Driving in Britain tips?
Jul 18th 2002, 1:20 am
#91
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
> > It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't
that
> > the problem?
They only drive on the right now -they didn't allways used to (all the
time).....see below.
As an aside : at least Sweden until the very early '60s I think, and Austria until
annexation by Germany in 1930-something drove on the left.
From: http://www.travel-library.com/genera...hich_side.html
USA: The colonies gradually changed to right-hand driving after independence from
England. Kincaid quotes an English author writing in 1806 as saying, "in some parts
of the United States, it is a custom among the people to drive on the right side of
the road," implying that in other parts, people still drove on the left. We do know
for certain that the colonies a little farther north along the coast drove on the
left well into the 20th century (see the question about Canada below). I have read
that the first law requiring drivers to keep right was passed in Pennsylvania in
1792, and that similar laws were passed in New York in 1804 and New Jersey in 1813.
However, I don't yet have primary sources for this information, so it is possible
that these states weren't actually changing sides, but only codifying existing
practices in law. Other anecdotes from various sources also support the conclusion
that the United States drove on the left until some time in the early 1800s, although
I have not yet confirmed the dates of the changes from left to right which apparently
were made state by state.
Did Canada ever drive on the left? Yes, until the 1920s in some areas, but never in
Ontario or Quebec.
that
> > the problem?
They only drive on the right now -they didn't allways used to (all the
time).....see below.
As an aside : at least Sweden until the very early '60s I think, and Austria until
annexation by Germany in 1930-something drove on the left.
From: http://www.travel-library.com/genera...hich_side.html
USA: The colonies gradually changed to right-hand driving after independence from
England. Kincaid quotes an English author writing in 1806 as saying, "in some parts
of the United States, it is a custom among the people to drive on the right side of
the road," implying that in other parts, people still drove on the left. We do know
for certain that the colonies a little farther north along the coast drove on the
left well into the 20th century (see the question about Canada below). I have read
that the first law requiring drivers to keep right was passed in Pennsylvania in
1792, and that similar laws were passed in New York in 1804 and New Jersey in 1813.
However, I don't yet have primary sources for this information, so it is possible
that these states weren't actually changing sides, but only codifying existing
practices in law. Other anecdotes from various sources also support the conclusion
that the United States drove on the left until some time in the early 1800s, although
I have not yet confirmed the dates of the changes from left to right which apparently
were made state by state.
Did Canada ever drive on the left? Yes, until the 1920s in some areas, but never in
Ontario or Quebec.
Jul 18th 2002, 6:20 am
#92
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
On Wed, 17 Jul 2002 19:43:05 GMT, Megan <[email protected]> wrote:
>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
>
>
I often wonder just how Americans can cope with roundabouts in the UK when just off
an overnight flight <g> The Airport Rotary at Hyannis is diabolicalTESTTESTTEST--Try
to drive it as you would a roundabout in the UK ( not on the left side of the road ,
though!<g>) expecting others to behave as in the UK and it is a chastening
experience! Our Daughter works on the Cape and always tells us just to keep to the
outsideTESTTESTthere are no lane markings on a US roundaboutTESTTESTTESTshe-e-e-e-sh!
and other drivers Elma in Glasgow, Scotland, UK (Remove spex to reply by email)
>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
>
>
I often wonder just how Americans can cope with roundabouts in the UK when just off
an overnight flight <g> The Airport Rotary at Hyannis is diabolicalTESTTESTTEST--Try
to drive it as you would a roundabout in the UK ( not on the left side of the road ,
though!<g>) expecting others to behave as in the UK and it is a chastening
experience! Our Daughter works on the Cape and always tells us just to keep to the
outsideTESTTESTthere are no lane markings on a US roundaboutTESTTESTTESTshe-e-e-e-sh!
and other drivers Elma in Glasgow, Scotland, UK (Remove spex to reply by email)
Jul 18th 2002, 8:21 am
#93
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
"a.spencer3" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> 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.
You can do both by just pulling back.
Colin
news:[email protected]...
>
> 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.
You can do both by just pulling back.
Colin
Jul 18th 2002, 10:20 am
#94
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
In article <[email protected]>, Judith <JudithG@nosp
am.indiatimes.com> writes
>Brits driving here have problems with right turns. And left. They forget where to
>look last.
