Ever Driven On The Wrong Side Of The Road, Like The Brits?

[Conservative]

I have and it's semi-terrifying.

And don't give me a hard time for saying 'On the wrong side of the road" as wrong is relative.

Brits and others think the same thought when over here and have to drive.

My first day of driving in New Zealand, a guy was coming at me in 'my lane' and I immediately thought 'is this guy playing chicken...what a jerk'! Then, at the last minute, I realized I was the jerk as I was driving in 'his' lane. I was mortified. My wife just stared at me. I offered to let drive and crossed her arms and said: No WAY!

It never happened again and I drove every day for a month there and it's a wonder I didn't get an ulcer or have a heart attack. The focus I had to maintain to drive on the wrong side of the road is damn hard, at least for me.

Ever done it?

 

[hittman]

Ever done it?

Not since I quit drinking. :wink:

 

[GunnyGene]

Yeah, in Japan.

 

[CGDustDevil]

Not without copious amounts of alcohol involved.

I have certainly have driven plenty of right-hand drive vehicles, but I'm not sure I'd wanna tackle driving either right or left hand vehicles on the 'wrong' side of the road!

 

[RSIno1]

We have an early RHD Mini. Just as bad driving it here - can't see around the car in front to pass. Willow Springs racetrack has a turn over a brow where you have to be way over to the left. Hard to do you just know there is a car coming up the other side in your lane. You can see this guy didn't get it right at about 1:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCX7tSASH1s

 

[SAJohn]

I did in Japan while in the Navy. It was especially difficult as I was driving left hand drive Jeeps. This is double trouble as you are driving on the wrong side of the road and driving on the wrong side of the car.

Similar problems occur when flying a fixed wing airplane. You learn, setting in the left set, to operate the "stick" with your left hand and the throttle with your right. When landing you are busy with both the "stick" and "throttle" . Your sight pattern in landing is accustomed to that left seat position. The first time I tried landing a plane while in the right seat it was like learning to land all over again.

John

 

[Robb Barnes]

Yes sir, for a whole year while I taught school in the Bahamas. A little hairy at first since it was a normal side drive VW but on the "wrong" side of the road.

 

[mafuta54]

For 2 years in South Africa back in the mid 1970's.

 

[Mike J]

No, but I had someone coming towards me do it the other day on a two lane back road. I stopped & stood on the horn until the stupid person looked up & got back on their side of the road. She drove past me grinning.

 

[graygun]

In Pattaya,Thailand,late 1970.

 

[Mobuck]

Just yesterday I was on a nasty, potholed road on which everyone had been driving on one lane or the other. The "good side" of the road changed about every 1/2 mile and apparently, the only time both lanes were used was when vehicles met.

 

[Ugly Hombre]

yeah in Japan for 6 years..

At first it was scary as hell-

Then when I got back to the states-

It was scary for a while changing back! lol!

 

[Colonialgirl]

I did for about two weeks while on vacation in England in 2009; The first day was a bit weird but after that it seemed natural.

 

[wiz1997]

Spent some time in Maylasia driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

Does take a bit of getting use to, and a whole lot of concentration.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I have not seen the need to have my right hand free to wield a sword.
Since that was the original reason.

 

[Selena]

In my mind, there is no "wrong" side of the road. I drive in the exact center of the road at forty-five miles an hour. In my defense, I learned to drive on a John Deere tractor and that is the proper way to drive them on the road.

 

[pleadthe2nd]

Sorry Mike J , that was probably my wife, but hey we pay taxes for both sides of the road, right ?

 

[opos]

Used to fish frequently out of Red Hook on St. Thomas ins the US Virgin Islands...they drive on the "wrong side"...Just got to pay attention and it's no hassle...I always found it kind of fun.

 

[rugerguy211]

Only once, in Bermuda, on a moped. It was fine, until I reached the only "rotary" (New England term for a roundabout). I literally pulled onto the sidewalk and watched the traffic patterns for a few minutes. Then it was fine.

 

[Jeepnik]

Yes, in Gibraltar. There was an interesting "intersection" at the time and when you drove in from Spain you crossed over to the left side. They had a Bobby directing traffic. Probably a traffic light these days, but the full dress Bobby made it plain you were in "England".

When you get off the ferry over to Morocco you switch back to the right side. Well, more or less, traffic laws and "lanes" are pretty much a general "suggestion".