I really want to drive in Europe but can't!

[zeddybrek]

I'm a confident driver, been driving for over 20 years, mostly in London. I know all the roads and do regular motorway driving. Don't find parking an issue. No concerns whatsoever.

But... I'm so jealous of everyone that's goes on holidays and just rents a car and drives wherever they want! What a skill!

I have such a fear of it and I know I can do it but just don't know how to get over the anxiety of it all.

Do I go to France and book a driving lesson? Take a friend who drives there a lot? Anything else I can do?

I did think to stop worrying and just do it. But what if I get such crippling anxiety and can't drive. I don't have anxiety about anything else in my life but the more I think about this the more I really want to do it! It's on my bucket list it means that much to me.

Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

[crackofdoom]

I don't know where you live, but if at all possible get the ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff. The port is on the outskirts of Roscoff, which is very small, and you go straight onto really quiet country roads. It's the least stressful driving imaginable.

Thoughts and prayers for the French drivers coming the other way, who get spat out into the centre of Plymouth late at night 😬

[zeddybrek]

Thank you @crackofdoom this sounds like something I can try, quiet is good! I'm in N. London and could stay overnight in Plymouth for a morning ferry.

Will look into this, thanks!

[crackofdoom]

Wow, that's a bit of a trek! But Roscoff IS the quietest French channel port that I know...Brittany Ferries even offer "day trips" (that are in fact a bit longer than a day) at a reduced rate.

It's about 20km from Roscoff to the nearest "big" road (the N12), so you could potter round in the area. Lots of beaches, and/ or Dol de Bretagne is supposed to be nice.

(By the way, a couple of years ago, I finally screwed up and drove on the left while entering a French Town. Nothing happened except having to screech to a halt and getting a massive eye roll from the driver I nearly collided with 😳)

[Wallywobbles]

Newhaven to Dieppe is also quiet at the French end. You do end up on dual carriage pretty quick. But they are always empty.

[PeatandDieselfan]

What are your main concerns? Is it getting to grips with left hand drive? If so, you should go with a friend who is confident and take turns - they can do the "difficult" bits until you feel OK. Otherwise, you can always take your own car and drive right hand drive on the right hand side - just be very observant with mirrors and blind spots.

[Droolylabradors]

OP i find it much easier driving my own car to Europe. I've driven down to the Italian lakes in our car no issue, driven around towns and cities.

When I drive a hire car I have to constantly think, though it is doable and I'm comfortable driving to the supermarket etc on holiday.

However if it's big driving I let DH do it, so he drove out of JFK and LAX Airports or we would definitely have got lost!

My advice is just do it. It's genuinely one of those things thats easier to do than hypothesise about.

[Kryten1958]

I always try to take my car. If this is not possible I rent an automatic as I find changing gear with my right hand the most challenging part of driving on the mainland.

[drivinmecrazy]

This is interesting.
I love driving in Spain just repeating the mantra that the driver has to be next to the middle white line.
Admittedly I do drive my mums car which is an automatic so not so much to worry about.
This year, for the first time, we're driving down in our own car with the dog.
I'm having panic attacks about driving on the wrong side of the road in my own car because all I've ever learnt is going to go out the window 😂

[turkeyboots]

If hiring a car, go for an automatic, it's easier to drive so you can focus on driving. Or bring your own on the ferry.

I find country roads and quiet roads a bit trickier. A nice motorway or busy road with traffic helps you adjust faster as you're moving with them.

[Soluckyinlove]

The first time I drove abroad we had taken a ferry to Bilbao for the first time. My husband was driving on the motorway, but as soon as we stopped at a services I said I'd drive as I knew if I didn't do it then I probably never would. Motorway driving was so easy and I got used to staying on the right. I never had a problem after that. By the time I exited the motorway my brain was reprogrammed. Eurotunnel is even easier as you just drive off straight onto the motorway. Book a day return and travel at a quiet time. I know that for the first half hour I just keep silently repeating, "Keep right, keep right".
Once I was used to driving I would often hire cars on holiday.

[Iwant2beJessicaFletcher]

I was the same as you & DH always drive in France. Until one time he was ill & couldn't do it so I HAD to, no other way around it. And it was fine.

I had worked myself up so much about it, but when I did it, I had no problems at all. I think you just need to get over there & do it - you are a good driver, so there is no reason you can't do (other than in your head).

