Not really zed related but always had this question. As I am over the pond as you Brit's say in the States. And we drive on the other side of the road and we have left hand drive cars. Being my dominate hand is right how easy or challenging would it be to learn to shift with my left hand? My guess is that if you are taught that way. ie are British etc it comes natural to you even if right handed? Hope to one day visit your country to see the wonders it has to offer. And if I do travel yes first time driving over there on the left side probably scare the crap out of me.
Americans and Right hand drive?
- Thread starter rdm05z4
- Start date
Hi there 
I moved in the UK from Germany. I drove only twice here (both times test driving a z4
) and I was doubtful and scared as you. I can tell you that although it didn't give me the same satisfaction, it takes just like 10 minutes to get confident shifting with the left.
What is weird is not only the gear shifting, but also looking at the wrong side when you try to reverse, or trying to reach the seatbelt with your right hand without finding it
I moved in the UK from Germany. I drove only twice here (both times test driving a z4
) and I was doubtful and scared as you. I can tell you that although it didn't give me the same satisfaction, it takes just like 10 minutes to get confident shifting with the left.What is weird is not only the gear shifting, but also looking at the wrong side when you try to reverse, or trying to reach the seatbelt with your right hand without finding it
Attleborough, Norfolk
It'll seem odd at first, but practice will help. The dominant hand thing is not really that relevant. I am left-handed, learnt to drive in the UK, but have driven many vehicles in less educated parts of the world where they don't understand the etiquette of passing on the left and after a few thumps of the door, you soon learn to switch to the other side.rdm05z4 said:
Of course, over here in the UK, we still ride out to joust on our horses, and as everyone knows, it is a sign of trust to pass on the left as it means your sword arm is not free to swing at your opponent, and your shield is not between you and them.
In less civilised countries, the increasing popularity of the pistol means a drive-by is possible from either side
I have driven RHD cars in Europe on holiday and I bought a LHD car from Germany which I used for a year in the UK before bringing it to Spain and now I have a RHD in Spain which I have had for over a year now. I don't have any issues switching sides we have in the house both the Zed which is RHD and a Ford which is LHD and I have no issues switching between the two back to back even. It took me about a week to get totally comfortable with the the RHD Zed in Spain and now I can drive it just as fast as I would any LHD car only thing being that you have to be more careful with roundabouts junctions and when overtaking on country lanes. I am left handed but also do a lot of things with my right hand, maybe that is why I have no issue switching but I knows others do struggle.
Getting used to the pedals being the other way around is harder.....
One of my classics (all right hand drive UK cars) has the gear lever between the seat and the door so shifting with right hand - felt a bit odd the first time but no more so than remembering to use your left foot on the clutch changing between manual and auto cars in the family fleet.
Amazed you're the first to say it.. its always the pedals that bother me most when i hire a car abroadRockhopper said:Getting used to the pedals being the other way around is harder.....
The first time I drove a LHD was in BC (Canada) - It was my wifes aunts car, a mini of all things. I drove it the day after a long flight from the UK and I soon got used to the gearshift on the Right but I remember it took me longer to adapt to looking up the wrong way to the mirror without the temptation to look at the road on the left.
Just do things slowly when you do start driving on the left rdm05z4 and if you have a passenger get them to say "DRIVE ON THE LEFT" and just be careful setting off from car parks/ petrol stations/ restaurants when the concentration is lower..
Us Brits often have the same thing to get used too during trips to Europe each year!
Oh - and hire an Auto
Just do things slowly when you do start driving on the left rdm05z4 and if you have a passenger get them to say "DRIVE ON THE LEFT" and just be careful setting off from car parks/ petrol stations/ restaurants when the concentration is lower..
Us Brits often have the same thing to get used too during trips to Europe each year!
Oh - and hire an Auto
North West Surrey
I've driven quite a few times in hire cars in the US, but never had a manual one anyway so you could always rent an Automatic - which is probably what most of your fellow countrymen drive at home! (Even if you know better).
But you do need to be careful. Back in the 80s I worked for an insurance company handling motor claims and we insured a few rental companies. I can remember a few incidents involving overseas visitors having collisions because they were on the wrong side of road!
There was a high profile case recently where a former CIA operative drove on the wrong side of the road and killed a 19 year old on his motorcycle then high-tailed it back to the US and claimed Diplomatic Immunity, which has generated loads of column inches in the press and TV coverage.
But we'd still be happy to see you if you do visit some time!
