A couple of important things to mention. On UK motorways, keep to the left lane where possible, the outside lane is for overtaking only. Do not pass slower moving traffic on the on the left, your right side, unless the road is congested and all traffic is very slow, it is illegal and dangerous to pass on the left under normal driving conditions. Secondly, for US visitors, do not drive and use a phone at the same time. it is illegal and if you are stopped by the police you will be fined, unless you use a handsfree option on your phone. The point about parking meters is correct but other types of parking meters are in use which work differently.
I'd also add to anyone coming here to familiarise yourself with the rules of the roundabout before driving straight onto it which could be dangerous. Know your lanes, give way to traffic from the right etc..
@@sunsetorange89 Paragraph 268 of the Highway Code starts, " Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake." What more explanation do you want?
Remember on UK motorways,it is illegal to stop unless it is an emergency. If you need a rest,there are motorway service stations every 20/30 miles to pull off to if you need a rest.
Another tip for Americans and I think Canadians regarding traffic lights. If you are at a red light you CAN NOT turn left through a red light where as you can turn right through a red back in the States/Canada. A red light means stop and that's what you do over here. Some traffic lights will have a seperate green light arrow which will illuminate whilst straight ahead lights stay red. You will discover this when people behind you start beeping their horns.
Just got back from Ireland. We rented a car and drove most of the country. I got used to driving on the opposite side fairly quickly, I just took it slow. The strangest thing for me was the roads, and I kept getting paranoid I was driving on a one way. The street markings were confusing. They also can park either direction on the side of the street, so I kept thinking I was driving on a one way. Also, a nice bonus by Sixt rent a car. I asked for a GPS, and the one they gave me was actually a cell phone that gave me GPS, WiFi, and international calling. That was really nice and unexpected. Only 10 euro a day very worth it.
If you're driving down a two-way road but parked cars block one side, don't forget to raise your hand as a thank you to the driver who pulled in and let you pass through on their side of the road
Anyone coming to the UK who normally drive on the right, if you’re not used to driving on the led you don’t need the extra hassle of a manual gearbox as most of Europe drive manual cars so make sure that you specify an automatic from the rental company.
Some really good tips as a Brit. Nice to see you visited my home town Arundel, and Wales, my home country. I hope you found the language interesting! One thing to note - many of the hedge rows, and stone walls in Yorkshire were originally made over 3,000 years ago for land demarcation!
It varies a lot around the UK, and is less true in the cities, but people are generally very polite and considerate on the roads, and waving at people to say 'thank you' is kind of expected, when they let you through etc. Politeness and patience are the keys to an enjoyable driving experience in the UK.
Tiny word of caution for single track roads with high hedges. Don’t ever assume they’re cuddly soft bushes. They’re often built under with big lumps of rock. Best reverse back to a passing place or gateway
I was looking forward to this video. I WILL NOT drive lol I let my brave husband drive last fall when we went to Ireland. We also got an automatic car just to make it a bit easier. Thank God we had this awesome Taxi driver who gave us a little map of how to get out of Dublin after our 1st 3 days since we were heading to the west coast & gave us some tips which were very helpful. In London we took the Taxi from the airport to our Airbnb and just walked everywhere. It was great to walk so we can check out everything close up. :) Thank you for this video. We will use these tips for our next trip. :)
If you still recall, was it much more expensive to rent an automatic car? I can drive a stick, but with the stress of trying to concentrate on navigation in a foreign country, I do find having an automatic just makes things a bit easier.
The video of the narrow road with tall hedgerows either side - many British drivers like me get stressed when not used to driving such roads. As you drive make a mental note of the passing places you pass in case you need to back up if, for instance, you meet a truck! I also do a lot of praying - please don't let me meet someone! (and repeat).
Also remember that the speed limit is advisory in these situations. As the limit may be 60mph but drive to a speed where you can see the point you would stop if you need to brake suddenly.
Great video, Jocelyn! Very helpful! We hit a curb in Ireland and blew out our tire, so I’d add buy the extra insurance, stay calm and call the helpline. We were all patched up and back on the road in 2 hours then got a new tire in the morning. It was part of the adventure.
1:20 - Not all ticket machines require you to enter your vehicle registration number - in fact, in my experience most don't, and I should know because I work for the parking team at a local council. One great way to pay for parking nowadays is to do it by phone - there are apps such as RingGo, Apcoa Connect and Just Park which allow you to pay for parking online - just download the app, set up an account and you can avoid the need for fiddling around with coins altogether. You just enter the location code (usually 4 digits), select the length of your stay and tap the payment button. Plus, if you end up staying longer than planned you can simply open up the app and extend your stay with just a few taps. Very, very useful and not too difficult to set up - all you need is a credit or debit card. Not sure if RingGo et al accept US bank cards, but I'd be surprised if they don't!
One for the people who travel with you when you are driving in a different country, try not to panic the driver. We were in the US with our grown up kids driving around Orlando at rush hour and I had three experts on my case all at the same time. It can be stressful at the best of times without rogue squeals. Of course, if you get lost, they all clam up and just look at the scenery. :)
When between hedgerows, or on any narrow twisty road, do not drive faster than you can react to stop. I was heading home from work one time and round a sharp bend the road was covered in cow manure that had escaped a farmer’s trailer. I was on a motorbike and if I hadn’t slowed sufficiently before the bend I would have slid. But I could equally have encountered a parked vehicle. If you can’t see the road ahead exercise caution and slow down so you can stop if necessary. You’ll lose a little time but not as much as if you have an accident. When in doubt stay safe.
Best advice for Left hand drive drivers coming to the UK for the first time is to really familiarise yourself with the vehicles controls ( indicators, light switches, horn etc. (adjust your mirrors!)) before leaving the hire company premises. Try and relax, don't chat unnesesarilly with passengers and CONCENTRATE. Drive a little slower than the speed limits and pay careful attention to your Satnav (GPS). Good luck!
This is spot on advice. Sat nav is our friend. Some cities such as Oxford have Park and Ride. Pay to park then take a bus. Very handy. Also, in Scotland many of the minor roads have cut-aways to let oncoming cars pass. It’s polite to give a thanks signal for the giving way.
As someone who drives alot around hedgerows it's always good to keep track of passing places so if you do have to reverse you know you have somewhere to go
Great video. Remember you can only go around and around a roundabout in the inside lane closest to the centre. If you go around on the outside you might be dangerously blocking another car from exiting off
And as for the cars, don't forget that automatics are really unusual here, so when hiring a car you will need to specifically ask for them to reserve an automatic if you don't know how to use a manual/shift stick.
Have you done so? It has been a long time for me, but I grew up driving a stick, so I know how to use them. However, I've found that it's enough to concentrate on directions when driving in a foreign country, so having an automatic is one less thing to worry about (not to mention trying to work the stick with the left hand). Is hiring an automatic car in Britain much more expensive than a manual?
