jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've done quite a bit of driving in England, but I was never made into a nervous wreck, like the author of this article. Yes, some of those narrow roads were a challenge. I remember one amusing incident. We were near the coast and drove down a narrow road by the sea. As I started back up the hill, I thought I had put the car in second gear because it had trouble getting up the hill. No, it was in first gear, but with three normal-size people in the car, I could smell the clutch slipping. It was a combination of a very steep hill, no place to get a running start, and a low-powered car. We all did a lot of laughing as the car struggled to the top of the short hill.

One very good practice of English drivers made the trip back home with me. When drivers pull out to overtake another car, they signal their intentions, just as most of us do here. The difference is that (at least a couple of decades ago), they leave the signal light on during the duration of the maneuver so that oncoming drivers can see that there is someone coming toward them in their lane.

http://jalopnik.com/driving-in-england-took-years-off-my-life-1787698238

Popeye Loc: LifIno

I spent three years driving in Japan in the late 60's, early 70's. Many of the narrow roads were two way, extremely narrow, and had benjo ditches on both sides. Not a problem. Only got concerned at places like "crazy corners" in Yokohama where five lanes of traffic came to a stop light and on the other side of the light it was only two lanes. The benefits of driving a big blue beat-up clunker. Everyone else was driving a nice vehicle and didn't really want to tangle with me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

What does he mean - the "wrong" side of the road?!!!!!

He should try driving in India where they drive "mainly" on the left!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

The difference is that (at least a couple of decades ago), they leave the signal light on during the duration of the maneuver so that oncoming drivers can see that there is someone coming toward them in their lane.

http://jalopnik.com/driving-in-england-took-years-off-my-life-1787698238[/quote]

That's the reason for DRL's big help

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Ha ha, roads and parking availability have become a bit of a nightmare here but, in the main, drivers are courteous to each other. Those that aren't courteous just hoot, flash their lights or shout. During the 10 years we lived in Spain (Alicante) we never encountered a traffic jam and could almost always park easily with no parking fees even right by the beaches or shops. Now, back in England, we always seem to be in a queue of traffic and are faced with limited parking at high fees even when visiting the doctor or hospitals which have very formidable fees - perhaps to deter visitors to their patients. Your nice wide roads are very appealing.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Interesting video it was worth watching, I didn't realise that I use the tips anyway, I don't know about looking at where the wheels are pointing though, I think the two best methods to tell where a car is going is the speed and the position on the roundabout.
Also he did not cover the very complicated large and double roundabouts which are becoming more common lately.

theobennett Loc: Sumatra

My immediate sympathy went out to that unfortunate litle Brit motorcar.
Three "normal" size Americans on board and a gradient would have been
a challenge. Why didn't two of you simply get out and walk the short distance
uphill instead of sitting there and laughing...? You'd have saved burning the
clutch plate.

Cars there are generally low powered rather than "under powered" because
economics dictate petrol use, not fossil fuel waste. European cars and engine
designers therefore constantly seek sleeker body dynamics and greater
drive chain efficiency.

Still, you're right about the green lanes. They're charming but narrow and
best tackled with moderate speed. And often not in the rain, unless you're
driving a Land Rover or something Swedish. Altgough the Solihull Land Rover
is another vehicle you'd probably find "under powered" compared with a Hum
Vee. But it has definitively the best low range gearing of any 4WD. And they
seem to last forever.

You're also correct in summarising the nightmare of driving in London and
Oxford. But why would you want to..? Taking a Mini or a rag top sports car
through the beautiful Cotswolds, Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and
Ireland can be a delightful pleasure.

But hey, I'm not even a Brit. Just been there several times, backpacking,
cycling, riding a motorcycle, driving a car and stopping in at the splendid
counry pubs.

I come from a country where rural roads can be like driving on Mars.
So what would I know about Brit-US motoring compaisons...!

.

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Basically a true description of our roads - except the ‘good repair’ bit. Since really bad weather in recent years and councils cutting down on repairs - because there is not enough money (where does the vast sums of road tax go to?) - the state of the roads has become very bad especially if you have a sports type suspension.

The writer was fortunate not to have encountered the ‘Westcountry Suprise’. This comprises walls and rocks hidden in the hedgerows and waiting for the unwary motorist to pull too far over and into the hedge. There are many cars with scraped wings I have seen more than one with ‘I have visited Devon’ painted by the scrape.

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

We have many '2 way' lanes in the Westcountry where even a medium sized family car rubs the hedgerows each side with the mirrors. So the mear thought of meeting a Hum Vee sends shivers down my spine.
Fortunately I have only ever seen one here and that was on a garage forecourt - probably because the owner found he couldn't afford to run it!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Top Gear took a Humvee through some small English villages. Kind of a stupid idea. The track was made that wide so it would match up with the track of the Abrams tank, which is too big and heavy for many roads and bridges in Europe.

Griff Loc: Warwick U.K.

Coventry: do not take a Wrong Turning, and make it your Final Destination.

khalidikram

Lucky you! In Pakistan they drive mainly down the middle of the single-track road.