That is really not so. Most "Brits" (how I hate that abbreviation) are well
accustomed to driving in mainland Europe, on the right. I even learned to drive and
passed my first test in Germany. It takes about 5 seconds to adjust.
Marie
--
Marie
am.indiatimes.com> writes
>Brits driving here have problems with right turns. And left. They forget where to
>look last.
That is really not so. Most "Brits" (how I hate that abbreviation) are well
accustomed to driving in mainland Europe, on the right. I even learned to drive and
passed my first test in Germany. It takes about 5 seconds to adjust.
Marie
--
Marie
Jul 18th 2002, 10:20 am
#95
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
In message <[email protected]>, David Lewis
<[email protected]> writes
>In article <[email protected]>, Judith <JudithG@nosp
>am.indiatimes.com> writes
>>Brits driving here have problems with right turns. And left. They forget where to
>>look last.
>
>That is really not so. Most "Brits" (how I hate that abbreviation) are well
>accustomed to driving in mainland Europe, on the right. I even learned to drive and
>passed my first test in Germany. It takes about 5 seconds to adjust.
>
>Marie
No it doesn't. I have never driven on the continent and I personally had a lot of
trouble adjusting to American roads and the way they drive. I even chose Las Vegas
because it had a lot of empty roads outside of the city and few traffic cops. Even so
the number of errors I made would have filled a TV program on how not to drive in
USA. This included turning on to the wrong road from the highway, crossing medians
when I shouldn't etc. I still haven't figured out which is the fast lane, overtaking
lane and the slow lane. I just hogged the right hand lane and panicked when I had to
turn into another lane because I was approaching the off ramp. Mind you if I had
learnt in Italy I doubt if I would have had a problem no one would have noticed my
bad driving there
--
Ron Clarey
<[email protected]> writes
>In article <[email protected]>, Judith <JudithG@nosp
>am.indiatimes.com> writes
>>Brits driving here have problems with right turns. And left. They forget where to
>>look last.
>
>That is really not so. Most "Brits" (how I hate that abbreviation) are well
>accustomed to driving in mainland Europe, on the right. I even learned to drive and
>passed my first test in Germany. It takes about 5 seconds to adjust.
>
>Marie
No it doesn't. I have never driven on the continent and I personally had a lot of
trouble adjusting to American roads and the way they drive. I even chose Las Vegas
because it had a lot of empty roads outside of the city and few traffic cops. Even so
the number of errors I made would have filled a TV program on how not to drive in
USA. This included turning on to the wrong road from the highway, crossing medians
when I shouldn't etc. I still haven't figured out which is the fast lane, overtaking
lane and the slow lane. I just hogged the right hand lane and panicked when I had to
turn into another lane because I was approaching the off ramp. Mind you if I had
learnt in Italy I doubt if I would have had a problem no one would have noticed my
bad driving there
--
Ron Clarey
Jul 18th 2002, 11:20 am
#96
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Scottish Quilter wrote:
> Our Daughter works on the Cape and always tells us just to keep to the
> outsideTESTTESTthere are no lane markings on a US
> roundaboutTESTTESTTESTshe-e-e-e-sh!
You are making the big mistake of equating Massachusetts with "the USA". Mass. is
"different" in more ways than one. One thing you may forget is that there are many
local rules and driving customs in the USA. There are relatively few nationwide
driving rules. What uniformity that exists is mostly the result of the states
voluntarily getting together - but some states may choose to disagree with the
majority and do things a "better" way.
In my state it is pefectly legal to pass (overtake) in the curb (kerb) lane if there
are two well-establushed lanes of traffic in your direction. AFAIK, this is not
legal in some states. I once had a British county policeman as a passenger who was
aghast after I passed in the curb lane on a major divided (dual carriageway) highway
in my state.
> Our Daughter works on the Cape and always tells us just to keep to the
> outsideTESTTESTthere are no lane markings on a US
> roundaboutTESTTESTTESTshe-e-e-e-sh!
You are making the big mistake of equating Massachusetts with "the USA". Mass. is
"different" in more ways than one. One thing you may forget is that there are many
local rules and driving customs in the USA. There are relatively few nationwide
driving rules. What uniformity that exists is mostly the result of the states
voluntarily getting together - but some states may choose to disagree with the
majority and do things a "better" way.