I've always found it easier to drive an LHD car in Europe than a RHD one as sitting on the other side makes you realise everything is different! And I'm left-handed. :lol:
But you do need to be careful. Back in the 80s I worked for an insurance company handling motor claims and we insured a few rental companies. I can remember a few incidents involving overseas visitors having collisions because they were on the wrong side of road!
There was a high profile case recently where a former CIA operative drove on the wrong side of the road and killed a 19 year old on his motorcycle then high-tailed it back to the US and claimed Diplomatic Immunity, which has generated loads of column inches in the press and TV coverage.
But we'd still be happy to see you if you do visit some time!
I've always found it easier to drive an LHD car in Europe than a RHD one as sitting on the other side makes you realise everything is different! And I'm left-handed. :lol:
Never give it a thought. Just get in and drive over on the continent. I think a lot of us Brits are in the same position. Every one else around us drives on the left, so we soon get the hang of it or stay home. 
I flew up to Edinburgh with a US field engineer I though I knew well. Let him drive us from the airport. Went well untill he drove the wrong way around a round about in Dunfirmline.
Never got in a car with him behind the wheel again. :lol:
I flew up to Edinburgh with a US field engineer I though I knew well. Let him drive us from the airport. Went well untill he drove the wrong way around a round about in Dunfirmline.
Never got in a car with him behind the wheel again. :lol:I spend 6 months of the year driving on the left and 6 months driving on the right. You soon get used to it. However, I do it in my own right hand drive cars. I’m not a lover of driving left hand drive cars and if we have to hire one for any reason my wife drives as she doesn’t find it a problem. So the answer to your problem is hire an automatic or get your wife to drive!
You easily adjust after a while.
I moved from the UK to Portugal and drove both left hand and right hand cars there. Didn’t even notice when switching from one to another.
Also then drove a left hand drive car back to the UK for a holiday and that was fine to. It’s just what you get used to.
I moved from the UK to Portugal and drove both left hand and right hand cars there. Didn’t even notice when switching from one to another.
Also then drove a left hand drive car back to the UK for a holiday and that was fine to. It’s just what you get used to.
ronk said:............and just be careful setting off from car parks/ petrol stations/ restaurants when the concentration is lower..
True, I made a boo boo whilst driving on the continent.... leaving a Police station car park on the wrong side of the road, they do like their horns over there!
But the gear change / stick shift thing never bothers me and weirdly think I take longer adjusting when I get home, again it's probably a concentration thing.
for me it’s going to the drivers door to get in but then realise it’s left hand drivemr.tourette said:Amazed you're the first to say it.. its always the pedals that bother me most when i hire a car abroadRockhopper said:Getting used to the pedals being the other way around is harder.....
mr.tourette said:Amazed you're the first to say it.. its always the pedals that bother me most when i hire a car abroadRockhopper said:Getting used to the pedals being the other way around is harder.....
:? I'm assuming you're taking the p?ss. The pedals are in the same order on both RHD & LHD cars.
I find it takes me about 30 minutes or so of driving to get used to the LHD whilst abroad. I do tend to go for automatics but have driven manuals a few times without much issue tbh. I must admit thought to reaching to my left on several occasions reacing for the handbrake & banging my hand on the door card :wink:
It takes a little getting used to, but you manage it.
My first time driving a lhd car muscle memory made me punch the doorcard a few times, but its easy enough to switch over, no problems now.
I find it harder if the drive of the vehicle doesnt match the side of the road... rhd on roads where you drive on the right is a bit weird but ok- you just position yourself as if you're overtaking. But lhd when driving on the left is proper strange, feels like you're way too close to hedgerows on the left, temptation is to drift out into the middle of the road.
And as for driving on the continent, either stick a reminder to the steering wheel, or employ a wife to say 'stay on the right, give way to the left' when approaching any roundabouts :lol:
My first time driving a lhd car muscle memory made me punch the doorcard a few times, but its easy enough to switch over, no problems now.
I find it harder if the drive of the vehicle doesnt match the side of the road... rhd on roads where you drive on the right is a bit weird but ok- you just position yourself as if you're overtaking. But lhd when driving on the left is proper strange, feels like you're way too close to hedgerows on the left, temptation is to drift out into the middle of the road.
And as for driving on the continent, either stick a reminder to the steering wheel, or employ a wife to say 'stay on the right, give way to the left' when approaching any roundabouts :lol: