If you’ve never visited England before, there are a few things you should learn about the British Isles before you make your maiden voyage across the pond. Especially if you plan to be driving yourself along the UK streets at any point, it’s going to be wise for your to prepare yourself for this adventure. To help you in doing this, here are three tips for driving in England for the first time.
Learn The Basics Before You Get There
While England does have great options for public transportation, you can find cars to rent there and choose to drive all on your own. But before you book your rental car, you should spend some time learning the basics of driving in Britain.
According to Skyscanner Australia, you’ll need to do things like get the right driver’s license, learn what the different road signs mean, figure out what the general speed limits are, and potentially learn how to drive on the left side of the road if that’s something you’re not familiar with. By learning these things before you get to the UK, you’ll be able to spend your time on the road focusing on navigating to your destination rather than distracting yourself behind the wheel.
Start Off On Smaller Roads
To get yourself comfortable being behind the wheel in a different country that you’ve never driven in before, Ferne Arfin, a contributor to Trip Savvy, recommends that you ease yourself into the experience by starting on smaller roads.
If you can, take public transportation to less populated areas so you can begin driving in a less stressful environment. Because roads in the UK will likely be tighter than the ones you’re used to, it can be very helpful to get your feet wet on emptier roads where you won’t have to worry so much about getting smashed by a delivery truck or annoying the more experienced drivers on the road.
Take Care When Parking
Part of driving in England includes parking as well. According to TripAdvisor.com, there are quite a few things you need to know about parking before you come to the UK. Not only is parking pretty hard to come by, especially in populated areas, but it can also be very expensive when you do find it.
Additionally, you should also learn the difference between parking lines that are single yellow lines, double yellow lines, and solid white lines. If you park illegally, there’s a good chance that your car could get towed or booted, so make sure you take the necessary precautions.
If you’ll soon be visiting England for the first time and plan to drive yourself during your trip, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you plan and prepare for this.
