American Tips on Driving in the UK
Discussion
Below is an extract from Drving in the UK. I would in interested in your thoughts. Is it accurate??
(from the US Embassy web site...don't ask why I was looking there)
While in a foreign country, even one as familiar and accessible as Great Britain, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the United Kingdom is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Driving Conditions: Most visitors to Great Britain are already aware that driving is on the left and the steering wheel is on the right. However, few are truly prepared for the narrowness of the roads, the speed at which the cars travel them and the number of cars on the road.
Driving lanes are much narrower than in the U.S. and 60 mph, the posted speed limit for single carriageways (what Americans would call a divided highway), will seem much faster than it does in New York or Los Angeles. The 30 mph speed limit in built-up urban and suburban areas seems reasonable until you add parking in either direction on both sides of the already narrow road. In many areas, heavily traveled two-way streets are only one-car wide for most of the day. The authorities estimate that 70 percent of the motor vehicle accidents in the UK are caused by excessive speed. Although roads are generally well maintained, road works are common and roads may be left in poor condition while work is ongoing. Safety barriers are sometimes not as visible or well-lighted as those used in the U.S. While roadside assistance and emergency response in the more populated areas is excellent (although in some cases not as fast as in the U.S.) rural roads can be quite deserted and help could be far away. Heavy rains and severe whether are common in the north and on the coastline and some areas are prone to flooding.
Traffic Regulations: Drivers must yield to emergency vehicles using flashing blue lights or sirens. It is customary for cars in both directions to pull over and slow or stop. Left turns at red lights (the equivalent of the U.S. "right on red") are not permitted. Traffic signals will go to red and yellow before turning green. Although it is not legal to move before the light shows green, traffic will start moving at this interim signal.
Mobile Phones: Visitors to the UK will notice right away that nearly everyone is talking on a mobile phone; they do it on the street, at the grocery store, in shops and restaurants and, of course, in their cars. Mobile phones are great for families and business travelers overseas as well and can enhance your safety (they are available for rent at larger airports). However, if you use a mobile phone while driving, be aware that the UK highway code says you must be in control of your vehicle at all times. If the phone causes you to lose control and results in accident or injury, you could be prosecuted.
Driving Offenses: Penalties for driving while intoxicated are stiff and Americans have been sentenced to prison in these cases. Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or blood test is a separate violation of the road traffic act and will likely result in arrest. Penalties may also be assessed for any accident which involves injury or death.
Pedestrians: Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all "zebra crossings", crosswalks designated by wide white lines painted on the road and flashing yellow lights, known as beleisha beacons. Unless otherwise indicated, traffic in the roundabouts (rotarys) has the right-of-way and moves in a clockwise direction. When in doubt, yield. Otherwise, there is no standard right-of-way, from the left or the right. There are very few intersections with stop signs. If there is a solid white line across the road, stop. If the line is dashed, you must yield. If no indication is given, slow down and negotiate.
If you are on foot, remember that on two-way streets, traffic will approach you first from the right, not the left. The sidewalks at most crosswalks in larger cities indicate which way you should look. Pedestrians only have the right-of-way in the painted zebra crossings and at intersections with traffic signals when the walk indicator is flashing. Drivers generally do not give way to pedestrians.
Public Transport: Public transport in the UK is excellent and plentiful. However, for all the reasons listed above, it is also very popular and especially during the summer tourist season, very crowded. The rail system is comprised of several private companies operating under UK government supervision. During the fall of 2000, poor track conditions were thought to have contributed to derailments, however, repairs are underway and the system’s overall safety record is excellent. Numerous private bus companies operate intercity services and airport shuttles. They are monitored by the department of environment and transport regions.
Final Note: British driving mannerisms can best be described as subtle. A nod of the head may mean proceed or thank you. They may appear to be deliberately looking in the other direction as they cut into traffic in front of you. Remain alert, drive at a safe speed and remember to stay left!
(from the US Embassy web site...don't ask why I was looking there)
While in a foreign country, even one as familiar and accessible as Great Britain, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the United Kingdom is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Driving Conditions: Most visitors to Great Britain are already aware that driving is on the left and the steering wheel is on the right. However, few are truly prepared for the narrowness of the roads, the speed at which the cars travel them and the number of cars on the road.
Driving lanes are much narrower than in the U.S. and 60 mph, the posted speed limit for single carriageways (what Americans would call a divided highway), will seem much faster than it does in New York or Los Angeles. The 30 mph speed limit in built-up urban and suburban areas seems reasonable until you add parking in either direction on both sides of the already narrow road. In many areas, heavily traveled two-way streets are only one-car wide for most of the day. The authorities estimate that 70 percent of the motor vehicle accidents in the UK are caused by excessive speed. Although roads are generally well maintained, road works are common and roads may be left in poor condition while work is ongoing. Safety barriers are sometimes not as visible or well-lighted as those used in the U.S. While roadside assistance and emergency response in the more populated areas is excellent (although in some cases not as fast as in the U.S.) rural roads can be quite deserted and help could be far away. Heavy rains and severe whether are common in the north and on the coastline and some areas are prone to flooding.
