“How Fast?’ Top Tips For Visitors Driving In The UK
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- čas přidán 18. 10. 2017
- Hints and tips for visitors driving in the UK for the first time, especially from the USA. Read more about first time driving in England for Americans: www.flydriveexplore.com/travel...
Yes the car, especially the windscreen (windshield) does need a wash
Driving manual (stick shift) on the other side ‘wrong’ of the road and a strange parental theory.
How to cope with a roundabout and driving on a UK motorway for the first time. Things you can’t buy at a UK petrol station and what are the speed limits.
Watch out for the speed cameras, they seem to be all over the place and we all see a sneaky speed camera van.
Driving in the UK is not that different from driving in the USA but don’t use the horn!!!!
Don’t worry, as you can see driving in the UK is not that difficult.
‘Top Tips For Visitors Driving In The UK’ - Filmed October 2017
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My biggest tip for foreigners who are not used to our narrow roads is to drive slowly, don't allow yourself to be pushed by traffic behind into thinking you have to go faster than you feel comfortable with.
So true! I need to remember this as it’s such a pressure
Bloody hell, an Audi driver actually using his indicators! I am #amazed 😯
You have to request them as an optional extra on an Audi
Lol! 😅 now also available in BMW’s, Mercs and Jags.
Optional extras on all Audis and BMWs I think.
By law, in the UK, you can only drive a manual car if you have passed a test on a manual car. If you haven't and you drive a manual car your insurance will be invalidated.
Martin Evans - Possibly he normally drives a decent car and his brain has not been switched off when he got into the Audi, which is really only re-badged VW excrement.
A very good explanation of what it's like to drive in the UK . A few things he forgot to mention petrol or gas is sold in litres. Roughly 4. 5 litres to the gallon . So if a sign says £1.30p . Multiply by 4 to give a rough idea how much it costs per gallon . Side roads can be very narrow . So quite often we have to pull over to let someone through . If they do so for you, it is polite to give a wave to thank them as you pass . We have some signs painted on the road it's self . If there is a continues white lines , in the centre , it means you must not over take . Where there is a broken white line you may do so . Provided it is safe to do so . Zigzag lines just before crossing , you must not stop there. Stopping on motorway , only if your car breakdown . On ordinary roads there is a sign with black cross on it . It means not to stop until you see a second sign ahead with the same markings, which might be some miles . A very handy little booklet you may buy is called the , "Highway code " issued by the government which is full of good information . Speed limits , the national speed limit is 60 mph , on motorways 70 . In towns usually 30 , but less past schools and hospitals .
Thanks for the details, yes, the highway code is worth getting. Just for the US visitors, your gallons are slightly smaller (3.7 times a litre) than the larger UK imperial gallon. Even the gallons aren't the same.
You are talking about Imperial gallons. A US gallon is 3.875 liters.
In Manchester the most important thing for Americans to remember is that jay-walking is not an offence - so be on the lookout for idiots who walk out into traffic.
I like your point about moving to the left after overtaking on a motorway. A good many British drivers would do well to take note of this!
Good stuff. I'm considering driving during a visit to the UK in October and you've provided some great trips. Much appreciated.
It's not that bad once you've settled into it. Hope you have a good time in October.
What great video and a great idea. This is perfect for any traveler coming to the UK to drive for the first time. It was really informative for people to know how they should drive in the UK especially on the roundabout, the motorway, and the petrol station. It would be great to see more videos on how to drive in other countries too, we have been discussing driving in France and have no clue on the road rules there so that would be excellent idea for videos like you have done here.
Thanks for the comments. We drive across Europe quite a lot but have never thought of filming before. The rules in France are similar to the UK although it would be easier for US visitors as they drive on the right.
Nice driving guide. This is very useful. I'll remember this if i need to drive in UK. Good job.
Extremely helpful (and entertaining). I will be visiting from the US in September and this is, so far, the most useful video I’ve watched on driving. Thanks!
Thanks for the comments, just let us know if you have any specific questions. We will be in the visiting the USA in September, Finger Lakes.
Observing the speed limit too! #incredible
Thank you sir. Greatly appreciated. You are correct that in very rural areas in the States you may be surprised as to what you can purchase in a gas station/ convenience store.
Thanks, we're off to the USA very soon, looking forward to it, we're driving Route 66
Very useful! Thank you for breaking if down. Hope to visit the UK one day! :)
Hope you can visit one day.
Thanks for your videos! I’ll be moving to the UK from Germany and I am a bit worried about driving over there, but this video helped me a bit :)
Glad it was helpful, you'll quickly get used to driving on the other side of the road.
Good calm advice, not the usual panic stricken, over the top tourist rant.
Cheers
This should be required watching before renting a vehicle in the UK. The duck driving sign cracked me up.
I am forever amazed at what they sell in gas stations in the US.
Pickled eggs!