In my state it is pefectly legal to pass (overtake) in the curb (kerb) lane if there
are two well-establushed lanes of traffic in your direction. AFAIK, this is not
legal in some states. I once had a British county policeman as a passenger who was
aghast after I passed in the curb lane on a major divided (dual carriageway) highway
in my state.
Jul 18th 2002, 8:20 pm
#97
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
In article <[email protected]>, Ron Clarey <[email protected]> writes
>In message <[email protected]>, David Lewis
><[email protected]> writes
>>In article <[email protected]>, Judith <JudithG@nosp
>>am.indiatimes.com> writes
>>>Brits driving here have problems with right turns. And left. They forget where to
>>>look last.
>>
>>That is really not so. Most "Brits" (how I hate that abbreviation) are well
>>accustomed to driving in mainland Europe, on the right. I even learned to drive and
>>passed my first test in Germany. It takes about 5 seconds to adjust.
>>
>>Marie
>
>No it doesn't. I have never driven on the continent and I personally had a lot of
>trouble adjusting to American roads and the way they drive. I even chose Las Vegas
>because it had a lot of empty roads outside of the city and few traffic cops. Even
>so the number of errors I made would have filled a TV program on how not to drive in
>USA. This included turning on to the wrong road from the highway, crossing medians
>when I shouldn't etc. I still haven't figured out which is the fast lane, overtaking
>lane and the slow lane. I just hogged the right hand lane and panicked when I had to
>turn into another lane because I was approaching the off ramp. Mind you if I had
>learnt in Italy I doubt if I would have had a problem no one would have noticed my
>bad driving there
All I can say is that I am amazed. Neither I nor my husband have ever had any
difficulty at all.
Marie
--
[email protected]
>In message <[email protected]>, David Lewis
><[email protected]> writes
>>In article <[email protected]>, Judith <JudithG@nosp
>>am.indiatimes.com> writes
>>>Brits driving here have problems with right turns. And left. They forget where to
>>>look last.
>>
>>That is really not so. Most "Brits" (how I hate that abbreviation) are well
>>accustomed to driving in mainland Europe, on the right. I even learned to drive and
>>passed my first test in Germany. It takes about 5 seconds to adjust.
>>
>>Marie
>
>No it doesn't. I have never driven on the continent and I personally had a lot of
>trouble adjusting to American roads and the way they drive. I even chose Las Vegas
>because it had a lot of empty roads outside of the city and few traffic cops. Even
>so the number of errors I made would have filled a TV program on how not to drive in
>USA. This included turning on to the wrong road from the highway, crossing medians
>when I shouldn't etc. I still haven't figured out which is the fast lane, overtaking
>lane and the slow lane. I just hogged the right hand lane and panicked when I had to
>turn into another lane because I was approaching the off ramp. Mind you if I had
>learnt in Italy I doubt if I would have had a problem no one would have noticed my
>bad driving there
All I can say is that I am amazed. Neither I nor my husband have ever had any
difficulty at all.
Marie
--
[email protected]
Jul 19th 2002, 4:20 am
#98
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Wow, that was amazing! thanks much!
[...]
> Good luck and have fun!
>
> Bill
>
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove from email address to reply via email)
[...]
> Good luck and have fun!
>
> Bill
>
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove from email address to reply via email)
Jul 19th 2002, 3:28 pm
#99
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,588
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Originally posted by Tim Challenger
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkred>> > It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't</font></i>
that
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkred>> > the problem?</font></i>
They only drive on the right now -they didn't allways used to (all the
time).....see below.
As an aside : at least Sweden until the very early '60s I think, and Austria until annexation by Germany in 1930-something drove on the left.
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkred>> > It's obvious that the USA drives on the right side of the road. Isn't</font></i>
that
    <i><font size=-2 color=darkred>> > the problem?</font></i>
They only drive on the right now -they didn't allways used to (all the
time).....see below.
As an aside : at least Sweden until the very early '60s I think, and Austria until annexation by Germany in 1930-something drove on the left.
Jul 20th 2002, 2:20 am
#100
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
"Pulaski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Sweden drove on the left until January 1 1978.
No it wasn't that recent. More like early 1960s.
news:[email protected]...
