road with no white line and went to the right side. We drove for quite a while until we realized I was on the wrong side of the road.

The other item that I always struggle with is the rear view mirror. I'm so used to looking up to the right to see the cars behind me I end up using the side mirror a lot. Reverse can be tricky also.

Having a good navigator that reminds you and coaches you as you go through the tricky places as KT mentions is a great help.

I also recommend picking up the car out of town or in a smaller town to make it easier. I never forget the time I picked up the car in downtown London and had to drive down the Mall and around Buckingham Palace to leave.

I agree with both the automatic transmission and the alert navigator. I failed our first trip to England - tendency to freeze in panic while driving - so now my husband does all the driving. He loves manual cars but chooses to go with an automatic there, as one less thing to think about.
He who does not tolerate backseat/passenger seat driving here, would be the first to say that he appreciates my repeating "keep left" and yield/don't yield at roundabouts, "look right", etc. It's kept us out of some sticky situations.

Our TomTom GPS clearly shows us which route to follow round roundabouts, which can be a helpful reminder.

Also, when we are on the Continent it beeps and reminds us to drive on the right whenever we start driving. Similarly, it can be set to remind you to drive on the left in the British Isles.

This is an issue I worry about also, but of course from the opposite perspective as we drive on the left here in Australia. I like the idea of using the white line as a guide but two things it doesn't do is deal with situations where the road is poorly marked and especially that powerful urge to drive the way your 'reptilian brain' demands when you come to a round about.

When acting as navigator in England, my mantra (which I repeat to myself several times an hour) is "left turn, INSIDE turn; right turn, OUTSIDE turn". My driver (aka Bill) has been known to start to swing out if I say turn left -- using inside and outside works for us.

Judy

In Australia several years ago it was, "Easy Left, Hard Right," over and over.

Only screwed up once, on a country road with no traffic: instinct overrode reality!

It can be as confusing for a non-driver in reverse, even if there's less at stake. On my first trip to the US over 20 years ago, I caused a taxi-driver mortal offence by trying, in my jet-lagged state, to get into the driver's seat, and then by automatically putting on the seat-belt (which obviously wasn't compulsory in Florida).

Another vote for the automatic transmission. It also helps if you're used to using your side mirrors. I never could find the darned rearview!

Having a good co-pilot also helps. I've heard of folks removing the hubcaps on the left side of the car to avoid damage from "curb surfing".

I say go for it! You can see so many off the common track locations when you drive.

I am renting a car in Scotland with my English friend (who did more driving in mainland Europe than at home). I will be navigating and he'll be driving. I am crossing my fingers that all goes well. My ex's mother (she was German) had an accident in Ireland on her trip 4-5 years ago. All were unhurt, but what a damper...

I'll maybe give it a shot once in Scotland. But only on a straight motorway, I suspect.

I lived in the UK for a few years some time ago, and have visited several times. When I lived there, I used to take delight in grabbing an Ordnance Survey book and going driving for a few days. Getting lost was part of the fun.

I have to admit, though, at the age of almost 61, I'm less attracted by all that. I'll be there for two weeks this autumn. I've been debating with myself over the itinerary because the notion of driving in favorite haunts seems alternatively attractive and appalling.

I go solo, so there's no one but me to navigate. Blundering around for a weekend was one thing. I didn't really have a plan or a destination. But, on a planned and not-so-cheap holiday, I want to see what I came to see. It's difficult to do that when you need to keep a close eye on the road signs and a closer eye on the road.

I'm sure some fellow comic has pointed this out...but if you are going to England and you are planning on driving on the right side, you should be scared!

But if you were just so upset by the prospect that you mislabeled your post, well, then, I think the advice about an automatic transmission and a good navigator is spot on.

Also, be aware that the roads in parts of the Cotswolds can be narrow, but they pale in comparison to some of the remote roads in Cornwall. There really is no driving on the right or the left! But there are pull-off areas where you can allow an approaching vehicle to pass by. Pull off only on the LEFT ones though. Biggest hazard in rural areas? Sheep.

Have fun and remember the mantra: keep left, Keep Left, Keep LEFT, KEEP LEFT!