Driving in Britain tips?
Jul 17th 2002, 1:20 pm
#76
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Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Alan Thomas Harrison wrote:
:: Jan wrote:
:::
::: Just out of curiosity Do you have 2 types of car licence in the US ie one for
::: Automatics and one for Manual cars ?
::
:: I've just checked this on the Driving Standards Agency web site, which confirmed
:: my belief about this:
::
:: If you pass your test in an automatic, you are issued a licence permitting you to
:: drive a car with automatic transmission. This also serves as a provisional licence
:: for cars with manual transmission.
:: (i.e. You must drive with L-plates and accompanied by a qualified driver until you
:: pass the test for a manual car. The answer in the FAQ doesn't say whether
:: you would then need to take the full test or just the practical test in a
:: manual.)
::
:: I can't easily see how this requirement could be imposed on visiting drivers whose
:: nationa licences don't make a similar distinction.
::
:: Alan Harrison
This was why I posed the Q. I myself have a licence to drive ONLY an automatic car,
if I drove a manual car, I would be up in court on, I assume : No licence, No L
Plates and my insurance would be deemed invalid etc etc , When I go abroad I wouldn't
dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet it appears you can come over from
the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if the police stop you ? Or if you have an
accident- what then? Jan
:: Jan wrote:
:::
::: Just out of curiosity Do you have 2 types of car licence in the US ie one for
::: Automatics and one for Manual cars ?
::
:: I've just checked this on the Driving Standards Agency web site, which confirmed
:: my belief about this:
::
:: If you pass your test in an automatic, you are issued a licence permitting you to
:: drive a car with automatic transmission. This also serves as a provisional licence
:: for cars with manual transmission.
:: (i.e. You must drive with L-plates and accompanied by a qualified driver until you
:: pass the test for a manual car. The answer in the FAQ doesn't say whether
:: you would then need to take the full test or just the practical test in a
:: manual.)
::
:: I can't easily see how this requirement could be imposed on visiting drivers whose
:: nationa licences don't make a similar distinction.
::
:: Alan Harrison
This was why I posed the Q. I myself have a licence to drive ONLY an automatic car,
if I drove a manual car, I would be up in court on, I assume : No licence, No L
Plates and my insurance would be deemed invalid etc etc , When I go abroad I wouldn't
dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet it appears you can come over from
the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if the police stop you ? Or if you have an
accident- what then? Jan
Jul 17th 2002, 2:21 pm
#77
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Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
On Sun, 14 Jul 2002 22:52:48 -0700, Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:
> .... Is there anything I should "know"? .....
I just realized there most definitely is one more thing you should know: The English
don't use STOP and YIELD sign quite the way we do; more often than not, you have to
see what kind of line they have at the intersection (where the white "stop here" line
is) to see what's required of you. And broken white lines where we'd use broken
yellow ones.
Unfortunately, I can't remember any details beyond that. Hope this helps!
> .... Is there anything I should "know"? .....
I just realized there most definitely is one more thing you should know: The English
don't use STOP and YIELD sign quite the way we do; more often than not, you have to
see what kind of line they have at the intersection (where the white "stop here" line
is) to see what's required of you. And broken white lines where we'd use broken
yellow ones.
Unfortunately, I can't remember any details beyond that. Hope this helps!
Jul 17th 2002, 2:21 pm
#78
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Jan wrote:
>
> When I go abroad I wouldn't dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet it
> appears you can come over from the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if the
> police stop you ? Or if you have an accident- what then?
That is a purely theoretical question. I doubt that you can find a manual shift
car to rent in the USA*. I haven't seen one in decades of occasional renting here
in the USA - and I rent the cheapest things the major outfits have. They can't
afford to have manual shift cars since so few USAians would rent one. They'd just
sit on the lot.
Bob C.
* OK, you might find a specialy-car, but they'd want to talk to your bank manager
before renting it to you. And maybe require that you take a checkout spin first.
>
> When I go abroad I wouldn't dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet it
> appears you can come over from the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if the
> police stop you ? Or if you have an accident- what then?