I’ve seen alligator & boudin sausage, and other questionable meats. Walk in beer coolers.
be there at Christmas/new year's time this is good simple and helpful. from Vancouver Canada.
Thanks - Glad it was helpful.
Very useful tips and suggestions, it can be a bit hard to get used to driving in the UK at first!
Yes it can take so getting used to, it can be worse when the traffic is busy and have no time to think ahead.
Interesting idea for a video but very useful. I’ll remember this when I travel there.
We thought it would be useful to show some real 'practical' tips about driving in the UK
There's no right or wrong side to drive on the road, as long as the steering wheel is on the appropriate side of the car. I'm from the UK and found it easy driving coast to coast in the US last year, after a couple of hours for my brain to adjust, I was completely comfortable driving on the right.
It was pleasing to see more roundabouts (traffic circles) cropping up in the US, this should improve traffic flow 👍🏻
Yes, you do quickly adjust when driving in the USA. Although as you mention it is difficult when you drive a car in a different country, like a UK car in Europe.
Agreed. The best piece of advice -- keep yourself toward the middle of the road, then it won't matter if you're driving on the left side in the UK or the right side elsewhere. You'll be correct if you always position yourself toward the middle of the road instead of thinking to keep left or right.
This is so helpful! I'm from the Philippines and it's left hand drive here. I'd be totally confused when I try driving in UK! But thanks for the tips! :)
Your brain quickly adapts although you'll probably walk to the wrong side of the car to get in.
I'm driving in Wales for the first time in a couple of weeks. This video has definitely calmed my nerves.
The automated speed traps are crazy! They're not that bad here in the US, yet.
You'll be fine, you'll quickly get used to driving on the left side of the road. Just make sure you are happy with a manual gearbox as most rental cars are not automatic like in the US. Watch those speed cameras especially the ones that now track average speed along the motorway.
Lots of good info. Wish I would have watched this before my trip To England. The round abouts were freaking me out lol Never really got used to driving on the left lol.
Having grown up with driving on the left it just feels natural, Although when renting a car in Europe or the USA I often try to get in the car on the wrong side.
I'm British and I've been driving for 35 years; I find the large multi-lane roundabouts terrifying!
Cool driving guide and that story from your Dad on why UK drives on the left. I have never experienced driving left or any of the countries that I have visited. Though this is a cool experience to have someday soon.
Although we laughed I think there is some truth in the story of why we drive on the left. Apparently that was the convention in riding before cars in most countries.
Totally the case. Most people are right-handed, so would hold their sword on the right. Most of the former Empire kept to driving on the left and driving on the right was, basically, a case of being belligerent - we're not in the Empire, so we'll be different (even though the left IS the correct side to be on!).
Unfortunately, no. That is not the reason. Please see my comments elsewhere about it. I'm a historian; the truth is much more arbitrary and boring than armies and soldiers. Countries in the 18th century suddenly had more roads and carriage traffic than they could deal with in a whatever-side-you-want world and so they simply picked a side to make uniform. UK made it left; France made it right.
Great Video by the way...
Cheers.
I can imagine that it's really hard for people coming from the USA. Our roads can be hard to navigate even for UK drivers
Those cars flying past you were unreal! Haha good to know that beeping means you want to kill someone...I use the horn on the regular in Australia lol. Our rules are pretty much the same by the looks of it.
Yes, beeping is one the most extreme things you can do. I've driven in Australia and it's pretty much the same.
Thank you for all the driving videos. I appreciate them a lot! You two are cute together. 😊
Cheers! Glad you like them.
all those hours playing euro truck sim 2 help me make sense of how to drive there. going to be there for spring break so I hope I dont break too many etiquette rules.
All those hours weren't wasted. I'm sure you'll get used to driving on the left side of the road.
I so wish I'd had this help when I was driving there.
It can be a bit confusing for first time drivers in the UK, usually busy and being on other side of the road.
I love this driving guide! I'm terrified of driving in Europe sine the US drives on the opposite side. This gives me a little more confidence :)
Yes, it's not that bad driving in the UK, you'll quickly get used to it. The rest of Europe is the same as the USA.
Oh really? I didn't realize it was only the UK that drove on the left side. Wow, good to know! For some reason, all these years, I thought it was all of Europe... now I'm not too terrified ;)
It''s only the Uk and few other countries Ireland, Australia, I think Japan and a few others.
Large parts of Africa drive on the left as well, basically all the countries that were part of the British empire.
In South Wales not many people look and the speed limit they look for speed camera sings and others to flash their lights especially in the capital of the valleys pothcawl. (I also live in South Wales)
I wish I had had your instruction for choosing lanes in the roundabout. I just stayed left and no one got outraged.
Think of it as a clock - If your exit is past 12 o'clock hug the inside till the exit before your exit then move left and then exit. If there is a 2 lane approach, keep left lane if less than 12 o'clock unless indicated otherwise take right hand lane if going past 12 o'clock.
