1 in 10 Brits have driven on the wrong side

I think Sweden changed a little later than 1965 – 1968, or something. Interesting thing is that they changed it on a friday afternoon, around 3pm or some other silly time like that. Reason was that doing it mid-day rather than from one day to the other, people would actually realise the change had happened in stead of waking up, forgetting they now had to drive on the other side of the road…

I heard that the crossover was staggered – cars went over one day, trucks, lorries and public service vehicles went over a week later…;):D:D:D – Nermal

EN380 , aren’t Guersey , Isle of man , Jersey part of the UK ?

Make sense in terms of cost? Ok, if each country in Europe is made to pay for our change then maybe, not just us. We want it the way it is, others want to change it. You want to change it, you pay for it. Also, although the majority drive on your side of the road, many drive on ours. So why change just because Europe wants us too?

Here here. Are there any plans in the pipeline to change the UK road sign to the metric system, they’ve already done it with weights and measures ?

Other countries within Europe but not necessarily part of the EU that drive on the left are Cyprus, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and the Isle of Man.

Worldwide the majority of former British Colonies drive on the Left, as well as Japan.

Just how much do you think it costs to design a car where the steerwheel is on both sides. And who pays for it? You.

Make sense in terms of cost? Ok, if each country in Europe is made to pay for our change then maybe, not just us. We want it the way it is, others want to change it. You want to change it, you pay for it. Also, although the majority drive on your side of the road, many drive on ours. So why change just because Europe wants us too?

I think Sweden changed a little later than 1965 – 1968, or something. Interesting thing is that they changed it on a friday afternoon, around 3pm or some other silly time like that. Reason was that doing it mid-day rather than from one day to the other, people would actually realise the change had happened in stead of waking up, forgetting they now had to drive on the other side of the road…

Minidoh, your posts are so revealing 😀

Ren, why not have them change to our way? Considering it would cost a lot of money to change everything. There are many people who drive on our side of the road too you know.

Just because a vast majority of countries in Europe drive on the right.
It would make sense in term of cost to adopt the right side of the road. However this will NEVER happen.

Unfortunately if the UK did swop to driving on the right – most of the cars would still be the same – visibility for overtaking would be very poor leading to more accidents.

Also roundabouts are designed to encourage people to go in a particular direction ie left and to alter all such junctions would be very expensive. Roadsigns would have to be relocated etc.

Sweden did swop in 1965? but at the time they had much less traffic.

Most of the places that still drive on the left are either islands such as UK, Japan, Australia or are isolated from other countries by geographic feature (thinking of India and Himalaya’s)

Ren, why not have them change to our way? Considering it would cost a lot of money to change everything. There are many people who drive on our side of the road too you know.

I’d have us change to the same system as the rest of the world personally. In the long run it would save a lot of confusion and lives, both British and others.

I’ve seen some very nasty accidents here and abroad caused by confused Brits and Europeans, some of them very nasty indeed.

If there was a vote tomorrow, a timescale introduced and all the necessary back up and information provided, I’d be more than happy to learn how to drive on the right.

I’d imagine the anti-Europe mob would see this as another erosion of “Britishness” by the EU mind you ?

I’m no longer embarrassed to admit to driving on the wrong side of the road in this country after reading these stories. I came home on leave after being stationed in Germany for about 5 years non stop and not having brought a car home on leave before I drove out of Sheerness docks on the right( in a right hand drive car). It came so naturally after driving the same car on the right for about 3 years. I didn’t even realise I was doing anything wrong until a guy driving the other way flashed his lights at me, hooted his horn and swerved around me.

I’ve done it. And circumnavigated a roundabout the wrong way too.

Hey, a car i navigated in once managed to drive on the wrong side on the road in France. On a motorway actually, but it was an accident. The lanes were split with such a lush shrubbery, we thought it was just a normal road so we simply made a U-turn when i discovered we were going the wrong way.

Lucky it was a very quiet sunday morning, so we could do another U-turn 😉

And there is a certain roundabout in the An der Wahe-street in Landstuhl, which i always take the wrong way. But that’s because it is a very silly, useless and annoying roundabout.

You know with the French drivers everything is possible.

You’re right John, that’s a risky situation 🙂

Hey, a car i navigated in once managed to drive on the wrong side on the road in France. On a motorway actually, but it was an accident. The lanes were split with such a lush shrubbery, we thought it was just a normal road so we simply made a U-turn when i discovered we were going the wrong way.

Lucky it was a very quiet sunday morning, so we could do another U-turn 😉

And there is a certain roundabout in the An der Wahe-street in Landstuhl, which i always take the wrong way. But that’s because it is a very silly, useless and annoying roundabout.

So you’re Brit John? Or your wife is?

My wife, Anne, is a Brit…(ex UK Army nurse), I’m American…that explains the driving confusion.
To make matters worse I have an antique car..that’s right hand drive…but the traffic flow keeps me headed in the correct lane.

Based on personal experience…I can estimate that 100 % of Americans visiting the UK and drive have driven on the wrong side….albeit very briefly.
I’ll admit to doing it very rarely, usually when pulling onto a street from a parking lot when there was no traffic to remind me….:)
Another correlation, after 15 years in the U.S., my wife occasionally walks to the wrong side of the car when she’s going driving.

So you’re Brit John? Or your wife is?

Wrong Way …. (Not Corrigan)

Based on personal experience…I can estimate that 100 % of Americans visiting the UK and drive have driven on the wrong side….albeit very briefly.
I’ll admit to doing it very rarely, usually when pulling onto a street from a parking lot when there was no traffic to remind me….:)
Another correlation, after 15 years in the U.S., my wife occasionally walks to the wrong side of the car when she’s going driving.

being deafened by the horns and invectives of road-raging locals (14 percent).

Car horns and local invectives can be very loud when you’re abroad :confused: :rolleyes:

By the way.
I remember that back in the 70’s , Sweden swap from left to right almost overnight.
It has certainly been a logistic nightmare , doesn someone remember that?