Is it hard to drive on the opposite side?

[pipor]

Desperate to drive to main Europe but really worried about driving on the opposite side. I drive daily and I'm a confident driver but wouldn't want to drive around London.

Is it hard to get used to the other side? I worry I'll be an accident waiting to happen!!

I find it difficult, apparently an automatic is easier. Once went round a roundabout in Belgium the wrong way. I was in a smart car and drive onto the grassy bit and cried for a bit. More capable people manage though

Malta and Cyprus drive same as us, and Australia 🦘

I found it surprisingly easy. Because the drivers seat is on the other side everything felt quite natural. Roundabouts took a bit of thinking about and didn't come so naturally but it was fine

No, because it literally doesn't make sense to do things any other way than the correct way for the country you're in. Take your time at junctions and when changing lanes etc. easier with a co-pilot to decipher the signs.

We lived between North America and london for 3 years, no problems swapping between sides. I've also drive extensively in Europe.

I do it but not in busy towns.
It’s not hard because everyone is on the other side so it kind of makes sense. You have to think a bit more, especially when you set off but it’s not really difficult

I drive in Europe every year and find it really easy apart from the odd stressful part of a big and busy city. The roads are generally a lot quieter than the UK and better maintained too. I drive my own car so I syat RHD but I've also driven LHD cars and find them ok after a little period of acclimation.

I learnt to drive on the right so has to adjust to driving on the left when we came back to UK. One thing that really helped me was wearing a bobble around the wrist of my right hand (so would be left hand for driving in countries where they drive on the right). So if I ever got confused about which side to give way to on a roundabout, all I had to do was glance at my wrist.

But, as a PP said, it is quite naturally intuitive... but if you're prone to overthinking (like me sometimes) the bobble trick really helps.

I use the mantra ‘me in the middle’….it helps.

I’ve always found it very easy, as has my dsis, mum etc.
However some people find it really challenging.

Something we’ve discussed it that I’m left handed but use both hands, my left and right hand side of my brain are fairly even so I can adapt and switch to things really easily and quickly learn any sport / physical skill (like art / pottery / DIY etc)

This seems to massively help, so if you can learn things easily and adapt from one hand to another etc I think it helps.

Although not being confident enough to drive in London doesn’t sound great as I’d say most European roads and drivers I’ve been to are far more erratic drivers than us reserved Brits!

It’s a piece of piss. So much more enjoyable when you cross the channel and hit quiet, well maintained autoroutes.

I think it depends on a person. When I moved to UK from mainland Europe I even struggled with this while walking. DH was absolutely fine and learned to drive very quickly. However he is usually good with this sort of stuff when I’m not.

I get a bit apprehensive, just as I do navigating the lanes at big roundabouts etc. in unfamiliar busy towns and cities in the UK, but I have always been fine! I thought I’d find it difficult with the gear stick on the ‘wrong’ side, but you very quickly get used to that. And you don’t forget which side you’re meant to be driving on as the other traffic on the road orientates you. You really do adapt. But yes, Cyprus was great!

If you start in France from the tunnel or ferries you’re onto autoroutes and it’s hard to go wrong. Plus they are much less crowded then our motorways in the main. It’s actually enjoyable rather than a chore.

I took to it instantly which my father and husband were shocked by. Now whenever we're away I do the majority of driving, husband has to sit in the car and think about it before starting which isn't what I want after a flight etc so its now left to me, he seems to have to think about every junction/roundabout whereas it seems natural to me. I also regularly drive left hand drive vehicles while at home and again I can go from rhd to lgd and back without having to think about it. I'm convinced it's something to do with being lefthanded. I think anyone can do it, you can do it, just take your time and remember 'me in the middle' it does help. Also if you're going to have a passenger warn them to keep quiet unless they are helpful and considerate, there's nothing worse than a passenger either telling you what to do or gasping aloud every thing another car passes you.

We are German and traveled through GB by car twice (my husband did the driving). We went to the South of England by ferry with our own car, but rented one when we were in Scotland.
My husband said the latter was so much easier, as by sitting on the other side in the car he was constantly reminded that something was different. In our own car, he sometimes worried he might forget at the next junction. So maybe renting a car might be helpful for you?

No problem if you hire a LHD car when you get there.
Roundabouts require a bit of thinking though.

As PPs have said, it’s a lot more straightforward in a LHD car, because everything is the “wrong” way round, which helps.
In a RHD car it is trickier to begin with. We used to keep a DRIVE ON THE RIGHT post-it note on the wheel for the first couple of days, esp useful when setting off after a stop and the first time you go out each day.

I find it easier in my own (RHD) car. Thousands of European miles. Others as this thread proves prefer it in a presumably rental LHD car. If you drive via the Eurotunnel you are filtered straight out on to the motorway but I’d advise pulling in to a services quite early on where you have to negotiate a couple of junctions rather then lulling yourself into motorway miles only to have to do something odd 400 miles in. We drive regularly to Switzerland via France, and also Belgium and the Netherlands. Cities are fine but also can be reasonably comparable to London in terms of stop/start and regular junctions that don’t quite make sense so possibly something to consider, but generally a little less busy and on the whole driving on the continent is an all round more pleasant experience. The worst bit is when you come back and have to get back on the M25!!

I find it really easy, but I have always driven a hire car which has everything on the other side, so it’s quite intuitive. It might be more difficult in my own, right hand drive car.

I just found roundabouts messed with my head (despite going round Magic Roundabout the 'wrong'way). You just have to be cautious

DH has done it a few times, usually pick up at the airport and straight onto the motorway, roundabouts are more difficult, changing gear on roundabouts, reversing etc. DH would be happy to drive again.

Pick up & drop off in resort would probably be easier for a first timer.

I've only done it once. In the US. I hated it and won't do it again.

I wish I could though.

I've found it's fine when there's other traffic around; I made more errors with little traffic/single track roads/unmade roads where you're mostly trying to avoid the potholes.

Initially I kept hitting the door when trying to change gear (with my left hand) but that didn't last too long! I've only ever been offered manual cars (and I admit my experience was a few years ago), might be easier with an automatic?

It's easy enough but need to concentrate at round abouts etc.
I find it all fine when there's traffic on the roads. It's when it's empty that I tend to turn into the wrong lane.

When driving in Europe, I wear a single glove on my right hand, as a constant reminder.