Spinns my head why you still drive on the wrong side ;D Good intro!
The correct side of the road.
It's useful as we can still wield our swords to oncoming traffic! 🗡 🗡🗡
Lovely to hear another Welsh accent on youtube!
Thanks, there a couple of us around! 🏴
Important thing is learn the speed limit signs as we have two different types.
A red rimmed circle with a number in for example 30 , 40, 50 where the number is the speed limit in MPH.
OR
A white disc with a black diagonal line and no numbers. This is a 'National Speed Limit' sign and it means different things depending on what your driving and what kind of road.
Driving a car on a single lane road, that's one lane in each direction and see this sign then its 60mph.
Driving a car on a two lane road, two lanes or more in each direction and see this sign then it is 70mph but only if the road has a central reserve which is what Americans call a median.
If its a two lane road without a central reserve or central safety barrier then you treat it like a single lane road and drive at 60mph.
Just to confuse you.
Yes correct, I remember going over that on a speed awareness course. The 60 or 70 can be a bit confusing. If you are visiting and not sure, it may be better to err on the side of caution and go at 60.
You actually made it sound confusing,. Sixty unless central reservation then it's seventy
Number of lanes has no bearing on speed limit, a dual carriageway can only have one lane in either direction, the dual part refers to the number of separate carriageways not the number of lanes, a road is a dual carriageway if there is a physical barrier between the carriageways, this can be a kerb, a fence or crash barrier, or area of grass. If you can roll a ball from one side of a road to the other it is a single carriageway, if there is a barrier in the centre that stops the ball, it’s a dual carriageway.
Daryl: I drove a left sided stick shift all the way up the East Coast of South Africa earlier this year. (I only learned to drive stick in November of 2016.) It was one of my proudest moments as an American.
Well done, get those revs right up in the red!
For Some reason in the UK and Europe we just don't do automatics that much. You do get them but they are always regarded as a bit dull.
When I returned to the US last Spring the sheer volume of traffic and lack of transmission control scared the ____ out of me. One thing about driving in England that baffled me were the traffic lights before the roundabouts, especially in places around the South (Brighton, Hastings, etc.) Marcus - Are you going to be at WTM? If so, look forward to seeing you and having a chat.
Yes traffic lights on roundabouts are unfortunately getting more popular. Yes, we will be at WTM, see you there!
Well done. As a UK driver myself, I learnt in a manual and all my cars have been manual apart from the current one. I didn't know it was an automatic until I went to see it. Yes, you do find yourself trying to change gears and hit the clutch that isn't there....lol
Of course...the fuel pump handle colors are exactly the opposite too, just to cause more confusion.🤦🏻♂️
Very helpful, thanks! Esp. the segment on roundabouts. How about doing a video that explains all the various road signs? Like that one at 6:20? It's of two lanes, a bridge, with a red line through it...what the hell does that mean?!!
You'll get used to roundabouts quite quickly, basically going any direction left or straight on, keep left on approach and outside of roundabout. Going any direction right (inside of roundabout). Most busy and bigger roundabouts often have road markings and signs to tell you which lane to be in.
That blue sign you mention at 6:20, is when I left the motorway and simply means the end of motorway.
Thank you.
very informative video . I learnt a few things I did not know about . Right the right side lol !!! I like the scenery too.
If you do visit, just watch those sneaky Speed Cameras!!!!
My husband drove us through Ireland with no issues. I've been in the UK for work 4 times and took the train from London to Durham, and had a colleague who would pick me up from the hotel and drop me off 15 miles away at our facility.
However, this year there is some sort of engineering issue at Northallerton and in either direction I will be required to leave the train and transfer to a bus, which doesn't sound wonderful. For the first time I am contemplating renting a car, but I'm terrified. I navigate the insane highways and biways of Southern California, but tiny car on a narrow lane, or in the downtown proper of a village where I am afraid ill misinterpret signage or pavement markings and receive a ticket just siezes me up.
Currently the train service is not good. Driving does give you the flexibility but the roads are also busy. Saying that, when we go to the US and drive on the other side of the road, its amazing how quickly your brain adapts and you get used to it.
proper driver
This is very helpful. I just have one question... at 5:05 or so you mention that "unlike in America you can't undertake." Does this mean you can't move over and pass someone? Because of course, I see other cars in the video (to your right) passing you. Not trying to be picky, I just want to understand what I can't do here. Thanks so much!
Remember we are driving on the left. Slower cars / trucks stay left and you pass them on the right. Once you overtake, you must pull back in to the left. You shouldn't stay in the outer or middle lanes. The only exceptions are in traffic when the lanes are full or there is a dedicated lane which may be taking you off the motorway.
The most important thing American’s need to do before driving in the UK - book early, so you can hire an Automatic car, with a Sat Nav. That wasn’t a narrow road, come to Devon, I’ll show you narrow (or Pembrokeshire, where I used to live).