Traffic Regulations: Drivers must yield to emergency vehicles using flashing blue lights or sirens. It is customary for cars in both directions to pull over and slow or stop. Left turns at red lights (the equivalent of the U.S. "right on red") are not permitted. Traffic signals will go to red and yellow before turning green. Although it is not legal to move before the light shows green, traffic will start moving at this interim signal.
Mobile Phones: Visitors to the UK will notice right away that nearly everyone is talking on a mobile phone; they do it on the street, at the grocery store, in shops and restaurants and, of course, in their cars. Mobile phones are great for families and business travelers overseas as well and can enhance your safety (they are available for rent at larger airports). However, if you use a mobile phone while driving, be aware that the UK highway code says you must be in control of your vehicle at all times. If the phone causes you to lose control and results in accident or injury, you could be prosecuted.
Driving Offenses: Penalties for driving while intoxicated are stiff and Americans have been sentenced to prison in these cases. Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or blood test is a separate violation of the road traffic act and will likely result in arrest. Penalties may also be assessed for any accident which involves injury or death.
Pedestrians: Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all "zebra crossings", crosswalks designated by wide white lines painted on the road and flashing yellow lights, known as beleisha beacons. Unless otherwise indicated, traffic in the roundabouts (rotarys) has the right-of-way and moves in a clockwise direction. When in doubt, yield. Otherwise, there is no standard right-of-way, from the left or the right. There are very few intersections with stop signs. If there is a solid white line across the road, stop. If the line is dashed, you must yield. If no indication is given, slow down and negotiate.
If you are on foot, remember that on two-way streets, traffic will approach you first from the right, not the left. The sidewalks at most crosswalks in larger cities indicate which way you should look. Pedestrians only have the right-of-way in the painted zebra crossings and at intersections with traffic signals when the walk indicator is flashing. Drivers generally do not give way to pedestrians.
Public Transport: Public transport in the UK is excellent and plentiful. However, for all the reasons listed above, it is also very popular and especially during the summer tourist season, very crowded. The rail system is comprised of several private companies operating under UK government supervision. During the fall of 2000, poor track conditions were thought to have contributed to derailments, however, repairs are underway and the system’s overall safety record is excellent. Numerous private bus companies operate intercity services and airport shuttles. They are monitored by the department of environment and transport regions.
Final Note: British driving mannerisms can best be described as subtle. A nod of the head may mean proceed or thank you. They may appear to be deliberately looking in the other direction as they cut into traffic in front of you. Remain alert, drive at a safe speed and remember to stay left!
Look what else I found on the embassy website:
===========================
Advice for tourists
The Brits have peculiar words for many things. Money is referred to as "goolies" in slang, so you should for instance say "I'd love to come to the pub but I haven't got any goolies." "Quid" is the modern word for what was once called a "shilling" - the equivalent of seventeen cents American.
If you are fond of someone, you should tell him he is a "great tosser" - he will be touched. The English are a notoriously tactile, demonstrative people, and if you want to fit in you should hold hands with your acquaintances and tossers when you walk down the street.
Habits
Ever since their Tory government wholeheartedly embraced full union with Europe, the Brits have been attempting to adopt certain continental customs, such as the large midday meal followed by a two or three hour siesta, which they call a "wank." As this is still a fairly new practice in Britain, it is not uncommon for people to oversleep (alarm clocks, alas, do not work there due to the magnetic pull from Greenwich). If you are late for supper, simply apologise and explain that you were having a wank - everyone will understand and forgive you.
Universities
University archives and manuscrpt collections are still governed by quaint mediaeval rules retained out of respect for tradition; hence patrons are expected to bring to the reading rooms their own ink-pots and a small knife for sharpening their quills. Observing these customs will signal to the librarians that you are "in the know"- one of the inner circles, as it were, for the rules are unwritten and not posted anywhere in the library. Likewise, it is customary to kiss the librarian on both cheeks when he/she brings a manuscrpt you've requested, a practice dating back to the reign of Henry VI.
One of the most delightful ways to spend an afternoon in Oxford or Cambridge is gliding gently down the river in one of their flat-bottomed boats, which you propel using a long pole. This is known as "cottaging". Many of the boats (called "yer-i-nals") are privately owned by the colleges, but there are some places that rent them to the public by the hour. Just tell a professor or policeman that you are interested in doing some cottaging and would like to know where the public yerinals are. The poles must be treated with vegetable oil to protect them from the water, so it's a good idea to buy a can of Mazola and have it on you when you ask directions to the yerinals. That way people will know you are an experienced cottager.
