Have to hand it to you...!

[lfyost1]

I enjoy seeing the great photos associated with the various threads. It appears a strong majority of forum members are based in the UK based on the cockpit orientation. I have to say I'm terribly impressed with your ability to do the shifting with your left hands. I'd have no gearbox remaining if that task was my fate.
I've visited the UK twice and the Irish Republic once, renting vehicles each time and managed only by cross arm driving.
Cudos to the deserving!

Layne

 

[Ole gits rule]

It is how you are taught so it is second nature to us over here

I don't really have an issue when driving a left hooker

 

[Argyll Andy]

I don't really have an issue when driving a left hooker

Apart from when you come out the petrol station and 99% of the time go to the wrong side of the car to drive away :lol:

 

[brillomaster]

Ive been known to violently punch the doorcard when driving a left hooker :lol:

But you do get used to it quite quickly. You do need to watch for cars where they swap the pedals round too... :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

I don't really have an issue when driving a left hooker

Apart from when you come out the petrol station and 99% of the time go to the wrong side of the car to drive away :lol:

Common issue sadly…

Work colleague was working at US operation …pulled out of gas (fuel) station at night onto a deserted road..in the subsequent head on crash his wife who was in the car lost her right arm..severed completely in the crash..

Down in Suffolk US airforce based wife pulled out of petrol station on A14 dual carriageway at night..travelled 8 miles on the wrong carriageway then met lorry head on..strangely she lost that argument..

 

[Pondy]

I've never understood why 3/4 of the world drive on the right and the rest on the left. Surely sometime in the past, when there were only a few vehicles on the road, some people should have had a conversation and agreed on one side or the other globally (as long as was the left obviously). It must be a PITA for manufacturers if nothing else.
Wasn't it Sweden who changed from the left to the right some time ago? I bet that was fun for a while.

 

[Ole gits rule]

I don't really have an issue when driving a left hooker

Apart from when you come out the petrol station and 99% of the time go to the wrong side of the car to drive away :lol:

Actually years ago my mate lived in Germany and came home and pulled out from where I lived on to the wrong side of the road and in 20 years only once pulled out of a petrol station on the wrong side on the road.

Never had much of an issue otherwise

 

[Ole gits rule]

I don't really have an issue when driving a left hooker
[/quote]

Apart from when you come out the petrol station and 99% of the time go to the wrong side of the car to drive away :lol:
[/quote]

Common issue sadly…

Work colleague was working at US operation …pulled out of gas (fuel) station at night onto a deserted road..in the subsequent head on crash his wife who was in the car lost her right arm..severed completely in the crash..

Down in Suffolk US airforce based wife pulled out of petrol station on A14 dual carriageway at night..travelled 8 miles on the wrong carriageway then met lorry head on..strangely she lost that argument..
[/quote]

Not nice when that happens at all - its an instinctive reaction and no one can be blamed when it happens

 

[Ole gits rule]

I've never understood why 3/4 of the world drive on the right and the rest on the left. Surely sometime in the past, when there were only a few vehicles on the road, some people should have had a conversation and agreed on one side or the other globally (as long as was the left obviously). It must be a PITA for manufacturers if nothing else.
Wasn't it Sweden who changed from the left to the right some time ago? I bet that was fun for a while.

It was indeed - back in the 60's and I could just imagine the fun that was had for the next few months

 

[bigwinn]

Spent a lot of time in US and with American colleagues here in the UK- explaining roundabouts to them was brilliant

I used to make up reasons to go to Milton Keynes with them driving just for the fun of it

Still not sorry!

 

[Pondy]

I've never understood why 3/4 of the world drive on the right and the rest on the left. Surely sometime in the past, when there were only a few vehicles on the road, some people should have had a conversation and agreed on one side or the other globally (as long as was the left obviously). It must be a PITA for manufacturers if nothing else.
Wasn't it Sweden who changed from the left to the right some time ago? I bet that was fun for a while.