Sat Navs (GPS) can be a very mixed blessing though! Alright for finding a particular street address in a town or city, but if you follow their instructions too slavishly in unfamiliar rural areas you're very likely to end up on a series of those very narrow single-lane roads -- because Sat Navs tend to calculate the shortest route, as close to a bee-line as possible, rather than the most practical and sensible way of getting to a place. The UK has good road maps and generally good route signage (much more thorough than that in the US, anyway) so a few moments of good old-fashioned map study before you set off plus *thinking* about where you are going once you are on the road, rather than acting like one robot obeying another, will pay dividends!
I'm American and I prefer Manual Shift, but then I was stationed in the UK for 2 years and drove an 1985 Mini with 4 speed manual.
Driving on the left was never a problem for I took to it quite easily might have something to do with my family originally from England and Ireland. My problem is when I got back to North America I did great for two days and then found myself driving down the left.
Unfortunately some not all Americans expect Automatic and big SUV's to be what they are getting. I enjoy renting a Saloon with a manual and going for a trip.
I had a friend who runs a Car Hire near Ipswich he has a couple of Automatic Vehicles he calls those his Yank Hires
I don't know if I could drive on the "wrong" side of the road. That turnabout would totally confuse me!!! dang, those street are narrow!!!
Some of those small villages follow plans from over a 1000 years ago so they weren't really designed for cars and trucks.
I think I am right in saying it is illegal to warn oncoming drivers that they are approaching a speed control camera?
Hello, I think I need to do another UK driving trip. Coming from Australia, it's easy compared to driving in North America. The idea about the sword makes sense to me.
Despite our laughs I think there is some truth in that story. I forget that there are a few other countries that still drive on the left, coming from Australia it's basically the same.
What side of the road do Aussies drive on?
Bill, they drive on the left.
They drive on the right side which is the left side. Right in this case meaning 'correct'.
So for the turn right on the round about ... you signal right, give way, then enter the inner (right) side. you drive past the left turn, the straight exit, then veer left to exit 'right'. What if there are cars on the left entering? Do you just stay on the inside/inner lane and circle around again I presume?
You are correct with the signalling. However there should not be a car on your outside. If there is they are in the wrong.
They should give way to traffic on the roundabout already. For example in the video, there are two lanes approaching the roundabout. If you are turning left or going straight on, you will be in the left lane (outer part of the roundabout). If you are going right, you will be in the right lane.
So two cars could enter the roundabout side by side, but the car on the outside will be turning left or going straight on, so by the time you get to your exit, there should not be a car on your outside.
The system actually works.
On busy roundabouts, they often show signs for which lane to take and have arrows and lane markings on the road to make it easier for you.
I made sure to teach all 3 of my sons to drive a manual transmission (stick shift as we call it in the US). I think it may take a little practice to do it with my left hand. Have you driven in the states? Just wondering if it seemed weird to you because I think driving in the UK would be very disconcerting.
I drive in Europe and the USA quite a lot and you quickly get used to driving on the other side of the road, especially as the cars are designed for it. What is trickier is when we drive to Europe in our UK cars so the steering wheel is on the right and you have to drive on the right, next to the kerb where the passenger should be!
Chickery, yeah it is weird using stick shift on the "wrong side" after spending all my life driving in the UK. Its hard to explain but it feels off-balance somehow, even after driving one for two years. Automatic, however, is no issue because you only use the stick when the car is stopped.
I always hire a manual/stick in Europe as UK driver and becomes very natural after 10 mins to change gear with the other hand. Do try driving about the carpark before hitting the motorway or a roundabout though! (Difficult if you've ever driven in Mallorca (spanish island in med) as they use roundabout as junctions/exits on motorway) The feet are exactly the same no matter which side you drive and if you not used to automatic you'll try to use the clutch then brake by accident! I wouldn't want to drive my UK car abroad though...
Found it easy driving abroad in my own car
The sign proves that Alan Partridge's "20 foot high chickens" exist
Yep, the Norfolk farmers keep them in big sheds.
There are too many British drivers who don't get up to an adequate speed when joining dual carriageways or motorways. I always say a minimum of 50 to give you a fighting chance of joining the faster traffic flow. Our roads are narrower because we didn't need to accommodate sawn off busses.
that is a funny story about the reasoning for driving on the right. We are in the United States and when travel to a place that drives the opposite side it takes us a while before we get used to it!
We get used to driving on the other side of the road quite quickly when we visit Europe or the US. But often bang for left hand on the door when I go to change gear.
Enjoyed your video, though I disagree that here in the US, you are allowed to drive in whatever lane you want and other traffic is allowed to undertake (my apologies if I misunderstood your meaning). That's just bad driving. I call them "left lane campers", or the UK equivalent would be "right lane campers". They drive me crazy. There are a number of states that have laws that basically say "keep right except to pass". They are all worded differently, and enforcement can vary, but they amount to the same thing. Cheers!