Good luck

[crackofdoom]

Soluckyinlove actually that's funny, as we're going to Bilbao this summer (having driven from Roscoff, and returning via Santander) and that's the only bit that I'M worried about . Specifically, I'm worried about joining a busy urban motorway/ dual carriageway in a right hand drive vehicle when I know the practice in France and Spain is NOT to give way to vehicles joining 😬.

[SiobhanSharpe]

If you’ve driven round the M25, most French roads (apart from the péripherique around Paris or the Autoroute du Soleil in August )are a piece of piss.
it’s a big country with an excellent autoroute network and the roads often feel much quieter than here in the UK.
We take our own car as it’s familiar and easier than changing gear with the ‘wrong’ hand. The mirrors are in the right place too.
Honestly, there’s very little to worry about, I find French drivers generally sensible, competent and tolerant of us foreigners .
Our mantra is ‘keep to the pavement side’ for drivers, or just ‘keep right’. Mind you, i once went round a roundabout the wrong way but there was no traffic about at all.
Once you’re used to it you won’t look back, I promise. I think the AA also has tips and advice on driving in Europe.

[BaronessBomburst]

Driving on quiet roads is harder than in traffic. You're more likely to end up on the wrong side if there's no traffic to follow.

[SiobhanSharpe]

@crackofdoom

Soluckyinlove actually that's funny, as we're going to Bilbao this summer (having driven from Roscoff, and returning via Santander) and that's the only bit that I'M worried about . Specifically, I'm worried about joining a busy urban motorway/ dual carriageway in a right hand drive vehicle when I know the practice in France and Spain is NOT to give way to vehicles joining 😬.

We recently returned from a month in Spain, driving down and back from Santander to Cadiz. IME Spanish drivers are very good about pulling over to the middle or outside lane to allow joining traffic onto the motorways or dual carriageways.
(In towns, they are very hot on stopping for pedestrians at crossings. An excellent trait.)

[crackofdoom]

SiobhanSharpe phew, that's really good to hear! I haven't been to Spain since I passed my driving test over 20 years ago, and I was basing my fears on something the Rough Guide said about Spanish drivers and something I read online about not making way for joiners! Certainly I've been nonplussed in France at not seeing lorries switch lanes to allow joiners in on dual carriageways. Nobody died, but there didn't seem to be much of a margin for error! 😬

[Anonymous2025]

Get the car , cross the tunnel and drive . It’s not hard , it will come instantly to you .

[Catopia]

My advice is to get an automatic car. I drive a manual at home, but clutch/gears are two less things to think about when you're driving a strange car on the wrong side of a road that you don't know with the controls at your "wrong hand".

[Coshei]

You’ll be surprised to see how much easier it is compared to the scenarios you have built up in your head.
I agree with the pp that driving is much easier when you are in traffic as you will naturally be following the flow. Just do it and don’t overthink it.

[DontGetYourTitsInATwist]

I think you just have to get stuck in and do it. Keep your sat nav on, but be prepared to go the wrong way if you feel really uncomfortable with a manoeuvre. After an hour or two of pottering around the roads, it starts to kick in and feel natural.

I actually didn't struggle at all with a manual. I think it's probably easier if you're right handed to mirror what you usually do with your left. I struggled much more with trying to go around a roundabout the wrong way!

[KitKatChunki]

Honestly once you are there you'll wonder why you were worried. Sat nav works just as well. Take cash for the toll roads. I actually prefer the roads in France - Motorways flow better and people move across into a suitable lane without any aggressive twattish driving like they do here. I did 2 weeks and drove the length of it and actually didn't encounter a single white van man!

[stayathomegardener]

You need one of those drive right safety window stickers for the windscreen showing you how to road position, brilliant for roundabouts.

[KitKatChunki]

Just an idea - could you take someone with you who also drives? Go on a road trip adventure? Might be nice to watch someone else do it firsthand to see it's not so different?

[MrTiddlesTheCat]

Fly to Landvetter in Sweden and drive around there until you're confident. Two reasons, firstly there's hardly any traffic. Secondly, they used to drive on the same side as the UK so entries to main roads have bollards reminding everyone which side to drive on.

[SwedishEdith]

The only thing I'd add is when you do go, get one of those tags for the autoroute tolls. Paying for them when you're on the wrong side is a pain.