Driving on the Left Side

[2LaneCruzer]

Anyone experience driving on the left hand side for the first time after 60 years of driving in the U.S.? Sharn Jean and I just got back from a week's vacation in St. Thomas, USVI. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We went there on a cruise ship last year; this year we rented an small private home on the island, overlooking Megan's Bay. Unthinkingly, I agreed to rent a car an be the designated driver, knowing that although the Virgin Islands are U.S. possessions, they drive on the left hand side there. I'll have to say, that it was an unnerving experience.

I didn't stop to think about the fact that we're talking mountain roads here, that are 99% two lane roads that would pass for a one lane road here at home. Add a little rain, and hills so steep that you often can't see the bottom when you start down, and curves so sharp that you can't see around them, I'll have to say that it took my nerves a couple days to settle back down. It's a good thing that rum is so cheap there.

 

[niemeyjt]

We do it all the time here!

The car does have right hand drive, however.

For a real fun driving experience, try taking a RHD car to mainland Europe (or the US).

J

 

[mjarrels]

Yep... St Thomas, Japan and Australia. Real kicker is when crossing the street! Have to look in the "wrong" direction first before crossing.

mark

 

[sseelhoff]

St. Lucia and UK. It messes with your mind. Left turns. Wowza.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

We do it all the time here!

The car does have right hand drive, however.

For a real fun driving experience, try taking a RHD car to mainland Europe (or the US).

J

The rental car was the U.S. version, i.e. steering wheel on the left. I never knew where the traffic was coming from when making a turn. Oh, St. Lucia is a beautiful island...we were there last year.

 

[MacLawn]

Been doing it for over thirty years in Japan. Got to where I like it better than USA way. Coming back and forth though, have to be careful turning!

 

[ultrarunner]

I own one right hand drive car and it is a stick without synchro and trafficators for turn signals.

I never feel right driving it so it mostly sits in storage...

 

[dave1949]

The rental car was the U.S. version, i.e. steering wheel on the left. I never knew where the traffic was coming from when making a turn. Oh, St. Lucia is a beautiful island...we were there last year.

It is freaky. We took a trip to the UK when living in Germany, they drive on the same side as here. I would ask my wife, sitting in the passenger seat if it was clear to turn, pass, etc. I found that in traffic you are getting constant clues about your position, but up in Scotland we stopped at a roadside rest. There weren't many cars on the road, rural area. When we continued on I pulled onto the right side of the road by habit. In the distance I could see a car coming and wondered what they were doing in our lane. :laughing:

Like Mark said, that looking left when crossing the street on foot is deadly.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Hah. Went over to my daughter's this afternoon; found myself driving on the left hand side...Man I better snap out of it!

 

[keegs]

I drove around Ireland for about 10 days some time back. That left front fender always seemed a bit further away than it should. As I recall, it was a bit dodgy as a pedestrian too, especially in a busy roundabout.

 

[tallyho8]

I've rented cars in the Caribbean a few times where we had to drive on the "wrong" side of the road but always cars with steering on the left. The hardest part for me to get used to is the round-a-bouts in the Caymans. Always takes me a few seconds figuring which lane to get in to take the right exit.

The wildest time I had was last November on a cruise we rented a Nissan Sentra on Grand Cayman. My wife and I and another couple were about 30 miles from the dock and the right front wheel cylinder blew out leaving us with no brakes. No phone service out in the boondocks and we had to get back to the ship before it sailed. The Sentra has a parking brake lever between the bucket seats so my buddy got in the passenger seat and served as the brakeman while I drove back to the car rental shop.

Driving on the "wrong" side, through round-a-bouts, with some one else working the brakes, in unknown territories was a little nerve wracking. When we got back to the ship I gulped down the best 2 margaritas I ever had. :drink:

 

[niemeyjt]

We have British (RHD) cars both in UK and France. In some ways it is easier as the gear lever and controls are always in same place so one less thing to worry about.

The dangerous time is always rejoining a road, say from a petrol station - and the way the rules differ from country to country. In UK, for example, you cannot turn left against a red light. In France, in some places, they have a rule about giving way to vehicles coming from the right.

I think my most interesting experiences have been taking the (RHD) Land Rover around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris - where there are no lanes painted on the road, vehicles are 10 or 12 abreast and cars just speed in from the right - and towing a long trailer through the middle of Paris! Geneva can be interesting too - when the road merges with the tramways and all of a sudden you are driving along tramtracks.