What your Dad said might have some truth. In Japan which drives on left, there a similar story about Samaria
Yes, apparently as most people are right handed and wear their sword on the left it was also easier to get on the horse from the left side.
No. That's not true. Please see my other comments about this. I'm a 18th/19th century historian. The true answer is simply that countries had to pick a side to deal with increased road traffic; UK picked left because they were already doing that on London Bridge; France picked the right. It had nothing to do with armies, swords, or Napoleon being left-handed. It was simply an arbitrary bureaucratic decision. That's the true, boring story of it. But we want it to be more exciting, so we link it to armies even when there is no link.
I got taught at school that same story ride your horses on the left holding rains in your left hand and the sword in the right hand.
Yes I think, there's some truth in it. Also, I Ive head with the sword on the left it was easier to get on the horse from the left
Your fathers story wasnt codswallop. The original reason was that the army (or equivalent) marched on the left because they would use their right hand for their sword. When the horse and cart came along it was for similar reasons and also because most people are right handed it was easier to control the cart sitting on the right side as opposed to the left. Continental Europe swapped over largely because of Napoleon who was left handed. In America it was slightly different - there was a particular agricultural vehicle that was invented that was easy to drive when sitting on the left and to my understanding their driving on the right evolved from there. The reason we stayed driving on the left and indeed the reason it is argued that driving on the left is better (from a logical rather than familiarity point of view - I've had this argument with an American friend and he concedes the logic but still prefers driving on the right because that was what he was brought up with) is that the majority of the world is right handed meaning their right hand is stronger and their right eye is stronger which actually corresponds to reactions times being quicker if you drive on the left than on the right (obviously doesnt work if you are left handed but only about 15% of the worlds population is left handed). Obviously with the amount of countries who drive on the right they dont have a particular issue with it so the difference cannot be huge but the reaction time thing has been proven so while the difference may be marginal it is still a difference
During the war of "we don't like paying taxes" aka war of independence France was supporting America and sending stuff there which included horses for farmers etc which were used to travelling on the right so anti British farmers just went with the flow.
The issue is they have more accidents because they do not have as much control over the vehicle as we do.
@@baylessnow Not true at all. 1) the US wasn't paying nearly as much in taxes as the British; in fact, all the taxes were repealed except 1. 2) France's help in the war was monetary and naval, not supplies to average people like horses. And no, horses are not "used" to traveling on the right.
Unfortunately, the first half of your comment is not true. It's simply an apocryphal story that has been repeated so much that people believe it. (Just like that nonsense that castle stairs curve to the right so knights could fight their way up/down them with their right hands--in truth, stairs in castles go both ways.) 1) armies don't march with their swords swinging in their hands so it wouldn't matter which side they marched on, and Roman armies marching down Roman roads are going to take the ENTIRE road, left side be damned, 2) there's no verifiable evidence that Napoleon was left-handed (or right-handed for that matter); however, France did pass a law in 1792 that all people should keep to the "common right" just because cities like Paris were becoming too congested to have everyone going on whatever side they wanted (same thing in 18trh century London to keep all traffic to the left when crossing London Bridge; this became the standard across England in the Highway Act of 1835.) It wasn't that a particular agricultural vehicle was invented in America; it was that American vehicles were larger than most of the lighter vehicles in the UK, and it simply was easier to drive them from the right and let oncoming traffic pass on the left; the opposite in UK. And no, it has nothing to do with reaction time left vs. right. That is a learned response, not an inherently physical one.
Is this Jim Slip?
Looks just like driving in Norway, only on the wrong side of the road. But you forgot to show us how to do the double mini roundabout. That is a tricky little bastard only seen in the UK.
We've yet to visit Norway, hopefully in the next couple of years. We haven't got any of those double mini roundabouts near us but have you driven the 'magic roundabout' in Swindon, that is a maze of mini roundabouts and completely mad.
@@flydriveexplore I haven`t been to Britain for many years. I hope to travel there next summer. Maybe I will explore Swindon by car. Great video you made. Both informative and entertaining. Stay safe.
Wish I had seen this before our recent trip to Cornwall! Normally a confident driver I was so stressed by the narrowness of roads and speeds driven on them. My husband and sons did all the driving and I sat in the back to calm my nerves. I kept thinking the mirrors would collide with either cars coming on or with the rock walls on the curb side. Being a rental car I imagined it would be returned with many scars. In the end all was ok. But I swore we’d never drive in the UK again. My husband wants to but I don’t think it fair he has to do all the driving. I’d feel better helping but need to get over the heart attack waiting to happen. Any advice for this very hardwired brain of mine?
Getting used to driving on the other side and judging how much space you've got on the inside is tricky. We have the same problem when driving in the US. With the narrow lanes just treat it as a single lane and if you encounter another car just move in slowly. It is sometimes best to stop and let the oncoming car go past on very narrow roads. We are making a new video specifically on country roads in the next few weeks (when we get better weather).
