Americans First Time Driving In The UK | We Didn't Expect This!
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- Опубліковано 23 вер 2023
- In this video we share our expererience driving in the UK. We flew from Germany to Glasgow to pick up the campervan we will be living in and using to explore the beautiful country of Scotland. Watch the video to see our first reactions, what went well, and also what didn't.
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Tongue in cheek comment - but may I just remind you that here in the UK we drive on the correct side of the road 🙂 England was the first nation to pass an official rule, way back in 1773, which made driving on the left the law. Why other countries then proceeded to drive on the right is beyond me!!
Woah. I didn't know that. Thanks for the insight!
If you think about the actual thinking the old films about knights an jousting etc they joust with one another on the right and most used swords on the righthand and that is where you manoeuvred the horse to be right side to right side so that’s where it all stemmed from. There’s usually an answer in history somewhere!
The Romans drove on the left. Something to do with whips (!).
When the legions finally quit Britain in 410AD, I think we just couldn't be bothered mess around with it. It made sense, so why would we?
The right hand driving thing is all Napoleon's fault anyway.
@@Ingens_Scherz 🤔anyway you look at it it was to make it easier to exhibit road rage better🤭😂🖖
That's because we knew most Brits are dyslexic and will pick the wrong side of the road to drive on - we just corrected your mistake! LOL
Roundabouts save hundreds of lives a year in the UK. In the US, with its multi-lane crossroads, over half the accidents are caused by vehicles turning left and being hit by oncoming traffic.
That is true. If only the US would adopt more round abouts. Thanks for watching!
@@trailblazinpeppers We've got a few of them here in the Austin area and people are gradually getting used to them. They're so much better than 4 way stops for keeping traffic flowing smoothly and safely.
@@trailblazinpepperswhy do people turn right at a red light in the usa? That's what I encountered in vegas
@@jarent2652 Why not? You're not crossing a lane, so if you can look left & see there's nobody coming, why not go?
Pretty sure that I encountered a few in NJ 25 years ago when I occasionally went over to the US for work, although my memory is a bit hazy, but I seem to recall roundabouts the 'wrong' way round (they go anti clockwise of course) were something of a brain melt at first. Only time I had an issue really was when I was fresh off the plane on my first time, jetlagged, and not knowing where on earth I was going (I hadn't even booked a hotel and had to lie on the visa waiver form, because in my job - working on weather stations on roads and runways - we never knew where we were going to be, so the habit was to find B&Bs or pubs wherever we ended up and then stay there, back when small independent B&Bs could still be had for 20 quid or sometimes even less per night), at a crossroads I turned onto the wrong side in my crappy rental Mercury and was nearly flattened by an F350. Luckily the guy must have recognised me as a visitor in a rental and laughed it off. I eventually found a hotel where I was able to get a room and effect a change of undercrackers.
I am British, but I lived in California for 14 years.
For a time, I travelled every month back to the UK in my job.
I found absolutely no problem switching between driving on the left and right.
Because the steering wheel switched sides too, it felt very natural and easy.
Steering wheel switches sides? 😂😂. That’s a horse and cart mate, doesn’t count, or a motorbike. 😂😂😁😁
No problems for me either.
I also switch from manual to automatic gearbox v.v. each half year.
Thanks for watching and commenting. It really helps with promoting our video. Please make sure to subscribe for future videos. -Lucas and Maria
It's only a problem if you want it to be.
Similar to you, only I am from the U.S. and have lived in the U.K. 16 years. The only time I have to really think about what side of the road I need to be on is when I'm backing out of a drive.
Be glad it's not Australia, it would be upside down! 😉😂
Haha nice one!
Not only upside down but also on the Left.
Hahaha!
Top Gear UK vs. Austrslia best episode ever
Most countries near Australia are all right-hand drives.
Round about are found in many parts of the world 🌎 and even some states of the U.S.
I'm glad you remembered to drive on the correct side of the road. Some Americans don't think, kill young people with their criminal driving and then claim Diplomatic Immunity and run away to avoid justice.
Yeah, what ever happened with this ? It’s funny how our Colonial Cousins can demand instant retribution where as us Brits have to fight tooth and nail for anything..
Anne sacoolas ?
@@nateblance2936 exactly
Harry Dunn should be remembered too as he was the victim
@@pashvonderc381 Nothing.
The US did what it does best.. "bully boy" attitude of "We do what we want, be quiet".
They flew the Dunn family out to the USA, to meet Trump. Anne Sacoolas was in the next room and the idea was they would "hug and make up" and Trump would have his assistant write out a large cheque to the Dunn family. Now there's an American answer to any problem isn't it? Money!
We killed your son?! Ahhh well.. nevermind, have some money! I'm sure that will replace him right?
Meanwhile some years prior the USA DEMANDED that the UK extradite Julian Assange to the USA to face trial for his apparent "WikiLeaks" crimes. Legally the british authorities could NOT extradite him at the time as he was seeking refuge and claiming asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy - meaning he could not be taken from there by force since it's technically Ecuadorian laws and land in a foreign country.
Nevertheless, the USA still put pressure on the UK to extradite him.
Eventually he began to fall out with the officials and he was stripped of his citizenship and kicked out of the embassy - when this happened the UK had officers waiting and the moment he left the embassy he was arrested. As I understand he is currently in a prison somewhere in London whilst the extradition proceedings are taking place - sometimes these can take years.
The song and dance you Americans make about driving on the left hand side of the road is unbelievable - thousands of British and Irish people holiday on the continent every year without screaming their heads off. lol
Thanks for watching!
@@trailblazinpeppers
You left the parking lot via the right-hand lane - tut tut.
@@gordonsmith8899Fair point, however, ‘parking lot’, I presume you meant ‘car park’.