It was indeed - back in the 60's and I could just imagine the fun that was had for the next few months

Maybe that's why their cars have always been built to be strong in an accident (necessity, mother of invention and all that)

 

[buzyg]

I've never understood why 3/4 of the world drive on the right and the rest on the left. Surely sometime in the past, when there were only a few vehicles on the road, some people should have had a conversation and agreed on one side or the other globally (as long as was the left obviously). It must be a PITA for manufacturers if nothing else.
Wasn't it Sweden who changed from the left to the right some time ago? I bet that was fun for a while.

Apparently the Romans and others set the world to walking on the left, as they could draw their swords to defend themselves, with their right hands. Then some Frenchie, named Napoleon, made all his soldiers and subjects use the other side of the road. As he was a lefty and could defend himself better with his left hand. From that point on Europeans travelled on the right. Or so the story goes.

Personally I just get in and drive on the other side where required. Never given it much thought. Now speaking French, that I never could understand. :wink:

 

[Pondy]

pparently the Romans and others set the world to walking on the left, as they could draw their swords to defend themselves, with their right hands. Then some Frenchie, named Napoleon, made all his soldiers and subjects use the other side of the road. As he was a lefty and could defend himself better with his left hand. From that point on Europeans travelled on the right. Or so the story goes.

Seeing as I am left-handed, I shall start driving on the right from tomorrow then. I'll let you know how it goes (either from hospital or a police cell).

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I pulled out of a ‘gas station’ in LA and stopped at a set of traffic lights about 20m away. It was only when the lights changed and four lanes of cars facing me pulled away did I realise I was in the wrong side of the road

15 years later I drove 2000 miles around Europe in my Zed without a single issue until I exited the ferry port in Dover on the way back to London and went the wrong way around a roundabout.

 

[buzyg]

I pulled out of a ‘gas station’ in LA and stopped at a set of traffic lights about 20m away. It was only when the lights changed and four lanes of cars facing me pulled away did I realise I was in the wrong side of the road

15 years later I drove 2000 miles around Europe in my Zed without a single issue until I exited the ferry port in Dover on the way back to London and went the wrong way around a roundabout.

It's worse from the passenger seat. I foolishly let an American engineer, drive us from Edinburgh air port to Rosyth once. After he drove the wrong way around a round about, :roll: I took possession of the hire car keys for the rest of the trip.

 

[pvr]

I was taught with a LHD car and despite having spent much more time in RHD cars, when I drive back in Europe, it is far more natural for me. As I am right handed, the shifting feels much better with my right hand.

Also, I can drive through a narrow gap with a LHD car easlily, but can't do the same with a RHD. My perspective just does not work the same on a RHD car / road layout.

 

[Darkangelv2]

[youtube]https://youtu.be/0sleqE6dwHk[/youtube]

I enjoyed the various unique approaches to this new Kentucky roundabout!

 

[abar121]

I was taught with a LHD car and despite having spent much more time in RHD cars, when I drive back in Europe, it is far more natural for me. As I am right handed, the shifting feels much better with my right hand.

Also, I can drive through a narrow gap with a LHD car easlily, but can't do the same with a RHD. My perspective just does not work the same on a RHD car / road layout.

I remember my first time driving a LHD car. I smacked the door with my left hand at every junction, going for the handbrake!

After a while, I do prefer it, being right handed. But then I'd rather be on a motorcycle on either side!

Can't remember any problems at the pumps. There is almost always a little arrow next to the fuel gauge to tell you which side.

 

[abar121]

.

 

[beanie]

I found the sense of space was the thing that took the longest to feel natural with. Physically it wasn’t an issue, I could place the car without any real problem, but the sensation really took a while to get used to. Strange, when you think about it as we’ve all sat in the other seat as passengers, but once you’re given the task and responsibility of control, it changes everything.

After years of driving LHD I still have a slight preference for RHD as I prefer having my dominant hand on the wheel. That said, if a perfect LHD car came up, I wouldn’t let it put me off.