ladyfinger, when we were in the UK I was ok with the traffic most of the time. All you do is follow everyone else and you do fine. Where I got into trouble was when I was alone on the road and had a tendency to drift to the right. Fortunately, that wasn’t often.
Elly the traffic is going the right way in Bridgetown, on the left same as in UK!!
Elly’s not British, dugharry, she’s Canadian. Canadians drive on the right side of the road, just as Americans do. Therefore, to her, the Bridgetown traffic is going the “wrong” way.
My only problem while driving in the UK was smashing my knuckles into the right hand door when reaching for the manual shifter. A couple of times of that and I learned quickly to shift with my left hand.
Looks like John stuck to his plans and remained on the beach, relaxing. I would too. Husbands who work all day usually want a vacation relaxing like John. Stay at home wives like Elly want to explore (the shops).
I concur. Lifelong habits are very hard to break or overcome. Even trying to constantly remind my self to look to the right while in London I frequently forgot. The natives kept telling me “We get more tourists that way!”
Driving was a different story. Once in the left lane I was OK. The problems came when pulling out of a driveway or making turns at an intersection. Invariably I would want to go into the wrong lane.
The scariest moment was in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand when my left lane somehow turned into a “right” lane (I didn’t change lanes), and the oncoming bus driver thought he would teach the dumb tourist a lesson, stopping only inches from my front bumper.
Talk about seeing impending doom! Stopped car, foot pressing the brake pedal through the floorboard and a huge oncoming bus not stopping and about to squash a little bug with us in it!
Here in the Bahamas, a former British colony, we also drive on the left. Never understood why tourists would want to hire motor scooters and drive themselves anywhere. Must be very nerve-wracking to be driving on the other side of the street. More relaxing to hire a driver.
Where in The United States do you have to drive on the left side? I’ve been there and driving there was an experience since I’m from Florida. By the way, this is not a joke.
edit to add: What made it worse was that the steering wheel was on the left. Worst combination. First time driving on the left with a car really setup to drive on the right.
dugharry almost 14 years ago
Elly the traffic is going the right way in Bridgetown, on the left same as in UK!!
gobblingup Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Just like a bunch of lemmings… :-)
scottcpa almost 14 years ago
Well, when life hands you a lemming, make lemmingade!
JanLC almost 14 years ago
ladyfinger, when we were in the UK I was ok with the traffic most of the time. All you do is follow everyone else and you do fine. Where I got into trouble was when I was alone on the road and had a tendency to drift to the right. Fortunately, that wasn’t often.
legaleagle48 almost 14 years ago
dugharry said, about 7 hours ago
Elly the traffic is going the right way in Bridgetown, on the left same as in UK!!
Elly’s not British, dugharry, she’s Canadian. Canadians drive on the right side of the road, just as Americans do. Therefore, to her, the Bridgetown traffic is going the “wrong” way.
TexTech almost 14 years ago
My only problem while driving in the UK was smashing my knuckles into the right hand door when reaching for the manual shifter. A couple of times of that and I learned quickly to shift with my left hand.
gaebie almost 14 years ago
Looks like John stuck to his plans and remained on the beach, relaxing. I would too. Husbands who work all day usually want a vacation relaxing like John. Stay at home wives like Elly want to explore (the shops).
TheSkulker almost 14 years ago
mightaswellbe
I concur. Lifelong habits are very hard to break or overcome. Even trying to constantly remind my self to look to the right while in London I frequently forgot. The natives kept telling me “We get more tourists that way!”
Driving was a different story. Once in the left lane I was OK. The problems came when pulling out of a driveway or making turns at an intersection. Invariably I would want to go into the wrong lane.
The scariest moment was in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand when my left lane somehow turned into a “right” lane (I didn’t change lanes), and the oncoming bus driver thought he would teach the dumb tourist a lesson, stopping only inches from my front bumper.
Talk about seeing impending doom! Stopped car, foot pressing the brake pedal through the floorboard and a huge oncoming bus not stopping and about to squash a little bug with us in it!
gofinsc almost 14 years ago
My definition of a pessimist is someone who looks both ways before crossing a one-way street. I do it every time.
gforgina almost 14 years ago
Here in the Bahamas, a former British colony, we also drive on the left. Never understood why tourists would want to hire motor scooters and drive themselves anywhere. Must be very nerve-wracking to be driving on the other side of the street. More relaxing to hire a driver.
W6BXQ, John almost 14 years ago
A Quiz
Where in The United States do you have to drive on the left side? I’ve been there and driving there was an experience since I’m from Florida. By the way, this is not a joke.
edit to add: What made it worse was that the steering wheel was on the left. Worst combination. First time driving on the left with a car really setup to drive on the right.