I’m from the UK and quite used to driving on the right abroad, I feel like after a few times your brain realises you’re in a different country and adjusts automatically. Craziest trip I had though was to Malta where they drive on the left, but because my brain knew I was abroad it had already automatically flipped to want to drive on the right! I had to spend the whole week concentrating on driving on the side of the road I always do! 😂
I'm a Brit too. My first experience of driving on the "wrong" side was on Gran Canaria of all places! I found it surprisingly easy to adapt, but I think having the steering wheel on the left meant it all felt logical. I think driving a British car on the continent would be a lot more challenging.
I frequently drive my British campervan in Europe, and it's easy peasy. For a start, there's no banging your right hand against the door searching bor the gearstick ("shift" if you are a Merkin) in a hire car.
In Malta the locals drive in the shade
Same here, years ago I was dri ing in France and I sort of told my brain and I'd say the same, it just flipped.
@@EASYTIGER10 I'm quite the opposite. I learned driving in Sweden (right side of the road, which is the right side, because it's in the name). When driving in the UK with a left-hand-drive car, I find it quite natural (like driving in the left lane on a motorway in continental Europe). When I have to drive a right-hand-drive car in the UK, I always get it wrong. My mind is used to keeping a short distance to the left and a large distance to the right, and if I relax a bit in the UK, you can imagine what happens - I get far, far too close to whatever there is (usually parked cars) on the left side of the vehicle.
The difference is not the side of the road you drive on, it's the fact that you actually get taught to drive safely. The test is not easy, and many people fail it the first time. Your baby is beautiful ❤
Perfect little chap :)
I bet he can drive too!
No driving for little man. But one day he will be during us around.
Yes a driving class before hand would of been nice. Thanks.
Took me 4 goes to pass the UK test back in the early 80's, by comparison the US test was a joke.
@@JohnPilling25Four for me too, in the same era - thought it was just me who needed that many goes. Admittedly I was generally hopeless back then - now I'm a hopelessist in recovery.
What is wrong with Americans? This business about "the wrong side of the road". Plenty of people who normally drive on the left take about 5 minutes to adjust to driving on the right as well as kilometres instead of miles and a host of other regulations. I don't see catalogues of "first time on the right" videos.
We’re just crazy I guess. 😂
Some are not as fast as him. Im sure is as a well prepered reading about it.
Many could learn from Baden Powel in London. His motto is/was BE PREPARED. At for many things and or only cars.
When I lived in Germany I had no problems adjusting, but I knew other Brits who really struggled with driving on the right, even after being there for months. Everyone is different!
The dangerous moment is after a pit stop, when the Brits start driving again they can easily enter the wrong side, this is how most accidents with left-side drivers occur.
Living on the South Coast, we were always nipping across to France. First 5 minutes on the other side of the road you got used to it. I personally preferred it with loads of French cars, then it's just a game of tag, follow the car in front. Only thing that slightly complicates it. Driving a right hand drive car on the right hand side of the road.
Makes me chuckle when you say "the back roads are a little narrow"...these are actually quite wide for a single lane.
Well we definitely drove on some small roads when we were in the isle of skye and Glen Etive. Thanks for watching!
I laughed at this too. I live in the Lake District. We call those back roads, main roads. When I was driving a van I judged the roads by how much paint the have. Real back roads have no lines but sometimes do have grass. When I saw some paint on the road I could start to relax.
@@martinalloway6980 Do you mean grass between the two lines that the wheels follow, that never gets driven on so can grow to about six inches? There's a bit of Pilgrims' Way in Surrey like that. But luckily it isn't a major through route, so you rarely meet anything going the other way. In fact, you have to go a bit out of your way to go down it.
Should come visit my village. Those roads were very wide and straight in comparison. Try winding lanes in which you can touch the hedges on both sides of the lane at the same time.
Agree - these are standard lanes! I've driven my BMW saloon car through lanes which are far narrower and you literally have hedges on either side of you, no more than a few inches from your car either side. Americans would crap themselves.
I love the bit "Getting on the interstate" We don't have any States. 😂😂😁😁👍👍✔✔
Yea I realized the error when I was editing the video. Well thanks for watching!
If Hawaii can have interstates, why can't Britain?
They dont need them but just some improvements here and there.
We once took the train London - Newcastle and fast both ways. I was was fast. We rented a big car some 10 days local drive.
Most likely brits build what they need too. I dont know Hawai but britts has a lot of old infrastructure, by that they spread traffic out. In the urban areas the has a lot of local trains and busses as well.
have a nice day
@@kgbgb3663inter County is more like it..
Because they aren't called "interstates" they're called "dual carriageways" and "motorways". @@kgbgb3663
We don’t have interstates because we don’t have states!
Correct! Thanks for watching!
Our roads are just 'In a state'
Pothole central.@@jonathanmorgan1882
We don't have parking lots in Scotland either, nor do we have "semis" on our roads.......
Although we do have semis beside the road, streets and streets of them!
Roundabouts are the greatest investion.
They are more efficient. Thanks for watching!
invention*
You just need to give yourself 30 minutes to programme your mind. We Brits regularly travel to Europe where we have to drive on your side of the road. It's daunting for the first few minutes, but once you pick up your confidence it gets easier. Just tell yourself you're going to do this, and be determined to conquer any fears. Then you find your fears are unnecessary. Don't do what I've done - gain confidence and then find myself on the wrong side. Go to bed at night, shut your eyes and imagine yourself doing it. Remove the barriers.
That is good advice! Thanks for watching!
@@trailblazinpeppers As I regularly shuffle between left and right side, both of the road and the car, I try to visualise a piece of road that I know really well in that country and see myself on the side I need to be on. The biggest danger comes when you've been doing it for a week and forget to pay attention. Next thing you know you're heading straight for an oncoming vehicle and wondering why they are on the wrong side when it's actually you.