J

 

[Redneck in training]

I drive on both sides for years. When I went to UK first time I rented a car and hit the first roundabout the wrong way. It was one of those with overpass over it so I couldn't see what was behind it. I almost hit an oncoming car head on. The guy jumped out and tried to open my door and most likely had an intention to kill me looking at his face. I put a reverse in and turn around and drove right back to the rental place returning the car.
Then I got another job in Malaysia. I shared very little Suzuki minibus with two Japanese. The driver was a young man driving crazy way because the car had no power and once it got going he didn't want to slow down. I told him that I will give him 50 dollars Friday if I am still alive. Well, about Wednesday I had enough and rented a car. It was about 20 years ago. Since then I drive on both sides.
About 15 years ago I arrived first time to St. Croix. The flight landed about 11 pm. When I hit the road it was about midnight. The car had steering in the left so I was driving on the right side of the road. I saw a big truck coming on my side of the road so I swerved to the gas station and saw another car on wrong side of the road and another. So I asked the attendant what are the rules that after midnight cars drive on the wrong side. I guess he didn't get the joke saying they drive on the left all day. I said but the car has steering on the left. So what all cars are from the US he answered. Not only that the lights are also asymmetrical the wrong way shining right in your eyes.
When I came to the refinery next day I told guys what happen last night and they told me I was lucky that I didn't hit anybody. Just few weeks before they had a vendor coming from France. The guy arrived also on late night flight, rented a car and shortly after hit a truck head on almost killing himself.

 

[jbwilson]

All countries should adopt the correct side for driving - which is obviously the left hand side. So those countries driving on the wrong side of the road should start driving on the left hand side. This could be done in stages for different classes of vehicles. For example, in the 1st month all car drivers would commence driving in the left lane, 2nd month buses would make the transition, followed by trucks in the 3rd month. Exemptions would be allowed for motor cyclists.

 

[keegs]

I think they switched in Sweden back in the sixties. That must have been fun. OK everyone ....on Tuesday we switch sides. :laughing:

 

[dave1949]

All countries should adopt the correct side for driving - which is obviously the left hand side. So those countries driving on the wrong side of the road should start driving on the left hand side. This could be done in stages for different classes of vehicles. For example, in the 1st month all car drivers would commence driving in the left lane, 2nd month buses would make the transition, followed by trucks in the 3rd month. Exemptions would be allowed for motor cyclists.

How did you folks get started driving on the wrong side of the road? Don't you think it's about time to face up to the error of your ways? :laughing:

 

[tcartwri]

The only real problem I had was repeatedly pulling the shifter down into reverse instead of 1'st.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I've rented cars in the Caribbean a few times where we had to drive on the "wrong" side of the road but always cars with steering on the left. The hardest part for me to get used to is the round-a-bouts in the Caymans. Always takes me a few seconds figuring which lane to get in to take the right exit.

The wildest time I had was last November on a cruise we rented a Nissan Sentra on Grand Cayman. My wife and I and another couple were about 30 miles from the dock and the right front wheel cylinder blew out leaving us with no brakes. No phone service out in the boondocks and we had to get back to the ship before it sailed. The Sentra has a parking brake lever between the bucket seats so my buddy got in the passenger seat and served as the brakeman while I drove back to the car rental shop.

Driving on the "wrong" side, through round-a-bouts, with some one else working the brakes, in unknown territories was a little nerve wracking. When we got back to the ship I gulped down the best 2 margaritas I ever had. :drink:

Rum and Coke helps a lot too; it did for me anyway. Having car trouble in these situations is scary. We took the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John's and the guy on the ferry told us we had a low tire. It was low all right; it was almost flat. We found out that there was only ONE service station on the Isle of St. Johns. Luckily for us, we made it to the station, and they pulled a 3 inch deck screw out of the tire.

 

[RobertN]

I've wondered for some time why this has never been standardized on an international level. Would think the Auto Industry would "drive the issue so they could build just one version of cars/trucks.

I think driving on the right would win out though; seems more of the world drives like in the US.

I certainly wouldn't mind getting a mid '70's Falcon GT coupe from Oz though Or Dodge Charger with that inline Hemi

All countries should adopt the correct side for driving - which is obviously the left hand side. So those countries driving on the wrong side of the road should start driving on the left hand side. This could be done in stages for different classes of vehicles. For example, in the 1st month all car drivers would commence driving in the left lane, 2nd month buses would make the transition, followed by trucks in the 3rd month. Exemptions would be allowed for motor cyclists.

 

[RobertN]

Only experience is St Thomas. Was definitely weird being on other side of road while still having left hand drive.