| There are still 53 countries which drive on the left | | | | but in Spain or the USA, you will be crossing the |
| hand side of the road. The most notable of these | | | | nose of traffic coming from your left, so look |
| being the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and | | | | both ways, preferably several times.Turning into a |
| countries on the Indian sub-continent. In addition, | | | | side road from a main road - To make certain |
| many Caribbean islands and African countries such | | | | you turn onto the correct side of the side road, |
| as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, to | | | | it's another occasion for actively remembering |
| name a few, drive on the left.Obviously, problems | | | | which country you're driving in.Traffic lights - In |
| arise when people who are used to driving on the | | | | the USA and some parts of continental Europe, |
| left visit a country which drives on the right and | | | | even when the main traffic lights are red, you will |
| vice versa. If you rent a car, all the controls will | | | | often encounter flashing amber lights signifying |
| be on the opposite side to what you're used to | | | | that you can filter in to the right turn, if there's no |
| but in fact, this concentrates the mind to such an | | | | traffic coming. In the UK, it is rare that you can |
| extent that driving on the correct side of the | | | | filter to the left but if you can, there will usually |
| road is the least of your worries.Probably the | | | | be a left hand arrow which will actually be green |
| most difficult and dangerous driving transition is | | | | or, less often, flashing amber.Motorway driving - |
| when holiday makers from Ireland or the UK visit | | | | Until you're used to it, stay in the inside lane and |
| continental Europe or the other way round. | | | | make sure you're aware of where the inside lane |
| Invariably, they take their own vehicle and drive | | | | actually is. If the country drives on the right, it will |
| onto a ferry or the Eurostar Channel Tunnel train | | | | be on the right, and the other way |
| from one side of the road and when they get to | | | | around.Overtaking - If you have front seat |
| the other end, they suddenly have to drive on | | | | passenger that you trust, get them to peak out |
| the other side. In addition, you now have the | | | | and see if it's safe to pull out and overtake. If |
| difficulties of your steering wheel being on the | | | | you don't, and your visibility is fair because the |
| wrong side of the car, making overtaking and | | | | vehicle in front is a normal size, inch out a little |
| other such manoeuvres rather | | | | way for a look. If it's clear, put your foot down. If |
| problematical.Following the tips below will make the | | | | you're following a large vehicle such as a lorry, |
| transition to the other side of the road much | | | | forget it if the oncoming traffic is quite heavy. |
| easier.Roundabouts and traffic islands - Go with | | | | Otherwise, you might wait for a bend so that you |
| the flow. These things are designed so that you | | | | can see what the oncoming traffic is like but if in |
| really shouldn't be able to even start going the | | | | doubt, just don't do it. Be patient, your |
| wrong way around them. The road leading to the | | | | opportunity will come.Danger areas - Believe it or |
| roundabout should be angled in such a way that it | | | | not, the most likely places where a motorist will |
| will be a real effort to go the wrong way, so just | | | | forget which side of the road to drive on are (a) |
| follow the natural line of the road.Joining a main | | | | coming out of a service (gas/petrol) station and |
| road from a side road - This is easy if there's | | | | (b) leaving a parking space at the side of the |
| traffic on the road already - just follow it in the | | | | road, particularly in rural areas and small towns. Be |
| direction you want to go. If the road is apparently | | | | extra vigilant here.If you drive abroad with a |
| empty, stop and think. Remember which country | | | | friend or spouse, make sure that they know it's |
| you're in, then look carefully in both directions. One | | | | alright to shout at you if they see that you're |
| of the major causes of serious accidents among | | | | about to drive on the wrong side of the road. |
| foreign drivers is that they only look in one | | | | Swallow your pride and admit that you may get it |
| direction and it's the wrong one for the country | | | | wrong some time and if they notice something |
| they're in. You may be used to looking to the | | | | amiss, they should say so without delay. It could |
| right when you want to turn left in the UK | | | | save both your lives! |
| because you don't have to cross a carriageway, | | | | |