@@fizzyridertooHa ha. This happened to me. Fortunately it was a long straight road so we both had time to slow down and approach each other bumper to bumper. We were both gesticulating to the other idiot. Then I said oh god it’s me!
I am English but have driven in many other European countries and also in the USA (Boston and around Massachusetts). In fact, I've just returned from two weeks driving around Slovenia and Austria. It is surprising how quickly you adjust to driving on the other side of the road. After a couple of hours you get into it and after a day or two it feels natural. I don't like changing from second gear into third with my right hand though. It feels like an uncomfortable movement. I DO remember the first time I drove abroad on the right I was always driving too close to the edge of the road and my tyre definitely left the road a couple of times. It must be a common problem when people switch sides. I got used to it though.
I found driving in the USA interesting. Most of Europe has pretty much the same road signs and rules but not in America. A lot of the signs used words rather than pictures and symbols and some of the words I didn't understand as the vocabulary was different to the UK. Also I think I was as terrified of your enormous multi-lane crossroads and traffic lights as you were of our roundabouts. I loved it anyway.
Wow! Yeah our rods in US are huge. Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
more like 5 mins ie couple of junctions and thats it .
Brit here, commenting from France, driving back from Italy in a campervan. We have driven in every country in Europe, on the wrong side of the road ...it is absolutely a doodle! And quite why Americans are so terrified of roundabouts, I have no idea! They are so easy and efficient! At least Americans speak a similar language to the UK. Cyrillic signs in Bulgaria are "interesting"!
Stupidity?
The rules of roundabouts aren't the same in every country in Europe. For example, Portugal is different to Spain, which is different to France.
What an awful video, two Americans who should be nowhere near a car, please stay away from the SE.
@@stevo728822 Well in 30 years driving in Europe, only Turkey has had different rules (seemingly, but that might just be Turkish drivers). If the rules are different they have made no material difference at all. (but I haven't driven in Iceland or the Faroes)
They are American!
Americans make such a drama over things. It is the correct side for us. Originality not a thing.
It was just so unusual for us. Thankfully I got the hang of it after a day or 2.
The drama comes from our culture - unfortunately.
a
we found a paper arrow on the dash to be a good reminder on driving in a country which drives on the opposite side and its mainly in the morning when we would forget when driving off
You were fortunate to have chosen to visit Scotland rather than England because the roads in general are much less busy. Having your steering wheel on the right makes negotiating roundabouts and junctions so much easier.
I remember when I used to visit the Highlands once a week in my lorry doing deliveries, on the same roundabout near Dingwall, two weeks in a row I met a hired car coming around the roundabout the wrong way and it wasn't even a large busy one which can be challenging for many drivers.
Glad to hear you enjoyed Scotland, it really is beautiful. 👍👍
Happened to me on the roundabout coming into Inverness.
Woops! Where are coming from mate!!!???
And they were in an automatic - even easier!
Or going the wrong way round the one way system by the railway station in Dingwall (Station Road has 2 lanes, both going clockwise, and continues from High Street which is also one way).
So glad that you enjoyed your trip to our beautiful Scotland. I don't think you mentioned if you had to tackle single-track roads with passing places at any time? Now, that WOULD have been an interesting experience!
I have a lot of sympathy with your nervousness about driving on the 'wrong' side of the road. As a Brit married to a continental, I confess that I pass the steering wheel to my husband when we cross the channel. Wimpish, but it keeps us safe!
And as for the narrowness of British roads, I remember weaving through the heavily-parked streets of an Edinburgh suburb with visiting American friends in the passenger seats, and seeing their knuckles go white! (We got to our destination safely).
We just posted our Isle of Skye video! Those were some tight roads. Go check it out.
I recognised the road at a couple of points in the video as being the A82, which is quite a testing, narrow and twisty road once you get into the rural areas. At times I was quite nervous driving that route a couple of months ago in a car I have had for 14 years and having passed my driving test in Edinburgh in 1973. So I take my hat off to you! A lot of people from the central belt of Scotland, let alone from further afield, have difficulty working out what to do on the single-track roads with signed passing places but you just have to accept that you need to go quite slowly and maybe only go up to 3rd or 4th gear (in a car with 6 gears). Consequently a 20-mile (32 km) journey might take an hour or more.
Best advice I can give any visiting Americans is to drive just to the left of the centre line on single lane roads. That way you'll avoid dropping the left wheel off the road or hitting the kerb. At roundabouts give way to vehicles from the right, if theres nothing there just carry on onto the roundabout. Left lane for turning left, right lane for turning right and either for straight ahead. And you can't avoid roundabouts, they are absolutely everywhere so embrace them and you'll soon find them easy to negotiate.
Good advice. Just follow the car in front is what I did.
Does no one think of using their wing mirrors?
Nice advice! Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
@andrewlaw
> Best advice I can give any visiting Americans is to drive just to the left of the centre line on single lane roads.
> That way you'll avoid dropping the left wheel off the road or hitting the kerb. At roundabouts give way to vehicles
> from the right, if theres nothing there just carry on onto the roundabout. Left lane for turning left, right lane for
> turning right and either for straight ahead. And you can't avoid roundabouts, they are absolutely everywhere so
> embrace them and you'll soon find them easy to negotiate.
And soon after, you'll start thinking "these are brilliant, why don't we have them back home?"
But fingers crossed you don't encounter any mini-roundabouts with the 3-player game of chicken before you've had more general practice.
@@raindancer6111 most vehicles dont have them so no
Just found this - it's superbly enjoyable - thank you. I hope you have a lovelt time.
Bro nailed that roundabout and the little smile at 3:10 means he knows it!
Haha. Thanks for watching!
