Adjust to Driving a Car on the Right Side of the Road
About a quarter of the world (e.g., Australia, Japan, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK) lives in countries where people drive on the left side of the road. If you are from one of those countries but moving to or traveling in one where the driving is on the right-hand side, you've got some work to do before you start driving.
Steps
- Find the steering wheel and gear shift. In countries where one drives on the right-hand side of the road, the cars are built so that the driver sits on the left-hand side of the car instead of right. Also, changing gears is done with the opposite hand. Get in the car, drive in a parking lot or around the block and get some confidence.
- Watch for these things:
- Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the left.
- Left-turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic.
- Traffic signs facing motorists are mostly on the right-hand side of the road.
- Traffic on traffic circles goes counter-clockwise.
- Complete any necessary paperwork. Check with the local department of motor vehicles (or equivalent) to see if your International Driver's License is valid for driving. If you are going to be a resident in the country, you will be most likely be required to pass a written test, a road test, or both. If you will be facing a written test, study materials will be provided.
- Drive in the Keep Right Except to Pass. Because you are new learner, keep in mind that "fast" lane is the left lane and the "slow" lane is the right lane, which is the opposite of what you're used to. (In both cases, however, it is the lane farthest from the oncoming traffic.) Let fast drivers pass on your left. When you need to pass other drivers, give a left turn signal, move to the left, pass, signal right, and move in front.
- Make turns with care. Signal in plenty of time to let other drivers know what you are doing and make any necessary adjustments.
- Make a left turn by getting into as close as possible to the left-most lane, nearest the median strip (in a divided road) or the center of the road (when oncoming traffic is immediately adjacent). When completing your turn, you will cross traffic going opposite your original direction and traffic going opposite your intended direction. Be sure end up in the right half of any two-way road, but in the left lane (if there is more than one).
- To make a right hand turn - stay close to the curb or the edge of the road and do not cross any traffic when completing your turn.
- Watch for pedestrians. Normally they are supposed to be walking on their left hand side of the road, facing traffic, but human nature applies here, as in your home country: they can be anywhere.
Tips
- If you get confused, take a moment to look at the road signs around you; if they're facing you, you're going in the correct direction -- that is, unless the signs read "Wrong Way", or "Do Not Enter"!
- In many places right hand turn is allowed on red signals after you stop.
- Don't drink and drive ... no matter what side you are driving on.
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