The UK is one of the safest countries in the world to drive. Traffic drives on the left. If you’re soon to drive in the UK and are used to driving on the right, this is probably your main concern. Our UK familiarisation courses are designed for drivers who are new to driving in the UK and need help to increase their skill and safety.
Your country of origin. i.e. the country you usually drive will have a big impact on how you will settle into driving in the UK. Key factors will include:
1. How many years of driving experience you have
2. Which side of the road you are used to driving on
3. Your general levels of confidence as a driver
4. The type of vehicle you will be driving (i.e manual or auto, ICE or EV etc)
5. The type of driving (leisure/work)
Can you drive?
First and foremost, you will need to ascertain if you can drive legally in the UK. You can use your national driving licence but must have reached the minimum age to drive a vehicle in the UK. You must be 17 years or older to ride a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125cc, or power not exceeding 11kW, 19 years or over to ride a motorcycle not exceeding 35kW, and 21 years or older to ride a motorcycle unlimited in size/power.
You need to be aged at least 17 to drive a car in the UK. If you have a provisional (L) driving licence issued abroad, you will not be allowed to drive in the UK.
Driving on the left side of the road:
For those used to driving on the right side of the road, when you drive in the UK, it may feel very odd. You will feel as though you’re driving on the wrong side of the road. You are sitting on the wrong side of the car, and all the controls are on the wrong side, too. Not to mention dealing with roundabouts! This is exactly the same for drivers used to driving in the UK when they go abroad and have to drive on the right.
The good news is, you will get used to this – it just takes time!
Easy Tips:
1. It may feel as though you’re sitting on the passenger side when you drive, but on single-carriageways (traffic in both directions) as long as you’re closest to the centre of the road, as the driver that is, then all will be good. If you’re driving and the centre of the road is over to the left, then things are really not good!
2. At roundabouts, if you’re turning left or going straight, keep in the left lane. For exits after 12 o’clock keep in the right lane unless directed by road markings or other signs.
3. You giveaway to traffic already on the roundabout.
4. Remember to use your mirrors and indicate – it helps other drivers.
5. Spend time adjusting mirrors and familiarising yourself with controls. esp. if it’s a car you’re not familiar with.
6. When you’re tired, distracted or stressed, you will make more mistakes. It’s also when you’re much more likely to “forget” yourself and revert to driving back on the right. Be acutely aware when you’re stressed, distracted, lost or tired and the potentially fatal consequences that these things can bring. Your brain takes short cuts when you are tired and goes back to what it knows best (i.e. driving on the right!).
7. Commentary driving – it’s what we teach on our advanced driving courses and is a great way to help read your driving environment. You will talk out loud about what you can see and what you’re doing. You will be better prepared and be looking for hazards and issues sooner.
8. Get familiar with the various UK road signs – more info here.
Driving Etiqiute:
Drivers in the UK are generally polite – very polite compared to some other countries. However, British drivers can be a little highly strung in some senses. For example, if a driver lets someone out of a side road or allows a vehicle out in front of them in tslow raffic, they expect a thank you acknowledgement – it’s considered rude if you don’t do this.
Tailgating in the UK can offer trigger road rage, British drivers like their space. In some countries, no one thinks anything of it if you pull out at the last minute on a roundabout, causing traffic on the roundabout to slow. Do this in the UK, and you will probably have someone learn on their horn at you! If you do upset someone, a polite hand-up to say sorry in 99% of instances will resolve a potential road rage encounter with immediate effect – and being British, they will probably thank you for taking the time to say sorry!
Speed limits:
The UK is strict on excessive speed, and there are a lot of cameras in place in built-up areas and also motorways and dual carriageways. Here are the various speed limits for a vehicle: 3.5t or less (passenger cars)
- 30mph & 20mph – in built-up areas (48km/h) unless otherwise indicated
- 60mph – Outside built-up areas (96km/h)
- 70mph – Motorways and dual-carriageways
Tip – In many built-up areas, speed limits vary from 20/30mph and 40mph – and change regularly. You know if you’re in a 30mph limit or less if the streetlights are every 200 yards or less unless indicated otherwise.
Fueling your car:
Assuming you are using a petrol or diesel-powered vehicle, you will no doubt have to refill from time to time. In the UK, fuel retailers, commonly known as ‘petrol stations’ offer a wide range of fuels on offer along with a shop which sells convenience items which range from bread and milk, alcohol, sweets (candy), tinned food, vegetables, flowers, lotto tickets and much more. Common retailers include Shell, BP, Esso, Texaco. Many supermarkets such as Sainsburys, Tesco, and Morrisons have petrol station forecourts on site.
Unleaded 95-octane petrol is sold as ‘premium unleaded’
Unleaded 97-octane petrol as ‘super unleaded’ some retailers offer 99-octane
All petrol and diesel in the UK contain 10ppm or less sulphur.
LPG is available at many petrol stations around the UK.
Premium diesel is available in retailers such as Shell, Esso, BP and costs around 10% more than regular diesel. Supermarket diesel is considered regular diesel unless otherwise stated. Premium diesel has cleaning additives which can improve fuel economy and help keep diesel engines cleaner.
When you buy fuel, you will have to fill the tank yourself and then go to the counter to pay, which is standard practice in most countries in the world. Many also offer the option to pay at the pump, where you will need a credit or debit card. If you pay at the pump, you will usually have a specific limit – at which point the pump will shut off.
Fuel prices vary by retailer, and the current prices will be displayed on the large signage visible from the road and also at the pump. Supermarkets tend to have the lowest prices.
Seatbelt and Children
Many visits to the UK will bring children with them. It’s important to understand the laws around children in cars and seatbelts. Children under 3 years old must use a child restraint appropriate for their age and weight.
The exception here is in the rear of a taxi if a restraint is not available.
Rear-facing baby seats must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal airbag unless the airbag has been deactivated. For children 3 to 11 years and under 135cm in height, a restrain must be used at all times when in the front seat, and the correct child restrain must be used in the rear where adult seatbelts are fitted.
Drink Driving
The maximum permitted level of alcohol in the blood is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. In Scotland, this drops to 22 micrograms. Beware! You may be “ok” to drive in England but be over the limit when you cross the border into Scotland.
In the event of an emergency dial 999.
To book a UK Familiarisation Course, please email or call us – we have full UK coverage and come to you where the training takes place in your own vehicle.