Our car is obviously a right hand drive, and sticks out like a sore thumb here on the Continent - we've had many people looking and pointing with their children who have clearly never seen such a machine before. The GB sticker in the rear window certainly helps people realise a complete muppet must be driving as they approach at breakneck speeds from behind on the Autobahn, but I think at times they've been surprised that us Brits can actually drive quite well on the wrong side of the road, even if we are sitting in the curb instead of in the centre of the road as we should be. I'm now finding it quite easy and almost second nature, although there are still things catching me out...
Everything is of course reversed - roundabouts run anti-clockwise, and left turns are very testing with an un-natural turn into what seems like a totally wrong part of the road.
I've been caught out several times when pulling over to look at the map, moving to the left as I do at home - but here directly into oncoming traffic.
Whilst sitting at traffic lights, you can't see when red becomes green, because of a new blind-spot that you don't get on the other side of the car. A friendly hoot from behind usually sorts things out.
When pulling up parallel against a car in the inside lane, the other driver is just a little too close for comfort (they of course drive on the wrong side of the car). It's even more challenging when hooting at them for not letting you in, and you can quite literally see the fillings in their teeth (as they shout at you).
But by far the most challenging thing about driving on the wrong side of the road is when entering or exiting a car park, especially with the co-driver seated in the back - the machine that spits out the ticket is on the passenger side!
Mirror usage is also different, especially on the high speed roads; you use the passenger side mirror as you would the drivers mirror, and visa versa. The rear view mirror isn't quite right either because of the angle it works at, meaning there is much more head turning than usual, to check the rear offside (which is usually the nearside) corner. If that makes sense.
Thankfully, I was taught by my Dad to drive without the need to rely on mirrors.
As they say in Italy, whats-a-behind-me-is-a-not-important (as proven here).
Left hand drive car cross your mind at any point?!!
ReplyDelete:-p
Indeed, but alas, you can't buy a car in Italy unless you've lived there for 6 months, and left hookers in the UK severely limit choice. Buying one elsewhere would have been logistically too challenging I think, and besides, we might be back in the UK after 2 weeks if it all goes pear shaped.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it makes for a more interesting drive over!