Driving on the right for the first time (in RHD car)

[Ash333]

I've been thinking about driving in Europe for the first time.
Can anyone give any tips for a young driver driving on the wrong side of the road for the first time?

[eybic]

roundabouts dont function like they do here, in spain the outside lane of an RA doesn't seem to get used at all, people seem to use the inside then fly out to their exit.

[Doniger]

Get one of these:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I found it invaluable when I did a roadtrip not too long ago - good for reassuring you that you're going the right way, particularly good if you set off early in the morning - having it on the windscreen in your face the whole time stops you going into autopilot mode at the first roundabout and doing it wrong.

And it's one of those reversible things, so when you're on the ferry or train back you just flip it over to stop yourself having a stupid moment on your way home.

[Dogwatch]

I think the problems can start when you have driven a few miles with all senses on full alert and carefully remembering not to go the wrong way at roundabouts etc. Then you start to relax a bit, 'These foreign johnies aren't all suicidal maniacs and it's fine if you play by their rules'.

But a trap lies in wait for us drive-on-the-lefties.

You stop somewhere, perhaps a petrol station or cafe and pull away during a lull in the traffic. Then the trap springs. Because there is no other traffic to give you a 'steer' you naturally move over to the left - and find yourself nose to nose with a fist-shaking local.

Hope you enjoy your continental drive - but just be alert when there is little other traffic about to guide you.

[johnao]

Think ..."SHOULDER AGAINST THE KERB"

During moments of doubt, - and there will be plenty of them as explained by other posters, especially when returning to the highway when there is no other traffic about, - if your right-hand shoulder is alongside the kerb/pavement then you can't be wrong, in theory.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.

[OctyVrs]

Roundabouts always feel weird as hell to me, left turns onto autoroutes too - because they're so wide it's a bit, well weird feeling.

I talk to myself constantly when driving abroad, take a ribbing for it but sod it. Better safe than sorry :-)

[WhoseGeneration]

Others above have provided the essential information.
I've only ever had one problem, in France, when I forgot what a French driver means by a flash of the headlights.
It means, "I'm coming through with priority".
This on a rural crossroad.
Not, as we, in the UK, have come to accept, "You have right of way".
I had space to avoid a collision, luckily.
Lesson learnt.
Think all the time.

[davepoth]

The "Priotie a Droite" thing is worse than driving on the wrong side. Once you are on the autoroute it becomes not too much of an issue.

I've driven big vans on the wrong side and the biggest problem is road positioning, as you tend to end up a lot further to the left than you should. I find it helpful to try and find a reference point on the van (for example a corner of a window) that lines up with the centre line when the van's in a decent position. That helps a lot when driving down smaller roads. The one other thing that caused a problem was angled junctions where turning right, especially with tram tracks, as visibility was very limited. It's helpful to have a co-driver in those situations.

In a car it's really no problem at all, apart from overtaking.

[waremark]

Some sensible advice here. A couple of additional points:

Tell your passengers that some time during the trip you may start off on the wrong side of the road, and ask them to help you watch out for this.

Find on the internet info on key rules of the road for the countries you are going to.

Also check what you are required to carry in the car in those countries (eg spare bulbs, fluorescent jackets, hazard warning triangle, GB plate).

Also look at what the road signs are like - it is useful to know what colour sign shows the way to a motorway in each country you are visiting, for example.

Personally, I find the different signage, road markings and layouts more significant than driving on a different side of the road - it needs more concentration than usual to take in all the important information. So do take things very easy and carefully at the start.

[craig7584]

wear one glove on your right hand.. haha, dragons den inventions FTW.

But on a serious note, if you are carrying passengers they will obstruct your view at roundabouts and getting on motorways so you will need to be much more mobile in your seat!

If you are in a UK/RHD car then you will need to get the head light deflectors or tints, a GB sticker and also in europe you have to carry a warning triangle and fluorescent jacket. You can buy a full EU kit from Halfords which has everything you need.

Also, in spain (maybe others) they have some weird 'roundabout type things' where the main road goes through the middle. This means when you are coming out onto the main road you should not turn left (crossing both lanes whilst turning) instead you follow the 'roundabout type thing' straight across the main road to the other side, then turn right onto the road..

Also, be careful on toll roads that you dont speed, they act as average speed checks and some will fine you at the tolling station.

[davepoth]

craig7584 said:

If you are in a UK/RHD car then you will need to get the head light deflectors or tints,

Bit of Duck Tape sorts this out much more cheaply.

[CambsBill]

Been doing this on & off for many years and I still swap my watch from the left wrist to the right as I get of the ferry/shuttle. Being unfamiliar, it acts as a continuous reminder (for me at least) to 'think right'.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Dogwatch said:

I think the problems can start when you have driven a few miles with all senses on full alert and carefully remembering not to go the wrong way at roundabouts etc. Then you start to relax a bit, 'These foreign johnies aren't all suicidal maniacs and it's fine if you play by their rules'.

