Driving in the UK

Okay, so my father-in-law is giving us a car (yay!) but I am pretty nervous about driving here! I've been driving for 12 years back in the states and I've always been a very confident/good driver. But looking at how narrow everything is here and not being sure of the traffic signs and all, I'm pretty nervous.

My question is, did most of you come over here and just get on the road on your own? Or, did you take lessons? I'm sooooo damn broke right now that I won't be able to afford it right away. I'll be lucky if we can afford the gas for the car really, lol.

I know plenty of people come over here and drive without lessons. What did you guys do?

Thanks!

I drove without lessons. I'm gonna take the test as soon as I can get a proper job and get some money.

My best suggestion is to approach this as positively as possible. Yes, things are different but the more you harp on it, the harder it is to make the adjustment. If you can afford it, get the guide to road signs and traffic rules from WHSmiths. The library may have it, too. This way, you can begin to familiarize yourself with signs and rules even if you can't afford lessons. If you've been driving for 12 years in the US, there's no reason why you can't drive well here. Yes, there are roundabouts and narrow roads. But they aren't impossible otherwise you wouldn't see all these cars on the road!

Have you driven a manual before?

Thank you.

Yes, I only had an automatic for 2 years. I'll be driving a manual here. Do you get used to shifting with your left hand pretty quick? I think if anything, driving will just be awkward for a little while. I didn't mean to sound negative about it... I'm just a bit worried I'm gonna be pissing people off by being in the way or ending up on the wrong side of the road somehow, lol. I don't know... I'm not that worried about it....just nervous.

 

You'll be just fine. I never drove a manual in the US so learning here was easier. That said, I'm taking the test on an automatic. I'm just more comfortable in them and i can't afford to pay for the extra lessons I'd need to be confident in a manual. DH taught me to drive a manual a bit in the rural areas around Carlisle... lots of narrow roads to practice on!

Driving here is different and may take some getting used to, but it's really not that difficult and I love all the twisty, country lanes!

A statistic to bear in mind if you ever feel like freaking out with the speed and the volume of traffic, plus the narowness of the roads and the roundabouts etc .... is that the UK's roads are the safest in Europe! (What does that say about other European countries??!!)

As for getting a UK licence, I'd recommend a couple of lessons with an instructor to learn how to pass - there are some odd things you have to do in the UK test, like parallel park, reverse around a corner and an emergency stop.

Yeah, when you learn all the things you have to do on the UK test, you'll think it's ridiculous. But when you hear the statistic above, you gotta think, maybe it's worth it!

I originally started driving in Japan on a manual.  Moved to the states and still drove a manual.  Moved here and drove without any problems.  (Roads in Japan...much more narrow then here!!)
I did take a few lessons when I got here though, just to get me out of my "bad habits".  

You'll be fine! Don't worry about it. It can be a bit nerve-wracking at first, but you'll quickly get used to UK driving.

I started driving on my own soon after moving here. And then much later I took some lessons to get me ready for my test -- which I passed in November. I think driving a lot over here on my own first made the lessons and test much easier. I already felt comfortable on the roads, so I could focus on the nit-picky rules (and there are a lot of them!).

Having said that, I've always driven an automatic -- both in the US and now in the UK.

If you can afford it, get the guide to road signs and traffic rules from WHSmiths. The library may have it, too.

If you really can't wait to get started -- right this moment -- the Highway Code is also available online:

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/

There's a section on road signs which illustrates them.  Unfortunately, since Britain adopted the European signage years ago, many of them are inconsistent and illogical. 

They sneak new ones in every so often as well -- I've just browsed the sign pages and found at least two that I've never seen before despite being British and having held a UK license for 22 years!

Oh, and repeat after me:  "No turn on red,  no turn on red, no turn on red....."   

I drove in the US for about 8 years and learned to drive a manual here.  I went out with hubby on quite a few road trips adn even in parking lots in the beginning...until i built my confidence up for driving on my own...i found practicing on my own was the best thing...the most difficult part was getting used to the windy roads for me...i took lessons for about 3 months and then had my test and passed the first time...i was so excited....!!!

best of luck to you