Each trip over to Ireland always starts the same - with the guys at the
car rental yards watching us get into the car. First - will I (the
driver) open the righthand driver's door or the passengers?; second -
will I stall the leaving the yard (hey, shifting with your wrong hand is
not easy!) and lastly - which lane (left or right) will I turn onto on
the street?. American tourists are a constant source of amusement to the
Irish (and I am certain the English as well).
Beginning Irish drivers have a large sign with the letter L - Learner.
I've always thought they should provide signs with a big T for Tourist.
Give the other drivers as much warning as possible!
Jim Rogers
San Juan Capistrano, CA
b-evans@earthlink.net wrote:
>Larry B. Macy, Ph.D. wrote:
>
>
>
>> They were hit head on by a van full of Brits driving on the
>> wrong side of the road.
>> The lesson here, is no matter what or how you drive, you can
>> not control what some idiot will do.
>>
>>
>
>Whether you are a Yank driving in England, or a Brit driving in America,
>there is always a critical period of adjustment that is crucial in
>driving a car. How well I remember my first expeience of driving in
>England. It came when we drove our brand new VW Vanagon off the ferry
>from Calais and into the maelstrom of traffic in Dover. I can guarantee
>that there are dozens of Englishmen fortunate to still be alive after
>that experience! Now, even after driving untold thousands of miles in
>England, Wales, and Scotland, there are still times when I have wanted
>to put a sign in the rear windown and front bumber proclaiming, "Use
>Care. Stupid Yank Driving." By the same token, I still have to be
>alert for the first few days after flying home.
>
>On this trip over, I am going to do something new and unusual for me; I
>am going to rent a car with automatic transmission. Usually, I love to
>drive the backroads in a stick shift where the driving is reminiscent
>of a racing road course. This time, however, I have to spend several
>days in Central London and the East End, and those are not fun with a
>stick shift!!!!
>
>Actually, it has been my experience that English drivers are far more
>safe and courteous than American drivers. Or at least drivers in
>Southern California where 40% do not have either a valid license or
>insurance. While there is always some idiiot trying to beat a long line
>of traffic by flying down the right side or shoulder and then cutting
>in, I have never seen it over there. Drunk driving is taken far more
>seriously there, and it is a social wrong, where here it is too often a
>macho thing! Again, in the thousands of miles of driving, I have seen
>exactly one accident. Again, unfortunately, I live in Southern
>California where the idiot drivers are king of the road! And just get
>out of their way or they will shoot you!
>
>Buster Evans
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