Fly Drive Explore I look forward to your country roads video very much. You may save a marriage 😅 and I’ll have a happy return to your lovely isle! I’d love to gain the level of confidence in the UK that I have here at home in Southern Ontario. I’m surprised to hear you say you find it equally difficult in NA where the roads are so much wider! Do you think the opposite drive adds yet another perception problem for the passenger side? I never feel that way here when I’m a passenger.
@@PatlLawson When we were in Spain just before Christmas, we rented a car with 360 sensors, that was useful as driving in their medieval towns are quite an experience. We are off to Canada this summer, Newfoundland, hopefully not as snowy as it is at the moment!
@@flydriveexplore Brilliant! Newfoundland is truly a very special place. I researched what a Jigg's Dinner was on one trip. It led to meeting so many wonderful people and conversations learning their versions. Newfoundlanders are the most friendly people in this land, IMHO.
Now go back 35 years and drive around Hyde Park ( DEVIL'S ) Corner and the OLD Trafalgar Square when there were no traffic lights and it was " every Man for himself". I miss those UNregulated and UNrestricted days.....:)
I had to on my driving LESSONS in Inner London in 1981/82.... lol
Boy, if you can remember before 1967, UK Motorways had NO speed limit. Those must've been the days... (but actually, lets think... it WOULDNT have... because your car was more likely to break down.)
I'm glad I got to watch your information and Intel on what it's like for an American to drive in the U.K. for the first time. Will be having my first ever experience coming up this July 2018. I'm going there for the big Air Show known as the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford and I am a bit nervous as I'll be renting a car out of London Heathrow Airport. But your video presentation sure boosted my confidence and relaxed me a bit. It does seem easy once I get use to it. Although I'm making sure my car rental has an automatic transmission so that'll make it even easier for me.
Glad it was helpful, the Air Show is meant to be pretty good and hope the British weather will be kind for it. Most US flights arrive at Heathrow in the morning and this area of London can be very busy but sometimes that can be better as the traffic is slow. This gives you more time to read the signs and work out where you want to go etc. I forgot to mention in the video, on bigger roundabouts the lanes to where you want to go are often shown on signs or road markings which makes it easier.
Haha, now can you go to the USA and do one for me to learn to drive there? Heading to Miami in July 2018 and need some tips!
We are going to the USA in a few weeks. I will be driving into the centre of New York City which should be interesting!!!!
Oh wow you are brave!! We are excited to see your instructional video from the USA
@@flydriveexplore Did you see Ashley Neal's videos when he took driving lessons in New York to find out what they teach New York drivers?
@@DavidNewmanDr No, I'll see if I can find it
They say tip offs are illegal-I agree with it though
I have heard the same story regarding having your sword hand closest to to person coming in the other direction.
If you're on horseback and a medieval knight. But it has no bearing on how we developed laws on which side of the road to drive on.
I think it's very interesting that you drive on the left but it's permissible to park facing the wrong direction. That's not allowed in the U.S.
You can only park facing the wrong direction during daylight hours. At night, in theory, you can only park the same direction as the traffic so reflectors on your rear lights will show up in an approaching vehicle's headlights. This rule is universally ignored but you run the risk of a hefty parking ticket.
@@nevillemason6791 Good to know! Thank you for the tip.
Did you drive 70 mph on the motorway? Are the right lane drivers speed violators or do they have some premium permit?
Yes, I was driving at 70. No special driving permits, just what you usually see when there are no Police or cameras around.
@@flydriveexplore meaning you are supposed to cruise on the left lane and use the two passing lanes on your right? That is... odd to me.
@@pablol9021 Yes, you keep left. The other lanes are for passing. You are not meant to cruise in the middle or outer lanes if the road ahead is clear, you're meant to pull over. Although, in reality, the trucks tend to occupy the left lane.
It's funny how people in every country seem to ignore the rules of the road. In America you are supposed to pass on the freeway the same way you did, but most people just don't. Speed cameras are starting to show up in the USA as well. I wonder do you have stop light cameras? Those are all over in America. It would feel weird to drive where everything was mirrored from what we are used to.
Yes we do have cameras on the light as well. Also they have more average speed checks where cameras watch your car over quite a few miles.
StatebyState we also have cameras on some railway crossings, i found this out the hard way.
Not everything is mirrored...
You'll find that you still use your right foot to accelerate ('step on the gas' I think you'd say) and to brake.
Your left foot would only be used to engage the clutch in a manual car!
The only thing I found difficult was shifting gears with my left hand, it is totally unnatural. Also, I found out that Brits go crazy and get in a tither if you drive with your headlights on during the daytime. (Similar to my DRL’s on my car here in America). When I had my headlights on during the day all the other drivers on the road were honking and waving like crazy as if I had an elephant on my roof.
I suppose when you learn to drive and use the left hand to change gear you don't really think about it and changing to the right feels odd although I am right handed. When were you in the UK? lights in the day is getting very common as most new cars do now have daytime running lights.
