Brit driving on the wrong side of the road!

[Etamkoos 100]

Hi everyone,

 

I am from England, UK and I miss driving so much.  I have my full UK license, of course and need to make calls to the DMV in regards to obtaining my CA license and all the finer details that goes along with it (insurance, etc).  That aside, I am calling on my fellow brits to share their experiences with driving on the "wrong" (okay, okay, the "right) side of the road!

 

I observe intently when my husband drives, trying to get my head around being in the right lane, the different turns made in comparison, the copious stop signs with their rules, the multiple lanes, plus being able to turn right when the light is red unless it states otherwise.  (Side note: I actually miss roundabouts a lot!).  Please could some UK people who have transitioned from UK to USA driving share the benefit of their experience to aid in this process a little please?

 

Thank you in advance .

[Carl&Ellie 10]

Hi Etamkoos,

 

I would say the biggest challenge is anticipating what other people are doing. It sounds like you are taking the time to observe the rules of the road and understand the major differences like all-way stops, yielding to traffic from the left, turning on red (the biggest challenge for this I find is watching for traffic and watching for pedestrians crossing) etc. I only had one near miss early on of turning left and into the left hand side of the road (my brain just flipped and went back into full England mode). Luckily there was no oncoming traffic. For the most part you can follow the line of other vehicles turning, and remember to keep the yellow lines on your left.

 

I transferred my license in Wisconsin, and I expect there are some differences between the States' DMV regulations, but I was OK driving on my foreign license up to a year, or 60 days once residency is established. So long as you have insurance on the vehicle (and your Hubby agrees, I guess), you are likely legal to drive the car so that you can practice and learn. I had to take a quick 'theory' test and then the road test itself was real short and easy. I think they go easy on people who are clearly somewhat experienced, it probably makes a change for the testers to have somebody other than re-qualifying disqualified drivers or young teens out for their first license.

 

The other challenge might be persuading the DMV workers that as a conditional resident or pending your green card, that you are entitled to apply for the license in the first place. Again the paperwork may vary, but make sure 100% that they do not check the "U.S. Citizen" box for you. I have heard horror stories about accidentally claiming to be a US Citizen and this being a red flag when it comes to actually applying for citizenship. 

 

I don't know about CA but roundabouts are gradually becoming more popular around Wisconsin. Not so much in Milwaukee, but we see them a lot around where my in-laws are from. People just don't get them here though, even though the speed limit is 15, there are clear lane markings all around and plenty more space than in the UK. It just takes some getting used to looking and yielding to the left instead of right  

[Etamkoos 100]

@Carl&Ellie  Thank you so much for taking the time to write this response, I really appreciate it.  I am worried about my brain doing the flip to drive on the left too!  I have thought that I will just follow the flow of the traffic, its when I am first in line I will have to try not to panic!  I will most definitely make sure they don't check the US citizen box, cheers for the heads up!  My husband is supportive of me getting back out on the road so will get on the car insurance as soon as possible, check with the DMV that I can drive on my UK license and get some practice in!  You're a star .  P.S. Traffic circle seems to be such a weird term for roundabout!

[Akiko & Brad 46]

I am a USC so I am used to driving here but I have done extensive driving in Ireland and Australia while on vacation.  The easiest way to drive on the "wrong" side of the road is to always remember that you as the driver should always be towards the centerline on the road.  As long as you can remember that one point driving anywhere in the world is easy and pretty much comes naturally.  Don't overthink the situation and you will blend into the traffic patterns almost seamlessly.  

[Etamkoos 100]

17 hours ago, Akiko & Brad said:

I am a USC so I am used to driving here but I have done extensive driving in Ireland and Australia while on vacation.  The easiest way to drive on the "wrong" side of the road is to always remember that you as the driver should always be towards the centerline on the road.  As long as you can remember that one point driving anywhere in the world is easy and pretty much comes naturally.  Don't overthink the situation and you will blend into the traffic patterns almost seamlessly.  

Thank you .

