h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does anyone have an easy and sure-fire way for a Yank to learn to drive in England? In the 2 weeks that I was in Wiltshire I remained a passenger as I could not break myself of the habbit of looking the "wrong" way at intersections!!

close your eyes and hope. I reckon that's what a lot of drivers here do anyway (not me of course, though!!)

Go Stick Your Head in a Pig :@)

Close eyes and hope? Although that seems like a simple solution, iI was looking for a more reliable approach. It seems as if the only answer is to practice driving on the left. My fellow Ohioans may not notice!

Lookout when I come visiting again!

Liosliath

well, you could strike a compromise and practise looking the wrong way at intersections in Ohio!

How did you cope with roundabouts while you were over here? I've heard Americans have big problems with them due to them being so rare in the States.

:@)

Roundabouts were easy with someone else driving. I remained a passenger during my two week stay. Sis is a very competent driver who can switch back and forth, every time she crosses the Atlantic. On the other hand, I was totally scared to take the wheel even after the two weeks! I could vividly visualise the trashing of her new 320 Estate!

Liosliath

Oh right, I was under the impression that you'd already had a go. Well good luck then...

Can't you ask your sister how she prepares for switching between the two?

:@)

Hmmmm. I find looking both ways tends to help, whichever country you're in..

That way you won't get caught out either way.

I'm a Brit, annd personally it's not the looking the other way that's weird when I drive in right-side-of-the-road countries, it's the bruises on my left hand from hitting the door when I try to change gear!

Although I normally spit on the acceleration performance of automatic gear boxes, this is where I bless Americans for having a predilection for automatics, as it's the only way to avoid ending up with my hand in bandages while I get used to the driving for the first few days.

Automatic Gearboxes! Arrrgh! The only good thing is that you can sip your drink, talk on the mobile and light a fag while still staying in the proper lane. I agree with you that accelleration is compromised. A loss of control (downsifting, inadvertant upshfts,the sudden breaking of traction of the tyres with the road surface) is also a downside.
The question of me driving in 'Jolly Olde' is postponed as Sis and her family have been transferred back to Georgia, USA.
Thanx for the tip on carrying bandages!

"The only good thing is that you can sip your drink, talk on the mobile and light a fag while still staying in the proper lane"

Though now they won't let us drive while talking on a mobile. Which is fair enough, but what is the problem with it actually? Is it talking to someone (In which case talking in cars should be banned) or is it holding something (In which case smoking in cars should be banned). If you're driving along holding a phone you can drop it if needs be. I wouldn't like to see someone drop a lighted cigarette in a car.......

It is the fact that you are talking. Talking on a phone is very different from talking to someone in real life, though, as I hope you can appreciate. So if you are talking to someone in the car and you come to a tricky driving situation which requires more concentration, your passenger is liable to notice and let you concentrate. The person on the other end of a phone call isn't going to see that though, and could distract you at a vital moment...

On the other hand, since hands-free phones seem to be allowed, perhaps it is the holding sthing aspect as well. Hands-free phones are just as distracting though. And if you were in the middle of an important phone call, would you really just drop the phone? Many people wouldn't...