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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How hard is it to drive on the other side of the road?

70 replies

halfdaybae · 24/05/2022 07:57

Was tempted to title the thread tread orgasm, but ......

How hard is it to drive on other side of the road? Tempted to hire a car for a few day as to save taxi and bus and get a bit further afield but don't know how difficult it is when using the other side of the road.

OP posts:

LittleBearPad · 24/05/2022 08:00

It’s fine - roundabouts take a bit of thinking about but otherwise it’s ok

Sirzy · 24/05/2022 08:02

Some people love it others hate it. I think being confident in your driving at home does help.

I can drive abroad comfortably but as my partner is much more confident with it I generally leave it to him!

Summerofcontent · 24/05/2022 08:02

I always get my left and right confused when driving on the right.

Turn left next to the kerb but even driving on the right you turn right next to the kerb and I can't get my head around it

HattieBlue · 24/05/2022 08:06

Absolutely fine if car is meant for that side of the road. Just get passenger to remind you about direction at roundabouts and to put them in the gutter 😂

Worst bit for me is actually when I get back to UK and have to drive out of airport. As its always confusing anyway and I've had to stop at first roundabout and really think about it.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/05/2022 08:07

Not too bad - I lived in the us for a couple of years. It's easier if you get an automatic so you don't have to do gears the wrong way round. The main thing is to remember to look the other way more especially in mirrors- I found I was using my wing mirror more than the main rear view one at first

Alainlechat · 24/05/2022 08:09

Just remember passenger to the kerb, assuming you are driving a car hired in that country and not your own.

araiwa · 24/05/2022 08:09

Easy if your car's steering wheel is on the correct side.

Hardest bit is turning in to smaller roads or car parks... I might have turned in to exit a couple of times..

WeAreTheHeroes · 24/05/2022 08:10

I'm left handed and it always feels to me like I have better visibility around the car.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 24/05/2022 08:10

Just confirming you mean hiring a car with the steering wheel etc on the opposite side, as well as driving on the opposite side?

My first tip is to take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the controls. Your handbrake is on the opposite side fir example!

On major roads its easy. Just follow everyone else. Look up all the road signs before you go.

Quiet roads was always more difficult, especially one way systems. I was driving a British car abroad though.

I spent several years driving in the 'wrong' side. Its messed up my perception slightly and every now and again I have a minor panic I'm on the wrong side.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/05/2022 08:11

I find that it's driving on the other side of the car that's the problem. I just can't do it, despite being a very confident, competent, experienced driver in the UK.

I've driven a British car in France and was absolutely fine, with a passenger to help with visibility when you can't see as well due to the driver being on the wrong side of the car for the road.

But in the couple of occasions that I've tried to drive the hire car when on holiday, I've not been able to get my head round it. I just reverse everything in mind and get confused. We've even paid extra for an automatic but I wasn't much better.

DP doesn't mind driving abroad so he just does all the driving or we don't bother with a car and make sure we have the amenities we need in walking distance, use public transport (not always a great option TBH, despite being within a few miles of various places it took over an hour to get anywhere in Malta on the bus) or go on organised trips.

RewildingAmbridge · 24/05/2022 08:11

Where are you? I just drove from the UK to the Netherlands, fine, I've driven in Greece, Portugal and Mexico without issue. I will never drive in Marrakech again it was madness , we drove from Marrakech down to Essaouira once out of the city it was ok but driving across Marrakech felt like taking my life into my hands.

EBearhug · 24/05/2022 08:12

I found it fine with a car designed for it. I'm not sure it would have been so easy in my own car, especially if there wasn't other traffic about to remind me. But if you're hiring a licsl car, I think it would be okay.

EBearhug · 24/05/2022 08:12

*local

Trulyweird1 · 24/05/2022 08:13

If you are hiring a car locally, then if you can make it automatic, as that’s easier to deal with.

Key point - if the car is local with driver on the left side - driver side is always in the middle of the road. If you are bumping along by the pavement, you are on the wrong side 😁Useful when you get home and forget to switch your brain back.

Sparklingbrook · 24/05/2022 08:14

It's actually ok, better than I thought in the US. Bit daunting to pick up a car at a busy airport and navigate your way out while getting used to it though.

user1471505356 · 24/05/2022 08:14

I drive in France each year, it is easy to forget when leaving a petrol station on a single carriageway. Having a passenger is in my case essential.

ATadConfused · 24/05/2022 08:15

It's not that difficult.

it's FAR easier in a car designed for the other side of the road mid (as it will be if you hire one) and if it's automatic that's something else you don't need to think about.

it's natural to have the odd fuck' moment when a car feels like it's in the wrong place or at a roundabout generally in traffic it's fine.

in a ski resort before the season began we were going up to take some stuff up and I went the wrong way around a fairly small roundabout and my friend said 'whoa, don't do that again' and I had no idea what she meant! We were the only ones there, so brain just went into automatic - eek, but when there are other cars around you don't do daft things like that!!!

just be careful when looking at intersections etc that you're doing it with focus, not automatically as the cars will appear from different places.

it all sounds worse than it is!! If you're a competent driver you'll be fine !!

Sparklingbrook · 24/05/2022 08:16

IIRC in the US there's junctions where the car that got there first had right of way.

XelaM · 24/05/2022 08:16

I drove in the US (from Vegas to LA and back) and it was really easy actually and a real pleasure. After London, I had forgotten what a car-friendly place looks like.

Babdoc · 24/05/2022 08:18

Beware lapsing back to driving on the left after a few days, when you have relaxed your vigilance, especially on a deserted country road with no traffic as a clue!
I’m left handed, so it was a bit weird gear changing with my wrong hand, but you soon adapt.
It’s more tricky if you are driving a British car abroad, as you are sitting where the passenger should be, and have a more limited view when overtaking. Don’t be tempted to hog the outside lane to compensate.

rose69 · 24/05/2022 08:19

I found it ok as had hired an automatic car. It was much harder in a manual.

Jellycatrabbit · 24/05/2022 08:20

It's not too hard in a left hand drive car as the setup reminds you to drive the other way round, but the behaviour of the other traffic depends a bit on exactly where you are going . . . France, Germany, the Low Countries, Greece, fine ime, but I found Italy v alarming.

orbitalcrisis · 24/05/2022 08:21

I've driven all over on the other side, it's fine. I used to find it easier in my own car as when on the other side of the car my lane positioning was slightly off and I'd forget to look to the other side for the rear view mirror, but I can switch between the two quite easily now.

BungleandGeorge · 24/05/2022 08:24

Very individual. I don’t feel comfortable at all so I don’t do it! Not really something you want to make a mistake with

Wouldyabeguilty · 24/05/2022 08:24

Couldn't do it. I found it very very hard. OH was grand though.

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