That is a purely theoretical question. I doubt that you can find a manual shift
car to rent in the USA*. I haven't seen one in decades of occasional renting here
in the USA - and I rent the cheapest things the major outfits have. They can't
afford to have manual shift cars since so few USAians would rent one. They'd just
sit on the lot.
Bob C.
* OK, you might find a specialy-car, but they'd want to talk to your bank manager
before renting it to you. And maybe require that you take a checkout spin first.
Jul 17th 2002, 2:21 pm
#79
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Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
R J Carpenter wrote:
:: Jan wrote:
:::
::: When I go abroad I wouldn't dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet it
::: appears you can come over from the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if the
::: police stop you ? Or if you have an accident- what then?
::
:: That is a purely theoretical question. I doubt that you can find a manual shift
:: car to rent in the USA*. I haven't seen one in decades of occasional renting here
:: in the USA - and I rent the cheapest things the major outfits have. They can't
:: afford to have manual shift cars since so few USAians would rent one. They'd just
:: sit on the lot.
::
:: Bob C.
::
:: * OK, you might find a specialy-car, but they'd want to talk to your bank manager
:: before renting it to you. And maybe require that you take a checkout spin first.
Its only theoretical if you class "Abroad" as just being USA !! I actually was
thinking Spain & France etc
Jan
:: Jan wrote:
:::
::: When I go abroad I wouldn't dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet it
::: appears you can come over from the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if the
::: police stop you ? Or if you have an accident- what then?
::
:: That is a purely theoretical question. I doubt that you can find a manual shift
:: car to rent in the USA*. I haven't seen one in decades of occasional renting here
:: in the USA - and I rent the cheapest things the major outfits have. They can't
:: afford to have manual shift cars since so few USAians would rent one. They'd just
:: sit on the lot.
::
:: Bob C.
::
:: * OK, you might find a specialy-car, but they'd want to talk to your bank manager
:: before renting it to you. And maybe require that you take a checkout spin first.
Its only theoretical if you class "Abroad" as just being USA !! I actually was
thinking Spain & France etc
Jan
Jul 17th 2002, 6:20 pm
#80
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Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Jan wrote:
>
> R J Carpenter wrote:
> :: Jan wrote:
> :::
> ::: When I go abroad I wouldn't dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet
> ::: it appears you can come over from the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if
> ::: the police stop you ? Or if you have an accident- what then?
> ::
> :: That is a purely theoretical question. I doubt that you can find a manual shift
> :: car to rent in the USA*. I haven't seen one in decades of occasional renting
> :: here in the USA - and I rent the cheapest things the major outfits have. They
> :: can't afford to have manual shift cars since so few USAians would rent one.
> :: They'd just sit on the lot.
> ::
> :: Bob C.
> ::
> :: * OK, you might find a specialy-car, but they'd want to talk to your bank
> :: manager before renting it to you. And maybe require that you take a checkout
> :: spin first.
>
> Its only theoretical if you class "Abroad" as just being USA !! I actually was
> thinking Spain & France etc
USA-centric thinking got me again. Sorry. ;((
>
> R J Carpenter wrote:
> :: Jan wrote:
> :::
> ::: When I go abroad I wouldn't dream of even attempting to hire a manual car, Yet
> ::: it appears you can come over from the states and hire one. BUT are you legal if
> ::: the police stop you ? Or if you have an accident- what then?
> ::
> :: That is a purely theoretical question. I doubt that you can find a manual shift
> :: car to rent in the USA*. I haven't seen one in decades of occasional renting
> :: here in the USA - and I rent the cheapest things the major outfits have. They
> :: can't afford to have manual shift cars since so few USAians would rent one.
> :: They'd just sit on the lot.
> ::
> :: Bob C.
> ::
> :: * OK, you might find a specialy-car, but they'd want to talk to your bank
> :: manager before renting it to you. And maybe require that you take a checkout
> :: spin first.