Recalling our trip to Scotland 27 years ago. Our rental was a manual, and it took about a day to get used to it all; even shifting became second nature. Remembering which side of the road to be on when turning right was a challenge, but the single-track roads in the more remote areas were really daunting…having to reverse uphill to give way to the oncoming vehicle! You’re right about this: Scotland is lovely and worth seeing by car.
You should only reverse uphill if the other vehicle is something large and difficult to maneuver. A forestry truck or somebody towing a caravan. Usually the downhill driver would reverse.
Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
@@RonTodd-gb1eo I was always taught to give way to the car climbing the hill. "Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass" From the Highway Code.
Thank you I stand corrected.@@Lily-Bravo
@@RonTodd-gb1eo That's OK. Where I live we have to put this into practice every day, hence my twitchiness!
I have driven in multiple countries, both left and rights. It’s easy….. no reason to be scared.
Not as hard as some people make it out to be. Thanks for watching!
Speak for yourself,my friend.
I am 69 years old in London and, successfully, drove for 43 years, mostly in and around the capital but I never fancied driving on the right-hand side.
One thing I have noticed in my life is that when someone is proficient at something they assume everyone else can do that same thing but that isn't the case. You could show me something practical 10 times and when you're gone,I still would not work it out. I got )% at both Woodwork and Technical Drawing at Grammar School. lol
What’s easy for one person isn’t for another. I’m sure there are plenty of things I find easy that you’d struggle with.
Loved every second of your video.
From Australia (where we also drive on the correct - left - side of the road) we did find some of the Scottish roads were a bit "tight" when we were there in 2019.
Your story has got me inspired to edit our trip - you have some great clips there.
Very heartwarming to see such a nice family enjoying your adventure together.
Thank you for the kind words. We love being able to look back at our travel videos and relive our trips! Thanks for watching.
Just enjoy your vacation. Don’t stress too much about driving. Some people find it easier than others to drive on the opposite side of the road. Great video and it’s beautiful up there too.😎👍
Hi Maria, Lucas, Griffin, and Truett! Glad you enjoyed your trip to Scotland, our for ever home. We have been here 10 years, I was in the military for 32 years, my wife of 48 years is Lorna she was a Nursing Sister. served mainly in the UK but did get a trip to Berlin plus 2 years in the Libyan desert at RAF El Adem 32 miles south of Tobruk in their Desert Rescue Team
Wow thank you for your service!
If you really want to see narrow roads then go to Beautiful Cornwall.
We will add it to our list! Thanks for watching.
New clutch, gearbox and wing mirrors required 😂
Or come to parts of Yorkshire and the lake District!
When I was little we went to Cornwall and the roads were tiny. Clearly nothing’s changed.
Yep some of our lanes in Cornwall are only wide enough for one car...reversing skills come in handy 😊
It's the first few seconds that have the greatest impact on you. The feeling that you're going to run headlong into oncoming traffic is palpable. Fortunately, this feeling does not last long, and you soon get used to it. The steering wheel being on the other side of the car is a a constant reminder. Accidentally walking up to the wrong side of the car to get in, well, that's another matter. I was still doing it for weeks.
Thanks for you positive overall experience visiting our beautiful country.
Driving on the 'wrong side' of the road can be nerve wracking when you first try it, but it soon becomes second nature. What I found hard, with a manual, was that I kept hitting my hand on the door as I was used to the gear stick being on the left. More importantly, my instinct when a collision is likely is to pull left ... that tends to take you into real trouble.
The really hard bit, though, is reading road signs in languages where even the letters are difficult to read. It's very easy to get lost when even the names of the towns are written in ways that don't make any sense to someone who doesn't speak the language.
The roads aren’t tight, you just think they are.
Thanks for watching!
You get used to it. I lived in France for a decade, drove to the UK often. I had a mantra - 'drive in the Chris ' when the switch was needed. So the time in CA was no real stress.
You did fine.
Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
Driving on the other side of the road is a brain/memory changer! I felt the same when in Orlando for a fortnight and being able to turn right at a junction while the lights were still red and as long as there are no on coming traffic!
Driving on the other side of the road is no problem mostly. The only time I’ve had a problem is when I was tired and forgot. I’ve done this while travelling and when coming back after a trip.
My first time driving outside the UK was in Lanzarote (Spain). Took about an hour to get used to the road layout and all controls being on the wrong side of car and that was it! Up into the mountains and valleys, driving over a volcano and all kinds of stuff like that, no problem! ...and no easy AUTOMATIC option either!! Ha ha!
Yeah that sounds really hard and scary!
Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
Yeah that sounds really hard and scary!
Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
you shoul dhave familiarised yourself with the controls BEFORE driving off in the first place. Whilst driving is not the time to do it.
@@mariahoulihan9483 Yaaaaawn!
So very well done on this Folks!
Glad you liked what you saw of our island and that your driving experience was not too bad apart from the tyre (tire) incident. Love this!
Thanks for watching! We LOVED Scotland and would back in a heartbeat. It was absolutely gorgeous.
9:39-10:01
Your baby is sooooo cute. While I was watching him, I couldn't concentrate on anything else!
Great use of a drone. Really shows the scenery.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Well done guys. You did great, and I hope you enjoyed your tour of Scotland and didn't get eaten alive by the midges. We have to go through exactly the same period of adjustment when we visit family in San Francisco from the UK, but I admit our roads are narrower, and especially if you're driving a camper van.
We absolutely loved our time in Scotland. Definitely was sad to leave. The midges were still out. But we made the best of it. Thanks for watching.
As you are driving a right hand drive van it is much easier than driving on the opposite side of the road in your own car. When you do that it is much harder to see and judge where you are in the road. Also the roads you described as narrow are two way. You should try driving down some of the narrow roads in Devon which are single track with passing places. I hope you enjoy your trip wherever you decide to go.
