Driving Safely In And Around London

If you have been to England before, you know that the roads require drivers to drive on the left hand side. Travelers from some countries may find this second nature, but others who travel to this country may be confused and find it too strange and new.

Reversing Your Driving

A driver's license in English is enough to permit you to drive in England. You can drive on a foreign license for up to a year before being required to transfer to a UK license. There is no international license required, even if you have a national license in a foreign language; simply bring along a translation if you happen to be stopped for any reason.

The main question those who travel to England must ask themselves is whether or not they feel comfortable driving on the left side of the road.

In countries like the US and France, drivers typically overtake on the left, and pass each other left to left when traveling in opposite directions. In England, that is reversed. Drivers going in the opposite direction pass each other on the right, and drivers traveling in the same direction overtake on the right.

Is It Safe?

If you are confident in your abilities, the UK tends to be a very safe driving environment. Main roads are a good quality, and the rules are largely the same. Just remember that all rules that would apply to driving on the right now apply to driving on the left hand side of the road.

Make sure that you are extra careful whenever you drive, but otherwise if you are safe everything will end well. Having a car rented can also help with getting to and from the airport on time, and you will be more mobile.

However, for those who travel to London, remember that the city charges a congestion fee for people driving within London's city limits. London also has an excellent public transit system that may render a car unnecessary.