Driving on the Left

The most important tip for driving on the left. Read this first.

Should I even attempt driving in a country where they drive on the left?
How are the cars configured?
What is the manual transmission shift pattern?
Should I get an automatic or manual transmission car?
Do you have some good driving tips?
What are roundabouts?
Any tips for pedestrians?

Should I even attempt driving in a country where they drive on the left?

Anyone who is used to right side of the road driving will be understandably nervous about driving on the left side of the road. Many people vacation in places like the UK, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Thailand and Singapore and have a great time without ever getting behind the wheel of a car. In some places you may find that either hiring a car and a driver or relying on public transport might be the best solution. However, you may decide that your trip is best accomplished with you behind the wheel of a car. If you feel confident about your own driving skills, and have positive experience driving in the US, then you will probably be OK. 

How are the cars configured?

Right-hand drive cars are configured almost identically to left-hand drive cars, with the obvious exceptions that the steering wheel is on the right side of the car and the transmission shift is operated with the left hand. The gas pedal, brake, clutch are still where you would expect them: gas under the right foot, brake in the middle and clutch under the left foot. Imagine sitting in a left-hand drive car and just sliding everything over to the right, with the exception of the transmission shift.

What's really strange is sitting in the passenger seat on the left. You will feel as if you should be doing something besides just sitting there.

What is the manual transmission shift pattern? 

The manual transmission shift pattern is exactly the same as on a left-hand drive car, in the familiar "H" configuration. First gear is in the upper left corner, second in the lower left corner, third in the upper right corner and fourth in the lower right corner. They do not "flip" the pattern to move to right-hand drive. The gears are in the same position, but shifted with the left hand. 

Should I get an automatic or manual transmission car?

If you are accustomed to driving a manual transmission car in the United States, there is no particular reason why you could not drive a manual transmission right-hand drive car. In many countries, automatic transmission rental cars are considered "luxury" cars and are priced accordingly. If you are pinching pennies, then you will probably want to get a sub-compact manual transmission car. 

However, if you are not comfortable with a manual transmission car in the US, you are well advised to pay the extra cost of an automatic transmission car. Driving on the left side of the road in an unfamiliar country with different road signage is challenging enough without having to learn how to coordinate the clutch and shifter.

Do you have some good driving tips?

• If possible, try to drive with a local resident in the passenger seat to help you with navigation and intrepretation of road signs.

• When you go to shift gears, you are likely to use your right hand, out of habit, and bang it on the car door. Try to be conscious of the need to use your left hand to shift the transmission lever.

• Before you leave, get a good international road atlas and study the foreign traffic signs. Know what their speed limit, "do not enter" and hazard signs look like.

• Study the map the morning of your departure for a day trip so the various turns and directions are fresh in your mind. If you have a navigator, then go over the route with that person so you both have a good idea of where you are going.

• Try to remember what it was like when you first learned to drive. Concentrate on your driving and think about what you are doing. When you start going by sheer instinct, that is when you will get into trouble.

• Here is a really important tip: Imagine getting to an intersection where there are several roads meeting at once. Some are one-way, and they all come together in various angles. You panic because you can't figure out which road to take, and more important, you get confused because you can't even figure out which roads are for oncoming traffic and which ones are your possible choices. You MUST get out of the intersection safely, so just follow the car in front of you. Then, find a safe place to stop, study the map and figure out which is the right road.  Following the car in front of you will avoid (1) sitting there in panic indecision or (2) driving straight into a head-on collision.

• When you have to back up, say out of a parking place or driveway, do not rely on your rear-view mirror. You are backing up, in a country that does things backwards and the mirror reverses the image. That's "three strikes" against you! Turn around and look carefully for oncoming traffic, then move cautiously. Remember that huge, car-crunching trucks are going to be coming from the direction you don't expect.

What are roundabouts?

If you drive in the UK, (or other parts of Europe, for that matter) you will see a lot of roundabouts. These are called traffic circles or rotaries in the United States. The British use roundabouts extensively and they are very efficient at moving traffic. 

Small roundabouts are used in many places Americans would expect four-way stops. Larger ones are used several roads meet in odd angles. Usually the signage on the roundabouts is excellent, especially in the United Kingdom.

As you approach the roundabout, you will see a sign with a birds-eye view of the various roads that enter and leave the roundabout. Your current road approaching the roundabout will be on the bottom. Since you will turn left into the roundabout, the sign will have a piece missing where an illegal right turn would be. It sort of looks like a backwards question mark.

Since you know which road you need to take, often just following the same road you are on, make a mental note from the sign which exit is yours. ("Hmm... A-40 Second Left")

When you enter the roundabout, you must yield to the cars already there. Eventually you will be able to nose in, turning left, and continue around to your exit. Inside the roundabout, the exits are usually clearly marked, especially in a large one. Turn left into your exit, then confirm you are on the correct road with the signage just outside the roundabout. 

Any tips for pedestrians?

Remember your mother telling you to "Look Both Ways"? That's good advice, because cars will be coming from the direction you do not expect. Look both ways, then look again. Think before you stip off the curb and go to cross the street. Remember, also, when you get to the middle of the street to continue to look both ways. By instinct you will look to your right when traffic is coming from your left.

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08/09/2003