Food
British cuisine enjoys a well deserved reputation as the most sublime gastronomic pleasure available to man. Thanks to today's robust dollar, the American traveller can easily afford to dine out several times a week (rest assured that a British meal is worth interrupting your afternoon wank for).
Few foreigners are aware that there are several grades of meat in the UK. The best cuts of meat, like the best bottles of gin, bear Her Majesty's seal, called the British Stamp of Excellence (BSE). When you go to a fine restaurant, tell your waiter you want BSE beef and won't settle for anything less. If he balks at your request, custom dictates that you jerk your head imperiously back and forth while rolling your eyes to show him who is boss. Once the waiter realizes you are a person of discriminating taste, he may offer to let you peruse the restaurant's list of exquisite British wines. If he does not, you should order one anyway. The best wine grapes grow on the steep, chalky hillsides of Yorkshire and East Anglia-try an Ely '84 or Ripon '88 for a rare treat indeed. When the bill for your meal comes it will show a suggested amount. Pay whatever you think is fair, unless you plan to dine there again, in which case you should simply walk out; the restaurant host will understand that he should run a tab for you.
Transportation
Public taxis are subsidized by the Her Majesty's Government. A taxi ride in London costs two pounds, no matter how far you travel. If a taxi driver tries to overcharge you, you should yell "I think not, you charlatan!", then grab the nearest policeman (bobby) and have the driver disciplined.
It is rarely necessary to take a taxi, though, since bus drivers are required to make detours at patrons' requests. Just board any bus, pay your fare of thruppence (the heavy gold-colored coins are "pence"), and state your destination clearly to the driver, e.g.: "Please take me to the British Library." A driver will frequently try to have a bit of harmless fun by pretending he doesn't go to your requested destination. Ignore him, as he is only teasing the American tourist (little does he know you're not so ignorant!).
For those travelling on a shoestring budget, the London Tube may be the most economical way to get about, especially if you are a woman. Chivalry is alive and well in Britain, and ladies still travel for free on the Tube. Simply take some tokens from the baskets at the base of the escalators or on the platforms; you will find one near any of the state-sponsored Tube musicians. Once on the platform, though, beware! Approaching trains sometimes disturb the large Gappe bats that roost in the tunnels. The Gappes were smuggled into London in the early 19th century by French saboteurs and have proved impossible to exterminate. The announcement "Mind the Gappe!" is a signal that you should grab your hair and look towards the ceiling. Very few people have ever been killed by Gappes, though, and they are considered only a minor drawback to an otherwise excellent means of transportation.
One final note: for preferential treatment when you arrive at Heathrow airport, announce that you are a member of Shin Fane (an international Jewish peace organization - the "shin" stands for "shalom"). As savvy travellers know, this little white lie will assure you priority treatment as you make your way through customs.
===========================
Advice for tourists
The Brits have peculiar words for many things. Money is referred to as "goolies" in slang, so you should for instance say "I'd love to come to the pub but I haven't got any goolies." "Quid" is the modern word for what was once called a "shilling" - the equivalent of seventeen cents American.
If you are fond of someone, you should tell him he is a "great tosser" - he will be touched. The English are a notoriously tactile, demonstrative people, and if you want to fit in you should hold hands with your acquaintances and tossers when you walk down the street.
Habits
Ever since their Tory government wholeheartedly embraced full union with Europe, the Brits have been attempting to adopt certain continental customs, such as the large midday meal followed by a two or three hour siesta, which they call a "wank." As this is still a fairly new practice in Britain, it is not uncommon for people to oversleep (alarm clocks, alas, do not work there due to the magnetic pull from Greenwich). If you are late for supper, simply apologise and explain that you were having a wank - everyone will understand and forgive you.
Universities
University archives and manuscrpt collections are still governed by quaint mediaeval rules retained out of respect for tradition; hence patrons are expected to bring to the reading rooms their own ink-pots and a small knife for sharpening their quills. Observing these customs will signal to the librarians that you are "in the know"- one of the inner circles, as it were, for the rules are unwritten and not posted anywhere in the library. Likewise, it is customary to kiss the librarian on both cheeks when he/she brings a manuscrpt you've requested, a practice dating back to the reign of Henry VI.
One of the most delightful ways to spend an afternoon in Oxford or Cambridge is gliding gently down the river in one of their flat-bottomed boats, which you propel using a long pole. This is known as "cottaging". Many of the boats (called "yer-i-nals") are privately owned by the colleges, but there are some places that rent them to the public by the hour. Just tell a professor or policeman that you are interested in doing some cottaging and would like to know where the public yerinals are. The poles must be treated with vegetable oil to protect them from the water, so it's a good idea to buy a can of Mazola and have it on you when you ask directions to the yerinals. That way people will know you are an experienced cottager.
