Tips or words of encouragement for first time driving?

Hi all,

It looks like I'm going to buy buying a car this week and will obviously have to drive it home.

I have lived in Europe for the last 7 years, and have been living in the UK since August, but have very little experience driving over here, and none on the left side of the road.

I was always a good and confident driver back home. I know all of the differences in driving rules, because I studied for the theory test in Germany before I realized that would be useless here. But back home the roads are much bigger there and there is much less traffic.

Also, I have never had prolonged experience driving a manual, though the last time I did it I didn't have any problems (was only on the motorway though...)

So.... anything anyone can say to ease my nerves???

Cheers,
Max

Depends on how easily you make the change. It was easy for me......but like yourself.....having been in the country for a couple of months or so before doing so was a help. You get a little used to being on the other side....even if someone else is doing the driving. If you have a friend who is patient/calm and is a good driver......that's your co-pilot for the first time out. Just a calming intelligent voice sitting there is a nice backup. They can also calmly inform you of situations as they are coming up, and how to fix any errors you might be making.

Hmmm... tough one.

My first experience driving on the left with a right hand drive was an automatic which helped (hired car provided by my company when I arrived).  I went out that weekend and literally drove around for about 4 hours and felt fine by the end of the day (looking for where to live permanently).

Before I bought a car, I hired a manual for the weekend to get used to it.  I didn't want the first time I was shifting with my left hand to be on a dealership lot.

But I was comfortable driving a manual in the US, so it was a pretty easy transition.

I definitely agree with F4.  Have someone with you to make sure you are staying in the right lane, within your lane, keep you calm, etc.  Then get out and drive drive drive as much as possible during quieter periods of traffic.

Get one of those "L" signs to hang in the back....let's people know you might be a little iffy

The most helpful tip I got when learning how to drive on the other side was "remember that, as the driver, you will be positioned in the center of the road." This has saved me more than once making turns at intersections, making sure I pulled in to the correct lane.

Adopt "left is life" as your mantra.

My advice is to just take it easy

When it comes to driving right hand drive think about your side of the car having to be in the middle of the road. It should be OK. I've switched between driving in different countries and LHD vs RHD has been less of an issue that local driving rules and customs.

As for the manual once again if you take it slowly at first after some regular practise and driving it will become second nature. But also do consider that automatics aren't as rare here as you'd think, so they are always an option.

Hi all, thanks for all the comments!

My car was delivered today and I took it on a spin to work and back.

Driving on the left wasn't as bad as I thought. Maybe because I've ridden with colleagues a lot these first few weeks and am used to being in a UK car by now.

I'm now more worried about all of the complicated roads and small spaces 

What really threw me when I first started driving over here (besides driving a manual) was the roundabouts. I came from a part of the USA that doesn't have them (we have one in my home town) so I was really thrown about what lane to be in, when to indicate, etc.

Good luck!

What really threw me when I first started driving over here (besides driving a manual) was the roundabouts. I came from a part of the USA that doesn't have them (we have one in my home town) so I was really thrown about what lane to be in, when to indicate, etc.

Good luck!

Oh most definitely!  Those roundabouts are so confusing to me, and no two seem to be alike (I know that's not really true, it just feels that way).  They range from those silly painted ones (I still can't believe I need to signal off those if I want to pass my test - and I do!!  They are so small I'm in the next block before I remember that I was supposed to signal.) to behemoths with multiple traffic lights and lanes enough to make a grown woman cry!

Oddly, my biggest problem when I first started driving here was staying in the lane properly. I tended to drive too far to the left and sometimes ran over the curb or verge - which didn't make either my driving instructor or husband very happy at all! I'm still not quite sure why that is, but my husband said he had the opposite problem when he was driving a rental car in Spain.  Anyway, I think I have that one under control now... I hope. 

Oddly, my biggest problem when I first started driving here was staying in the lane properly. I tended to drive too far to the left and sometimes ran over the curb or verge - which didn't make either my driving instructor or husband very happy at all! I'm still not quite sure why that is, but my husband said he had the opposite problem when he was driving a rental car in Spain.  Anyway, I think I have that one under control now... I hope. 

I do this all the time! I'm finally getting used to hugging the center line!