Great video and pretty much bang on but worth noting that here in the UK stopping on the hard shoulder is illegal unless you have an emergency (screaming kids is not an emergency). I've been visiting the US regularly for a decade and I still go for the wrong side of the car at least once a trip ;-)
Hi mark nice to see Jocelyn doing the video everything you said is true. I have lived in UK my whole life and the small lanes with on coming traffic freak us out to . Just stay cool find a spot to pull in too . It pays to note these as you drive along . Thanks for your honest reviews . Glad you are enjoying England it's a great place and we had very hot and sunny summer this year .( It doesn't rain all the time it just seems that way) once again thanks for sharing best regards Shaun 😀
Just a note this video applies mainly to the UK which includes Northern Ireland. Republic of Ireland speed limit is KM per hour & our traffic light sequencing is different. We probably have more tolls on motorways than in the UK (although there are some there too). The rest of the information is applicable here too though so happy driving.
we have another driving video coming out in a couple weeks with more technical stuff and I will make sure to note that. Thank you, i probably forgot to mention it in the other video. Cheers!
Also, in Republic of Ireland we use kilometres not miles so people need to know that. Also our road signs are in Irish and English so read them carefully. And we don't have the speed cameras as markers on GPS like I'm UK so it can be easy to speed without realising if you come from Britain mainland to the island of Ireland. Also when driving in countryside, keep far view of road ahead in case you are on road where only 1 car can fit. One of you may need to reverse to a gate so a car can pass but it's not a big deal to regulars in Ireland so just go slow and it will be ok
As others have mentioned you can't stop on Motorways except at specified Services. Your sat nav gps should tell you what sort of road you are on, but a quick check is the colour of the signs. Green and Yellow are A roads, Blue are motorways. If you are in South Wales and need to go to the South West of England - Remember you need to go EAST on the M4. Having been brought up in an area with lots of your Hedgerow roads, you might want to also be aware of Roads with Grass verges, the verges can also hide ditches, so don't drive up the verge unless you are sure there is not a ditch. Don't set your GPS to shortest route unless you want an adventure.
One thing about the hedgerows we have alot of unfenced sheep grazing land in ireland that is very boggy you will be glad of the hedgerows when you leave these areas.If you car ends up in a bog its going to be nigh impossible to get it out.If its a straight road no problem,but if its windy you have to be careful
I'm going back to Britain in the Spring and I'm actually thinking about sharing the driving responsibility with my friend. These are good tips and I'll be reviewing them before I go! Thank you Wolters family!! Cheers!!
In the US you can turn right with a red stop light unless a sign says not to? There is no equivalent in Britain, never go through a red light unless there is a green filter arrow lit.
I'd add one thing, beware of all the automatic speed cameras. They're everywhere. Where a cop might let you off with a warning these won't they just take a picture and a fine will be sent through the mail. And ion the motorways they can do average speed so speeding up and slowing down for the camera's won't work.
I have a look at and around the area where I am planning to visit on Google Earth before I go on any road trips to find parking and a general look at the roads/landmarks, I'll sometimes look at the junction(s) on Street View so when I get there in real life I know where to go too. :)
One thing is if your traveling north through Birmingham and the north Manchester Liverpool area it is sometimes better to go through rural A roads during busier times as the motorways get extremely crowed through rush hour
Quick note on parking. It’s worth downloading a couple of the main parking apps. PayByPhone is the most common, but there’s also RingGo. A lot of places use them and it’s SO MUCH easier than faffing about with change...
we have smart motorways there is no hard shoulder only lay= bys so you need to use them in an emergency only. if a vehicle breaks down in the carriageway, and can't move there are cameras and as soon as you are seen the will change the signage and send a highways officer, I think you can call a motoring rescue service at this time. if you are in the left lane get out of the car kerbside and stand away from the carriageway
I've noticed that other vloggers, like The Endless Adventure, do this too. It really seems like the British country side is where a lot of the fun is at. Thanks for these tips guys!
One thing worth considering. Try to avoid buying stuff at service stations as much as you can. Of course use them if you need the toilet or a stop to have a rest for an hour, but usually the food and shops there have a considerable markup on their prices (think of it as being at an airport).
I'm heading to London and then driving to Durham, this will be the first time I travel abroad from the states and I was pretty nervous about the drive, but got a bit more confidence after watching this video!! Thanks guys! Haha
Another tip: Don't zombie the drive if you're not used to it. So if you arrive after like flying 10ish hours late in the day take a hotel and start fresh the next morning. Zombied the drive from Cairns(AUS) to Townsville after flying like 28h three weeks ago. Unpleasant 5 hours :) Take care and have fun in Durham.
@@UkeofCarl thanks, I'll take that into consideration! I'm used to driving from Texas to California which takes about 12 hours so hopefully I'll do good over there too haha
When we were in Ireland last November, the one thing that really stood out was how easily they navigate through the roundabouts. We quickly learned to be proactive and try to know your desired destination, i.e. which exit, you are headed toward. You may have to go around more than once, but that's okay, and try not to hesitate too much when entering or exiting the roundabout, that WILL cause you to be beeped at! 😉
Another tip for country driving, use your HORN to warn over drivers you are coming. Particularly going round blind bends and over small humpback bridges over canals and what not. It isn't considering rude but incredibly convenient to warn over drivers you are coming and for god sake do not speed!
3 TIPS. 1 Buy and read a copy of the Highway Code (tells you so much and it's cheep) 2 Motorway signs are blue, A road signs are green (no stoping on motorways) 3 Parking read the signs most parking needs to be paid for some places you will need to put the reg number in to get a ticket some you just pay and stick the ticket in your car window some there wont be a ticket but you still need to pay and put your number in some you pay on entry some on exit some machines take coins others use card some need you to make a money transfer using an app on a phone.
Motorways have junction numbers displayed on the signs know the numbers of the one you need & it's easy. Just be sure they're counting up or down appropriately, or your going in the wrong direction. Two hours driving is the UK is a fairly long time, it can take a lot of concentration. Plenty of us drive for longer though & what you think will take 2 hours can take double that sometimes. Not reading 300 comments to see if it's already been said.
Razordraac: The City of London is nothing like the City of York. At 1.12 square miles, the City of London is not only the smallest city of England but because of the Great Fire of 1666 has hardly any mediaeval and later buildings which survived that fire. Incidentally, no need for the expletive: un-necessary, whilst displaying much ignorance upon your part.
