ASU2003

How long does it take to get used to driving on the other side of the road and sitting on the opposite side of the car to drive?

I'm not sure if I will be driving or not, but I am concerned about this a little. It just seems like I will have to have an entirely different mindset.

Cynthetiq

as long as you fight it...

you worry about your drivers side keeping it as close to the centerline as you can. and same as when going into small alleys, garages.

it took me no time at all, I think maybe the better part of a day. my dad however would hit things all the time because he was always worried about the left side of the car instead of the right.

adjusting to the standard transmission on the left hand was different, but the pedals are the same position. so that is easy in that sense.

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ratbastid

I never drove on my one trip to the UK, but I can tell you this. In the week I was there, every time a cab I was in took a right-hand turn at a busy intersection, I thought I was going to die.

I thought I was doing well when by the end of the week I was looking the right direction (literally) as I stepped off the sidewalk.

StanT

I got off a plane in Christchurch, New Zealand, hopped an a rental mini-van (manual), and had at it. No big deal, when you sit on the right side, driving on the left seems normal. Watch out for left turns and traffic circles. You'll instinctively go wide or the wrong direction.

I actually had more problem with sidewalks, they walk on the wrong side, as well.

hagatha

Lucifer and I drove around Scotland in the Fall. My job was to scream "left side" if he veered into the right lane. He only did it once in the five days we were there and I didn't even notice at the time---but other drivers did.
Don't worry, there are tons of signs on the road for tourists saying "drive on the left" and once you're in traffic it just seems to come naturally.

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newtx

I don't think I would ever get used to driving on the wrong side of the road. Be careful. Intersections will be the real test.

Average_Joe

I have driven in Australia and Scotland, and adjusting to the change isn't that difficult. The first time a had to do it, I was a bit nervous, but my driving instincts kicked in. The hardest part for me was remembering which side of the car the steering wheel was on. I would always go to the passenger side, unlock the door, and start to get in before I realized I just did something dumb.

Daniel_

I have driven my UK car in France many times and found it very easy.

I have driven a local rental in the US and Canada and found it relatively easy.

You'll only know if you try it, I think.

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jerseyboy

I think so long as the car you are driving is from that country you will be fine. Now driving a car with left hand drive in a country where they drive on the left side of the road and vice versa would be more difficult.

Charlatan

As odd as that sounds, I find it true as well. Also the escalators go up and down on opposite sides as well.

As for driving, while I don't drive in Singapore, I do occasionally get weirded out in a taxi.

Though five months in I am mostly over it.

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Brewmaniac

I never had to drive on the opposite side but the traffic circles in Paris, were pretty scary.

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Rippley

Try traffic circles in Kampala - scary AND on the wrong side of the road... You learn fast, when you have 100's of brakeless minibusses carrying on average 30 pax per howling past you.

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dlish

and here i was sitting here thinking it was the americans driving on the wrong side of the road! gee whiz!

as for the footpath..its kind of a given that people walking on the footpath walk in the same directions as the traffic..so you will find most people walking to their left and pisses us off bigtime when you get head-on traffic when someone decides to flout the 'rules'..usually some american tourist hahaha

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ASU2003

If you were driving in the US, it would be the wrong side of the road for you.

Do people only walk on the correct sidewalk? In the US people walk in both directions .

Deltona Couple

I love the way people look at things sometimes. You are never on the "wrong side" of the road. For the country you are driving on, it IS the right side, it's just different from where you are USED to driving. Just think it's funny.

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ASU2003

But what if it is the left side?

highthief

The only time I ever get confused is when I'm on a small lane or coming out of a parking lot - I automatically gravitate to the right. But with traffic around, its never confusing - the only thing I found was that it did take me a couple of days to get a good feel for where the left side of my car was vis a vis parking and taking tight corners.

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desal75

When I was in the US Virgin Islands it was extra confusing because their steering wheels are still on the left side but they also drive on the left side of the road.

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melt.liquify

I've done it in Japan and Ireland. It's scary at first, but you get used to it very quickly... until you have to do a left turn across traffic!

Seriously, you'll be surprised how quickly you adapt once you relax and just drive.

spindles

I want to add another voice for being careful at intersections. and also watch out for one way streets - when you get to the end of one, make sure you are turning into the correct part of the joining street (thankfully I learnt this one in Fairbanks Alaska - too small a place to have any kind of major accident...)

I also found being a pedestrian hard too - especially crossing streets - make sure you look the correct way!

RE manual transmission cars - not too hard to get used to that - I gave that a try in Vanuatu - not much traffic so also an easy place to drive (though hardly an issue for Americans - they are left hand drive cars too.

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