Simulator for US driver driving in the UK?

[prosdog]

Hi, I'm an old guy that's only driven in the US. Using a MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2019 with a 40 inch monitor.

After 42 years of driving on the right side of the road and the left side of the car, I'll be in the UK for 3 weeks and will have to drive on the left side of the road and right side of the car. I'm a bit nervous about this and would like to practice getting the hang of it. Any suggestions on Mac software and hardware that will allow me to simulate this? Doesn't have to be a racing game or top of the line graphics or the ultimate response time, just something to help me get into the mental frame of mind to do something opposite of how I've done it for 40+ years. Thanks!

 

[Dave Braine]

Can't think of any UK simulators, but it can be a problem driving on the "wrong" side of the road. I live in the UK and spent many years driving in Germany while in the Military. Never had a problem. Home to the UK for a couple of weeks, driving away from my parent's house, we saw a car coming towards on the wrong side of the road. Avoided it, and then saw another doing the same.

We then realised that it was us on the wrong side!

Driving a right hand drive car will help as it puts you towards the centre of the road: as you are used to being.

Problem areas are pulling out onto a main road, especially from places like gas stations where you are not channeled into a lane. More so if there is not a lot of traffic.

Try and avoid distractions. Talking to your passenger can be a problem as your brain goes into auto mode with the driving and you revert to what you are used to. Although you can ask your passenger to keep reminding you to stay on the left.

You might like to have a read of this:

The Highway Code: Read Online for Free

Read the Highway Code online. Applies in England Wales and Scotland.

theorypass.co.uk

Drive safe.

 

[chscag]

It does take getting used to. Being stationed in Japan several times during my military days (Japan uses left side driving), it was always a challenge to try to remember left side driving vs right side. Traffic circles and busy intersections were probably the most challenging. As the previous reply stated, avoid distractions and stay alert. Use public transportation whenever you can.

 

[northernmunky]

Its probably a good idea, I'm British and when I took my car into Europe to drive on the right I found myself triple concentrating. Radio off, passengers silent, mirrors every second, everything! Unfortunatly i dont knw of any driving sims that do left side driving.

 

[ncrypt]

UK Truck Simulator would do a good job. It's only available for Windows, but you could use Boot Camp or VirtualBox to get it running.

 

[prosdog]

UK Truck Simulator would do a good job. It's only available for Windows, but you could use Boot Camp or VirtualBox to get it running.

Thanks, I saw that one as well. There's also one called City Car Driving but also only available for Windows. I was hoping to avoid using a windows emulator but if I have to I will.

 

[weckart]

Your more immediate problem is that with a hired or borrowed car you are more likely than not to have a manual drive car as those are by far the most popular in Europe. I know that in the US automatics are preferred. It might be an idea to brush up on using both feet and adapting to using your left hand to shift gears if you cannot guarantee an automatic car.

 

[prosdog]

Your more immediate problem is that with a hired or borrowed car you are more likely than not to have a manual drive car as those are by far the most popular in Europe. I know that in the US automatics are preferred. It might be an idea to brush up on using both feet and adapting to using your left hand to shift gears if you cannot guarantee an automatic car.

Both cars I rented are automatics. Definitely paid a lot more for them since they are less common. I have no problem driving standard here but its one less thing I wanted to think about when driving in the UK. Shifting with my left hand would add another task to what's already going to be some serious multi-tasking for me.