@@stephenwest9757 Yep. Roads in South Devon are something else, aren't they! You can always tell who the visitors are.
@@stephenwest9757 I grew up in a farming area in mid Devon. The roads were only just big enough for a lorry or bus to go through. The hedges were 5 foot high. The road even had grass growing in the middle of it. It was 3 miles front the nearest village and 10 miles from the nearest supermarket.
Best wishes
You did a great job with it, just remember the more times you do something the easier it gets. I spent 2 years in Gibraltar driving on the right and every time I came home which was 2-3 times a year I would have relapses where I would go into auto mode and drive on the wrong side but not for long as something always made me think. Apart from that what did you think of the UK?
We loved it! Definitely planning another trip this summer.
You handled that first roundabout really well, top marks.
You did so well, it's stressful driving in other countries and with different road systems, it's actually quite hard driving in new towns where you may not understand the traffic flow.....am so pleased you enjoyed your trip. Scotland is beautiful x
We loved Scotland!
I live in Scotland and in the countryside so i drive the narrow single lane roads and i have never gotten used to it, its still terrifying. I love Germany, its my favourite place to visit. I hope you enjoyed your holiday (Vacation 🤣) 🏴
I recently did a road trip around the highlands, I found the roads better than England where I'm from... I've yet to do the west coast though...
Felt for you guys watching this. I had reverse experience in Canada many yrs ago. Left parking lot and right onto 'wrong' side of road. Lucky no traffic but friend near had heart attack.😂
You dont like roundabouts? I reckon they're safer than those 4 way stops. Hope y'all had a great trip?!
Roundabouts are just not as common where we’re from on the US. But we have come to like them since living in Germany. Thanks for watching!
Glad you enjoyed the experience. I taught my wife to drive in the North of Scotland in 1979. She did not like those loose gravel single track roads, as she could not judge the passing places with lack of experience. In those days there were Ferries over the Lochs and rivers, usually with a welcoming man playing a Bagpipe to keep the tourists happy.
think your wife would find it hard if she drove in the Aussie out back so many dirt roads.
Glad you rose to the challenge; glad you enjoyed it; so glad you enjoyed Scotland. It's my favourite part of the UK; especially the west coast and the outer Hebrides. A lot of their roads are single track with passing places for when two vehicles meet. We have the Lake District on our doorstep which is also beautiful to visit. Great vlog!!!😊😊
Thanks! We loved visiting Scotland. It’s been our favorite country.
Just a side note. It’s illegal to have anything mounted in the center of the windscreen (windshield) in the UK. The main 3 quarters of the screen must be kept clear of any visual obstruction. Mount the satnav/phone to the right side of the dash. It’s easier to operate there anyway. Great vid. Enjoyed it
Well said, I saw a car the other day with a mini tablet in the middle of the windscreen, definitely blocking the view ahead.
It's nice to find your channel, as an English driver myself I would always suggest the following to out of country driver. Always line up the bottom of the right hand A pillar (bottom of the windscreen) on the driver side with the centre line of the road , this will place you perfectly on the road. Back home in the USA I bet it would be the same for you guys but opposite have you tried looking at it?
That is a good tip. That should work. Thanks for watching
I drive in France a lot and find that after 20mins it all feels normal, when i get back to the UK I have the same experience but in reverse, it really doesnt take long to get used to it.
From this video it looks like you both aced it and were able to enjoy the experience. Hope you enjoyed your time in Scotland/UK.
I drove in France some years ago, and driving out of the ferryport at St. Malo onto the French road system was interesting. Did get used to it, though, maybe too much, as when we returned to the UK I drove out of the ferryport and into the right hand lane! Shouts of alarm from the family! Fortunately it was Sunday evening and the roads were quiet. 😁
I have made a like experience. I am from Germany. I drove for about a week in the UK many years ago. The things I found strange:
1. to move the stick (not automatic) with the left. That made me feel like a beginner again;
2. to change my pattern of wide (to the right) and narrow (to the left) curves;
3. to get on the left lane when entering from an "unmarked" road.
I had very few to no problems when I was in denser traffic which constantly reminded me of the right (left) side to drive on. And no problems with roundabouts. That was because In Germany we didn't have too many at the time. They have become very frequent over the last decade.
In the end it was more difficult to re-learn existing routines than to pick up new ones like doing roundabouts.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I can relate to what you said. Thanks for watching!
Being from the UK, I am used to driving on the left and the driver being on the right. I have driven in France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and found no problem at all with driving on the other side of the road (both in left and right-hand drive vehicles). I agree totally with feeling like a beginner again the first time I drove a left-hand drive manual car.
The roads are narrow in the countryside, so that they blend as best as possible into their natural surroundings and the beautiful countryside is not scarred by huge, unnecessarily wide strips of concrete everywhere, like in the USA.
That's not the reason at all, most time it's not possible for wider roads, which is why you get extremely narrow roads. A lot of the land is privately owned also
@@AlainnCorcaigh Yep!
It really isn't. You know nothing
Nope. Most country roads used to be cart tracks, they were there hundreds of years before the invention of the car. England is an old country and most towns, like my own have been around since the Middle Ages.
Plus its cheaper. Why build an expensive road when your old narrow track keeps up with the need?
I can sympathise. When I've driven in France and Spain is not too bad on 'normal' roads, but once I was in a town with traffic everywhere it was a nightmare!
The "Place De L'etoile (Arc de Triumph) and the Champs Elyse can be interesting.
