Is there anywhere in the UK you can practice driving on the right hand side of a road/in a right hand drive car?
Posted by in_a_plastic_cup_@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I'm planning to hire a car in a right hand drive country for the first time. I'm a bit nervous so would love to spend an hour practicing before I go. Is there any where that offers this kind of service?
nanomeister@reddit
Be sure to hire an automatic - you really don’t want to add shifting gears with your right hand into the mix
Donice09@reddit
I tried an automatic but Jesus I couldn’t get it to go at all, if I even put a little bit of pressure on the brake I would stop completely.
ProjectZeus4000@reddit
It can be a good reminder.
But more likely you just punch the door a lot
king_walnut@reddit
When I went to America and hired a car I genuinely played a lot of GTA beforehand, just driving around the streets.
I also brought my sat-nav with me with American maps (could just use your phone and Google maps now, bring a thing that lets you mount it in the car) and having that babysit me through everything was also extremely helpful.
Donice09@reddit
This is the best advice I’ve seen so far, just follow the traffic rules! I’m looking to do this so I’m gonna try that first.
Madyakker@reddit
I was in Orlando 10 years or so ago. Drove down to Miami for the day and recognised quite a few roads from Vice City. Was weird.
lordntelek@reddit
The video game idea isn’t a bad idea!!!! Just don’t go around killing hookers and stuff and casually drive around might be a way to get into the habit.
I’ve lived/driven in countries that both left and right hand driving and it always takes a few days to get back into the habit of which ever country I’m in.
tristanette@reddit
Wait, you're not supposed to do that!?
MJLDat@reddit
Savoy Court in London, but it’s very short and I reckon the hotel staff will tell you to go away.
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
Dunno why you got to -1 on that, it's a genuine "London fact"!
HeartyFartBlast@reddit
Other people have covered it well, but one thing to watch for is drifting to the right on multi lane roads. Your brain is used to where you sit in the car normally and your position relative to the white line and you'll find that without realising, you're drifting to the right and starting to straddle the white line as you unconsciously move to where your brain thinks you should be.
I experienced this and talking to other people who've driven in America and Canada it seems to be fairly common.
blackthornjohn@reddit
From recent observations I think you can probably practice this on most narrow country lanes in kent or outside schools during picking up and dropping off times.
Honestly I did worry about this the first time I drove abroad, as it turns out it's not the stressful situation I imagined, the only advice I'll offer is be extra vigilant about driving while tired and if you return vai Newhaven you may find yourself sitting at a level crossing with the barriers down thinking "why are the barriers on the wrong side of the road?" Before the penny drops, I did this twice in a artic.
BamberGasgroin@reddit
Industrial estate at night.
markhewitt1978@reddit
No! Driving on the wrong side of the road anywhere open to the public is bloody dangerous. Don't do it.
BamberGasgroin@reddit
I should pay better attention to the question.
One_Loquat_3737@reddit
It's good that you are taking it seriously. In fact most people find that the first few hours of driving are fine anyhow as you are focusing. The bad bit happens 2-3 days or 2-3 hour in when your attention drifts, you think you have got it and then you pull out of a turning or something unexpected happens and you revert to the 'wrong' habit.
Practice, unfortunately, doesn't fix that, only hundreds of hours of habituation.
Banditofbingofame@reddit
This.
Drive to Paris for.the rugby world cup. Coming off the ferry was fairly easy and nearly had a mishap joining the correct motorway but all ok.
Was 2.5 of steady motorway driving. All very easy and thought I had the hang of it. Then I got to Paris and oh my god we're all going to die.
Luckily I was just going to the stadium which is very well connected to motorway but wow was that an eye opener.
Healthy_Management12@reddit
Nobody in Paris can drive, especially the French
kwakimaki@reddit
Seriously, every car has some sort of damage.
stupre1972@reddit
You just described driving in Paris as a general - believe me, you don't need to be in the wrong car or on the wrong side for Paris traffic to be hell.
My BIL and I went to LeMans a few years ago, and because he lives in the Netherlands (30+ years), our route took us around the peripherique.
After we had gotten clear of Paris, my BIL had to hand over the driving as he was a wreck
barrybreslau@reddit
I recommend taking a Santav and getting an automatic if possible. Otherwise you quickly adjust.
tmstms@reddit
IMHO controlling the car is dead easy- just remember to change gear with the other hand.
It is remembering to drive ON the r and watch out for other road users; you cannot really replicate that till you are there.
Due_Insurance342@reddit
I was very anxious about driving in America last year when I went on holiday, but I will be honest with you 10 minutes into driving I felt it was natural to be on the other side of the road and didn't have any issues.
In fact when I came back to the UK I thought it was more awkward to be driving back on the left hand side.
You'll be fine, enjoy your time away!
grandmasterflaps@reddit
Nitpick: UK cars are right hand drive, the driver sits on the right hand side.
It might seem wrong, but that's the convention.
Dazz316@reddit
I'm sure finding empty car parks will help. Pratice turning corners.
But there's no real way to do it. Roundabouts and general watching traffic can't be recreated here.