>
> Sweden drove on the left until January 1 1978.
No it wasn't that recent. More like early 1960s.
Jul 20th 2002, 3:20 pm
#101
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
>> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
> (many
[...]
Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix to
the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove from email address to reply via email)
> (many
[...]
Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix to
the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
--
Dan Stephenson
(remove from email address to reply via email)
Jul 20th 2002, 9:20 pm
#102
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Le Sat, 20 Jul 2002 22:05:47 -0700, Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> a écrit :
>>> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
>> (many
> [...]
> Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix
> to the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
Nah, that'll just mean that the American F-15s will shoot you first ...
--
Desmond Coughlan |****#1 YGL#4 YFC#1 YFB#1 UKRMMA#14 two#38 Yamaha FJR1300 |BONY#48
ANORAK#11 desmond @ zeouane.org http: // www . zeouane . org
>>> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
>> (many
> [...]
> Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix
> to the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
Nah, that'll just mean that the American F-15s will shoot you first ...
--
Desmond Coughlan |****#1 YGL#4 YFC#1 YFB#1 UKRMMA#14 two#38 Yamaha FJR1300 |BONY#48
ANORAK#11 desmond @ zeouane.org http: // www . zeouane . org
Jul 20th 2002, 10:22 pm
#103
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Shortly after the Berlin wall came down, I was on top of a London bus one night
watching a tinny old Trabant (=terrible little car built in E Germany and powered by
a lawnmower engine) weaving all over the road at speed in front of us, with a
handpainted sign on the back saying 'We are Hungarian, please help us'. That, at the
time and in the context, was cute..not so sure about a US flag.... PJW
On Sat, 20 Jul 2002 22:05:47 -0700, Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
>> (many
>[...]
>
>Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix to
>the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
>
>--
>Dan Stephenson
>
>(remove from email address to reply via email)
watching a tinny old Trabant (=terrible little car built in E Germany and powered by
a lawnmower engine) weaving all over the road at speed in front of us, with a
handpainted sign on the back saying 'We are Hungarian, please help us'. That, at the
time and in the context, was cute..not so sure about a US flag.... PJW
On Sat, 20 Jul 2002 22:05:47 -0700, Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
>> (many
>[...]
>
>Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix to
>the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
>
>--
>Dan Stephenson
>
>(remove from email address to reply via email)
Jul 21st 2002, 8:20 am
#104
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
Dan Stephenson wrote:
>
> >> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
> > (many
> [...]
>
> Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix
> to the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
No need for a flag, they can tell by your driving.
Remembering to drive on the left is not the hardest part. Other problems:
1. Looking left at the rear view mirror takes getting used to.
2. Remmber to go the right way (usually left) around the traffic circle.
3. Be careful about how much distance you have on the left (pax) side of the car. If
you are used to driving on the right, you now have to adjust to judging the
distances from the left side of the car to parked cars or other objects.
4. On highways, stay right, except when passing.
5. I rented a manual car in Cyprus and had no difficulty with shifting. I thought it
would be more of a hassle shifting with the other. I previously only rented
automatics in the UK and Oz.
>
> >> now, obviously I haven't seen a UK Highway code since I passed by test
> > (many
> [...]
>
> Uhh, is there a "American driving in Britain for the first time" flag I can affix
> to the aerial?? Maybe an American flag placard on the dashboard.
No need for a flag, they can tell by your driving.
Remembering to drive on the left is not the hardest part. Other problems:
1. Looking left at the rear view mirror takes getting used to.
2. Remmber to go the right way (usually left) around the traffic circle.
3. Be careful about how much distance you have on the left (pax) side of the car. If
you are used to driving on the right, you now have to adjust to judging the
distances from the left side of the car to parked cars or other objects.
4. On highways, stay right, except when passing.
5. I rented a manual car in Cyprus and had no difficulty with shifting. I thought it
would be more of a hassle shifting with the other. I previously only rented
automatics in the UK and Oz.
Jul 21st 2002, 9:20 am
#105
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving in Britain tips?
"mrtravel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dan Stephenson wrote:
>
> 4. On highways, stay right, except when passing.
>
thats a typo, right??
news:[email protected]...
> Dan Stephenson wrote:
>
> 4. On highways, stay right, except when passing.
>
thats a typo, right??
