Driving Around The UK

By David Halbert

If you are a tourist or have recently shifted, and have never driven in the UK then you must follow the advices stated below to ensure you have an accident-free time here.

1. UK has left-hand drive: First, you need to bear in mind that UK traffic system is left-handed. This system has its roots when horse carriages were widely used for traveling. The drivers would often hit the pedestrians by chance while using their whips. This lead to the formation of a law that all traffic must be driven on the left side, and all drivers ought to sit on the right-hand to ensure safety to the pedestrians.

2. Get an automatic: Since most UK drivers are familiar with manual driving, rental cars are generally manual transmissions as well. In case you are used to driving an automatic vehicle, you will have to denote when renting the car that you want an automatic one so you do not have to learn driving for a single trip.

3. U-turns: You are allowed to take U-turns and three-point turns in UK if you can do so without threatening anyone. Do it carefully because it is a common practice that people take u-turns in the middle of the motorway or highway and block traffic.

4. Parking: you can park anywhere on the road. It implies parking on the sides of the road, and there is no rule to park facing away from oncoming traffic. Cars are parked facing oncoming traffic, and you should at your toes to get hold of a spot open on your side. Yet, it is not recommended to do so as you might not be familiar with it and thus may involve in an accident. For this reason, it is advised to park, as you feel comfortable.

5. Be patient: In case you drive across the countryside, you may be stuck behind trucks and tractors, as they are very slow. Even though it is very annoying, you need to have patience since giving horn continuously will do no good. Wait until you can overtake them easily in a safe manner.

6. Lay-bys: Since, a lot of the country roads are extremely narrow allowing only one car to pass, you should be prepared to have to drive onto, or even reverse towards the nearest, a lay-by which is a paved area next to the road. This is so that someone approaching you can pass by. Whoever is closer to a lay-by will be the one having to pull over, sometimes requiring you to reverse to it, and someone pulls aside to let you pass, make sure you acknowledge it with a smile.

7. Hedgerows: You will find hedgerows everywhere in the English countryside. They serve as a replacement for fences.

8. Speed: The speed limit is 70mph on the motor way while you can drive at 40mph in the countryside and even lesser than in villages. If you do not follow this, you may end up being caught by a speed camera even in small villages, so be vigilant when it comes to the speed limit. - 20605

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