Driving in England WITHOUT taking driving lessons?

So I am going to be going over to England on July 1st, and was thinking of renting a car, while Im visiting.  I have a US drivers license, BUT I have never drove over there in my life!

There stands to reason that IF the government allows us to drive over there with our american driving license...then they must think we can drive?

How many have you drove just right at first like this?  Who would recommend doing ir ot not?

as I don't live in the UK I don't know what the particulars are regarding your license.. if you need to convert it or not but..

as far as the actual driving?.. it took me a couple of visits to get used to "being on the wrong side" and round-a-bouts terrified me ( Hemel Hempsted anyone? ) but you get used to it pretty quick.

I was a brave soul and started driving soon as we got me insurance about 2.5 weeks and never had a true lesson BUT a good friend is an instructor and went for a joy ride with me ;-)

I think only you can know

I found the narrow roads to be pretty scary when I first tried to drive here. And the signs and road markings can be quite different. For instance, in the US they use white dashes to separate two lanes going in the same direction and yellow dashes to separate lanes going in opposite directions. Here, they use white dashes to separate lanes going in opposite directions, so it would be easy to be confused and think you were on a one-way road when you actually aren't. If you are going to drive over here when you first arrive, I wholeheartedly suggest reading through the Highway Code to at least familiarize yourself with the different markings and signs and things like that so you know which crosswalks you need to stop for, etc. and just general information about driving here so you don't risk hurting yourself or others. Other than that, it's all down to confidence, really. Some people jump right into it and others need professional lessons to boost their confidence. I would also consider hiring an automatic as opposed to a manual transmission car, as the gearshift will be on your left hand side and some people find that difficult to get used to. Good luck!  

I started driving straight away because I had to to get around. I was nervous the first couple of times I got behind the wheel, but was fine after that. I'd been driving for 25 years in the US and am generally a very calm and confident driver, though. I suppose it depends on what sort of person you are.

If you are going to be in Manchester as opposed to a quieter suburb, I would absolutely NOT recommend doing this!   In fact, I wouldnt recommend it anywhere unless you have spent a great deal of time in the UK previously and are familiar with road markings, rules of the road, etc but as everyone has said, its up to the individual.  As Jewlz said - definetly get an automatic, but be prepared to pay much more for them. 

I never had a problem with driving or getting an automatic for a reasonable price. YMMV, but if you tend to be a nervous driver, at least do some homework on the road markings before your try driving!

I never had a problem with driving or getting an automatic for a reasonable price.

Neither did I! My first car here set me back £700.

So I am going to be going over to England on July 1st, and was thinking of renting a car, while Im visiting.  I have a US drivers license, BUT I have never drove over there in my life!

There stands to reason that IF the government allows us to drive over there with our american driving license...then they must think we can drive?

How many have you drove just right at first like this?  Who would recommend doing ir ot not?

Beware that in the UK if you have a serious accident you can do hard time!

Hi there,

Katrinacov - I'd disagree with the mentioning of 'absolutley not recommending' that you drive here - I think it all comes down to your confidence level - as mentioned already.

I've done the opposite - first time I drove in the USA, I got off a plane in NYC, picked up a rental car and driven to my various friends and relatives in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island. I was apprehensive to an extent, but seeing as I'm bit of a Petrolhead, I was used to it very quickly!

Grynch - I know the the roundabout with the 5 or 7 satellite roundabouts around it! used to drive through it almost everyday for a little while! and yes, it is confusing and I can only imagine to someone not used to a normal roundabout, seeing this thing would really freak them out!

Peacemaker - care to explain what you mean by having a serious accident you can do 'hard time'?!  I'm a bit lost on that !

cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi there,

Katrinacov - I'd disagree with the mentioning of 'absolutley not recommending' that you drive here - I think it all comes down to your confidence level - as mentioned already.

I've done the opposite - first time I drove in the USA, I got off a plane in NYC, picked up a rental car and driven to my various friends and relatives in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island. I was apprehensive to an extent, but seeing as I'm bit of a Petrolhead, I was used to it very quickly!

Grynch - I know the the roundabout with the 5 or 7 satellite roundabouts around it! used to drive through it almost everyday for a little while! and yes, it is confusing and I can only imagine to someone not used to a normal roundabout, seeing this thing would really freak them out!

Peacemaker - care to explain what you mean by having a serious accident you can do 'hard time'?!  I'm a bit lost on that !

cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I'm sure you remember the US citizen who was over there on business and he had an accident and I don't remember how long he has to serve in HM Prison after he was convicted of dangerous driving.

