Driving on the Left Side of the Road

Here’s the advice that was given to me: When you pick up the car drive around the parking lot for a while. It will feel very different sitting on the right, our passenger side. You could practice waving to the attendant as you drive by, but it would be better to keep your mind to the task. Then, take a deep breath and exit the lot. Immediately find a local delivery van and follow. (I think I tucked myself behind a garbage truck of some kind. Or maybe he was just delivering bins.) Don’t turn on the radio, even though you may be interested in what they have to offer on the British stations. Follow this lorrie for at least an hour. Never mind where you’re going. The GPS will get you headed in the right direction later. Keep to the left. Look to the right. Hopefully your chosen delivery will take you through a bunch of round-abouts so you can get some practice. I’d be very surprised if this didn’t happen. They seem to be every half mile. Notice the right-of way as you enter. That’s always a good idea. Use your mirrors. Keep to the left. Keep to the left.

Right turns are a bugger, but you don’t need to do those much. The round-abouts are handy that way. Notice, there’s not a lot of stop signs, just right-of-ways. Stay on the left. Look to the right. Don’t be alarmed if you go on top of a curb. Everyone does it now and again. You know how the center line heads right toward you in the states? It does the same here because you sit on the right and drive on the left, just the opposite. Sweet!

              Here’s a handy piece of advice: make sure you understand the street signs and what they mean before you get on the road. I still don’t know what a solid red circle with a blue X means. It’s the one-ways and the do-not-enter that are pretty darn important. I love the signs for “elderly crossing.” The one for pedestrian crossing is a man holding the hand of a child. Nice.

Things do happen. I was driving in center city Birmingham, trying my best to follow directions coming at a steady pace from my GPS only to drive down a pedestrian-only street. (I’m still not sure if I made a mistake or the GPS didn’t have the streets correctly charted. That’s happened, even in the states.) I rolled down the window and, speaking to a lovely older woman walking by I said, “I believe I’ve gotten myself into a bit of a pickle.” She agreed and kindly peeked around the corner to make sure I had an exit up ahead. Thankfully I did.

Here’s the marvelous thing. English drivers are actually very forgiving. Someone swore at me once (yes, I could read her lips) but I rarely heard horns honking. I surely wanted to hang a huge “Please pardon me. I’m an awful American driver” on the back of the car. Instead I just said out loud over and over, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Forgiveness is the key!

   

 (Found out it means no stopping. I had no intention of stopping!)