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!!

You get used to it, I don’t see how you’d go round a roundabout the wrong way as the road “steers” to you on it the right way as it does here. Actual junctions are harder but you do get used to it quite quickly IME.

there are pros and cons to driving your own car/hire car. With your own car at least you are used to it but mirrors etc and getting the road position can be more difficult. Driving a hire car I actually think is Ok in terms of the controls as you get used to it quickly but it’s weird having the bulk of the car to the other side of you IME - I ended up v close to the edge of the road and some of my parking in supermarket car parks was suspect!

I don’t find it hard. Once you get going, you just switch, ime.

I’ve done it lots in Europe, (often towing a caravan) in France, Germany, Belgium, NL, Luxembourg; and have driven an RV in Northern California. I enjoy it and found it came naturally to switch everything over but I can see how some people would find it challenging. Not everyone’s brain works the same way after all.

It's soooo much nicer driving in Europe. Especially Belgium/Holland. We hit significant traffic in Holland and everyone just pulls to one side of their lane automatically in case an emergency vehicle needs to get through! At major junctions, each lane had its own set of traffic lights above, with arrows so you knew exactly which lane to be in.

I've only ever driven my own car though, never hired one so whether I'd manage as well with a LHD car I don't know.

I've tried it twice and I cannot do it. My brain won't change over and I get very very confused. I'd be a danger to other people if I continued.

I find it easy. I much prefer automatics though. There are so many visual reminders around that it's hard to get it wrong. Things like other cars, signs and road marking

I did it many years ago when we hired a car during a holiday in Majorca. I hated it.

I was terrified, couldn't get used to it and will not be repeating the experience.

Surprisingly easy, more so IME if you hire a car so it's LHD. I've also driven my own car abroad and I felt I had to concentrate harder on the fact I was driving on the right. In a LHD car it just makes sense to be doing everything the 'opposite' way round.

Of course you also need to consider the country and culture where you're driving. France is a real breeze.... lovely big well maintained roads with much better traffic flow than many parts of the U.K. Italy can be a bit manic with all the tooting horns!

A helpful tip I was given years ago is that if you normally wear a watch or a ring on your left wrist/hand, switch it to your right hand as soon as you cross the channel. It's just a daily reminder when you get in the car that you're driving on the right.

I find it fine. Most of the time the presence of other cars reminds me which side I should be kn. The only time I need to think hard about it is when there is no other traffic around on a quiet country road.

People are saying the gears are hard in a LHD car, I find it's easy to get used to that as you get a reminder every time you change gear and you quickly get a muscle-memory for it. It's the handbrake catches me out because you use it so infrequently.

I'm probably similar to you, OP, in that I consider myself a confident driver, but wouldn't want to drive in central London.

I was very wary of driving on the right for the first time, but I have now done it several times and it was fine, so I'd say just bite the bullet and go for it.

The first time, we went in our own car. That had the advantage of familiarity with the controls, but obviously it is right-hand drive, so visibility isn't as good because you are in the outside of the road rather than the inside. It helps to have a front-seat passenger because they can see better!

I have also driven in Europe and the USA in left- hand-drive hire cars. The cars took a bit of getting used to, partly because of a lack of familiarity with the controls, as you would get anywhere in a hire car, but also because things aren't in the place you expect to find them
(the rear-view mirror being the best example). But that aside, it feels more natural because you are sitting in the right position within the car.
Again it helps to have a front-seat passenger who can help navigate (or I suppose a sat-nav) so that you can concentrate wholly on the driving until you get used to it.

My other advice is to time your journey so you don't have to start off in the dark! And don't bit off more than you can chew - so if you don't drive in London, don't try to drive in Paris!

I moved countries. I find if the road is busy it’s easier, if there’s no traffic it can make me hesitant for a moment in some junctions etc

I always remember that I, the driver am in the middle of the road.

DH seems to have no issues at all. I am not great on right and left etc so that probably doesn’t help.

I don't find it a problem to switch sides at all (or to drive in the middle of London) but that's probably got something to do with my fairly rigid logistical brain.

Also, I'm pretty ambidextrous (apart from handwriting) which is helpful when one arm or hand gets tired.

I honestly think just a post-it note on the dashboard saying "DRIVE ON THE RIGHT!" would really help for anyone who is unsure.