Buick Mackane you must have had you full beam on
Buick must've had his full beams on, I put my headlights on all the time, no one goes honking mad at me.
All new cars have DRL as standard, since about 2012 I think. So every new car has lights running unless they've turned the function off manually. You don't need normal headlights on in the day. You turn them on when you struggle to see your dashboard, i.e your speedometer, temperature controls or radio if you don't have a screen.
@@CrazyInWeston been doing the same for 30yrs. Up until around 20yrs ago oncoming motorists used to flack their lights to let me know they were on. People are beginning to realise the importance of using your lights at daytime.
Actually showing how you purchase petrol would be a good addition.
Yes we agree but have to do it next time. It is quite simple in the UK, no weird buttons on the pump, just pull the handle and unlike most places in the US you don't have to pay in advance. After filling the car, just go into the booth and pay with cash or card.
Also, all forecourts have video cameras so don't think about driving away without paying!!
Well actually at most supermarkets there is now the option to pay by card at the pump or pay at the kiosk, and you usually have to press a button for which option you're doing before pumping.
its always pump your own here in the UK, we dont have some law like in NJ (and before the law changed, Oregon) where it is illegal to pump your own.
It's rare to find a petrol station that requires you to pay first, I've come across a couple, one near Manchester. I guess they were quite rough areas I was passing! Supermarkets are always cheaper for fuel, and it's standard quality. Unless you have a car that requires particular fuel, they're all the same. You can pay by card at the pump at most supermarkets, and a lot of these stations are unmanned
And how to recharge an electric vehicle. All new cars sold in the UK after 2030 will have to be electric.
Your Dad is quite right, if you think about it, Castle stairs go up clock wise so the defenders, mostly being right handed can more easily defend the stairs from attackers coming up.
Yes, he did come out with some factual information, well sometimes.
Nope. That is a myth. Neil Guy has written extensively on this, and there are many, many castles whose stairs curve the other way. (His dad is wrong, but most people also believe this myth.)
In the thumbnail there was a man riding a duck on a roadsign. Giant ducks you can ride like horses? Can you fly on them too?
Yep, watch out for those giant ducks!
Someone painted them about 10 years ago and luckily, the council never replaced them.
If I see any duck signs I'm going to put little men on them
ademy
No your father was right. That is exactly why we drive on the left because most people are right handed and there for going back to Roman times you could engage in battle with your opponent.
No, not true. To repeat my comment elsewhere.....It's simply an apocryphal story that has been repeated so much that people believe it. (Just like that nonsense that castle stairs curve to the right so knights could fight their way up/down them with their right hands--in truth, stairs in castles go both ways.) Armies don't march with their swords swinging in their hands so it wouldn't matter which side they marched on, and Roman armies marching down Roman roads are going to take the ENTIRE road, left side be damned. It came about because a proclamation was made in 18trh century London to keep all traffic to the left when crossing London Bridge because traffic was just too crazy and congested otherwise (also why France made it a law that traffic had to stay on the common right in the 1790s because places like Paris were gridlocked otherwise); this became the standard across England in the Highway Act of 1835. It has nothing to do with swords on left or right, or everyone in the world would drive on the same side. The true answer is far more boring.
Fucking hell an Audi driver using the indicators.
holy shit I'm gonna die!!! I need to rent a car from London to Holy Island because it's cheaper and easier. WHY do you signal RIGHT and then go LEFT around the roundabout?!?!? In the US, if we were to signal, we would just go the direction of the roundabout and then signal left (maybe) when exiting. CRAP!
You can't turn right when you enter the roundabout because then you would be driving into oncoming traffic, it's all going the same direction around it. Indicate right to signal you are going into the inside lane which is for right turns or just driving in circles around it, keep indicating right to show other drivers you won't cut accross them to exit. When you are coming up to your exit, signal left, move to outside lane and leave roundabout.
@@wullaballoo2642 When you signal right on UK roundabouts you go to the outside lane. To go left you approach from the inside lane and stay in that lane to exit.
@@seankinvarra1123 I'm talking about when you approach the roundabout, if you want to go left, stay left lane. If you want to go right, right lane until you get to exit then move over to left lane to exit. The original question was why did he approach the roundabout indicating right then proceeded to turn left and drive around it.
@@wullaballoo2642I've been driving in the US for over 10 yrs in Florida especially, there are very few roundabouts and I have counted on one hand the amount of people who can make a left turn on a roundabout correctly. They approach from the right lane and stay in it for the 3rd exit. That is expected by Americans as don't have to take practical lessons to do a driving test! But what I was stating was if you entre a roundabout to go left or straight you go from start to finish in the left lane. The lane closest to the footpath or kerb is the inside lane.
