Question for drivers in UK, NZ, Australia, or anywhere they drive on the left

[Stevicus]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

 

[Secret Chief]

The UK seems to be the safest in the world. 28 deaths from RTAs per million of population.

List of countries by traffic-related death rate - Wikipedia

Road safety in Europe - Wikipedia

 

[exchemist]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

It's fairly easy to adjust. (The pedals are NOT changed round, thank goodness.)

The key thing to watch is going round roundabouts the right way (!) and resisting the temptation to change gear with the window winder. After a few days it is not a problem. I often take my car to France and drove it for several years in The Hague when we lived there for a while. Driving a right hand drive car on the right is OK, provided you use the mirrors a lot and are careful about overtaking.

The only US drivers I know are those in Houston where we lived for a while. I found them courteous enough, but not very aware all the time - and prone to suddenly veering madly across multiple lanes to avoid missing exits. I get the sense that they are used to a lot more space on the road than us Brits, on our crowded little island.

 

[Secret Chief]

Deary me.

 

[SomeRandom]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

In the land of Oz, one must be careful on the road. Lest one hits a passing kangaroo. They’re mean kickboxers and to top it off, too drunk to know left from right.

 

[Stevicus]

Deary me.

A lot of unsafe lane changes in that video.

 

[ChristineM]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

I've have no (or little) trouble adjusting to drive on either side of the road. I pop over to the UK 3 or 4 times a year (plague accepted). Drop my lhd car at the airport here, once there hire a rhd car and drive. Just take care at junctions so you end up on the correct side of the road after making your turn manoeuvre. Same goes for roundabouts.

Brit drivers can be quite angry. The roads are overcrowded and tempers can rise. But avoid the nut jobs and it's not so bad

Ive driven in the US where i found driving to be aggressive, tailgating, unsignalled abrupt lane changes.

 

[Secret Chief]

A lot of unsafe lane changes in that video.

They shouldn't be allowed out. Hope you didn't mind the (understandable) swearing.

 

[Nakosis]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

The hard part is the peddles. For some reason, my brain transposed them because I was sitting on the other side of the car. Otherwise, I adapted pretty quickly

 

[Vinayaka]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

I was fairly scared when we went to Mauritius. Narrow roads besides. So to practice I rode in public buses and sat behind the driver and visualised it all. When we finally did rent a car, I went on backroads that were emptier, before attempting busy highways.

As others have said it takes awhile to adjust. Traffic circles are indeed tricky. I also found that just after you turned a corner, I'd automatically go to the right.

Have fun.

 

[Treks]

They shouldn't be allowed out. Hope you didn't mind the (understandable) swearing.

Fooookin' 'ell!!!

It's hilarious (the language, not the driving. The driving is terrifying)

 

[Mock Turtle]

From the UK, and have driven abroad (several countries) with no issues, including on a motorbike, and where my near-death experience (oncoming cyclists two-abreast and overtaking car on wrong side of road in a tunnel) might have equally happened in the UK.

 

[Deeje]

In the land of Oz, one must be careful on the road. Lest one hits a passing kangaroo. They’re mean kickboxers and to top it off, too drunk to know left from right.

We have lots of roos where I live and its a constant worry.....aside from that, driving in the city is a whole different ball game to driving in the country. City drivers are naturally more frustrated because the traffic at peak time is abysmal. You either have to navigate endless traffic lights or pay a fortune to use the tollways.

I prefer country driving, in spite of the roos. Less traffic lights.....nicer people. Less stress.

We just drive on the opposite side of the road and change gears with the left hand instead of the right. Its what you get used to....

 

[SomeRandom]

We have lots of roos where I live and its a constant worry.....aside from that, driving in the city is a whole different ball game to driving in the country. City drivers are naturally more frustrated because the traffic at peak time is abysmal. You either have to navigate endless traffic lights or pay a fortune to use the tollways.

I prefer country driving, in spite of the roos. Less traffic lights.....nicer people. Less stress.

We just drive on the opposite side of the road and change gears with the left hand instead of the right. Its what you get used to....

Ahh man I’m in the suburbs. Honestly I have to watch out for koalas more than roos. Because there’s roads and schools built around a lot of eucalyptus trees.
I remember when my cousin visited from England. He was tickled pink to see road signs warning us that certain areas were “koala zones” lol

 

[exchemist]

Ahh man I’m in the suburbs. Honestly I have to watch out for koalas more than roos. Because there’s roads and schools built around a lot of eucalyptus trees.
I remember when my cousin visited from England. He was tickled pink to see road signs warning us that certain areas were “koala zones” lol

What about the drop bears, though?

 

[SomeRandom]

What about the drop bears, though?

Drop bears are no joke. We pay them with XXXX beers so as to appease them, in hopes they won’t shred our cars

 

[Deeje]

Ahh man I’m in the suburbs. Honestly I have to watch out for koalas more than roos. Because there’s roads and schools built around a lot of eucalyptus trees.
I remember when my cousin visited from England. He was tickled pink to see road signs warning us that certain areas were “koala zones” lol

No koalas where I am....roos aplenty though. I hit one once and it broke my heart...he bounded out of nowhere and I couldn’t avoid him.....in the split second before impact I though how beautiful he was...a half grown silvery grey male. I got out of the car to see if he was still alive and he was gasping.....it was horrid. I prayed that he would die quickly or I was going to the nearest property and ask for someone to put him out of his misery. He breathed his last thankfully, but I cried all the way home.

 

[SomeRandom]

No koalas where I am....roos aplenty though. I hit one once and it broke my heart...he bounded out of nowhere and I couldn’t avoid him.....in the split second before impact I though how beautiful he was...a half grown silvery grey male. I got out of the car to see if he was still alive and he was gasping.....it was horrid. I prayed that he would die quickly or I was going to the nearest property and ask for someone to put him out of his misery. He breathed his last thankfully, but I cried all the way home.

Thats awful. I hit a Joey once. Thankfully I was going through a school zone, so I merely dazed it. Lucky little sucker looked at me for a second then bounced over to its mother. I could have sworn she was giving me the evil eye though

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Don't worry, I'm not going to make any jokes about how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road, at least not right away.

But since I've never experienced what it's like to drive like that, I'm just wondering about those who have had to drive in countries that drive on the right. How much of an adjustment do you have to make? Does it take a while to get used to? Do you ever forget and accidentally take the wrong side?

I'm just asking just in case I decide to take a trip to any of those countries (assuming things ever get back to normal).

I wouldn't want to end up in a situation like this:

Is driving any safer one way or the other? Are British drivers more courteous and safe than American drivers? What about Australian or New Zealander drivers? I think we probably have some of the worse drivers here. Even worse than the Canadians, although the ones I've seen have been pretty bad.

Adjusting isn't too bad. I was able to jump on an autobahn in Germany and everyone survived the experience.
The main thing is to be aware of individual country rules, moreso than the opposite side thing.

Lane spacing is the main adjustment I was aware of, to be honest (I tended to sit a little off centre in the lane, as my perspective was used to being in the right seat).
Also, constantly flicking the windscreen wipers when trying to indicate, but that has more to do with the car than the country (in Australia, at least, most cars have indicators on the right of the steering wheel...except for a fairly large percentage of imported cars that don't..!)

I honestly found it a little trickier when I went to NZ. At the time it felt very much like driving in Australia, except right hand turns got right of way at intersections, which was different to Oz at that time (we've since changed).
It was so similar, apart from that rule, that it was easy to forget you were in another country.