@@anghinetti If you knew how far London was separate from the rest of the country in culture, ethics and opinion you'd understand our pain. London is like a separate nation to the rest of the UK and is quite full of knife crime and rough areas. Of course it'll always be a matter of preference to which you prefer, but I know I'd rather choose 'God's own Country' over an incredibly overrated, overcrowded danger town. Also my use of expletive was not directed at anyone, so I will use it as I please. Cheers. EDIT: I am not saying London doesn't have history/architecture. It's just tainted by firstly being ridiculously modernised/industrialised and secondly being full of shitty people, neither of which York features and you can ask anyone who has visited both cities to back that up.
@@RazordraacGaming: Telling me about London is the same as trying to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs because I was born in that county many years ago. Perhaps you were unaware that London (or Greater London, as it became in 1965) is a county, which also has many small towns and villages on it's periphery, the 1.12 square miles of the City of London is a seperate entity from the County of Greater London and is a county in its own right. The five metropolitan counties of northern England are no different in that they too have good and bad, although, the metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire likely are worse because they have all the problems associated with metropolitan counties but very few (if any) of the benefits which Greater London possesses. You may ramble-on as much as you like about so-called 'God's own country' but it still will be Greater London and southern England in general which particularly attracts overseas visitors - and always will. Of course your expletive was not directed at anyone in particular but still shows ignorance upon your part, was totally un-necessary and so no need for you to throw a hissy fit. Incidentally, most of those people in London you have referred to in a disparaging way are not Londoners: they either were born elsewhere or are commuters, therefore you need to resist from generalizing.
Might want to mention the chicanes. Also, people in the US tend to be very legalistic and rigid in regards to "lane territory," but you have to be much more accomodating, particularly on small roads in the UK.
Parking tip lots of town and city's, have park and ride, out of town parking and bus to get you to the centre of town don't forget the bus number and were you got off so to get back to your car.
I know in Scotland the speed limits on roads are your max speed, not suggested speed. People get there and are like OH i drive 60MPH, NO. I've hired a private tour guide and he was averging 50MPH. If we were on a strait road he'd get up to about 58MPH. There are speed cameras everwhere.
Most paid parking is "pay and display", you put money in a machine and receive a piece of paper that you display on your dashboard. Increasingly, you pay by text, which is a pain if you are a visitor. I would like to add one more thing, unless there is a sign telling you to do so, NEVER park with your wheel up on the curb, you will get a ticket.
Tip for driving on small country roads, particularly with the tall hedgerows, if you are approaching a blind corner, slow down and beep (use your horn) to warn anyone coming towards you.
Using your horn like that is a no ,no ! It's doubtful other drivers will hear you . Specially if its a tractor , or truck , we do get a lot of them on small country roads . It's quite possible to find a herd of sheep or cattle facing you coming round a corner . It's happened to me a few times . Using your horn will only frighten them . Which will only make a bad situation Worse . Just thought of this , may met a horse been ridden . Blowing your horn , can make it bolt ! So please , please do not use your horn unless you must . Have a look in the highway code , it will tell you more.
Best tip for foreign drivers, always give way to the right at a roundabout but NEVER assume people will give way to you. Always slow down and make sure. Roundabouts are fun!
I'm from the UK and got really intimidated when driving in the US. Here we have a lot of small roads, roundabouts and narrow streets, while in the US all the massive motorways made me feel scared as it took me ages to just get the courage to go out of the city onto motorways in the UK (I'm was the more anxious cautious type of driver). Although the problem I find with intercity travel in the UK is parking, it's a nightmare and really expensive in cities like Manchester etc. so I mostly still use the train when travelling to other cities.
Mark and Jocelyn, I have an off topic question. Do you have a video on common courtesy at bed and breakfast places. We’re staying in some in Ireland and wonder about late arrivals and other things. Thanks.
Technically you shouldn't sit at a red light with the clutch held down. Use the hand brake and ccome out of gear. If you did rest on the clutch at a stop in the UK driving test, it would be a major fault :)
What's with all the inter-video ads on youtube recently? At the beginning of a video is tolerable, but seeing them in the middle of a video is kind of offputting.
My biggest one when driving on the wrong side of the road is turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals every time I need to make a turn. When I came back to the US after a couple months overseas I had the same exact problem when driving home. Chris
Shadowdog500: If ever you are in the United Kingdom do not drive on the wrong side of the road as that likely will only end in tragedy. Stick to the left side of the road and you should be alright.
I have never understood the issue that Americans have with driving in the UK as if driving on the other side of the road is like being asked to do brain surgery. If that’s the case why do millions if Brit tourists around the world drive on the other side of the road without any issue.
Thanks, when you have a hired car and you are going to say for example Rome knowing not to tackle cities with your hire car do you just stay out of town and always get public transport in ? We are going to drive around Europe so parking the car for a few days on the side of the road near accomodation is that possible or should we just stick to your suggestion of accommodation with parking ?
One important point for US drivers: you may NOT turn left at a red light (equivalent of turning right on red in the US) - unless there is a separate green filter light. If caught you will be fined :-)
Are.the gearboxes in cars their oriented different? As.in i.live in New Jersey usa and i drive a manual my gears go 1-6 left to right, are there's still.in that pattern or do they go right to left?
Don't forget tolls, like you have to pay to enter Wales and to go over certain bridges like the Humber and Severn so don't just think you can cross into Scotland or Wales for free! Prices can very from £3 all the way to £8-10.
Those advert interruptions in the middle of a videos are so annoying !!! I found here in the UK , I can average 40 mph on a long trip providing there are no delays , such as traffic hold ups . The normal speed limit on a motorway is 70 mph . Other main roads it's 60 , but in towns it's 30 and can be less in places such as 20 mph . Driving in narrow lanes , these have been in use long before the car was thought of . Some have been in use for a thousand years . The reason that the hedgerows are so high on each side is due to wear, when they were just mud and not tarmacked . You must use a seat belt in the UK and do not use a handheld phone when driving . You will get a fine !
On the point of driving down country lanes that are so unbelievably quaint and narrow that if a bicycle was coming in the opposite direction there wouldn't be enough room to pass - yeah, well I've been driving in the UK for 20 years and I have driven down roads like that maybe 2 or 3 times ever. Americans coming to the UK really don't need to worry about it cos it probably ain't going to happen - we got modern roads even in the countryside! Oh and on the point of knowing which direction you're driving in, north, east, south or west - yeah forget that, that's an American thing! 99% of Brits haven't got a bloody clue which direction they are going. My nearest town to me, I have no idea if it's north, south, east, or west from my town. Just follow the satnav and you'll be good.
I'd also add don't be intimated into driving faster by other drivers on those country lanes. I've had a handful of experiences driving on those types of roads and it's scary how fast some people drive on them. Presumably locals?