I'm sure you remember the US citizen who was over there on business and he had an accident and I don't remember how long he has to serve in HM Prison after he was convicted of dangerous driving.

I don't know the specific case, but surely that would be because he was driving dangerously? Tired or not following the English rules of the road, or driving on the wrong side etc.

My DB drove here the first year until his grace period was up, no lessons, no one came out with him, he drove all over London. He was absolutely fine. He drove around town and did some mini roundabouts before tackling a giant one, and everything was groovy. He only stopped driving because he stupidly didn't take his test before his grace period was up and then we moved to London.

I really disagree and give umbrage to the sentiment of "Beware that in the UK if you have a serious accident you can do hard time!" surely that's only if you're at fault and it is true of most if not all countries!

You used to live here right Jim? Did you not pick up much knowledge of English law?

Dangerous driving offences can include such behaviour as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; street racing; driving at excessively high speeds; very aggressive driving; undertaking; weaving between lanes in order to force your way through traffic; overtaking where it is illegal or simply dangerous such as on a bend or a hill; ignoring road signs, traffic markings or traffic laws; use of a mobile phone while driving; reading a map while driving; and driving a vehicle which is overloaded or not roadworthy.

Often prosecutions for dangerous driving are brought when a serious road traffic accident has occurred.

Dangerous driving is a serious offence and often results in prison sentences. The punishment is between 3 - 11 penalty points and obligatory disqualification for a minimum of one year. In addition, you may receive up to two years imprisonment. Anyone convicted of dangerous driving must take a re-test before they will be permitted to drive again.

http://www.cmsolicitors.co.uk/dangerous-driving-charges.html

AND

Home » Legal Resources » Legal Guidance » S to U » Sentencing manual » Dangerous Driving
Dangerous Driving

Title: Road traffic offences

Offence: Dangerous driving

Legislation: Road Traffic Act 1988 s.2

Commencement Date:

Mode of Trial: Triable either way

Statutory Limitations & Maximum Penalty:

    * On indictment - 2 years imprisonment or a fine or both
    * Summary conviction - imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or a fine, or both
    * Disqualification minimum 12 months
    * Obligatory endorsement
    * Mandatory disqualification until passes extended driving test

Sentencing Range: Non custodial options may be considered, but usually a custodial penalty is appropriate, especially where a number of aggravating factors combine
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/dangerous_driving/

I don't know the specific case

One of these maybe?

A grief-stricken mother told a court how her family had been left "broken and bewildered" by the tragic death of their daughter in a car crash.

Natasha Jackson, 21, from Groby – known to loved ones as Tasha – died in a head-on crash on Christmas Day last year. She was returning from her boyfriend's home near Nottingham after her dad was rushed to hospital in Leicester following a mild heart attack.

Yesterday, American driver Martyn Crew (52), from San Francisco, was jailed for 14 months after admitting causing her death by careless driving.

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Family-devastated-daughter-s-crash-death/article-1193042-detail/article.html

An American businessman who drove into a parking attendant who was giving him a ticket has been jailed for three months.
James Hudson, 60, became enraged and abusive when traffic warden Tomasz Cegielski, from Poland, went to give him a parking ticket in Northampton.

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Driver-who-caused-injuries-to.5620082.jp

An American who had been in the country for only a few hours killed three men as he drove a hire car on the wrong side of the road.

Engineer Nathan Doud, 27, smashed into their car in pitch darkness when he mistakenly believed he was on a dual carriageway.

Yesterday he was jailed for 20 months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Doud, from Ventura, California, frequently travelled around the world in his job with an optical machinery company.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092235/American-jailed-killing-men-drove-right-hand-road.html

One of these maybe?

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Family-devastated-daughter-s-crash-death/article-1193042-detail/article.html

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Driver-who-caused-injuries-to.5620082.jp

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092235/American-jailed-killing-men-drove-right-hand-road.html

Hmm, as suspected, looks like all of those were driving dangerously, two were on the wrong side of the road and one just drove at a person in an act of rage, which would be a punishable offence in most (if not all countries).

If you're a confident driver in the US, you don't drive when you're tired and you take extra care, then I don't think it would be a problem to drive here, many UK people go over and do fly-drive holidays in Florida with no experience, and most of my american colleagues drive here from the get go when they arrive.

Is driving automatic that common? My DB and his whole family drive manual cars (aside from his ma) and DB didn't even consider driving an Automatic here.