Top tips for driving in the UK as a visitor

Top tips for driving in the UK as a visitor

Thousands of visitors arrive in the United Kingdom from continental Europe every year driving their own cars and many more rent cars to visit far flung locations while in Britian. While driving is an excellent way to get around the UK, it is important to remember that getting behind the wheel of a car can be an altogether different experience elsewhere thanks to local laws and driving practices.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember, especially for visitors from continental Europe and North America, is that people in the United Kingdom drive on the left hand side of the road rather than the right. This can be confusing at the best of times but is even more so if you are driving your own right-hand drive car you have brought from your home country. It is often best to rent a car locally to overcome this.

Once you are on the road, be sure to drive with extra caution and ensure that you look the right way before turning at junctions - your natural inclination may well be to continue to look in the same direction as you would while driving at home. Most people adjust to driving on the left side of the road after a few days but until then, it is best to slow down and be careful to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

There are a many laws relating to driving that must be observed while in the UK. One of the most crucial is that the driver and all passengers of the car must wear a seatbelt at all times. If you are from a country where wearing a seatbelt is not the norm for passengers, it is important to stress the necessity to other occupants of the vehicle. It is also forbidden to talk with a mobile phone held up to your head while driving. If you suspect that you will need to talk while driving, it may be worth investing in a hands-free kit for your phone.

Rural areas present unique challenges that visitors will not encounter on the main roads and motorways. Roads in remote areas of Wales and Northern Ireland, and especially the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, can often be single-track or only partially surfaced. In some cases, animals such as sheep cows and deer may also use the road from time to time. It is important to take extra care on these roads as surfaces may offer less grip than usual and passing other vehicles can be difficult and fraught with dangers.

Driving in the UK should be a pleasurable experience for visitors and most obstacles and difficulties can be overcome with just a little preparation. Those renting vehicles may wish to investigate automatic car hire to make being on the road a little less stressful than those attempting to adjust to driving on the left side of the road while struggling with a manual gearbox.

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