Food
British cuisine enjoys a well deserved reputation as the most sublime gastronomic pleasure available to man. Thanks to today's robust dollar, the American traveller can easily afford to dine out several times a week (rest assured that a British meal is worth interrupting your afternoon wank for).
Few foreigners are aware that there are several grades of meat in the UK. The best cuts of meat, like the best bottles of gin, bear Her Majesty's seal, called the British Stamp of Excellence (BSE). When you go to a fine restaurant, tell your waiter you want BSE beef and won't settle for anything less. If he balks at your request, custom dictates that you jerk your head imperiously back and forth while rolling your eyes to show him who is boss. Once the waiter realizes you are a person of discriminating taste, he may offer to let you peruse the restaurant's list of exquisite British wines. If he does not, you should order one anyway. The best wine grapes grow on the steep, chalky hillsides of Yorkshire and East Anglia-try an Ely '84 or Ripon '88 for a rare treat indeed. When the bill for your meal comes it will show a suggested amount. Pay whatever you think is fair, unless you plan to dine there again, in which case you should simply walk out; the restaurant host will understand that he should run a tab for you.
Transportation
Public taxis are subsidized by the Her Majesty's Government. A taxi ride in London costs two pounds, no matter how far you travel. If a taxi driver tries to overcharge you, you should yell "I think not, you charlatan!", then grab the nearest policeman (bobby) and have the driver disciplined.
It is rarely necessary to take a taxi, though, since bus drivers are required to make detours at patrons' requests. Just board any bus, pay your fare of thruppence (the heavy gold-colored coins are "pence"), and state your destination clearly to the driver, e.g.: "Please take me to the British Library." A driver will frequently try to have a bit of harmless fun by pretending he doesn't go to your requested destination. Ignore him, as he is only teasing the American tourist (little does he know you're not so ignorant!).
For those travelling on a shoestring budget, the London Tube may be the most economical way to get about, especially if you are a woman. Chivalry is alive and well in Britain, and ladies still travel for free on the Tube. Simply take some tokens from the baskets at the base of the escalators or on the platforms; you will find one near any of the state-sponsored Tube musicians. Once on the platform, though, beware! Approaching trains sometimes disturb the large Gappe bats that roost in the tunnels. The Gappes were smuggled into London in the early 19th century by French saboteurs and have proved impossible to exterminate. The announcement "Mind the Gappe!" is a signal that you should grab your hair and look towards the ceiling. Very few people have ever been killed by Gappes, though, and they are considered only a minor drawback to an otherwise excellent means of transportation.
One final note: for preferential treatment when you arrive at Heathrow airport, announce that you are a member of Shin Fane (an international Jewish peace organization - the "shin" stands for "shalom"). As savvy travellers know, this little white lie will assure you priority treatment as you make your way through customs.
Excellent stuff esp. Bonce.
When driving in the US I never *quite* got the hang of those 4-way stop thingies. I used to pull up, stop, then go off again no matter when I had arrived, before or after the cars going in the other directions.
Only when I got bck to Blighty did someone tell me you HAVE to stop, and only then proceeed in the order you arrived
When driving in the US I never *quite* got the hang of those 4-way stop thingies. I used to pull up, stop, then go off again no matter when I had arrived, before or after the cars going in the other directions.
Only when I got bck to Blighty did someone tell me you HAVE to stop, and only then proceeed in the order you arrived
quote:
...When driving in the US I never *quite* got the hang of those 4-way stop thingies. I used to pull up, stop, then go off again no matter when I had arrived, before or after the cars going in the other directions.
Only when I got bck to Blighty did someone tell me you HAVE to stop, and only then proceeed in the order you arrived
oops, I did the same - eyes closed, foot down. I was then told you are supposed to use them like a roundabout - give way to the right....??
Good job we didn't meet each other at one!
Lee
quote:
i'm not afraid to show how naive i am so someone please tell me. What is Cottaging?
Uh-oh! I suggest you do a quick search on google for "cottaging" before anyone posts any links/pictures!
The search results text should give you a rough idea, but in summary it's something that Cabinet Ministers are fond of.
www.commerce.bancroft.on.ca/cotcamp.htm
www.cottagelink.com/magazine/archive/v1n4_s02.html
www.timberlanecottage.com/winter.html
I don't see what all the fuss is about
www.cottagelink.com/magazine/archive/v1n4_s02.html
www.timberlanecottage.com/winter.html
I don't see what all the fuss is about
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