The time has come. After months of doubting whether I will be able to do it, I really have to do it now: drive on the left. I've always managed to let someone else drive. I prefer to be a map reader, navigator... give it a name I did it. As long as I didn't have to drive on the left myself. I don't like it, I don't care much for cars and prefer to be the co-driver (then I can drink too). Anyway, it was August and we had decided to go to Scotland with the family this summer. By car, so also 2 weeks of driving on the left....
Left-hand driving in Scotland
Smoothly we drove off the ferry in Newcastle, through customs and then it had to happen. Sweaty armpits (yes, it was nice weather in England) and full concentration for what was to come. ‘Joshua not right now, daddy has to pay attention!’ In the first 5 kilometres, I immediately encountered 5 roundabouts and luckily it wasn't too bad... In fact, I quite liked it.The following two weeks I had a great time on the left side of larger and smaller roads in England and Scotland. Did nothing really go wrong? Sure they did! To keep our relationship healthy, we had decided to just take the train to Edinburgh. Driving on the left in the big city is really a bridge too far anyway. Everything went smoothly, car parked at Stirling station and a nice easy train ride there and back.
Unpleasant surprise
Back home, it happened. Arriving at Edinburgh station, we were told that our train had broken down. Reason unknown. Then the next one. After an hour of waiting, it turned out that the next train had also broken down. Huh... what's going on here? Because it had rained quite heavily that day, the track was blocked by a landslide.Via alternative routes with extra buses deployed and two whiny children, I arrived at Stirling station at midnight. Problem... I had to drive back to our cottage from the station in the dark... And so I had to drive on the left in the dark... In the end, this, too, worked out fine, although I must honestly admit that my maximum speed did not exceed 40 kilometres....
Tips for driving on the left in England and Scotland
A few more handy tips for driving on the left:
Get a co-driver, two pairs of eyes see more than one and that way you have someone next to you who can remind you to keep driving on the left. Try as much as possible to drive behind another car (preferably a local of course), especially useful at roundabouts. Stick a post-it on your steering wheel with the word LEFT on it. A simple but effective reminder when you get back into the car.
Above all, just stay calm, you'll find that it really isn't that bad. Driving in Scotland is relaxed, fun and not even difficult! I'm going again in the May holidays because even I can do it... Want to know more? Read all about the history of driving on the left or try driving on the left yourself in Scotland and book a ferry from IJmuiden to Newcastle. In an hour you'll be at the Scottish border and you'll certainly have mastered left-hand driving by then!