@@seankinvarra1123 Here where we drive on the left the inside lane is closest to the roundabout, the outside lane closest to the kerb. If it's opposite that makes no sense to me, it's like saying the skin of an orange is the inside and the fruit is the outside. I give you much respect though for the correct spelling of kerb.
Your Dad was correct
Yes, he was correct after all.
No, dad was not correct. Most people think this, but it is a myth. It was simply an arbitrary decision by countries on whether to go left/right when establishing traffic laws.
My biggest tip is don't do it... Just don't do it. Unless you fly into the countryside. It's just like any other country... Don't do it. Just save your money and fly somewhere tropical.
Just like any other country? 🤣🤪
Why do you say "American Drivers'? What about Canadians? They drive on the right and steer on the left.
I know, a lot will apply to Canadians too. Of course, many countries drive on the right but as we visit the US quite a lot and know many Americans (and many of our viewers outside of the UK are from the USA) we simply referred to them. Also, unlike in Europe most Americans are not used to driving manual cars.
It’s easy. Most people are right handed. Driving on the left means that the dominant hand for most people is always on the wheel.
No. If that were the case, then everyone would drive on the same side.
The story about fighting on horseback is TRUE. The Japanese drive on the left for the same reason. Find out for yourself why the US and Europe drive on the right.
We know from directional cart wheel wear on preserved stone roman roads, such as at Pompeii, that people were 'driving' on the left in Roman times.
Strangely Jamesly
"The Japanese drive on the left for the same reason"
The Japanese drive on the left because they imported British cars.
myjapanguide.com/transportation/why-does-japan-drive-on-the-left
No, it's not true. Sadly, the true reason is much more boring and has nothing to do with fighting, armies or swords. In 1835, the UK passed the Highway Act which mandated people drive on the left. Why? Because 1) suddenly the country had good roads and lots of carriages/traffic, and 2) there were already a law that said you had to drive on the left when crossing London Bridge. They just assigned the same left rule to the rest of the country to keep from having traffic jams when people were going whatever way they wanted. The same in France in the 1790's -- places like Paris were too congested, so they chose the right side. If it were really about fighting on horseback and armies, then everyone around the world would drive on the same side. They don't.
Britain was the first country in Europe to introduce a traffic system. Why we chose to drive on the left is anybody's guess but unfortunately, when the French introduced their own traffic set-up they decided to drive on the right and the rest of mainland Europe followed suit. That's how we ended up opposite to everyone else.
Actually, they weren't the first. It wasn't until the Highway Act of 1835 that they had a nationalized system for driving. France had theirs long before.
And Sweden used to drive on the left, but one day changed to drive on the right like Norway, Finland and Denmark. Malta still drives on the left, as does Cyprus.
That story your father told, is actually based on truth.
I know, although like most fathers, he did add a few flourishes.
No, it's not. Please see my other comments about why UK drives on the left and other places on the right. It was an arbitrary, boring bureaucratic decision, that was all. It had nothing to do with armies -- we just want to believe it because it sounds so romantic and heroic. The truth is so much more boring. As with most of history.
You didn't teach how to swear and use your main beams to indicate your an audi driver. Tailgating is essential in an Audi and BMW. Step up your game
Thats the next lesson - how to drive and inch from the car in front at 85mph with the main beams on. I did have and upgrade on the car so mine came with indicators.
Bloody hell. Do you know where they are located and how and when to use them. Did you top up your indicator fluid?
You should have had more faith in your father, that "story" is actually factually correct.
I know, but he hides the factual stories amongst a lot of other made up ones
No, it's not factually correct at all. it's a myth that has been perpetuated, just like the myth of stairs in castles all going the same way so knights can fight on them. The truth is much more boring. It was simply an arbitrary decision.
@Anna Harrington it is to. My Dad told me so, and he's a knight, so he should know.
Driving tips from an Audi driver mmmm ok
Absolute nonsense. Like the US. you can undertake in UK on any road that has 2 or more lanes in your direction.
www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/overtaking.html
@@flydriveexplore Rule 268 says you, "do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to undertake". If it was illegal it would use the words "Must Not".
@@Seanmcdhuibhne The key sentence here is "Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake." That is what I see in so many US dashcam videos. It is rarer in the UK.
You were tipped off because of a POLICE Van ahead, outside your vision.As you know the driver going the other way thought you may have been exceeding the limit. Now NATURALLY I, personally, DO NOT warn others as it is illegal to do so, OBVIOUSLY but I do remember a time when London was a British City and the Community would, usually, try to help each other.Now we are like The DISUnited Nations no-one helps anyone anymore
I was tipped off once, so glad he did because I was belting it down. Its no wonder you see locals speed when they know theres no cameras around, and seeing a radar van is a fecking GEM of a rarity lol.
You sound like a 20-something with very little experience of how the World is.
If you are near London this weekend at 3.00 AM venture round The Brixton or Tulse Hill Estates or Stonebridge Park or London Fields or Tottenham or Walthamstow and see how far you get.....:)