Driving on the Left...Easy Transition or Real Nightmare??

murphy · Guru

Driving on the Left...Easy Transition or Real Nightmare??

tony2phones · Guru

There is a greatly perceived fear factor when it comes to driving on the opposite side of the road. This fear factor seems to be mainly with US drivers. Europeans seem less terrified by the prospect?

I would not advocate driving mindless miles straight offa red eye (although some "Travel Experts" do!) but what are the stories from those who have actually made the transition and lived to talk about it..

Judy · Guru

My husband loves the adventure of driving on the left side of the road and having the steering wheel on the right side of the car. I for one find it fearful being on the left passenger side with no controls, especially the brake pedal.

He usually drives about 2 hours after a long flight. The excitement of being in Ireland keeps him wide eyed and alert. He says it only takes about 2 minutes to get used to the change. However, I would not trust him driving a pony and trap.

Maggie117 · Guru

I drove 1200 miles with two co-pilots that I stressed out more than I was (and I was, at times, stressed). I hit two things...some big rocks on the ring of kerry drive avoiding a tourist bus (we did the loop in reverse).

Drove around the turn-abouts lots...round and round and round...pulled over tons to reread the map. At night I even studied the map and rewrote the directions so I could easily understand them. Wouldn't even consider smelling alcohol and driving...drove on the "wrong" side of the road a couple times...

White knuckled most of the trip BUT it was so worth it...it's the best way to see Ireland...

I would do it again.. :)

loosechippings · Veteran Member

In May 2004 we booked a CIE Self Drive Trip. We arrived at 7am in Shannon and got the Shuttle to Hertz. We paid for the Super CDW and were then handed a diagram of the Ford Focus that we were renting. The diagram had arrows highlighting the existing damage that our car had and the Counter Person asked us to go look at the car and to see if anything had been missed then sign and return the form. The first thing I noticed on the diagram was an arrow pointing to the left front bumper that said Hole in Bumper, and there was one, I imagine this car had been rented by some of my fellow Americans.
Once I became a bit familier with the Car I proceeded to drive around the parking lot several times, mostly because I couldnt find the exit.
What I failed to mention was that our Travel Agent advised us to get our Euros at the Airport upon arrival, well arriving at 7am on a Monday the ATMs that I found were empty.
So we drove north towards Galway looking for a Bank with a parking lot, we found one in Ennis, I made a correct left hand turn down a street and into the lot, upon leaving I made a right towards an oncoming Truck, the driver was very nice and flagged me to the correct side of the road.
We arrived in Galway and found a Parking Garage near the Tourist Board Office and did a little wandering. Close to noon my better half needed a nap so we headed off to our B&B to throw ourselves on their mercy to check in early. When driving out of the Parking Garage and approaching the Toll Machine I heard a bang on the left hand side, this was my first experience with folding side mirrors (great invention). Things got better over the next 10 days. Were looking forward to 30 days in Ireland in 2013.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Our first Ireland visit was in April of 1999. I did most of the planning and all of the driving. Six of us flew into ATL and then flew on to SNN -- VIA DUB! We stumbled into the Arrivals Hall about 9 AM and were met by Cousins that had driven up from Cork to greet us ...

We were booked into a B&B in Millstreet for the night and the Cousins insisted that they had no wish to delay or impede us, "But Daddy wanted quite badly to meet his Cousin Jack" --

We retired to the small pub that used to be at the far end of the Arrivals Hall and poceded to talk and laugh and talk until 1 PM!

It was only THEN, that I collected our rental -- an Electric Green, VW Caravelle, with diesel engine and a manual transmission. My BIL snagged the front passenger seat and I proceded to drive out of the airport -- after "detouring" through the Short Term Parking area. As I prepared to turn out of the Car Park, the back seat passengers noticed a truck in the outside lane and proceded to shriek and pound upon my BIL (since he was sitting in the "CORRECT" driver's seat. He finally turned and pointed to the empty dash board in front of him and said, "What do you expect ME to do?"

The truck went by (in the OUTSIDE lane) and I turned into the inside lane and proceded to exit the airport -- with nothing but laughter coming from the other seats.

We drove on to Millstreet and then the next day traveled down to the Cousins East Cork, where we stayed for two nights. We followed the Cousins all over for the next two days as they led us to Cohb, Blarney and in and around Cork City. On the third day, in heavy rain, I followed them out to the Ancestral Village of Drimoleague, in West Cork for Mass. After that stop, I was led up a winding, narrow mountain road -- to a STEEP, winding Boreen, into the Mealagh Valley ... to visit two more Cousins.

