A road sign in Kent, reminding traffic to drive on the left.

Only about a quarter of the world drive on the left hand side. It may seem very strange to the rest of the world but it is deemed perfectly normal to those that live in the UK. Someone curiously asked me “Why do Britons drive on the left?” To be honest I had no idea, I am not a walking Wikipedia, but it surely could help right-handed drivers get accustomed to driving in Britain.

Do not bring a  stop to an adventurous trip in Britain for your fear of colliding into some unknown being while behind the wheel. Driving in Britain is easy and enjoyable as long you learn the basics and follow the traffic regulations/sign posts.

For many people, shifting their steering seat from the right hand side to the left seems like a grave vertigo problem. The first step in overcoming it is choosing the right vehicle model. Sometime it cuts you deep in the pocket, but comfort matters more. It is much better to organise car insurance right away, taking tips from friends, car rental companies, etc as to which is suitable. Before speeding away, I would personally recommend taking some driving lessons, as they would prepare you in navigating around roundabouts and other tricky junctions. Driving lessons give you the jumpstart, but practice is what counts and lots of it..

Talking about car insurance, beware of which one you choose. Many  times you may be charged  from your credit card until the insurance claim is settled. Also, check your car for damages before renting it.

Driving on the left side:

Representation of a UK roundabout. (GFDL/Mintguy)

Take practice lessons on quiet roads. Reversing around a corner can be difficult as you must remember to reverse into a side road on your left. Check for traffic and parking regulations for more information. If you have an international license, it guarantees a year of driving  in Britain after which you will have to apply for a British license.

I would not recommend first timer’s  to drive on the roads of central London, as there are many one-way systems that can be puzzling as well as bus lanes which must be avoided at certain times. . Taking any kind of public transportation is advisable as it guarantees that you will reach your destination on time and safely.

Then there are the complicated & confusing roundabouts. A roundabout is a clockwise traffic circle designed to keep the vehicle flow constant. While driving around  a roundabout remember never to enter it by taking a right turn,   also be well prepared about your exit of choice and always remember to give way to traffic on your right.

Practice makes perfect and in a few weeks time you will pull off the art of left-hand driving. Best of luck!

WN/Photos

No matter how hard you try and spend money on any professional motoring school, the importance of friends and family can’t be overlooked.

I still remember when I was given my first bike for passing the twelfth grade. Being an amateur, I had a brief encounter with the Road Transport Office(RTO) people regarding driving rules. Though, in reality it was my classmates and my neighbors who actually helped me out whenever I faced problems while using my brand new bike.

WN/Photos

Besides this, most of the time, it was my dad who used to warn me each time I stepped out of home on my bike with a long list of do’s and don’ts while on the road. Things like where to take a U-turn and vice-verse, which path is one-way and how to maintain your line on highways, etc.was an everyday sermon.

I guess it is a myth that non-qualified driving instructors are a cheaper method in attaining a Driving License. Because most of the times it has been seen that in the long run the lower level of teaching quality and irregularities in practicing the taught rules had caused driving test failures. Still, most of the time people tend to believe it.

WN/Photos

The reason why I don’t favor any training for two-wheeler driving is because of the example of my younger sister. She passed her driving test at the city’s local transport office without any professional assistance at hand and attained her permanent driving license on her own by simply following the traffic sign boards.

However, when it comes to four-wheel driving, I personally feel that a professional instructor is worth having as driving can be quite complex for those people with little understanding about how a vehicle actually works.

WN/Photos

Also, the benefit in getting a certified coach or driving instructor is that you will gain the best possible learning experience available. The mock test and people from diverse backgrounds and age groups provide you a platform to interact with each other, share information, and understand the practical functioning of various vehicles.

There are certain kinds of people who perform better in a group presence and lose contact completely when it comes to self-dependence. In such case, immediate assistance is provided by their family members and at times, the office colleagues who help them out and boost their confidence.

A 10 minute Independent Driving Test will require the candidates to drive to a pre-decided destination following traffic signs, a series of verbal commands or a combination of both.  They will have to drive alone without any help from the instructor.

The test does not determine the candidate’s orientation or navigational skills but the ability to drive alone & safely relying upon their own decisions.

Even the most experienced drivers are not expected to remember every direction. Therefore, it does not matter  if the candidates miss their mark and go the wrong way. To aid them, a diagram may be at their disposal to show them the right way.

The Route:

If the candidates ask for a reminder of their route, the examiner will help them.

If the candidates lose their way and set on a completely different route, it will not affect their results, unless there was a driving fault.

If the candidates lose their way, the examiner will help them get back on the ‘correct’ route.

In case of poor traffic signs, the examiner will help with the directions until the next proper traffic sign.

Use of Sat Nav’s are not allowed as they give turn-by-turn directions, which spoils the whole purpose of the test.