I’m Canadian and I think driving 3 hours to meet someone for lunch is absurd. But it’s true, in general North America has a massive car culture where we drive everywhere all the time and driving for hours at a time is not a big deal to many (also sometimes we are spread out from our friends and family so we have to drive far to see them!) Thanks for the video Jocelyn, I’m hoping to do a UK roadtrip in the next few years so this is helpful
I'll probably ruin a transmission on a stick shift car b/c I have to shift with my left hand. YIKES!!! Probably hear a lot of gears grinding. LOL!!! And also remind myself that roundabouts in the UK goes clockwise. And speaking of roundabout, I understand that there are a big roundabout with smaller roundabout dotted along the big one??? That's crazy. Or it was a photoshop???
I love maps and navigating, and since my GPS has given me screwball directions way too many times, I prefer navigating on my own or a little help from Google Maps. It helps that I have good spatial awareness and sense of direction. I’m grateful for GPS, but I feel bad for those who have to completely rely on it because they truly cannot read a map. Sorry if that sounds extreme or even rude 🙁, but I really have met some. I try to help them when I can. I already have my Barcelona map to study even though my trip is over a year away. We have several roundabouts where I live in Macomb County, MI.
I'm English and have driven (or been driven) about 700,000 miles in British roads in my lifetime so far. And. I endorse this video as being one of the best and accurate descriptions of motoring in the UK. A couple of things I would add (some of which, I notice are alluded to by other commentators) about the psychology of British drivers and British roads: 1. ALWAYS keep to the leftmost lane on motorways unless you are IN THE ACT of overtaking. The UK does not have a 'fast lane'. A typical UK motorway has four lanes; the leftmost lane is the driving lane; the other three lanes are overtaking lanes only; not 'cruising lanes'. The only time that this varies is on major junctions on motorways where the motorway splits in two directions or there is a filter lane. DON'T just follow the example set by the locals; the standard of driving is getting steadily worse so that many local people have forgotten how to use the roads as they were intended. 2. Which segways into the second observation... driving 60 miles on a motorway should take around 60 minutes. Unless however, you make your journey at midnight, it will take longer than 60 minutes because of hold-ups caused by people not observing remark 1, above. 3. No all 'Brits' consider a journey of more than two hours to be 'long' I think nothing of driving 4-5 hours non-stop. it's no big deal. However, it's true however, that many 'small town minded' people do think that 2 hours is a long journey. 4. Many people in London don't even own a car. However, they are often the same people who simply won't venture outside of the London underground ('Tube') network. The same people think that everywhere outside of London is like the town in the firm 'Hot Fuzz' and the roads without streetlighting are scary. 5. Not every Brit drives a car with less power than a hairdryer. Most hire cars have 2-litre ('liter') micro-engines. Or worse still, they are diesel. There are lots of us Brits, myself included, who only drive V8 and V12 cars... you just won't see so many of us because a big part of the 'small town' mentality of many Brits is that 'you don't need' a large engine or that 'there is more to go wrong' with a car with a large engine. Both statements are not true, but it does tell visitors something about the mentality of many Brits; charming as we are, we all to often just follow the crowd, like sheep, without seeing the whole picture (this is also a reflection of remark 1, above). 6. Our traffic laws are fast becoming communist and pander to the lowest standards and lowest denominator so as to not appear 'discriminatory'. And so, unless you are speeding, the police probably won't pull you over. Unlike in the US, where you can get 'tugged' for a tail light being 'out'; in the UK, the police are now politically controlled and it can be considered 'discriminatory' to pull over a car simply because the vehicle is unroadworthy. 7. We haven't got a clue what a kilometre actually feels like or what kilometres-per-hour looks like. Fortunately, we still use non-communist distance measurements in the UK.
i switch between both of it :p google map is so seamless with google search pretty much any stores and restaurant (anything) are connected to them but the interface is so ugly haha i wish someone will create a navigation app thats is fun to use like waze well connected as google maps and pretty as tomtom :p
A couple of important things to mention. On UK motorways, keep to the left lane where possible, the outside lane is for overtaking only. Do not pass slower moving traffic on the on the left, your right side, unless the road is congested and all traffic is very slow, it is illegal and dangerous to pass on the left under normal driving conditions.
Secondly, for US visitors, do not drive and use a phone at the same time. it is illegal and if you are stopped by the police you will be fined, unless you use a handsfree option on your phone.
The point about parking meters is correct but other types of parking meters are in use which work differently.
Jocelyn was writing this exact comment to add. So I will just pin yours to the top. Thank you!
It's technically not illegal to undertake. Although it is discouraged.
@@sunsetorange89 beat me to it. It's pedantic, but I'm a pedant.
I'd also add to anyone coming here to familiarise yourself with the rules of the roundabout before driving straight onto it which could be dangerous. Know your lanes, give way to traffic from the right etc..
@@sunsetorange89 Paragraph 268 of the Highway Code starts, " Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake." What more explanation do you want?
Remember on UK motorways,it is illegal to stop unless it is an emergency.
If you need a rest,there are motorway service stations every 20/30 miles to pull off to if you need a rest.
good add! cheers!
Another tip for Americans and I think Canadians regarding traffic lights. If you are at a red light you CAN NOT turn left through a red light where as you can turn right through a red back in the States/Canada. A red light means stop and that's what you do over here. Some traffic lights will have a seperate green light arrow which will illuminate whilst straight ahead lights stay red. You will discover this when people behind you start beeping their horns.
Just got back from Ireland. We rented a car and drove most of the country. I got used to driving on the opposite side fairly quickly, I just took it slow. The strangest thing for me was the roads, and I kept getting paranoid I was driving on a one way. The street markings were confusing. They also can park either direction on the side of the street, so I kept thinking I was driving on a one way.
Also, a nice bonus by Sixt rent a car. I asked for a GPS, and the one they gave me was actually a cell phone that gave me GPS, WiFi, and international calling. That was really nice and unexpected. Only 10 euro a day very worth it.
If you're driving down a two-way road but parked cars block one side, don't forget to raise your hand as a thank you to the driver who pulled in and let you pass through on their side of the road
Anyone coming to the UK who normally drive on the right, if you’re not used to driving on the led you don’t need the extra hassle of a manual gearbox as most of Europe drive manual cars so make sure that you specify an automatic from the rental company.
loving it as always. i live in england and this is entirely accurate. thank you so much for the consistently helpful and truthful advice
Thank you!
Sorry Mark, your videos are great but Jocelyn is a great treat. She has a great perspective on what I find interesting and useful.
Some really good tips as a Brit. Nice to see you visited my home town Arundel, and Wales, my home country. I hope you found the language interesting! One thing to note - many of the hedge rows, and stone walls in Yorkshire were originally made over 3,000 years ago for land demarcation!
