Let’s look at some tips for driving in England. I’ve covered some basics in prior posts, (take look at them below if you haven’t seen them or for a brush up). And now that I have some additional hands-on experience, I’d like to share some more tips.
Prior posts about driving in England:
https://yankeebrit.blog/2023/02/21/driving-in-brit-country-on-the-wrong-left-side-of-the-road/
https://yankeebrit.blog/2023/03/06/rotaries-roundabouts-traffic-circles-2/
So let’s carry on with this theme now that I have a little more practical experience. Hopefully, these tips will be useful whether you visit England for a vacation, or if you plan on relocating.
Navigating double roundabouts ~
In a prior post (listed above), I explained in some detail how roundabouts look and feel. I shared some of the more complicated ones in and around England.
However, there are basic common-sense rules concerning these traffic circles that will make driving in England a bit less anxious.
When you approach a double roundabout, treat them as two separate traffic circles. However, prepare yourself for where you want to be at the end of the second circle and position yourself for that exit.
For example, if you are approaching a double roundabout, and you want to take the third exit off the second circle, make sure you position yourself for that 3rd exit when entering the first circle. This will place you in the appropriate lane to continue. By positioning yourself at the first circle, you will not be panicking to get to the appropriate lane.
What helped me with these tricky double circles was having my hubby travel through them multiple times and simply observing! Ask questions, make a mental note of your end destination, and watch for the correct placement to get there safely before you get behind the wheel!
Another rule of thumb is that the approaching traffic from your right is where you need to assess your safe entrance to the circle. The traffic entering from your left will be doing the same! They will be watching you, the driver to their right, in order to assess their entry.
Have a look at the below roundabouts (rotaries) ~
The picture on the left is in Poole England. The picture on the right is in Millbury Massachusetts, Unites States. So, these double traffic circles are found on both sides of the pond!
The only real difference between the two is that you would observe the incoming traffic in England coming from the right. And in the U.S., you would observe incoming traffic from the left!
Tips for driving on narrow streets in England~
Widths of the streets in England are much narrower than in the states. And parking is always at a premium! Cars are allowed to park on both sides of the roads, (where safe to do so). This makes the streets in England even more narrow!
One rule of thumb for driving in England is that whichever side has the obstruction is the flow of traffic that should wait for a safe opening.
For example, if you are driving down a narrow street, and cars are parked on the opposite side, your side of the street is free from obstruction. That means if another car is heading towards you, they will wait for you to pass. Once you have passed and the road is now clear, they will then proceed! This also holds true for all types of obstructions.
What if there are obstructions on both sides of the road?
When driving in England, let’s say there are cars parked on both sides of the road. You are driving down this narrow street and another car is approaching from the opposite direction. If there is a safe place for you to pull over to the side, do so. This will allow the other vehicle to pass. The other driver will do the same if they have a safe place to move aside. It is all about courtesy and safety when driving in England in the types of situations.
In some types of these situations there will be signage indicating who has the priority, or “right of way”. However, if there is no signage, always remember that safety and courtesy rule! These rules of thumb also hold true when driving in England through narrow tunnels or narrow bridges!
My last driving in England tip for this post!
The speed limits for driving in England are a bit different than across the pond. My rule of thumb is to remember “30, 60, 70”.
30 miles an hour on streets with lamp posts. That’s right! On streets with lampposts (streetlights), the speed limit is generally 30 MPH. Of course, there may be signage indicating a lower limit if safety is an issue.
60 MPH on streets with no lampposts (streetlights). Again, that’s right! If you are driving down a road in England, and there re no lampposts, the speed limit is generally 60 MPH. However, if there is signage posting a lower speed limit, then that signage prevails. Also, safety always prevails. If the weather conditions are a hindrance, then a lower speed limit is not only acceptable, but a must!
70 MPH is the national speed limit. This is the speed limit for dual carriage ways and motor ways (highways). Once again, there may be situational qualifiers.
Most of the motorways in England are “smart”. This means that there are speed cameras and technology that understands if there is a hazard. If there is an accident, heavy traffic, or construction, these “smart” roads will trigger digitally posted speed limits to ensure the safety of the drivers. These posted limits always prevail.
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