[bearflag 4]

Hey there, fellow 'England to California' here!

 

The above advice is spot on - you as the driver are the centre of the road, just keep those yellow lines to your left - that's how I stopped my brain from flipping back into UK thinking when I first started driving over here. I had a close call with the brain-flip thing in my first few weeks...it was about 2am with completely empty roads so without other cars clearly showing the flow of traffic I flipped right back to England-mode and went to hug the curb on a left turn out of a one way street, almost headed right into the oncoming lane before I realised what I was doing! After that experience I just took an extra few seconds at every junction to double and triple check exactly where I'd be turning. Within a couple of months driving over here was the most normal thing in the world and I'm sure I'd find it strange driving back in the UK now, especially as I've become so used to turning right on a red light! 

 

In regards to stop sign rules, multiple lanes, turning at lights etc. just read that good old California Drivers Handbook cover to cover a few times. Taking the written test at the DMV lodges all that stuff firmly in your head and then you can get out with your learners permit and put it all into practise until you feel ready to take your behind the wheel test. Believe me, after having taken the hour long grind that is the UK driving test, you should find the California behind the wheel test an absolute pleasure! 

 

My biggest piece of advice though is regarding the process in California - apply right away and double check everything with Sacramento as well as your DMV. I got so much contradictory advice and as an IR1 waiting on my Green Card I got stuck in the secondary review process for over four months whilst Sacramento verified my residency status.  

 

Good luck with it and most of all enjoy driving again! Even without the roundabouts  

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Ex-colony so we also drive on the left back home!

i was SO worried about this, but it ended up being much easier than I thought. I didn’t drive for the first month or so, just observed and started getting in the mindset that way. Then just be super aware ...some things took a while to kick in, like which way to look first down the road before turning left, lol

agree with the advice re reading the drivers handbook.... and what many people seem to miss when they move here is that if a school bus is stopped, you stop even if you’re on the other side of the road...

good luck! 

 

Ps my absolute worst from a driving holiday in the UK was those endless roundabouts, lol!!

[trudi 1,317]

I found being on the wrong side of the car hardest, I automatically looked over the wrong shoulder when reversing, looked for the rearview mirror in the wrong place, reached for the gear shift with the wrong hand (I drive a manual). It was weird for a while but you get used to it pretty quickly.

As above just remember you stay nearest the center line and you'll be fine

[photomile 101]

Well, I've been here for nearly six years and I still occasionally get my brain thinking the 'old' way. I snap out of it in a second and it's never been when I'm behind the wheel but it does still happen from time to time. 

 

Getting used to driving in the US was a short lived, terrifying few hours. I had dropped my then fiancee (now ex wife) off at work and drove back to the hotel. I was shaking. The two miles of driving between her office and the hotel felt more like 200. My brain was on fire, my eyes darting everywhere and I gripped the steering wheel so tight I think I left a permanent impression. 

 

I pulled in to the parking lot and sobbed. 

 

I was, in a word, exhausted. BUT, I did sit there and make a decision; either go in to the hotel, or force myself to drive somewhere further away because I was going to have to do it at some point. 

 

So, like the big blubbering manchild I was, I plotted a route to a bestbuy that was a positively biblical 6.4 miles away. 

 

"Saddle up" I thought. 

 

As I nervously pulled out of the parking lot, the giant Buick roared as I pressed down on the pedal. This being a Buick meant that the roaring was in fact normal and I was actually only doing 10 mph while the poor car struggled to move...

 

Through twists, turns, and a highway or two I eventually made it to the Best Buy parking lot, sitting the same way I did after I had driven back from my ex's place of employment, nervous, afraid, but slightly more comfortable as I had found the heated seat setting. 

 

I went inside and bought a $5 pair of headphones for no reason whatsoever. 

 

And when I came out... something clicked and I jumped in the car and drove off as though I had been born driving in the USA. My brain had reprogrammed and I proceeded to drive like anyone in Dallas drives: Like a drunk Steve McQueen with only a fraction of the accuracy