>
> Its only theoretical if you class "Abroad" as just being USA !! I actually was
> thinking Spain & France etc
USA-centric thinking got me again. Sorry. ;((
Jul 17th 2002, 6:20 pm
#81
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Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
On Tue, 16 Jul 2002 20:32:25 GMT, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>It's not our fault that you drive on the wrong side of the road. :-]
population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
On Tue, 16 Jul 2002 20:32:25 GMT, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>It's not our fault that you drive on the wrong side of the road. :-]
Jul 17th 2002, 8:20 pm
#82
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Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
On Mon, 15 Jul 2002 16:26:21 GMT, [email protected] (Scottish Quilter)
wrote: but then again I might just have mucked up the snipping as usual!
>The advice about roundabouts ( rotaries) is goodTESTTESTTEST-we drive in MA a lot
>and they just don't know how to cope with rotaries there <grin>
LOL, once drove round the roundabout as you go onto Cape Cod with an American (but
not MAer) friend. The second time round the roundabout I suggested he get out and let
me get us off it!
Megan
--
Megan Farr Montgomery
Lille kat, lille kat, lille kat på vejen Hvis er du, Hvis er du Jeg er sgu' min egen
- Piet Hein
wrote: but then again I might just have mucked up the snipping as usual!
>The advice about roundabouts ( rotaries) is goodTESTTESTTEST-we drive in MA a lot
>and they just don't know how to cope with rotaries there <grin>
LOL, once drove round the roundabout as you go onto Cape Cod with an American (but
not MAer) friend. The second time round the roundabout I suggested he get out and let
me get us off it!
Megan
--
Megan Farr Montgomery
Lille kat, lille kat, lille kat på vejen Hvis er du, Hvis er du Jeg er sgu' min egen
- Piet Hein
Jul 17th 2002, 8:20 pm
#83
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
On Wed, 17 Jul 2002 17:43:16 GMT, [email protected] (P J Wallace) wrote:
but then again I might just have mucked up the snipping as usual!
>It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
>population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
India, Pakistan...
There is a pretty large proportion of the worlds population in just those two
countries!
Megan
--
Megan Farr Montgomery
Lille kat, lille kat, lille kat på vejen Hvis er du, Hvis er du Jeg er sgu' min egen
- Piet Hein
but then again I might just have mucked up the snipping as usual!
>It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
>population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
India, Pakistan...
There is a pretty large proportion of the worlds population in just those two
countries!
Megan
--
Megan Farr Montgomery
Lille kat, lille kat, lille kat på vejen Hvis er du, Hvis er du Jeg er sgu' min egen
- Piet Hein
Jul 17th 2002, 9:20 pm
#84
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Megan wrote:
>
> >It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
> >population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia.....
>
> India, Pakistan...
Um - last I checked, those *are* in South Asia
But you can also add most of
Southern and Eastern Africa. Full list at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/M...driveleft.html
Frank
>
> >It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
> >population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia.....
>
> India, Pakistan...
Um - last I checked, those *are* in South Asia
But you can also add most ofSouthern and Eastern Africa. Full list at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/M...driveleft.html
Frank
Jul 17th 2002, 11:20 pm
#85
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Megan wrote:
> LOL, once drove round the roundabout as you go onto Cape Cod with an American (but
> not MAer) friend. The second time round the roundabout I suggested he get out and
> let me get us off it!
When I lived in Mass. they were called a ROTARY.... But that was only shortly after
the car was invented, or so it seems some days.
Excpeting for intersections with a rotary, the Massachusetts scheme of intersection
traffic control seemed (back then) to be:
From simplest to most dense/complicated..
Nothing, Yield sign, Stop sign on one road, Stop sign on both roads, Traffic light,
Policeman, Nothing. It seemed that the most complex intersections were "everyone for
themselves", but maybe they were officially rotaries.
I've noticed that the French are installing roundabouts on some of their country
intersections.
> LOL, once drove round the roundabout as you go onto Cape Cod with an American (but
> not MAer) friend. The second time round the roundabout I suggested he get out and
> let me get us off it!
