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MG MGB Technical - OT Driving Left and Right

For those that make trips through the Chunnel to France or from France to the UK. How hard is it to switch from driving on the left to the right or from the right to the left?
Bruce Cunha

We live 20 miles from the ferry and use it a lot. No problem with the change over either way. Second day is the one to watch for some reason.
David k Brenchley

I like the way in France etc they have three arrows on the road surface as you approach a crest reminding you to move to the right hand side. Something we could replicate in Australia as we regularly have accidents caused by tourists used to driving on the other side of the road.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I took my MGB GTV8 to France for the first time in 2015 and it wasn't a problem. The two things I had to think about at first were:

Turning left means crossing the other carriageway. That happens when you turn right in the UK and seemed counter-intuitive at first.

At roundabouts you need to look left for approaching traffic. In the UK you look right. My wife would gently remind me as we came up to the stop line "Look left please" !

The other thing with a RH drive car driving on the right is that you don't have good mirror visibility behind on the left of the car if you want to overtake something. A glance over the shoulder is essential.

Fortunately the daft French rule about priorité ŕ droite is only found now in very small villages, but you have to watch out there.
Mike Howlett

Havent done it for a few years but seem to remember having to put stickers on headlight lenses, or yellow shades, to prevent lights blinding ongoing traffic
Graham V

Yes Graham, I blanked off part of the headlamp lens to remove the part of the beam that illuminates road signs in the UK. A small triangle of black insulating tape did the trick. Then I never drove after dark when I was there!
Mike Howlett

Mike. Priority a droite ? Yield?. Here in California, we yield to the right, but with the amount of roundabouts they are now adding in the US, you yield to the left for the roundabout.
Bruce Cunha

I can concur with 'second day', and also you have to watch out when doing a U-turn or a three-pointer, it's all too natural to continue on the wrong side. I told the kids to watch out for me, and coming back to Southampton deliberately moved to the right-hand lane on the dual carriageway to a chorus of "Dad, you are on the wrong side ...".
paulh4

As well as second day I'd add after stopping or parking up particularly if it's a tea, pee or food stop as you're then more relaxed (and possibly relieved) and possibly switched back to your default settings and less aware and alert.

There was a chap who wanted to sell a glove that went on the appropriate hand as a reminder, but any reminder would do - as long as you remember to use it. :)
Nigel Atkins

Nigel's comment about stopping and then requiring a brain reset is absolutely correct. Some years ago I was heading a two car convoy in central Brittany. Realizing that the map I was using was of poor quality and as a result we were now completely lost, I signaled for us to pull over to the verge for a conference. Having finally decided upon a plan of action which included refreshments bought from a previous village, I struck out with every confidence in our new routing. Having traveled some considerable distance my attention was drawn to flashing lights in the rear view mirror coming from the car behind which was on the opposite side of the road. Without thinking auto pilot was well and truly in control and I was happily admiring the the French scenery whilst driving on the left. Thank goodness it happened to be a typical French rural road, straight and traffic free. Strangely my wife hadn't noticed either! Amusing to recall now but not so at the time.
Chris Woodfield

When I lived in Westchester County, New York, thousands were spent getting rid of them as people were confused upon entering it. Today, people are so busy texting, apporoaching a roundabout should be quite a challenge.

Cheers

Gary
79 MGB
gary hansen

This thread was discussed between 01/07/2018 and 03/07/2018

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