A few hours later, I drove back down, in the gathering dusk, to attend a massive Family Gathering, at the Drimoleague Inn.

The next day, we parted company with the Cousins and drove to Killarney, via Bantry and a Clock-wise drive of the ROK. It being early April, I only had to drive up, into the rocks, TWICE when driving past Tour Buses along the way. The NEXT day, I drove up through Tralee (No By-passes, back then!) to Tarbert, rode the Ferry over to Kilimer and headed up to Doolin for lunch, the Cliffs, for a look -- and ended our day in Galway -- "as the sun was setting on Galway Bay". The next night was spent in Claregalway -- then we turned back to end our visit with a final night in Bunratty.

The Caravelle survived it all (including an over-night in the third level of the Parking Garage next to the Jurys Inn, at the foot of Quay Street), with little more than a few scratches from hedge branches.

And, DESPITE my BIL's brazen bet that I would lose the passenger mirror before the trip ended, BOTH mirrors were still firmly attatched.

Tirteen years and 14 visits (and Thousands of miles driven) later, I have yet to ding a bumper, dent a fender, OR lose a mirror -- though I HAVE had to buy 3 tires and pay to have 1 alloy wheel straightened, due to Potholes.

Oddly enough, Every trip, I INVARIABLY have at least one "Irish Moment" where I find myself driving on the wrong side of the road -- shortly after my return to driving in the USA!!!!

Bob

Wellsley · Guru

I did all the driving in Ireland, it was the first time driving on the left. I had no problems. Since your sitting on the right it seemed natural. I think I put 1300 miles on the rental car. It was a manual transmission passat. Great car ran on diesel and got 50mpg. I even drove in the city of Galway during rush hour. It took about an hour to get from salt hill to our hotel in city center. It was stop and go and mostly stop. I would be concerned more with the narrow roads then driving on the left. Some of the off the beaten path roads are not much more than one lane wide.

Frank

stewh · Guru

On our first trip to Ireland we arrived at Dublin Airport at 4:00 PM, picked up the Fiat Punto (manual transmission) and had to drive completely through the city to Killiney. This is not among my favourite Irish experiences but it had much more to do with Dublin than with the car.

I was surprised at how quickly I adapted to driving on the left side of the road and shifting gears with my left hand. The pedals are in the usual locations. Each morning when we start driving my wife reminds me "we're in Ireland and in Ireland we drive on the LEFT side of the road". In several visits I have found Irish drivers to generally be skilled and more patient than we are in North America - you don't hear horns blasting as much. Don't try to drive as fast as locals and be realistic about distances and you'll have a great experience.

loosechippings · Veteran Member

I have to agree, I found the Irish Drivers as a whole to be most courteous. I especially loved the two finger wave you would receive when yielding on a narrow road, I still do it here in the USA, kind of a salute.

Carla · Veteran Member

My husband Tom and I have been to Ireland 5 times, and with every trip we pay for two drivers and share the driving responsibility, which always seems to surprise all the other American wives we encounter.

The first time we went, I was slow to "warm up" to the idea of driving, but by the end of our second day I was ready to give it a go. Both of us agree that after that first trip, the transition is easy and driving on the left feels pretty natural to us. The first and second time we went, we got automatic transmission cars, but on our third trip, we started getting manual transmission cars. We had a problem with that first manual tran in finding reverse, but Mary at our B&B helped us, and told us the "trick" to it, and it was easy enough after that. The fourth trip is when I really surprised Tom and took the keys and drove straight from the airport. Last fall when we went for the fifth time, I was in no shape at all to drive right off the plane. Tom was able to sleep more on the plane than I was, so he felt up to driving. The next morning I was feeling normal again, so I drove to start the day. We always pick a B&B within an hour's drive from the airport, because we just never know how we'll feel when we land. We would much rather be safe than sorry.

Back up to our very first hours ever in Ireland: we were driving around the countryside near Quin in County Clare (after we'd had a short nap), and Tom ran off the edge of the road and burst a tire/tyre. Luckily we were right near someone's driveway, so he pulled the car in there and put the spare on. Early the next morning we found a tire shop in Ennis and, as Tom guessed, we had to buy a new tire as the damaged one was beyond repair. It's been long enough now that I do not recall how much it cost. This was a brand new car...something I hope to have as my rental in the future. That tire incident is the only "nightmare" we've ever had with driving on the left. I agree with the others who feel like Irish drivers are more courteous than drivers here in the US. It always surprises me a little at first when we're waiting to pull out of a car park and someone stops and waves us out. That is unheard of here, even in small town North Carolina.

yesiree · Guru

Great topic and great tips.