Roundabouts are a good way of managing merging traffic there designed to keep traffic flowing just to remember to give way to traffic approaching from the right and keep moving where possible and only stop if there is traffic to your right
A good tip that we’re taught when learning to drive is to keep the car in the middle of your lane so if you see a lorry coming the other way as long as their in the middle of their lane and your in the middle of yours you will be all good
However if it’s a road with no lane markings and narrow then you may need to drive in the middle of the road occasionally to see what’s up ahead and drive at a comfortable speed for you then if there’s a car coming the other way slow down if it’s really narrow you may even need to move to a space on the left and stop and wait for the other car to go past and on some roads it may only fit one car but be a two way road in that case you may need to reverse until you find a space on the left to stop
Just to add , the roads in Scotland especially in the Highlands and Islands are superb compared to those in the rest of the UK , where they are appalling . Any harsh words spoken after the tyre incident ? Beautiful baby.
Glad you enjoyed our country .
No harsh words from our rental company. Thanks for comment.
As a Brit, the first time I drove in Germany the hire company wanted to "upgrade" me to an automatic. I insisted on a manual (stick shift) as I had never driven an automatic and had enough to deal with driving on the right! Changing gear with the right hand took no time to get used to. I find having a local car helpful to remind me which side of the road to drive on but have got very used to driving in Europe in my UK spec car over the years. I would love to visit and drive in the US.
I have driven in the UK several times but only with a left steering car. The stick shift on the "wrong" side is what frightens me most if I need to rent a car.
Hertz gave me a discount once because they only had a stick shift 👍
@@IPADGETT I rented transporters several times. Once they only had an automatic and they asked if I could drive with it and if I would accept that 🙂.
Thanks for sharing and watching!
When I was forced to learn an automatic I adapted faster than I thought. Even though I change gears without consciously thinking I realised in the end that I did feel better in an automatic - there's some sort of mental effort going on with a manual even if it's not an obvious one. On motorcycles this is much more obvious - automatic scooters are more relaxing to ride than bikes with gears and clutches.
The little guy's face @9:49 just brightened up my day ☺
I'm from southern England and the wife and I did a driving tour around west Scotland. Up to Newcastle then get off the motorway and go through the Northumberland national park up to Edinburgh. Been driving since 17 so 43 years and this road in a stick shift, sport chassis car has got to be one of the best driving experiences ever. In fact, once you go from Stirling, up through Glencoe (this is an absolute must for scenery) to Fort William. Some of the best driving you can do.
Just remember in the the highlands, when the road says "SLOW" they really mean it. They are not joking or trying to be nice. Hairpin bends, hidden summits (where you can't see the top of the hill until you are off the ground going over it if you are going too fast. Met a range rover with middle of his tyres at my eye level coming the other way. Really fun driving.)
Roundabouts in the UK are easy. You do not have the right of way when you approach. The car on the roundabout on your right does. He has right of way and you have to wait till they pass and your right is clear before you can enter the roundabout. Then you have the right of way. Mainland Europe, France, etc. It is the opposite which scares the bejusus out of me.
05:12 - yeah, that's not the back roads. That's the main road, that's the highway. That's the main trunk route from central Scotland up to the north-west.
That's it right there, where all the traffic is.
We definitely saw the real back roads while in the isle of Skye!
@@trailblazinpeppers Yeah, I grew up on Skye and recognised a lot of the bits of road.
Now consider that those single-track roads with passing places are *technically* "National Speed Limit" roads, so 60mph...
@@erroneousboshI live on Skye and was at nearly 60 on a straight bit of single track road today. You could see a mile ahead that nothing was coming so why not? People not used to them can be a pest. Locals adjust speeds so that they pass each other still moving. Some tourists come to a stop just before the passing place and wait till you've come to stop before they move again. Others pull into the passing place even if it's on the right for them - a passing place is just a very short bit of wider road, keep to the left.
@@carelgoodheir692Yes, I know :-) We're locals, we drive like locals.
In Britain and Ireland you'll be driving on the left-hand side of the road. Why that side? Originally, it was in order for you to drive defensively…with your "sword hand" on the inside to protect you against unknown oncoming horsemen.
Well done guys. Loved the driving
1st time i drove on the right i was worried i'd mess up but it wasn't that bad. i think what helped was that sitting on the other side of the car was a constant reminder to my muscle memory that this was a different environment so keep concentrating. i wonder if it's worse if i drove my own right hand drive car in europe.
You chose a good place to learn to drive on the OTHER (not "wrong") side of the road. Britain is beautiful and Scotland is an absolute jewel of incredible landscapes. [6:14] I love the look of fear on Lucas's face when he announces turning over control to Maria.
Some history to add to some of the comments I've seen about the "right" and "wrong" side of the road. Don't worry it's a very abridged version. The reason that I read many years ago for why we drive on the left in the UK is because back when everyone rode horses and carried a sword it was assumed (correctly) that most people used a sword with their right hand. So if you ride on the left and someone coming in the opposite direction tries to attack you from their horse you will have your sword hand facing their sword hand. In other countries they decided that you should ride on the right in order to make it harder to attack with your right hand. So in short, we ride (drive) on the left for offensive purposes and others ride (drive) on the right for defensive purposes. Note that whether you are a left-hand drive country or right-hand drive country the driver's side will always be in the middle of the road. Drivers going in opposite directions will always face each other as they pass.
Ok, so for back roads, check out the 'Applecross pass'
As a UK citizen driving on the right is alien to me but the first time I drove on the “wrong” side of the road in France it just meant concentrating a little more and it wasn’t a problem after a couple of miles.
You made me laugh, which is never easy! Well done for that and making a fun watchable video!
Just watched your video. We had a few qualms too the first time we drove in France. Thanks for showing us how you got on. Glad your OK now with driving on the left. You'll think nothing of it when you come here again. The scenery you drove though was beautiful. Hope you had a great holiday here in the UK and we see you all again. Love from the UK
We absolutely loved our trip! Can’t wait to go back. Thanks for watching and commenting. It really helps with promoting our video. Please make sure to subscribe for future videos. -Lucas and Maria
Many roads in the UK have potholes. So you are not alone with that experience. I live in the UK and potholes have given me a flat tyre too.
