Driving on the other side of the road for the first time is, politely put, an adventure. When you’re not used to the switch, rewiring your brain so that left makes right (and vice versa) is a challenge.
What should you expect from this switch and how can you make the transition a little easier?
Switching over: what to expect
Driving on the other side of the road is unquestionably a challenge to someone who’s never done so before. All of your instincts will be telling you that you’re primed to get into an accident, when in reality, you’re doing as everyone else is doing.
Fortunately, after some time this feeling will begin to subside. You may have to deliberately remind yourself to turn a particular direction or watch a particular set of lights, but it won’t be long until you’re driving confidently. When in doubt, give yourself plenty of time to get from Point A to Point B, and before you know it, your old driving instincts will kick in.
Tips and tricks
What can you do to make driving on the other side of the road easier? Take a gander through the tips and tricks below. With any luck, you’ll be able to de-stress while better preparing yourself for your trip.
Know the rules
One of the best ways to confidently take to the road when you’re not used to driving in the opposite lane is to do your research ahead of time. What are the rules of the road? What kind of driving can get you pulled over? What are the most common accidents to occur in the area you’re visiting?
While this process can be stressful at first, it’s always helpful to have at least a passing understanding of the expectations a location has of its drivers. While reading about roadway laws won’t have the same impact as driving on the opposite side of the road for the first time, this crash course in road safety won’t do you any harm.
Don’t panic
In short: don’t go into panic. The last thing you want to do while driving on the opposite side of the road in an unfamiliar place is to let your nerves overwhelm you. Instead, remind yourself to breathe. Ideally, try to have someone in the car who’s a native to the place you’re visiting. This will help when you take to the road for the first time.
If you’re shifting from right-lane driving to left-lane driving, there’s a fail-safe you can always employ. When in doubt, turn left. This way, you’ll always be driving on the correct side of the road. The same rule can be applied in reverse to drivers switching from left-lane driving to right-lane driving.
Avoid gear stick
If you’ve grown up driving a stick shift, you might think that getting a car with a manual transmission will make driving in a new country easier. This is not always the case. Driving stick takes a lot of attention, and you’re going to need all of your focus to be on the road when you’re trying to get used to a new style of driving.
It may sting a little, but paying for an automatic transmission on your first visit to a place where you have to drive on the opposite side of the road will keep you safer, in the long run.
Get travel insurance before you hit the road
When you travel overseas or to a new country, you’re going to want to have travel insurance and rental insurance on tap. When you shift lanes for the first time, this kind of protection will keep you and your wallet safe, should you happen to get into an accident.
Try to avoid driving in the rush hour
When you drive in the UK or another country for the first time and have to adjust your driving style, it’s recommended that you avoid city driving. Spend what time you have getting more comfortable on rural roads or on city roads when traffic is low, instead.
If you do want to spend a day in the city, leave your car behind and take advantage of your public transportation options. Once you have more driving experience under your belt, it’ll be easier for you to navigate the high tempers and high traffic of city congestion.
You’re never going to be able to account for other people’s driving styles. However, when you work to improve your driving skills in a country where the wrong side of the road is the right side of the road, you’ll gradually find yourself growing more comfortable with your new roadway habits. When in doubt, drive cautiously and keep road safety in mind. It’ll take some time to learn how to drive again, but once you have the basics down, you’ll be good to go.