The dreaded left side of the road…

One of the number one things Americans love to talk about it how cRaZyYyYYy it is that people in the UK drive on the opposite side of the road. And when you tell them your plans to drive on the opposite side of the road you’re met with looks of terror, skepticism, doubt, and the usual “I could NEVER do that”.

Well, friends, I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN and YOU SHOULD if you find yourself wanting to explore the English countryside.

There is absolutely no need to rent a car if you’re simply visiting London. But if you’re wanting to explore the Cotswolds, the Lake District or really any other part of the U.K., having a car gives you the freedom to explore on your own terms and see things you might not otherwise see.

Today I want to share 5 tips for driving on the opposite side of the road (if you’re American).

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Have you driven on the other side of the road?! Think you can??? I’m here to tell you that I did and I survived to tell the tale! Today I’m sharing my Top 5️⃣ tips for driving in the UK🚗 And if you want even MORE advice click this link ➡️https://www.alleabroad.com/travel-tips-3/2019/11/25/tips-for-driving-in-the-uk If I can do it, I promise you can too! Xx Allecat #galsabroad #alleabroad #alleinlondon #A&LinEngland #cotswolds #cotswoldslife #thecotswolds #visitcotswolds #visitthecotswolds #england🇬🇧 #mymicrogap #visitengland #lovegreatbritain #englandtourism #englandtravel #englandaway #englandtrip #exploreengland #discoverengland #travelengland #thisprettyengland #cotswoldsuk #drivingintheuk #ukroadtrip #othersideoftheroad #ukdriving

A post shared by Alle Abroad - Travel Expert (@allepierce) on Nov 26, 2019 at 7:19am PST

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE TIPS, LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME ESSENTIALS.

UK DRIVING CHECKLIST

Valid driver's license (required)
International Driving Permit (recommended)
Passport or ID card (required)
A European accident statement, which you can get from your car insurance company (required)
Accident and breakdown insurance (required)
Certificate of insurance (required)

SOME RANDOM THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

The UK uses miles per hour, so there's no need to convert to kilometers
UK Parking rules stipulate that if there is no line, you’re most likely good to park. Parking on a double yellow line or along a curb is illegal.
It is illegal not to wear a seatbelt in the UK, and if you are caught you could be fined up to 500 pounds.
No turning on a red light - that’s illegal
Give way signs are far more common in the UK than STOP signs. These are triangular signs with the words “give way” written on them, and are similar to the “Yield” signs in the USA
It is illegal to have a phone in your hands while driving in the UK.

MY FIVE TIPS FOR DRIVING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
If at all possible, try to pick up your rental car outside of London. That way your first time driving on the other side of the road won’t be in a city that’s known for having crazy congestion, tons of tourists who don’t look before crossing the road and roundabouts that seriously mess with your mind.
If you’re flying into Heathrow, I strongly suggest getting your car there. If you’re taking a train from another city to London - think about taking a train to where you’re staying first and then selecting a rental car spot in that city.
This way when you pick up your car, you can get used to driving on the other side of the road in a place that’s less chaotic and you can take your time to adjust.
AUTOMATIC ALWAYS
The vast majority of cars in the UK have a manual transmission, or “stick shift” so it’s super important when you’re selecting your rental car to make sure to ask for automatic. The UK even has two different kinds of licenses - an automatic one and a manual one. You actually can’t drive a manual car if you have an automatic license (I mean why would you want to anyway…)
But just be aware that automatic cars tend to be slightly more expensive to rent than manual cars - but in my opinion worth it to feel comfortable driving.
ROUNDABOUTS ARE THE WORST
England is notorious for its roundabouts, which can get confusing for even the best of drivers. When approaching a roundabout you want to make sure you’re yielding to traffic coming from your right. It was helpful to have GPS turned on so that it talks to you so you can hear what exit you’re taking instead of having to constantly look down at your phone.
Beware of the dreaded double roundabout. Most of the time Linda and I just crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. Often times it felt like we were in a video game...
SLOW AND STEADY ON SINGLE TRACK ROADS
In smaller villages, you’ll notice that all of a sudden the road narrows and becomes a one-way road - but cars can still be coming from both directions - yeah… I know it’s a massive mind F.
The best thing you can do is just go slow and move over as much as you can.
When you’re going around a curve - especially late at night - it’s good to honk as you’re nearing the curve. That way if someone is coming from the other direction they know there’s a car coming towards them and can slow down.
KNOW WHAT KIND OF FUEL YOUR CAR TAKES
This might seem obvious, but if you mess up and put the wrong fuel in your car…you will have a massive problem on your hands my friend & a serious charge from the rental car company…
Usually, rental cars tend to take diesel because it’s efficient and more reliable. Most of the time the cars have a little sticker on the tank that tells you what to use. But just to be EXTRA sure, ask when you’re picking up the car.