But a trap lies in wait for us drive-on-the-lefties.

You stop somewhere, perhaps a petrol station or cafe and pull away during a lull in the traffic. Then the trap springs. Because there is no other traffic to give you a 'steer' you naturally move over to the left - and find yourself nose to nose with a fist-shaking local.

Hope you enjoy your continental drive - but just be alert when there is little other traffic about to guide you.

Great post.

[croyde]

Mr. Potato Head said:

Dogwatch said:

I think the problems can start when you have driven a few miles with all senses on full alert and carefully remembering not to go the wrong way at roundabouts etc. Then you start to relax a bit, 'These foreign johnies aren't all suicidal maniacs and it's fine if you play by their rules'.

But a trap lies in wait for us drive-on-the-lefties.

You stop somewhere, perhaps a petrol station or cafe and pull away during a lull in the traffic. Then the trap springs. Because there is no other traffic to give you a 'steer' you naturally move over to the left - and find yourself nose to nose with a fist-shaking local.

Hope you enjoy your continental drive - but just be alert when there is little other traffic about to guide you.

Great post.

I had this after returning to the UK after living in Denmark for a while. Started driving a furniture delivery truck in London and left the depot with 2 hands on board for the heavy stuff. All was well until I left the first drop off point which was an Industrial Estate. I turned onto the main road and then the two blokes with me started yelling in fear as I was heading straight into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

That woke me up.

So what the above poster says. Keep concentrating.

[Munter]

croyde said:

I had this after returning to the UK after living in Denmark for a while. Started driving a furniture delivery truck in London and left the depot with 2 hands on board for the heavy stuff. All was well until I left the first drop off point which was an Industrial Estate. I turned onto the main road and then the two blokes with me started yelling in fear as I was heading straight into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

That woke me up.

So what the above poster says. Keep concentrating.

Been there as well. Got lost. Pulled into gravel car park to the right of the road. Worked out where we were and we needed to go back the way we came. Pulled out of the carpark when there were no cars in sight, as if I was driving in the UK. Then a car came towards me flashing it's lights a lot!

[munroman]

I always wind some electricians tape on the right hand side of the steering wheel, that way it serves as a constant reminder that 'something's' different as it's under my hand.

Remember to remove it before getting back to Blighty!

[Starfighter]

Hang back on the apprach to roundabouts rather than getting up close to present the vehicle. The appraoaches are generally straight but hook over at in the last few meters. This puts the car at an angle and the traffic on approach and in circuit is hidden by the passenger / B-pillar.

[7db]

The left turn into the deserted road is definitely the most dangerous (as mentioned above). Ask your passengers to scream. Rarely fatal except on divided highways.


If in a LHD car, then bear in mind that at some point you will go to change gear with the wrong hand. When your left hand reaches the door handle, muscle memory will kick-in and you'll open the door. You will realise your mistake and let go of the wheel with the right hand and go for the gear lever.

Knowing this may be calming when you are driving along with the door open, engine screaming at the top of the rev range with no hands on the wheel (and all your passengers screaming that you're on the wrong wide of the road).

[VeeFour]

craig7584 said:

Also, be careful on toll roads that you dont speed, they act as average speed checks and some will fine you at the tolling station.

Urban myth.

[cosicave]

Ash333 said:

I've been thinking about driving in Europe for the first time.
Can anyone give any tips for a young driver driving on the wrong side of the road for the first time?

eybic's Halford's sticker suggestion is a good one.

One of the easiest mistakes to make is the result of two things.

• Confidence grows with familiarity
• Most European countries have far less traffic density than the UK.

I have driven in Europe a great deal now, but I will never forget my first trip. I was taking a meandering ride down to the South of France on my new motorbike and had successfully negotiated the biggest challenges of Paris, including L'Arc de Triomph. No problem, it was all becoming second nature…

150 miles south, I needed to fill up again. I had deliberately chosen the more rural roads. The weather was fabulous and the bike was running as sweet as a nut. The roads were in great condition and there was almost no traffic. I decided that I would eat soon, so after refuelling, I began began thinking about pulling off the road somewhere for a picnic. I had travelled about 4 miles and was doing about 60mph in the most beautiful scenery: unbroken views of rolling hills and open grasslands ahead - where across to the right I could see the hedge petered out. Suddenly a gigantic truck was bearing straight down upon me. Having appeared from the right hander ahead, he was on my side of the road (also doing about 60mph) and I had nowhere to go!

¡¡ Emergency stop into the 'nearside' verge but the juggernaut hammered past while I was still doing 20mph, missing me by a foot!! I pulled up in the cloud of dust the thing had further insulted me with. I looked around and the lorry was already vanishing into the distance behind me. And now - my anger vented and the dust settling - I realised that it was I who had been in the wrong.

Lucky me. Lucky I was on a bike: if I'd been in a car I'd have been mashed to pulp…