It varies a lot around the UK, and is less true in the cities, but people are generally very polite and considerate on the roads, and waving at people to say 'thank you' is kind of expected, when they let you through etc. Politeness and patience are the keys to an enjoyable driving experience in the UK.
Tiny word of caution for single track roads with high hedges. Don’t ever assume they’re cuddly soft bushes. They’re often built under with big lumps of rock. Best reverse back to a passing place or gateway
So true! We discovered in Ireland that those beautiful hedges had rock walls hiding under them.
Good call
Good to know. Thanks.
Nice one, feel like this will help me one day
I was looking forward to this video. I WILL NOT drive lol I let my brave husband drive last fall when we went to Ireland. We also got an automatic car just to make it a bit easier. Thank God we had this awesome Taxi driver who gave us a little map of how to get out of Dublin after our 1st 3 days since we were heading to the west coast & gave us some tips which were very helpful. In London we took the Taxi from the airport to our Airbnb and just walked everywhere. It was great to walk so we can check out everything close up. :) Thank you for this video. We will use these tips for our next trip. :)
Glad you had a good time over here , :-)
If you still recall, was it much more expensive to rent an automatic car? I can drive a stick, but with the stress of trying to concentrate on navigation in a foreign country, I do find having an automatic just makes things a bit easier.
The video of the narrow road with tall hedgerows either side - many British drivers like me get stressed when not used to driving such roads. As you drive make a mental note of the passing places you pass in case you need to back up if, for instance, you meet a truck! I also do a lot of praying - please don't let me meet someone! (and repeat).
Also remember that the speed limit is advisory in these situations. As the limit may be 60mph but drive to a speed where you can see the point you would stop if you need to brake suddenly.
Great video, Jocelyn! Very helpful! We hit a curb in Ireland and blew out our tire, so I’d add buy the extra insurance, stay calm and call the helpline. We were all patched up and back on the road in 2 hours then got a new tire in the morning. It was part of the adventure.
Glad you were ok and quickly back on the road. Mark will have a video talking about insurance and rentals in the UK coming soon
1:20 I'm 18 and from London, I've never ever ever had to drive in my life, but learning about how our parking things work is pretty interesting
1:48 haha
1:20 - Not all ticket machines require you to enter your vehicle registration number - in fact, in my experience most don't, and I should know because I work for the parking team at a local council. One great way to pay for parking nowadays is to do it by phone - there are apps such as RingGo, Apcoa Connect and Just Park which allow you to pay for parking online - just download the app, set up an account and you can avoid the need for fiddling around with coins altogether. You just enter the location code (usually 4 digits), select the length of your stay and tap the payment button. Plus, if you end up staying longer than planned you can simply open up the app and extend your stay with just a few taps. Very, very useful and not too difficult to set up - all you need is a credit or debit card. Not sure if RingGo et al accept US bank cards, but I'd be surprised if they don't!
One for the people who travel with you when you are driving in a different country, try not to panic the driver. We were in the US with our grown up kids driving around Orlando at rush hour and I had three experts on my case all at the same time. It can be stressful at the best of times without rogue squeals. Of course, if you get lost, they all clam up and just look at the scenery. :)
Amen!
When between hedgerows, or on any narrow twisty road, do not drive faster than you can react to stop. I was heading home from work one time and round a sharp bend the road was covered in cow manure that had escaped a farmer’s trailer. I was on a motorbike and if I hadn’t slowed sufficiently before the bend I would have slid. But I could equally have encountered a parked vehicle. If you can’t see the road ahead exercise caution and slow down so you can stop if necessary. You’ll lose a little time but not as much as if you have an accident. When in doubt stay safe.
Best advice for Left hand drive drivers coming to the UK for the first time is to really familiarise yourself with the vehicles controls ( indicators, light switches, horn etc. (adjust your mirrors!)) before leaving the hire company premises. Try and relax, don't chat unnesesarilly with passengers and CONCENTRATE. Drive a little slower than the speed limits and pay careful attention to your Satnav (GPS). Good luck!
This is spot on advice. Sat nav is our friend. Some cities such as Oxford have Park and Ride. Pay to park then take a bus. Very handy. Also, in Scotland many of the minor roads have cut-aways to let oncoming cars pass. It’s polite to give a thanks signal for the giving way.
As someone who drives alot around hedgerows it's always good to keep track of passing places so if you do have to reverse you know you have somewhere to go
So true! Great comment. Thank you!
Sweet Jocelyn, always enticing, of course, no matter where and no matter when...
Great video. Remember you can only go around and around a roundabout in the inside lane closest to the centre. If you go around on the outside you might be dangerously blocking another car from exiting off
Remember to pass on the left is legal in UK as on the right in US. Inside lane in UK is the first lane you enter from the sliproad.
And as for the cars, don't forget that automatics are really unusual here, so when hiring a car you will need to specifically ask for them to reserve an automatic if you don't know how to use a manual/shift stick.
Have you done so? It has been a long time for me, but I grew up driving a stick, so I know how to use them. However, I've found that it's enough to concentrate on directions when driving in a foreign country, so having an automatic is one less thing to worry about (not to mention trying to work the stick with the left hand). Is hiring an automatic car in Britain much more expensive than a manual?
Great video and pretty much bang on but worth noting that here in the UK stopping on the hard shoulder is illegal unless you have an emergency (screaming kids is not an emergency).
I've been visiting the US regularly for a decade and I still go for the wrong side of the car at least once a trip ;-)
Thanks Ralph!
Hi mark nice to see Jocelyn doing the video everything you said is true. I have lived in UK my whole life and the small lanes with on coming traffic freak us out to . Just stay cool find a spot to pull in too . It pays to note these as you drive along . Thanks for your honest reviews . Glad you are enjoying England it's a great place and we had very hot and sunny summer this year .( It doesn't rain all the time it just seems that way) once again thanks for sharing best regards Shaun 😀
Thanks Shaun!
Just a note this video applies mainly to the UK which includes Northern Ireland. Republic of Ireland speed limit is KM per hour & our traffic light sequencing is different. We probably have more tolls on motorways than in the UK (although there are some there too). The rest of the information is applicable here too though so happy driving.
we have another driving video coming out in a couple weeks with more technical stuff and I will make sure to note that. Thank you, i probably forgot to mention it in the other video. Cheers!
Also, in Republic of Ireland we use kilometres not miles so people need to know that.
Also our road signs are in Irish and English so read them carefully.
And we don't have the speed cameras as markers on GPS like I'm UK so it can be easy to speed without realising if you come from Britain mainland to the island of Ireland.
Also when driving in countryside, keep far view of road ahead in case you are on road where only 1 car can fit. One of you may need to reverse to a gate so a car can pass but it's not a big deal to regulars in Ireland so just go slow and it will be ok
As others have mentioned you can't stop on Motorways except at specified Services. Your sat nav gps should tell you what sort of road you are on, but a quick check is the colour of the signs. Green and Yellow are A roads, Blue are motorways.
