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MG TD TF 1500 - Driving on the left side

Tried to post this in an earlier thread and the link didn't work. It appears that Gordon also had trouble with it, so I will try again. Seems to be something about the .be url and HTML? If this link connects, then select the second item on the left side menu. If not, forget it, but it is an interesting article relative to driving on either side.

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/index.htm
Dallas Congleton

Thank god it advises practicing driving on the left before you come to the UK. But how are you meant to do that? In the middle of the night when no one is around?
Henry

I assume one does the practicing on one-way streets, or divided highways where there is more than one lane going the same direction. I guess you would just have to imagine the oncoming traffic in the other lane.

However, unless the driving position is reversed, I don't know exactly how much good such practice will do. I can practice, because I've been driving my 55 TF (RHD--originally exported to Singapore). I'd like to bring it to the old country for a tour someday. Maybe about 2010?
Mark Barrington

"practicing"....is that what those folks going the wrong way on the freeways around here are doing?
I haven't looked to see if any of them are carring swords or guns!
Yikes...
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

It really is the same both places...keep the steering wheel next to the center of the road....
Having driven a RHD all summer over here... there is not much to practice... you get in, you keep the curb to your right and there you are (if you go anywhere else there are these huge vehicles coming straight at you).
Having driven a RHD in England, you sit behind the wheel, and keep the center of the road to the wheel side...again...do it wrong and you notice the front grille of a Lorry coming at you...
What you don't want is an English driver over in North America driving a RHD car...and for heaven's sake, don't put a North American driver behind the wheel of a LHD car in England.....!!!!!!!!!
gordon lawson - TD 27667

When I bought my first RHD car, the hard part was shifting with my left hand! A couple years later I took a trip to Ireland. The only thing that I found difficult was remembering which lane to turn into at an intersection. It became second nature within a day or two.
Steve Simmons

Very interesting because it talks about "FORD" putting driver on left side of vehicle which is my point Ford was the MAJOR FORCE behind the move because HE built cars for the masses! Nuff said. Greg & Grimm
G.J. Cenzer

I thought you Yanks drove down the middle of the road anyway so you are half way there all ready

Happy christmas


Jan T
J Targosz

Jan, I'm sorry to say that it is a sad state over here in Yankee land. Most of the BIG SUV driver's are in such a big hurry that they speed down the right hand lane passing anything smaller than them on the right (off side) a no-no in Brit/Bohn. I'm talking surface roads not just 'freeways'! Greg & Grimm
G.J. Cenzer

I do not mind driving right hand cars here in North America. I drove my VA for 18 years without trouble. Actually it is easy to pass as all you do is ease over to the right and look around the vehicle in front. When you see all clear then move out to pass. Of course with a VA you do not do very much passing.
Sandy Sanders
Sandy Sanders

I don't do much over taking in my TF. I was stationed in Bahrain in 1959/61 when they changed from driving on left to the right hand side of the road. The taxi drivers were cross as most drove Chevrolet Impalas which, being LHD, allowed them to tout for custom through an open window. After the change, they were further away from pedestrians.
John S James

Driving on the other side of the road can be very useful - you can chat up pretty girls when you are stopped at traffic lights.


Happy Christmas

Jan T
Jan Targosz

My first trip to Ireland when driving out of Shannon towards Ennis, I learned very fast how to drive on the left when a big Guinness lorry rolled around the bend directly at me (me being on the wrong, right side of the road) But on the other hand, what a way to drown.
SEAMUS
F. HEALY

My favorite part of driving my RHD TD on US roads is the 'S' curve near my house that I simply look over the runningboard and hug the inside of the right corner. Special.

Stan Griffis

SEAMUS,
Is "Guinness lorry" correct concourse way to go in an M.G. head on ...or would one need to be splattered by an "OSH lorry" to score a perfect 100 ? Seems to me Guinness would only score 90/95! LOL
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427

PS: AS for any M.G. made of fiberglass..I still say ".............."
David Sheward

Years ago, on my honeymoon, I rented a Suzuki Samari and drove all over St. John (Virgin Islands) on the "wrong" side of the road. It was not problem even though the car was LHD. Then again, I didn't have to deal with any roundabouts. ;)
Carl Floyd

They installed a roundabout in one of our towns here in Wisconsin. I think I need a vacation to visit our UK friends so they can teach me how to get from the inner lane to the outer lane.
Bruce Cunha

The Niagara Parks Commission decided that a three way corner on the Niagara Parkway in Queenston (just below Brock's Monument) needed a roundabout...They put in about a 30 foot diameter, one lane one!!!!! Now... this is a road that in the summer handles "thousands" of tourists...American, Canadian, you name them....all not quite sure where they are going...and this three way goes to three popular locations....WELL...let me tell you... last July 1st (our holiday) and July 4th (the U.S. holiday) fell on the same weekend... !!!!!!!!!
You wouldn't have believed that place... took a picnic lunch down and sat on a hill overlooking the turn...what fun... held up "score cards" for each near miss, non-yield, wrong turn and near fender bender... It was sooooooo much fun!!!!!
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Bruce. don't waste your dollars, I'll tell you how it is done in UK.

1. Never, ever signal your intentions.
2. Forget lane discipline, join the shortest queue waiting to enter the roundabout regardless of which way you are turning.
3. Keep you speed as high as possible while transitting a roundabout to screw up drivers waiting to enter.
4. Biggest vehicle get priority by - fear.
5. If you don't get your own way, shout swear and make obscene gestures at all around you.
then there are the thousands of MINI Roundabouts, but they are another story!
John S James

The problem I have found on roundabouts, as well as general traffic, is not the problem of my knowing how to negotiate the circle, but determining what others are going to do. :>)
Dallas Congleton

I decided to take a course in advanced driving, test coming up. Now I always signal my intention, so everyone knows at least where I am going on roundabouts and in the main keep out of my way. Avoid agressive drivers for a quiet life, and let them pass. They will find someone else to annoy.
Henry

This thread was discussed between 09/12/2005 and 15/12/2005

MG TD TF 1500 index

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