I was very discouraged when I got the flat tire. I decided the deicing wasn’t for me. I’m too anxious of a person.
yes and 2 new front shocks 2 bottom links 2 springs 2 track control arms
@pjcat3522
> Many roads in the UK have potholes. So you are not alone with that experience.
> I live in the UK and potholes have given me a flat tyre too.
And very appositely for this video, a joke I heard fairly recently:
"In the UK we used to drive on the left. Now we drive on what's left."
I once sat in the passenger seat of a taxi abroad. Seats, wheel and traffic all mirrored. I didn't feel tripped out. I adjusted immediately.
Everyone is different. Thanks for watching!
Nice video, First time i drove in the US i was terrified not gonna lie, but after a day or two it just seemed to come naturally. 1st time at crossroads turning right on a Red i got loads of honks as i wasn't aware of the rules 😜😂. The only thing i still struggle with when i drive there is a lot of the trafic lights are above you in the middle rather than on a pole at the side, i remember driving a Dodge Charger (which was lovely to drive BTW) which had a narrow windscreen and made it hard to see when the lights changed. Overall i've found most drivers in the US to drive in a sensible way (not too many boy racers as here is the UK) and apart from honking the horn a lot, you seem to be very courteous on the road
When I moved to Germany I had little trouble adapting to driving on the right, even with my right-hand drive car. It took me a little longer to get used to driving on the left again, but only a day or two and I was fine.
I think it was sensible of you to get an automatic, as you said, one less thing to think about, so you can concentrate on road position, etc.
I really dont know why you guys find it so hard to drive over here.
We have to do the same when we drive anywhere out side of the UK 🇬🇧, europe 🇪🇺 they all drive on the left and we just get on with it.
But well done 👏
Thanks for watching!
Not quite true, EU members Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪, Malta 🇲🇹 and Cyprus 🇨🇾 all drive he same as us. Unfortunately in the 60s Sweden 🇸🇪 and Iceland 🇮🇸 switched sides to the majority.
great to see you embracing the UK driving. As a Brit I do find it strange how you guys freak out but thats because us Brits when travelling Europe always have to drive on the otherside and eventually its no big deal but I get it 🤣
Hello all. For someone not used to left hand driving you’re not doing to bad. I was in a similar situation when after driving in the UK from 1968 I was sent by employer for 6 months work on Staten Island (NY) in 1994. I arrived into Newark (NJ) at 8:00 o’clock after leaving home at 5:00 a.m. to be greeted by my new boss. Me & my colleague were taken to hire a car each and it was straight on to the freeway in the dark and ice driving an automatic for the first time. Then a drive to our hotel on Staten Island, I’d never been there before, never driven in any country than the UK. I had one advantage, I had been on several US holidays on coach tours.
Most UK drivers have their first experience driving on the right is in Europe in their own car. That is much harder, their car is easy and its usual. Suddenly they must drive on the other side! For me I was driving on the other side of the road but at least my rental was built for driving on that side of the road.
Wow that must have been so scary. I think you are right about driving in a car built for that side makes it easier. That is what I have seen other viewers say too. Thanks for watching!
The 1st time I drove in the US was on holiday to Orlando, we picked up our rental car at the airport, the airport exit almost takes you straight onto the freeway. It was 8 in the evening and was already dark. The house we had rented was about 60 mins from the airport. I think the hardest thing to get used to, especially in the dark, was to get to the house you had to drive about 500 yards past it, make a U turn into fast traffic so you could then turn right into the small housing estate. We have visited Canada a few times recently and hired an RV, so much easier, no where near as much traffic, plus they have the odd roundabout. Only problem we found was when the Sat Nav took us down the odd logging trail.
Imagine how us Brits feel driving in literally ANY OTHER COUNTRY! But it's easy, if you're a good driver it becomes second nature after a while. Obviously driving a car you're not used to compounds the nerves. Good luck & enjoy it!
Thanks for watching! I think after a day it became fairly easy. Our first experience riding on the left was in Malta. I think Scotland seems better to drive in than Malta.
yer but av just realised its an automatic, so simple
What do you mean? About a third of the world's population drives on the left (don't forget India etc).
Of course everyone knows America is the centre of the universe 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I don’t know about that. 😂 Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
Where I live in Southern England I can start a journey driving on the left, catch a fast ferry to France and be driving on the 'wrong' side of the road 2 hours later, then catch a ferry back home in time for supper.
A simple tip . the white lines in the centre of UK roads all have meanings, including showing the width of the available cariageway. Look it up in the Highway Code, available online and in print.
What is the fear of roundabouts, so much safer than the dangerous four way stop , or even traffic lights.
One very good idea from the USA which should IMHO be copied elsewhere is the distinction between white and yellow lane markings. A yellow line separates you from traffic moving in the opposite direction, i.e. towards you! Solid, broken or double white lines are also effective but the contrasting colour adds a layer of safety.
@@andrewmarshall9340 Yellow already has other meanings in the UK . The materials used for road markings are under continuous developement for effectiveness. In my driving life they have changed from simple white paint, to a hot mix application which includes retro reflective materials and more recently a textured finish that makes a noise when you drive on the line.
One hour after driving nonstop in Scotland in a manual gearbox car shifting manually with the left hand stopped being an issue.
What really bugged me and never stopped being a source of stress for me was the rural single lane roads! Those are nuts!
