Experiences of driving abroad - good and bad

[bebespain]

I know I should just take the bull by the horns and get behind the wheel but have to admit I'm terrified. Everytime I go out in the car with my DH I witness complete pandemonium on the roads and just can't imagine myself being able to drive here although it is severly curtailing my freedom.
Any words of encouragement or should I just stick to buses?

You have to do it. Try to go out when it is less busy and use smaller roads. When I first started driving here in Dubai (where the drivers are completely barking mad) I went out at 10.00 when the rush hour was generally over. Gave myself a specific place to go and that was it. My sole objective. Dont try to find new places or go to difficult places. Just pick somewhere where you know where it is, not too far and build ur confidence. You must get on and do it or your confidnce will go and to get out and about by car is so much easier.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
starmummy

Before I had a car here (Spain) I hired a car a couple of times and paid full CDW and all the extras so that if anything whatsoever happened I wouldn't be liable for a penny. It helped me get my confidence up. I had to drive and although I was scared at first, I've got used to it and I'd go anywhere now....except Portugal, they're even worse than in Spain!

Same as what the others said - just go for it. I kept putting it off and making excuses until one day I had no choice and had to get in the car and drive. And it had been years since I'd driven a manual, as well as driving on the other side of the road. I started with short journeys, day times only, and preferably without DH in car {wink}! I've only once driven on the wrong side of the road and luckily no one was coming the other way. Drivers are also crazy here (Bosnia) but luckily a lot less traffic than the UK so that makes it easier. I've never had any problems. The most I get is surprised stares at seeing a woman driving a 4x4 Niva!
Like starmummy said, let us know how you get on. Be brave! It's worth it, even if you keep using the buses too.

At least when confronted with complete pandemonium, you know you can wind your window down, waving your hands like a mad woman, whilst smacking the hell out of the horn. This I LOVE, it's a great way to get rid of any little stresses, and what's more no one minds, everyone joins in, and sometimes you just can't help laughing as well. you'd never be able to get away with that here in the UK. You'll be fine, go for it.

Driving on the right (Bahrain), I found an automatic better for me, as I then didn't have to worry about changing gears! Also first few times, made sure someone else was with me and made sure they kept me on the correct side of the road. Didn't take long to get used to it, and ended up driving just like the locals.

Handy Hint: the driver should always be in the middle of the road.

kiwinat - hint is great unless you drive a right hand drive car in a righthand drive country IYSWIM..driver is always by the pavement