If you are in South Wales and need to go to the South West of England - Remember you need to go EAST on the M4.
Having been brought up in an area with lots of your Hedgerow roads, you might want to also be aware of Roads with Grass verges, the verges can also hide ditches, so don't drive up the verge unless you are sure there is not a ditch.
Don't set your GPS to shortest route unless you want an adventure.
One thing about the hedgerows we have alot of unfenced sheep grazing land in ireland that is very boggy you will be glad of the hedgerows when you leave these areas.If you car ends up in a bog its going to be nigh impossible to get it out.If its a straight road no problem,but if its windy you have to be careful
I'm going back to Britain in the Spring and I'm actually thinking about sharing the driving responsibility with my friend. These are good tips and I'll be reviewing them before I go! Thank you Wolters family!! Cheers!!
have a look at this , It may be of help . th-cam.com/video/Diu1k_5H45k/w-d-xo.html
Those little things addressed. Nice video. Keep doing more videos👍
Thank you!
In the US you can turn right with a red stop light unless a sign says not to? There is no equivalent in Britain, never go through a red light unless there is a green filter arrow lit.
I'd add one thing, beware of all the automatic speed cameras. They're everywhere. Where a cop might let you off with a warning these won't they just take a picture and a fine will be sent through the mail. And ion the motorways they can do average speed so speeding up and slowing down for the camera's won't work.
Yes
or just drive the speed limit. funny if you do that. they never fine you.
Those hedgerows look like Cornwall. That was an awakening. Freaky but we survived. Can’t wait to try Ireland next.
You can usually follow sign posts in the UK. GPS is good but you can often get most places with looking at sign posts. Especially tourist attractions.
I have a look at and around the area where I am planning to visit on Google Earth before I go on any road trips to find parking and a general look at the roads/landmarks, I'll sometimes look at the junction(s) on Street View so when I get there in real life I know where to go too. :)
One thing is if your traveling north through Birmingham and the north Manchester Liverpool area it is sometimes better to go through rural A roads during busier times as the motorways get extremely crowed through rush hour
True. We did that a couple times ourselves. Cheers!
Quick note on parking. It’s worth downloading a couple of the main parking apps. PayByPhone is the most common, but there’s also RingGo. A lot of places use them and it’s SO MUCH easier than faffing about with change...
we have smart motorways there is no hard shoulder only lay= bys so you need to use them in an emergency only. if a vehicle breaks down in the carriageway, and can't move there are cameras and as soon as you are seen the will change the signage and send a highways officer, I think you can call a motoring rescue service at this time. if you are in the left lane get out of the car kerbside and stand away from the carriageway
Only stop on the hard shoulder in an emergency, such as a break down or flat tyre. Stop at Service Station if you need a break from driving
I've noticed that other vloggers, like The Endless Adventure, do this too. It really seems like the British country side is where a lot of the fun is at. Thanks for these tips guys!
It really is great. There is so much more than just the cities so you really need to have your own transportation.
very true , and do your back ground reading before travelling or you will miss so much ! @@woltersworld
One thing worth considering. Try to avoid buying stuff at service stations as much as you can. Of course use them if you need the toilet or a stop to have a rest for an hour, but usually the food and shops there have a considerable markup on their prices (think of it as being at an airport).
So true :)
and fuel. never use a service station fuel. fill up before you go.
I'm heading to London and then driving to Durham, this will be the first time I travel abroad from the states and I was pretty nervous about the drive, but got a bit more confidence after watching this video!! Thanks guys! Haha
Awesome to hear! Have a great trip!
London to Durham, to us, is a long long drive! Try to stop off at Gloucester services.
@@woltersworld thanks!!
Another tip: Don't zombie the drive if you're not used to it. So if you arrive after like flying 10ish hours late in the day take a hotel and start fresh the next morning. Zombied the drive from Cairns(AUS) to Townsville after flying like 28h three weeks ago. Unpleasant 5 hours :) Take care and have fun in Durham.
@@UkeofCarl thanks, I'll take that into consideration! I'm used to driving from Texas to California which takes about 12 hours so hopefully I'll do good over there too haha
When we were in Ireland last November, the one thing that really stood out was how easily they navigate through the roundabouts. We quickly learned to be proactive and try to know your desired destination, i.e. which exit, you are headed toward. You may have to go around more than once, but that's okay, and try not to hesitate too much when entering or exiting the roundabout, that WILL cause you to be beeped at! 😉
Yes! GPS/ Sat Nav is so helpful with exits and that alleviates quite a bit of stress.
Another tip for country driving, use your HORN to warn over drivers you are coming. Particularly going round blind bends and over small humpback bridges over canals and what not. It isn't considering rude but incredibly convenient to warn over drivers you are coming and for god sake do not speed!
3 TIPS. 1 Buy and read a copy of the Highway Code (tells you so much and it's cheep) 2 Motorway signs are blue, A road signs are green (no stoping on motorways) 3 Parking read the signs most parking needs to be paid for some places you will need to put the reg number in to get a ticket some you just pay and stick the ticket in your car window some there wont be a ticket but you still need to pay and put your number in some you pay on entry some on exit some machines take coins others use card some need you to make a money transfer using an app on a phone.
Question for you guys :) are you the main driver of the family Jocelyn?
Motorways have junction numbers displayed on the signs know the numbers of the one you need & it's easy. Just be sure they're counting up or down appropriately, or your going in the wrong direction.
Two hours driving is the UK is a fairly long time, it can take a lot of concentration. Plenty of us drive for longer though & what you think will take 2 hours can take double that sometimes.
Not reading 300 comments to see if it's already been said.
Glad you loved our country 🤗
The North is massively underrated when it comes to how tourists see it. Go to York for a proper old British town. It's like London but not a shithole.
Razordraac: The City of London is nothing like the City of York. At 1.12 square miles, the City of London is not only the smallest city of England but because of the Great Fire of 1666 has hardly any mediaeval and later buildings which survived that fire. Incidentally, no need for the expletive: un-necessary, whilst displaying much ignorance upon your part.
@@anghinetti If you knew how far London was separate from the rest of the country in culture, ethics and opinion you'd understand our pain. London is like a separate nation to the rest of the UK and is quite full of knife crime and rough areas. Of course it'll always be a matter of preference to which you prefer, but I know I'd rather choose 'God's own Country' over an incredibly overrated, overcrowded danger town. Also my use of expletive was not directed at anyone, so I will use it as I please. Cheers.
EDIT: I am not saying London doesn't have history/architecture. It's just tainted by firstly being ridiculously modernised/industrialised and secondly being full of shitty people, neither of which York features and you can ask anyone who has visited both cities to back that up.
