How safe is it to drive an American car in the Uk? Anyone know of any sites with facts?

Answer 1

Please ignore "japadict" above. He's clueless on the subject! Nobody's ever been arrested for driving a LHD vehicle on UK roads -- and there are thousands of classic American cars on UK roads owned by Brits and they never have a problem. Well, aside from a bit of envy from other classic car lovers.

Having exported two "Yank Tanks" to the UK when posted there with the USAF in the 1980s and 1990s I think I'm a bit of an expert on the subject.

The steering wheel is on the "wrong" side of the car. That's a bit worrisome from a safety standpoint but it is perfectly legal as folks from the Continent bring their cars to the UK on the ferries and the "Chunnel" ever day. Everything from Smart Fortwos to huge articulated lorries.

Driviving a LHD car in the UK is a bit of a challenge, especially when overtaking (passing for you Yanks) other vehicles. You don't have a clear view of the road ahead to the right as you are sitting on the "wrong" side of the vehicle. However it's completely possible to compensate for this. You'd be surprised to see how good a view ahead you can get by "peeking" around the left side of the vehicle in front of you. It also helps if you have a passenger in the right seat who helps with clearing the road ahead.

After a few months you get pretty good at it and are generally as safe as you would be in a RHD vehicle. You probably will avoid overtaking in some cases where it would otherwise be safe if you had a clear view to the right but it's really no biggie.

The biggest hazard is falling into old habits, and that tends to happen once you've become comfortable with the strange environment after about 6 months or so. Imagine driving along a 2-lane road late at night. You pull out to overtake a slower moving vehicle with no oncoming traffic at all. Now that you're on the "wrong" side of the road, your brain tells you otherwise since your perspective is what it was driving on the right side of the road in the US or on the Continent. You actually forget to cross back to the left side of the road and as soon as a vehicle approaches from around a blind bend in the road, catastrope results. When I lived in the UK, about a dozen accidents of exactly that type involving US service personnel occurred every year, often with fatal results.

Plenty of folks own and drive LHD vehicles in the UK and never have a problem. You do have to be more vigilant but it's entirely possible to do it safely if you stay alert.

Answer 2

If you're a good driver, its safe enough. Just remember you have to drive on the other side of the road, and we have roundabouts.

Its up 2 u. If your comfortable driving an American car, I'd suggest you might be best to drive that over here because there'll be so many other things that are different about driving that at least there'll be one thing familiar to you

off the top of my head, you should know

- jay walking is not even a defined term over here, people cross the road whenever and where ever they please so be careful

- Pelican crossings and such
theres the red-amber-green lights, self explanatory
Theres yellow flashing lollypop stick lights with a black and white crossing thing between them, you HAVE to stop at those if someone looks like they are going to cross it. Theres no indication of when, you just have to do it
Railway crossings, flash when a train will come, for goodness sake stop, our train drivers cant.

- Roundabouts - give way to the right so when you come to one, look to your right, the left doesnt matter. The key here is turntaking. Stay in the centre until you want to turn off, then quickly switch to the outer lane and take your turn.

- One way streets, the sign for those is a blue background with a white arrow telling you which way. Go the right way so you dont get into trouble

- ALWAYS stay on the left hand side of the road unless its one-way.


Hope that helps

Have fun when you come over here

Answer 3

I have driven American cars and European imports for years here in the UK, the steering wheel being on the left is not a legal issue over here and you definitely will not get arrested. In towns and off main highways(motorways in the UK) you may find that the roads are some what narrower than you are used to in the USA, parking bays are marked out for European type cars so you might find parking a problem if you have a large car (encroach on an adjacent parking bay and you will get ticketed or towed away) Fuel economy may also be an issue as petrol(gas) is around 2.5 time more expensive here. You are as safe here as in the US, as always it is the loose nut behind the wheel that is the danger ;) Enjoy your trip.

Answer 4

i will by no potential understand this stupid macho shown fact which you're no longer a solid motive force in case you are able to no longer force a automobile with a instruction manual gearbox and that this is lazy to force an computerized. The instruction manual gearbox is a gadget to maintain an engine working in that's maximum precious rev variety, to no longer prepare how solid the motive force is. electric automobiles have not got a gearbox as an electric motor can strengthen optimal torque from 0 revs. A automobile is a potential of transport rather than a dexterity attempt to it form of feels logical to have 2 pedals, one for circulate and one to sluggish If the 1st automobiles have been equipped with computerized boxes, do you ever think of a producer could ever have offered a automobile in which you should function the kit lever, seize and accelerator many circumstances in a experience just to make progression? by the type, I force a instruction manual container automobile.

Answer 5

Steering wheel's on the wrong side. If seen by a cop, you will be instantly arrested. Best advice for you is to rent a car from somewhere, car rentals aren't OVERLY expensive if you're only going to be there for a while.

Answer 6

The steering wheel's on the wrong side. That is definitely NOT safe. :P