On the first visit, the adjustment period tends to take a little while, but anyone who keeps calm and avoids city driving right off the bat, usually comes through it with great stories to tell. I always tell people if they're a decent driver on the right side of the road, they will be a decent driver on the left as long as they keep their wits.

Although driving on the opposite side of the road plays a big part in the anxiety of driving in Ireland, I think the types of roads in Ireland (we've all seen pics of the narrow, winding roads with sheep and cows crossing) and fear of learning new roadsigns and roundabouts push many North American drivers over the edge before they even book a car. Meanwhile, Americans visiting Australia tend to be much less concerned about driving on the left -- having driven in Australia, I can say the road system is much more similar to the US, and it's unexpectedly easy to adjust to driving there.

Thanks to everyone who has left comments... I'll certainly be sending people this way when they ask about driving!

tony2phones · Guru

I do have to confess that going to pick Chris up from Knock yesterday some egit in a small black Citroen Hetz (yellow No1 target) cut me up going the wrong way round the roundabout above the M6 and proceeded down the slip road heading towards Galway on the Dublin bound carriageway. Blasting the Horn had no effect. I only hope they did not loose their CDW deposit and reversed back up the slip road with more care than they went down it.

Judy · Guru

Tony, I love that word...egit...., my mother used it all the time. Not about me of course. I think she was referring to some crazy American drivers here in the US.

Michele Erdvig · Host

My husband is so used to the direction of the Irish roundabouts that he almost went the wrong way round when we got one here in Roswell, GA.

JeanneV · Member

I drove through roundabouts in the early 70's while living in Bangkok--me and thousands of American drivers, Thai drivers, go-carts, pedicabs, motorcycles, three-wheel carts and buses, all at the same time, vying for space to move even an inch at a time! I was driving a left-hand American car with NO air conditioning, to boot! Driving in Ireland after that was a "piece of cake" for me! And I was MUCH OLDER by the time I got to Ireland!

loosechippings · Veteran Member

Ah, I googled eegit, you are correct.
You know in the year 2000 for my 50th birthday I took a High Speed Stock Car Driving Course, at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania USA http://www.877stockcar.com/stockcar_programs.htm on one of my laps on the straightaway I hit 163 MPG / 262 KM, I thought I was a pretty good driver till we traveled to Ireland in 2004, I was really out of my comfort zone for a couple of days.
And I felt like a eejit ; )

-- Edited by loosechippings on Saturday 21st of July 2012 05:27:25 PM

loosechippings · Veteran Member

tony2phones,
The one thing that drove me crazy on our trip in 2004 was the Hertz Rental that we had those little Hertz stickers in the front and rear windows. I realize that most if not all of us USA residents stand out as Tourists, but those stickers really confirm it to anyone passing the vehicle. Several years ago in Florida USA many Tourists were targeted for muggings and at least one death resulted because the Tourists had rented from Alamo Car Rentals, at that time Alamo put bumper stickers on all their rentals advertising that the vehicle was an Alamo Rental.
Oh by the way I played the egit on several occasions, and I do love that term, first time I heard it uttered was by Colm Meaney in The Commitments.
Mike

tony2phones · Guru

Bit of a hobby of mine spotting the hire car, They all have identifying marks some easier to see at speed than others. I admit that the pensioner wearing a baseball cap in a Dooley rental sort of gave away his nationality but no harm he did drive along the crash lane to let me past (slightly illegal).

I actually misspelled egit it is always ee but the g can also be j so eegit or eejit, Numpty is also a gentler way of expressing the same comment.

Green Dragon · Guru

My first time was in 1996. This was my first trip anywhere, and I was all alone. I flew into London, puttered about on the Underground for a couple days, and then flew to Dublin, rented a car, and started driving. I was in Ireland for just three nights, started in Dublin, went up to Naas, then back down to Glendalough and to Dun Laoghaire. So my first driving was actually IN Dublin, which I really don't recommend - but it was trial by fire, so to speak. No worries, I grew up driving in Miami, where 40% of the drivers are illegals and therefore never had to pass a driving test.

That one was an automatic, but since then I always rent stick. The biggest problem I have is trying to shift with my right hand the first few times - and hitting the window reaching for it. But I find it's more of a difficult transition learning to be back on the right side when I return!

Many of the rural roads don't HAVE a side, so no worries with that.

tony2phones · Guru

This is a Problem area. On a Bohreen I pull in to the left making space for oncoming vehicles. It's instinctive. Unfortunately someone who instinctively drives on the left instinctively pulls to right. This mirror effect has two oncoming cars instinctively aiming for the same space on the same verge.