@@RazordraacGaming: Telling me about London is the same as trying to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs because I was born in that county many years ago. Perhaps you were unaware that London (or Greater London, as it became in 1965) is a county, which also has many small towns and villages on it's periphery, the 1.12 square miles of the City of London is a seperate entity from the County of Greater London and is a county in its own right. The five metropolitan counties of northern England are no different in that they too have good and bad, although, the metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire likely are worse because they have all the problems associated with metropolitan counties but very few (if any) of the benefits which Greater London possesses. You may ramble-on as much as you like about so-called 'God's own country' but it still will be Greater London and southern England in general which particularly attracts overseas visitors - and always will. Of course your expletive was not directed at anyone in particular but still shows ignorance upon your part, was totally un-necessary and so no need for you to throw a hissy fit. Incidentally, most of those people in London you have referred to in a disparaging way are not Londoners: they either were born elsewhere or are commuters, therefore you need to resist from generalizing.
All Americans planning to drive in the UK, should obtain a copy of the HIGHWAY CODE, it explains all the rules and signs.
such useful tips
Might want to mention the chicanes.
Also, people in the US tend to be very legalistic and rigid in regards to "lane territory," but you have to be much more accomodating, particularly on small roads in the UK.
Parking tip lots of town and city's, have park and ride, out of town parking and bus to get you to the centre of town don't forget the bus number and were you got off so to get back to your car.
I know in Scotland the speed limits on roads are your max speed, not suggested speed. People get there and are like OH i drive 60MPH, NO. I've hired a private tour guide and he was averging 50MPH. If we were on a strait road he'd get up to about 58MPH. There are speed cameras everwhere.
Keep to the left lane on motorways and dual carriageways unless you're overtaking.
Amen to that one!
Love you guys I love the video before I even see it you are the best
Thank you Effie!
Some good advice.
Most paid parking is "pay and display", you put money in a machine and receive a piece of paper that you display on your dashboard. Increasingly, you pay by text, which is a pain if you are a visitor. I would like to add one more thing, unless there is a sign telling you to do so, NEVER park with your wheel up on the curb, you will get a ticket.
I’m heading to London for a week then Paris for a week this Tuesday I’m so excited and nervous
Tip for driving on small country roads, particularly with the tall hedgerows, if you are approaching a blind corner, slow down and beep (use your horn) to warn anyone coming towards you.
Using your horn like that is a no ,no ! It's doubtful other drivers will hear you . Specially if its a tractor , or truck , we do get a lot of them on small country roads . It's quite possible to find a herd of sheep or cattle facing you coming round a corner . It's happened to me a few times . Using your horn will only frighten them . Which will only make a bad situation Worse . Just thought of this , may met a horse been ridden . Blowing your horn , can make it bolt ! So please , please do not use your horn unless you must . Have a look in the highway code , it will tell you more.
Country roads are the best, especially the hill roads.
Best tip for foreign drivers, always give way to the right at a roundabout but NEVER assume people will give way to you. Always slow down and make sure. Roundabouts are fun!
Yes good
I'm from the UK and got really intimidated when driving in the US. Here we have a lot of small roads, roundabouts and narrow streets, while in the US all the massive motorways made me feel scared as it took me ages to just get the courage to go out of the city onto motorways in the UK (I'm was the more anxious cautious type of driver). Although the problem I find with intercity travel in the UK is parking, it's a nightmare and really expensive in cities like Manchester etc. so I mostly still use the train when travelling to other cities.
Most congested roads in Europe. Good luck
ALLWAYS LOOK OUT FOR TRACTORS. THEY ARE FAST AND BIG. AND THEY NEVER REALLY STOP
Mark and Jocelyn, I have an off topic question. Do you have a video on common courtesy at bed and breakfast places. We’re staying in some in Ireland and wonder about late arrivals and other things. Thanks.
Technically you shouldn't sit at a red light with the clutch held down. Use the hand brake and ccome out of gear. If you did rest on the clutch at a stop in the UK driving test, it would be a major fault :)
What's with all the inter-video ads on youtube recently? At the beginning of a video is tolerable, but seeing them in the middle of a video is kind of offputting.
yes they are VERY IRRITATING !!!!
It's You tube trying to piss us off. So that we take out a subscription to go add free.
My biggest one when driving on the wrong side of the road is turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals every time I need to make a turn. When I came back to the US after a couple months overseas I had the same exact problem when driving home. Chris
yep, life is hard ! :-)
Shadowdog500: If ever you are in the United Kingdom do not drive on the wrong side of the road as that likely will only end in tragedy. Stick to the left side of the road and you should be alright.
Remember when crossing from northern Ireland into the republic of Ireland, Ireland uses kilometres and the UK including northern Ireland uses miles
I have never understood the issue that Americans have with driving in the UK as if driving on the other side of the road is like being asked to do brain surgery. If that’s the case why do millions if Brit tourists around the world drive on the other side of the road without any issue.
Helpful!
thank you
Thanks, when you have a hired car and you are going to say for example Rome knowing not to tackle cities with your hire car do you just stay out of town and always get public transport in ? We are going to drive around Europe so parking the car for a few days on the side of the road near accomodation is that possible or should we just stick to your suggestion of accommodation with parking ?
Thank you Jocelyn great video.
Thank you.
Yes, I'm a Brit and those Hedgerows can be a little scary. Particularly in the Autumn and winter if the roads are icy or it's dark. Stay safe guys
yep, keep your speed down and you will be ok
i was on my way to school in the morning in bath and said hi to you mark... do you remember me? :)
of course! thanks for stopping to say hi. That was really cool of you. We had a great time in Bath. Lots of really nice people there. All the best!
What school do u go to
Great info Mrs. Wolters. You hit driving in the UK/Ireland "on the nose."
Thank you :)
One important point for US drivers: you may NOT turn left at a red light (equivalent of turning right on red in the US) - unless there is a separate green filter light.
If caught you will be fined :-)
And if you kill someone through a red light you can get in serious trouble.
Use the outside mirror as a rearview mirror.
Have a navigator that reminds you to drive on the left
more fun if they do not ! :-)
I recommend going Liverpool if going to the uk
Alex Reddo: Why?
Are.the gearboxes in cars their oriented different? As.in i.live in New Jersey usa and i drive a manual my gears go 1-6 left to right, are there's still.in that pattern or do they go right to left?
There usually all the same , but it will tell you on top of the gear shift . It's not that hard to get used too .
Don't forget tolls, like you have to pay to enter Wales and to go over certain bridges like the Humber and Severn so don't just think you can cross into Scotland or Wales for free! Prices can very from £3 all the way to £8-10.