When I lived in Mass. they were called a ROTARY.... But that was only shortly after
the car was invented, or so it seems some days.
Excpeting for intersections with a rotary, the Massachusetts scheme of intersection
traffic control seemed (back then) to be:
From simplest to most dense/complicated..
Nothing, Yield sign, Stop sign on one road, Stop sign on both roads, Traffic light,
Policeman, Nothing. It seemed that the most complex intersections were "everyone for
themselves", but maybe they were officially rotaries.
I've noticed that the French are installing roundabouts on some of their country
intersections.
Jul 17th 2002, 11:20 pm
#86
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
"a.spencer3" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]... ...
> There must be problems driving an automatic (I never have)? A friend got
his
> first automatic (after years of manual), and immediately demolished his garage!
There is a very nasty bit of counter-intuitive design. To go forward, you pull the
stick back. To go back, you push the stick forward.
Colin Bignell
news:[email protected]... ...
> There must be problems driving an automatic (I never have)? A friend got
his
> first automatic (after years of manual), and immediately demolished his garage!
There is a very nasty bit of counter-intuitive design. To go forward, you pull the
stick back. To go back, you push the stick forward.
Colin Bignell
Jul 18th 2002, 1:20 am
#87
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
"R J Carpenter" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Megan wrote:
>
> > LOL, once drove round the roundabout as you go onto Cape Cod with an American
> > (but not MAer) friend. The second time round the roundabout I suggested he get
> > out and let me get us off it!
>
> When I lived in Mass. they were called a ROTARY.... But that was only shortly after
> the car was invented, or so it seems some days.
>
> Excpeting for intersections with a rotary, the Massachusetts scheme of intersection
> traffic control seemed (back then) to be:
>
> From simplest to most dense/complicated..
Ah; MA. I remember making notes of 'interesting' road signs we don't get here (UK)
What about your "Squeeze Right" and "Thickly Settled" (no comment from me ;o)
> Megan wrote:
>
> > LOL, once drove round the roundabout as you go onto Cape Cod with an American
> > (but not MAer) friend. The second time round the roundabout I suggested he get
> > out and let me get us off it!
>
> When I lived in Mass. they were called a ROTARY.... But that was only shortly after
> the car was invented, or so it seems some days.
>
> Excpeting for intersections with a rotary, the Massachusetts scheme of intersection
> traffic control seemed (back then) to be:
>
> From simplest to most dense/complicated..
Ah; MA. I remember making notes of 'interesting' road signs we don't get here (UK)
What about your "Squeeze Right" and "Thickly Settled" (no comment from me ;o)
Jul 18th 2002, 12:20 pm
#88
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Nightjar <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> There is a very nasty bit of counter-intuitive design. To go forward, you pull the
> stick back. To go back, you push the stick forward.
>
Thought that was to go up & down.
Surreyman
news:[email protected]...
>
> There is a very nasty bit of counter-intuitive design. To go forward, you pull the
> stick back. To go back, you push the stick forward.
>
Thought that was to go up & down.
Surreyman
Jul 18th 2002, 12:20 pm
#89
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
P J Wallace <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
> population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
>
>
It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't that
the problem?
Surreyman
news:[email protected]...
> It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
> population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
>
>
It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't that
the problem?
Surreyman
Jul 18th 2002, 12:20 pm
#90
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
"a.spencer3" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> P J Wallace <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
> > population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
> >
> >
> It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't that the
> problem?
>
> Surreyman
I haven't driven anywhere on the continent where one drives on the left...in the
middle yes, but not on the left. Brits driving here have problems with right turns.
And left. They forget where to look last.
news:[email protected]...
>
> P J Wallace <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > It's the right side of the road for at least 25% of the world's
> > population......Japan, Australia, most of South Asia..... PJW
> >
> >
> It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't that the
> problem?
>
> Surreyman
I haven't driven anywhere on the continent where one drives on the left...in the
middle yes, but not on the left. Brits driving here have problems with right turns.
And left. They forget where to look last.