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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
This past November and December I drove extensively in the area bounded by
Adeaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne, or whatever I am an American who has driven in the USA and Canada for 40 years. I found driving on the left often quite disconcerting. Several times I got on the wrong side and got pulled over by the police. No tickets or accidents unfortunately. But I feel I am living on borrowed time and thus may never be back to anywhere you drive on the left since vacations without automobiles I have found very unsatisfying. I would be interested in others' experiences on driving on the unacustomed side of the road anywhere in the world. Would you care to share? |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
Drove in Canada for three weeks (on the wrong side!), then Ireland for three
weeks (correct side again), then Turkey for 4 weeks (I think they were supposed to drive on the right side; usually however it was in the middle!!). I'm 63 - but really found no problem - in fact, back in Brisbane I had to be careful coming out of supermarket car parks etc that I didn't heave over onto the right hand side!!! It's a matter of concentration - and not a lot of that frankly! "John0714" wrote in message ... This past November and December I drove extensively in the area bounded by Adeaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne, or whatever I am an American who has driven in the USA and Canada for 40 years. I found driving on the left often quite disconcerting. Several times I got on the wrong side and got pulled over by the police. No tickets or accidents unfortunately. But I feel I am living on borrowed time and thus may never be back to anywhere you drive on the left since vacations without automobiles I have found very unsatisfying. I would be interested in others' experiences on driving on the unacustomed side of the road anywhere in the world. Would you care to share? |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
"John0714" wrote in message ... This past November and December I drove extensively in the area bounded by Adeaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne, or whatever I am an American who has driven in the USA and Canada for 40 years. I found driving on the left often quite disconcerting. I think that is your answer, 40 years driving on the same side. I think you will find most people in this forum have done a lot of travelling and are therefore used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road. I would imagine you would have been using a hire car of which 90%+ are automatic. It's more interesting when you have to change gear with the "wrong" hand as well. The Aussies drive quite courteously, you need to come and practice in the UK where slow or hesitant drivers are not tolerated very well. |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
"Alastair J. Smith" wrote in message ... The Aussies drive quite courteously, you need to come and practice in the UK where slow or hesitant drivers are not tolerated very well. I have done it several toimes now in Europe, and only twice have had a problem with the wrong side of the road. Both times during 1972 when I was young (and stupid) but later trimes have not proved a problem and I have actually driven further each time. I would like to dissagree on the relative courtesy of drivers here in Oz compared with those in the UK. Invariably I have found the UK drivers very tolerant. Once in London driving down Victoria Embankment, realised I had taken a wrong turn off a bridge and, finding a break in the median stopped to do a U-turn. Held up traffgic behind me but not so much as a beep! Luckily it was a Sunday morning. :-) Also on narrow country roads I continually was astounded at the courtesy shown by drivers. Here in Australia is a different matter. Only yesterday a road rager killed a little kid, who had got out of his parents car in their driveway and the offender crashed his car into the parents car and squashed the kid. The offender was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the parents had got to him and beat him up. Gerrit - Perth |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 20:43:55 +0800, "Gerrit 't Hart"
wrote: I would like to dissagree on the relative courtesy of drivers here in Oz compared with those in the UK. Invariably I have found the UK drivers very tolerant. That is why I think the idea of "T" plates should be investigated. (Background: In Australia, learner drivers have to display "L" plates and newly licensed drivers have to display "P" plates.) A car displaying a "T" plate would indicate to other drivers that the driver was a tourist, was unfamiliar both with their surroundings and possibly the intricacies of both local road rules and driving etiquette, and could possibly lead to local drivers displaying somewhat more tolerance to what appears to be idiotic driving behaviour but which is actually confusion. Of course, the "T" plate might be a beacon to some of the less law-abiding members of the community who would consider them as easy targets, which is why I am saying it should be investigated thoroughly first. Dave ===== NSW Rural Fire Service - become a volunteer today. http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
"Dave Proctor" wrote in message ... On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 20:43:55 +0800, "Gerrit 't Hart" wrote: Of course, the "T" plate might be a beacon to some of the less law-abiding members of the community who would consider them as easy targets, which is why I am saying it should be investigated thoroughly first. In Florida they had distinctive license plates on rental cars which had to be changed as criminals were targetting tourists on that basis. Keith |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
On Sun, 07 Mar 2004 06:04:11 +1100, Dave Proctor
wrote: That is why I think the idea of "T" plates should be investigated. Oh yeah - the bright red french number plate on my Eurodrive Clio proclaimed to everyone that I was a tourist. It certainly helped the Austrian cop who made me aware of the fine for driving on their highways without the sticker (that would have cost about ten euros if I had known) on my windscreen. 120 euros lighter I was suitably educated, and he had the honesty to admit he targets the red number plates. Whether it helped the crazy drivers in Naples avoid me, I can't say. I'm convinced the only reason they don't have more prangs there is that they assume everyone on the road is as crazy as they are. Cheers, Alan |
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Driving on the unaccustomed side of the road
Of course, the "T" plate might be a beacon to some of the less
law-abiding members of the community who would consider them as easy targets, which is why I am saying it should be investigated thoroughly first. A similar thing used to result in Europeans being murdered in Miami. |
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