Left-hand Traffic
Throughout Great Britain, left-hand driving is the norm. As a pedestrian, this is just as relevant: LOOK RIGHT FIRST when crossing the street, then left. At many London crosswalks, "Look Right" is painted on the ground — it saves tourists' lives.
The most important rules for drivers
- Book automatic: The gear stick is on the left — automatic eliminates confusion
- Roundabouts: Clockwise! Traffic from the right has the right of way. There are mini roundabouts (a white dot on the road) and magic roundabouts (several roundabouts in one — Swindon has the most famous, a nightmare for tourists)
- Speeds: In miles! 30 mph in urban areas (48 km/h), 60 mph on country roads (97 km/h), 70 mph on motorways (113 km/h)
- Congestion Charge London: £15/day, Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–18:00. ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone, all of London): £12.50/day for older cars. DO NOT drive into London!
