North American driving in UK

[Sunday21]

Dear Brs & Sis's,

I am considering vacationing in Scotland, my ancestral home. I am a North American. I could rent a car. I have never driven on the other side of the road. Any thoughts? Have any of you attempted this? How scary was it?

[Vort]

I enjoyed driving on the wrong side of the road, and I thought it went extremely well, except that one car that almost didn't swerve out of the way in time. But the arresting officer did not seem as impressed with my skill.

[Palerider]

I came home from a mission in England and was not allowed to drive for two weeks after I was home. My Dad was concerned about me driving his car thinking I would go the wrong way. When I started driving there were a few times where I wanted to drive on the wrong side. You should be fine .... As always use caution.

[sxfritz]

Dear Brs & Sis's,

I am considering vacationing in Scotland, my ancestral home. I am a North American. I could rent a car. I have never driven on the other side of the road. Any thoughts? Have any of you attempted this? How scary was it?

I'v done it in several countries. It becomes natural and not worrisome. I generally had issues pulling in and out of parking lots so I learned to take extra caution and go slower when making those turns.  I never found myself driving on the wrong side of the road and getting in harms way.  I did find my windshield wipers went on whenever I made a turn. The turn signal controls are opposite too.

[mrmarklin]

Dear Brs & Sis's,

I am considering vacationing in Scotland, my ancestral home. I am a North American. I could rent a car. I have never driven on the other side of the road. Any thoughts? Have any of you attempted this? How scary was it?

 

 

Not as difficult as one would think.  The steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle, and that is a very useful reminder. 

 

I remember being apprehensive the first time I drove in England, but it was really not a problem. :)

[Vort]

Not as difficult as one would think.  The steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle, and that is a very useful reminder.

 

There's a reason that Through the Looking-Glass was written in Great Britain.

[Jamie123]

I'm British but I've often driven in the USA and ( once) in Canada. It is easy except you have to concentrate when you turn a corner not to go down the wrong lane. The bigger problem I think you will have is that nearly all cars in the uk have stick shifts. If you are not familiar with a stick shift see if you can find a car hire company that supplies automatics.

Edited July 31, 2015 by Jamie123

[Vort]

I'm British but I've often driven in the USA and ( once) in Canada. It is easy except you been to concentrate when you turn a corner not to go down the wrong lane. The bigger problem I think you will have is that nearly all cars in the uk have stick shifts. If you are not familiar with a stick shift see if you can find a car hire company that supplies automatics.

 

Stupid question, maybe, but: I assume the accelerator pedal is still on the right, clutch on the left, and brake in the middle. Yes?

[Palerider]

I'm British but I've often driven in the USA and ( once) in Canada. It is easy except you been to concentrate when you turn a corner not to go down the wrong lane. The bigger problem I think you will have is that nearly all cars in the uk have stick shifts. If you are not familiar with a stick shift see if you can find a car hire company that supplies automatics.

That was my problem when I came home from my mission. As I turned corners I wanted to go down the wrong side. Lol

[pam]

I haven't driven in a foreign country but I've walked in a country where they drive on the opposite side.  I had to get out of the habit of looking left, right, left before crossing the street and looking right, left, right.

[Jamie123]

Stupid question, maybe, but: I assume the accelerator pedal is still on the right, clutch on the left, and brake in the middle. Yes?

Absolutely right Vort - the British car is not quite the mirror of the American one.

[Windseeker]

On my mission in Japan I was one of a few that needed to get a drivers license so i could transport visiting authorities. All thru in class training I told myself over and over to make sure I drive on the other side of the road. After I got my license and was leaving their DMV I continued to tell myself to drive on the other side of the road. As I pulled out old habit kicked in and I immediately went down the wrong side with all the Japanese missionaries in the van screaming and panicking. I quickly corrected and was fine after that. 

 

To this day I can't believe how deeply ingrained that was in my mind, sitting on the opposite side of the car, no matter what I told myself and being completely aware habit kicked in. So take it slow at first and hopefully with very little traffic at first. 

[Mahone]

I haven't driven in a foreign country but I've walked in a country where they drive on the opposite side. I had to get out of the habit of looking left, right, left before crossing the street and looking right, left, right.

I've lived in the states for almost a year now. I still look to the right first when crossing the street. It's a wonder I haven't been killed yet.