Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

This guide has been created to help all UK visitors to clarify basic driving issues.

Steps

1. 1 Remember the obvious.Drive on the left side roads. If you try to drive on the right, you will most likely get into an accident. Pay attention to your direction of travel, especially if you are tired or drunk. (Historically, all Europeans used left-hand traffic until Napoleon conquered them and introduced right-hand traffic.) Keep this in mind as it’s easy to make this mistake, even if you’ve been practicing for a week.
2. 2 Learn the language. Bonnet, boot, boot, windscreen, tire, bumper, gearstick, mobile, car hire, roundabout, motorway (highway), A-road (Road-A), B-road (Road-B), RTA (accident) ... Make sure you know the correct meanings of these words if you are coming from North America.
3. 3 Note that your driver's seat will be on the right, so the gear lever will be on the left. It is highly recommended to rent a car with an automatic transmission.
4. 4 Make way for cars on your right, not on your left.
5. 5 If your car is from a country with right-hand traffic, make the necessary adjustments to adjust your headlights so as not to blind drivers driving in the opposite lane. For this, there is a special glue and static shields that are superimposed on the headlights. Some cars have a special light spot regulator under the bonnet (as the bonnet is called in the UK).
6. 6 Stay sober. Although the UK has a legal limit of 35 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, it is strongly recommended that you DO NOT drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in ANY CASE (even if the drugs were prescribed to you legally). From the point of view of the court and the police, getting into an accident while drunk, you immediately become its main culprit, even if in fact it is not so. Refusal of the offer to “blow the pipe” at the request of the inspector will immediately be considered as grounds for arrest.
7. 7 If you have been stopped by the police, you should just sit and wait for further instructions from the inspector before taking any action, do not worry, this is normal for them. If you communicate in a friendly, non-violent manner, everything will go smoothly. Always provide proof of identity when requested (with a photo if possible), false data or refusal to provide data will lead to arrest. Unlike the United States, the UK police do not need a special permit, reason, warrant to stop and search you, your belongings (bags, backpacks, pockets), or your car; do not try to prevent this, otherwise you will be detained or arrested.
8. 8 Be aware that overtaking on the outside of the road is not illegal, but it is not recommended. This is because in the UK the lane on the left is considered a "Slow Lane" (slower), and there may be someone parked in it, which could cause an accident.
9. 9 Remember, the whole UK is crammed with speed control cameras / radars with automatic license plate recognition. You can find both fixed cameras and mobile radars mounted on the roofs of police cars.
10. 10 . Contact your local auto shop or police station to find out about the various legal requirements you need to meet before driving a car or truck, as there are slightly different requirements for different vehicles in the UK. Before starting a trip, make sure you have the correct insurance for your vehicle, otherwise your vehicle will be confiscated and you will be arrested. Make sure your vehicle meets UK road legal standards, otherwise your insurance policy may be canceled and your vehicle confiscated. If you get behind the wheel of your friend's car, make sure you have permission to do so and that your insurance policy provides for the ability to drive other people's vehicles.
11. 11 Do not overspeed. Highway restrictions 60 mph (96 km / h) for trucks over 3.5 tonnes, and 70 mph (112 km / h) for buses, coaches, and cars.
12. 12 Remember that the UK is one of the safest driving countries in Europe.
13. 13 Don't Smuggle - Her Majesty's Customs are extremely strict about this, and your truck full of contraband beer could lead you to deportation, fines or jail time. True, this does not apply to EU citizens who are allowed to carry any amount of beer for personal consumption, although the customs will have serious questions if you want to carry more than 110L!
14. 14 Please note that gasoline costs three times as much in the UK as in the US, so renting a car costs much more. Fortunately, the UK is a fairly compact country and you don't have to travel for long periods of time.
15. 15 Remember that some cities have bus lanes (marked with road signs, big “BUS LANE” on the road, and sometimes red asphalt as well). Only public buses, taxis, motorcycles, cyclists and emergency vehicles (with an appropriate license) can use it. All others will be photographed with an automatic camera and fined £ 60 (about $ 100).

Tips

• Be polite: too high a speed of your car can lead to a complete loss of your driving license!
• Crossing in the wrong place is normal in UK cities, so watch out for pedestrians crossing the road. Here you should not be very nice to them, wave your hands to them, as this will lead to a loss of control over the oncoming road traffic, and the drivers driving behind may not expect your sudden stop to allow a pedestrian to pass.
• The Highway Code is the British equivalent of the Highway Code.
  • http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070236
• Do not use signals if it is not necessary; driving carefully and carefully is of paramount importance in the UK, especially in built-up areas.
• Please note that it will take you a while to get used to left-hand traffic thoroughly. After all, ¾ of the world's motorists use right-hand traffic, so the UK is in the minority.
• DO NOT BLINK your headlights to show someone that you are giving way.The UK road traffic regulations state that headlamp flashing may only be used to enable one road user to detect another. Despite this, many drivers believe that flashing their headlights can be used as a courtesy gesture towards others. Be careful! If you got into an accident in such a situation, because you perceived someone's blinking of headlights as giving priority on the road, then the law will not be on your side.
• If, nevertheless, someone is flashing headlights, make sure that your decision is safe; rely only on your own judgment! You can raise your left hand in gratitude / agreement, but do not lose control of your own car. While this is a common practice, it is not included in the traffic rules and can be dangerous. If you do not thank the driver for giving way, you can lead other road users into extreme fury.

Warnings

• Don't plan on driving after a sleepless night of flight from the USA (who read online magazines know that most people do this). Otherwise, due to fatigue, you will react more slowly to the traffic situation, and make mistakes in gear changes. This can cause trouble for yourself and (just as important) for others. Be a responsible guest and leave the urge to drive for the next day.