Fred James

Definitely much safer!

Donnymatt

Thanks Fred James

girlingfoss

Hi being from the USA driving on the right is no problem, over here at least in Florida at a traffic light if you are in the rh lane you can turn right on a red light. providing you stop first. Am I correct in thinking this does not apply in Spain. difficult not to do this when you are used to it. Maybe they don't have a light every 300 yards as we do in places here.

MikeJ

You cannot routinely turn right at red light but many junction do allow right hand filtering and this is indicated by a flashing amber light (often an arrow) which allows you to continue with caution. Indeed there are some part time traffic lights which also flash amber which again means proceed with caution (no one has priority)

pwwm

Certainly around us, Eastern Costa Tropical, I find huge lack of road rage, unlike the UK, they will stop for a chat in the high Street , nobody cares. They do tail gate but this seems to be stupidity and not aggressive, all in all it is less stressful driving here, I prefer lhd and have done for years

big wheels

The best bit of advice I was given before my first time driving on the right was always keep the passenger side to the kerb and you can't go wrong.

snikpoh

Ah, that's where I was going wrong - in my RHD car!!

amideislas

I find that if you're driving a LHD car, it quickly becomes intuitive to drive on the right. Same in England, driving on left with a RHD.

But driving on right with a RHD or driving on left with LHD takes much more getting used to. It naturally inclines you to use the "other" set of driving rules. Frankly, I find it a bit dangerous to use the "wrong" drive side. Especially in the first day or so.

Rosemary

Looking back the hardest part for me was changing the habit of 40 years of changing gear with my left hand. Initially I kept on whacking my hand against the door and it made you gear changes hesitant but this did not happen for long. Now I wonder how I would get on changing back again. Actually I much prefer LHD now.

Rosemary

Dick Dasterdly

Interesting previous discussion on roundabouts.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/spain...abouts-747712/

As I understand it, it is always correct, though not compulsory, to stay in the outside lane regardless of which exit is being used.

This especially makes good sense when driving new routes where you are not familiar with the roundabouts.

On a side note, it is also the practical route for a single guy looking for some female company.

Dick Dasterdly

That's one hell of a long winded explanation on Rbts Fred..

Myself, if there is not another car anywhere in sight, I do it Spanish style and take the racing line.

MikeJ

Surely you mean the nearside lane! This is where confusion starts, the Spanish Traffico advice is to treat a roundabout as if is a continuation of a normal road, on a normal road the 'outside' lane (eg on a dual carriageway) is the one furthest from the kerb/side of the road. Therefore the outside lane of a roundabout (in Spain) is the lane nearest the centre not the one nearest the kerb. Suggesting that one should stay in the outside lane is exactly wrong in Spain.
Perhaps it would be better to stress that when driving on the right one should should stay in the rightmost lane in Spain (except when overtaking) and this applies to roundabouts as well.

Dick Dasterdly

Good point.
I've always previously considered the outside lane on Rbts to the outside lane as in furthest away from the centre.