Sorry jack there is no tolls in Scotland used to be until the SNP government got rid of them
Interesting, haven't been in forever which explains it! Good on the SNP!
No toll now on the Seven bridge
Ha ha!!!! I was literally thinking the same thing from European Vacation when you mentioned roundabouts!! 😂
don't walk by parliment with us... we keep saying it over and over :)
😂 My family’s vacations are honestly 90% movie quotes!
Those advert interruptions in the middle of a videos are so annoying !!!
I found here in the UK , I can average 40 mph on a long trip providing there are no delays , such as traffic hold ups . The normal speed limit on a motorway is 70 mph . Other main roads it's 60 , but in towns it's 30 and can be less in places such as 20 mph . Driving in narrow lanes , these have been in use long before the car was thought of . Some have been in use for a thousand years . The reason that the hedgerows are so high on each side is due to wear, when they were just mud and not tarmacked . You must use a seat belt in the UK and do not use a handheld phone when driving . You will get a fine !
welshpete12: Some of those roads are much older than one-thousand years.
I live 10 minutes away from Raglan castle and never been! The shame! First thing I'm doing tomorrow morning!
Do it , you will not regret it !
On the point of driving down country lanes that are so unbelievably quaint and narrow that if a bicycle was coming in the opposite direction there wouldn't be enough room to pass - yeah, well I've been driving in the UK for 20 years and I have driven down roads like that maybe 2 or 3 times ever. Americans coming to the UK really don't need to worry about it cos it probably ain't going to happen - we got modern roads even in the countryside! Oh and on the point of knowing which direction you're driving in, north, east, south or west - yeah forget that, that's an American thing! 99% of Brits haven't got a bloody clue which direction they are going. My nearest town to me, I have no idea if it's north, south, east, or west from my town. Just follow the satnav and you'll be good.
Great video. Love you guys!
Just something to note, from December the toll booths that are on the motorway into Wales will disappear and it'll be free to drive into Wales. :)
We saw the sign :) sadly they got our 5 quid 40
It used to be nearly £7 so you still got a bargain :)
2 hours travel distance is my maximum distance for day trips in UK. From Nottinghamshire
I'd also add don't be intimated into driving faster by other drivers on those country lanes.
I've had a handful of experiences driving on those types of roads and it's scary how fast some people drive on them. Presumably locals?
Any materials from Ireland itself ?
next driving video will have more ireland driving and tips
Nice thumbnail pic, your kids are beautiful, and growing up so fast!!!
Thank you
I’m Canadian and I think driving 3 hours to meet someone for lunch is absurd. But it’s true, in general North America has a massive car culture where we drive everywhere all the time and driving for hours at a time is not a big deal to many (also sometimes we are spread out from our friends and family so we have to drive far to see them!)
Thanks for the video Jocelyn, I’m hoping to do a UK roadtrip in the next few years so this is helpful
You are very welcome
I'll probably ruin a transmission on a stick shift car b/c I have to shift with my left hand. YIKES!!! Probably hear a lot of gears grinding. LOL!!! And also remind myself that roundabouts in the UK goes clockwise. And speaking of roundabout, I understand that there are a big roundabout with smaller roundabout dotted along the big one??? That's crazy. Or it was a photoshop???
It's not that hard , ( 'onest engine ) have look see at this , it will explain. th-cam.com/video/Diu1k_5H45k/w-d-xo.html
I love maps and navigating, and since my GPS has given me screwball directions way too many times, I prefer navigating on my own or a little help from Google Maps. It helps that I have good spatial awareness and sense of direction. I’m grateful for GPS, but I feel bad for those who have to completely rely on it because they truly cannot read a map. Sorry if that sounds extreme or even rude 🙁, but I really have met some. I try to help them when I can. I already have my Barcelona map to study even though my trip is over a year away.
We have several roundabouts where I live in Macomb County, MI.
If you do your updates on your satnav you will not have any problems .
It’s a TomTom GPS. I can update it right before a trip and still have problems.
I'm English and have driven (or been driven) about 700,000 miles in British roads in my lifetime so far. And. I endorse this video as being one of the best and accurate descriptions of motoring in the UK.
A couple of things I would add (some of which, I notice are alluded to by other commentators) about the psychology of British drivers and British roads:
1. ALWAYS keep to the leftmost lane on motorways unless you are IN THE ACT of overtaking. The UK does not have a 'fast lane'. A typical UK motorway has four lanes; the leftmost lane is the driving lane; the other three lanes are overtaking lanes only; not 'cruising lanes'. The only time that this varies is on major junctions on motorways where the motorway splits in two directions or there is a filter lane. DON'T just follow the example set by the locals; the standard of driving is getting steadily worse so that many local people have forgotten how to use the roads as they were intended.
2. Which segways into the second observation... driving 60 miles on a motorway should take around 60 minutes. Unless however, you make your journey at midnight, it will take longer than 60 minutes because of hold-ups caused by people not observing remark 1, above.
3. No all 'Brits' consider a journey of more than two hours to be 'long' I think nothing of driving 4-5 hours non-stop. it's no big deal. However, it's true however, that many 'small town minded' people do think that 2 hours is a long journey.
4. Many people in London don't even own a car. However, they are often the same people who simply won't venture outside of the London underground ('Tube') network. The same people think that everywhere outside of London is like the town in the firm 'Hot Fuzz' and the roads without streetlighting are scary.
5. Not every Brit drives a car with less power than a hairdryer. Most hire cars have 2-litre ('liter') micro-engines. Or worse still, they are diesel. There are lots of us Brits, myself included, who only drive V8 and V12 cars... you just won't see so many of us because a big part of the 'small town' mentality of many Brits is that 'you don't need' a large engine or that 'there is more to go wrong' with a car with a large engine. Both statements are not true, but it does tell visitors something about the mentality of many Brits; charming as we are, we all to often just follow the crowd, like sheep, without seeing the whole picture (this is also a reflection of remark 1, above).
6. Our traffic laws are fast becoming communist and pander to the lowest standards and lowest denominator so as to not appear 'discriminatory'. And so, unless you are speeding, the police probably won't pull you over. Unlike in the US, where you can get 'tugged' for a tail light being 'out'; in the UK, the police are now politically controlled and it can be considered 'discriminatory' to pull over a car simply because the vehicle is unroadworthy.
7. We haven't got a clue what a kilometre actually feels like or what kilometres-per-hour looks like. Fortunately, we still use non-communist distance measurements in the UK.
waze is really accurate with the estimated arrival time
it has live update and it's free
Waze is 100 times better than Google maps in the UK for driving
i switch between both of it :p
google map is so seamless with google search pretty much any stores and restaurant (anything) are connected to them but the interface is so ugly haha
i wish someone will create a navigation app thats is fun to use like waze well connected as google maps and pretty as tomtom :p