I get being nervous, but as a Scot, I’ve driven in both Europe and the US. I’ve even driven in LA. Now that was terrifying! The roads are just so big!! I personally think that if you’re a reasonably confident driver and comfortable behind the wheel, it’s really not that much of a leap. But I think the weirdest driving experience I’ve had was driving a car from here, so right hand drive, on roads in Europe. I think that’s more disorienting still because nothing is where you expect it to be!
I've taken my UK car to France a few times and that's definitely harder to adjust to than driving on the right with a car designed for it. But even so it only takes a half day or so.
Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
Put a sticker on your left side mirror and just say to yourself "YOU ALWAYS KEEP THAT STICKER NEAR THE KERB".The worst thing is coming out of a fuel station or a junction when the road is empty. On single file roads,use the passing places ON YOUR LEFT...
That is a great tip! Thanks for watching!
Junctions on quiet roads were the places I went in the wrong lane a few times the first time I drove on the other side as well.
Having driven on both sides of the road, here and in the US and Europe I can tell you, that you will soon get over it just takes time, and it becomes just another talent...when you switch again it only takes a few minutes for your head to adjust...good luck and enjoy...
Well done 👏
Thank you! Cheers!
For me as a Brit driving in, say, France, the danger starts just after you feel that you've got comfortable driving on the other side of the road. That's when you'll make a mistake or two when coming out of a car park or going through some odd road setup. I've also done the opposite when returning to the UK, under unusual circumstances I found myself at a crossroads but with my car on the right.
There's even a danger on one way systems. Pull over politely to let the youths on motorcycles past you, and, because you didn't in fact pull over, you pulled out, die of embarrassment because they think you have just deliberately been a complete asshole. I was lucky not to have caused an accident that would have been completely my fault.
You're absolutely right.
It's when you relax and think "I've got this", that is when you turn into a quiet side road and drive on the wrong side.
At least you are used to European road signs having lived in Germany.
Yes that definitely helps. Thanks for watching!
I have driven for many years in different countries and never found the left/right switch the slightest problem. What is tricky is that driving in Europe the standard lane width is 3m as opposed to 11 feet in UK and US. 3 M is ever so slightly narrower but it is very noticeable straight away.
Your not driving on the wrong side of the road Your driving on the correct side for the country You are in
FYI, it’s illegal to have anything in the swept area of the windscreen. If the police spot your phone on the windshield it’s a £100 fine.
I noticed that too.
Interesting. As in 'swept' you mean the area covered by the wipers. That's where the sucker for my phone holder has been for over ten years. So my phone is just above the dashboard.
Although I did notice that for my last MOT in April they took the holder off the windscreen.
hahahha I totally get what you are experiencing. I've been driving in UK for about 5 months now and it's still scary and weird !!
Glad you get it! It was definitely a crazy task for us. Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps with promoting our video. Please don’t forget to subscribe. -Lucas and Maria
In that case, perhaps you might think about NOT driving at all. It takes most furriners I know about ten minutes to get used to it.
A great humble video. Thank you guys!
Thanks so much for watching!
Well done guys - you came, you saw, you drove. What really impressed me though was that it was DRY in Fort William! Last year I took our 3.5 ton motorhome to Fort William and I would have been better off in a boat. Superb scenery though and at least the rain kept the midges down.
Our weather was so great on our whole trip! We had a great time. The midges were crazy though.
What you call back roads we call main roads.
Haha. Well we definitely drove on some real back roads when we drove in the isle of skye. Thanks for watching!
Don't be scared we don't have guns here 😂😂
Nice! Thanks for watching!
Definitely do lol. There's 2 million legally owned guns in the UK. And as a serving police officer I have stopped several people that hold firearms licenses!
It's not common but it's definitely the case. There is a shop around the corner from my house that sells live ammunition and real guns. They do clay pigeon shooting every Sunday morning as well. I don't live in the "countryside" in the middle of "nowhere" either - I live on the outskirts of London.
Don't worry about not driving... it makes the UK officially a safer place to be 😂
❤ from Northeast England ❤️
I will gladly not drive. It wasn’t for me.
I drove in the states (I'm from the UK) and I didn't find it difficult. I did have an automatic though which I think probably helped even though I usually drive a manual.
Well done guy's & what you call highway's we call motorway's ? & if you can do somewhere near the speed limits on the roads then you won't get to many irate driver's honking at you ? ATB Wayne UK...........PS it gets easier with time...........
Thanks for watching!
It always amuses me when I see Americans on UA-cam freak out about driving in the UK. Strangely visitors from Australia, Japan, East indies, Thailand, Indian sub-continent, South Africa, many sub Saharan countries and many Caribbean islands including the U S Virgin Islands do not have any problems. Admittedly when I visit the US, I do find it easier driving on the right hand side of your wide and straight roads. I think Americans find it difficult understanding our polite nuances and customs when driving especially giving way to on-coming traffic.
Thanks for watching!
@johnr7769: Visitors from places like Australia and Japan don't have any problems because they drive on the left in their Countries!!
Have you had positional awareness problems in America? I drove on the continent and in the UK on a regular basis and didnt actually have any of these problems it was more after a period where I got comfortable again at which ever it was (right or left) I might turn onto the wrong side of the road, but even that was only a couple of times in 6 years. I drove in the States once too for a week or so, the main problem there was remembering to look up for traffic lights. find a car park (preferably empty) and practice a bit, it will at least help with your expected nervousness after your little off road trip, and help you get used to the car/van without having to worry about everything else at the same time. if you are still in Scotland (doubt it just noticed how long ago this was posted) have a great time smashing place I lived there for 6 years in the 80's.
Thanks for watching.
When you get home, go to Carmel Indiana. The road system is virtually devoid of traffic lights and are replaced with multiple roundabouts! Apparently there is no road congestion now and they have saved thousands of $ on repair and replacement of lights, cut down fuel emissions and businesses have improved! Actually the Mayor studied at Cambridge University!